Greg Quill of the Toronto Star once wrote that singer-songwriter Lynn Harrison is “unafraid to reach into the darker parts of her heart for buried treasure”. It’s one of many things Lynn has been unafraid to do in the ten years she’s been sharing her delightfully original and insightful songs with others.
Her most recent challenge (which began in October ’06) has been to write and perform a new song every week for a public radio program, Take5 on CIUT 89.5 fm in Toronto. With uncommon versatility and range, Lynn can handle a hard news story such as the pro-democracy protests in Burma one week, and then produce a funny song about yoga the next.
Born in Texas and raised in Winnipeg, Lynn wrote her first song at age 12 and has been writing and singing continuously ever since. She has released three solo albums, Lynoleum (2001), Learning Curve (2003) and Broadview (2005) and has appeared at numerous cafes, clubs and festivals (Stan Rogers Folk Festival, Winterfolk, Toronto City Roots).
While every song from each of the CDs has received radio airplay at least once, several have emerged as “fan favourites”: the poignant “Yes, It’s Cold in Winnipeg” (confronting the dilemma of where a couple should spend their Christmas); “First Day of School” (which receives widespread airplay every September); “Stage” (recently pirated on YouTube as the soundtrack to a Miss America interview) and the upbeat and insightful “When I Walk I Run”, an appropriate anthem for today’s new environmental consciousness.
Other songs have been honoured in various song contests: “No Place to Go” (Healthy Marriage Songwriting Contest 2007), “Einstein’s Brain” (Songs Inspired by Literature); “In Spite of it All” (John Lennon Songwriting Contest); “Tall Trees”, “Smooth Stones” and “When I Walk I Run” (Unisong); “Room to Love” (Ontario Council of Folk Festivals “Songs from the Heart”). Lynn Harrison’s songs have been chosen for eight separate compilation albums to date.
Apple’s “iLike” music recommendation service links Lynn Harrison’s songs to those of John Prine and The Dixie Chicks. Over the years, her listeners have made many preposterously flattering comparisons—to Leonard Cohen, Paul McCartney, Bruce Cockburn and Sarah McLachlan among others—but Lynn was especially moved recently by a listener who linked her songs with the paintings of Mary Pratt—the Canadian whose luminous, highly realistic works were achieved in the midst of a busy domestic life.
Lynn her fear of busking by working as a licensed Toronto subway musician for two years (Fall ‘03 to Spring ’06), writing a popular blog that explored the parallels between singing in the subways and singing beneath the radar of popular culture, the situation in which many independent musicians find themselves. Although she’s no longer busking, Lynn continues to write essays on creativity and spirituality at her blog, “Staying in Tune”.
You ROCK! Thanks for being a friend and for all your hard work. Hope to see you at the 3rd annual Utica Music and Arts Fest. Over 250 performers in over 20 venues for 3 DAYS! Including the Utica Tattoo Fest and the Utica Greens Fest!
First 50 performers to submit and get accepted will receive special VIP passes to next year’s event! Visit our site for more info and performer submissions. Have a great day!
www.uticamusicandartsfest.comwww.twitter.com/uticamusicfest
Hope to see you in September!
Hello from the amazing windy plains just outside Calgary , Alberta
(weather
subject
to
change on the 1/2 hour with out notification) Wonderful sites and
sounds in your space.Many discoveries made at your space, very nice
indeed to be m8s.Cheers ! (mO:) moreno
In a act of Kindness endorphin levels are elevated in the Giver, the Receiver and the Observer, how nice is that.
"do not seek happiness .. but .. do rid your self of unhappiness = Zero Negative thoughts"
"Share knowledge ,it is a way to achieve immortality"
Hi Lynn, It was a delight having you play your great tunes with my pals and me at Chapters Songwriters Showcase today. I hope we can do it again soon! crotchety old coot Zuraw
We Vibez Promotions is a Caribbean /Canadian Entertainment & Promotion company that was created to help create and promote multicultural events around the Caribbean and in Canada and United states we have and will be featuring artist and Dj’s from around the world at various events during the years to come. So please join us so we can continue to inform you of these events in the coming weeks and months.
Toronto ’s Hottest Soca/Reggae Events Promoter We Vibez Entertainment
HELLO LYNN, I'M HAVING THE BEST TIME THIS MORNING LISTENING TO YOUR SONGS. JUST KEEP DOING WHAT YOU'RE DOING. HERE IS A QUOTE THAT I'VE ALWAYS LIKED. "THE CRAFT IS UTILIZING THE RIGHT TOOLS, THE ART IS NOT NOTICING THE CRAFT" AND YOU EMBODY THAT. HEY EVERYBODY OUT THERE! LEARN SOMETHING FROM LYNN'S WORK! YOUR HUMBLE PEER. MARIANNE
.. Hi there Lynn Harrison first of all we'd like to say thanks for being our myspace pal. We wanted to make sure you knew the reason incase we suddenly vanish off of your friends list. The movement we've started for indie artists has grown significantly and consumes all of our time these days. We seldom sign into our myspace account and this is making several people believe that we are ignoring them. We are not ignoring anyone, we wanted everyone to know that. What we're doing has become so busy we just don't have the time for myspace any longer, so in all honesty we are probably going to just close our myspace account.
Many people wanted to use us in the future so if you were one of those people you can click the link below to visit our profile which wlil provide you with more information and also give you the link to our website! I wish you the best of luck in your music career. Thanks again for being our myspace pal.
