Most artists jump at the chance to record at least one or two albums in their musical career. Last year, Norm Strauss recorded album number 15 of his career, The Color of Everything.
“The songs make it fresh. Each album you kind of push yourself a little bit further. The musicians you bring in to help you on the album also bring freshness,” said Strauss of the recording process.
He said his style of music has also changed dramatically even in the last 10 years, going back to his roots as a singer/songwriter and a guitar player.
This changes the structure of the song, according to Strauss, who pointed out that the title track of his latest album had a particularly unique journey in the song writing process.
Strauss said that ‘the color of everything’ had been in his mind for some time, but came to life by a little inspiration by a close friend in Kelowna.
Strauss, who is colour blind, said the phrase came to him one day and had a bit of an ironic meaning given his situation.
“I found it an intriguing thing to write a song about, but I just could not write that song. I struggled with it for about a year,” he said.
Strauss said he attended an art show of a very close friend and talented artist in Kelowna named Ingrid Boesten, who was diagnosed with cancer and had what he described as ‘an incredible explosion of paintings’ near the end of her life.
“She had an incredible art show at Christmas time, my wife and I went to the show and I was deeply moved by her creativity, her strength, poise and elegance in her painting,” he said.
Strauss said after the show he woke up in the middle of the night and realized the song was about Boesten and her paintings and started writing the song with the lyrics coming ‘fast and easily’.
He sent the song to her in Kelowna while he was in Germany and she absolutely loved it. She also sang with him on the track just before she passed away last spring.
Strauss divides his time between Germany and Kelowna and holds dual citizenship between the two countries. He said he does notice a difference between audiences in the two countries.
He said German audiences hold back a bit more and you have to work a little harder to make that connection.
“When you do make that connection, they are a lot more earnest and a lot more authentic in their response. If a German person comes to me after a concert and says, ‘Your song really touched me’ they’ll make sure I am looking them in the eye and they will make sure that I understand that they really mean it,” he said.
The differences between the countries can also be found in the way Strauss said he performs his concerts.
“I do a lot more explaining of the song over there because like many singer songwriters, I feel like the lyrics are important,” he said. “I get many comments that they appreciate that. Here in Canada, I wouldn’t do that so much.”
Strauss plays Legacy Guitar and Coffee House Feb. 27. For more information visit normstrauss.com.
