Keri and Devin Latimer, founders of Winnipeg band Leaf Rapids, found themselves band-less in 2015 after their Juno Award-winning group, Nathan, amicably parted ways.
“That was a really unified unit,” says Keri, “but it disbanded because people were getting their doctorates and having children. And it wasn’t Nathan without everybody.”
Steve Dawson of Black Hen Music in Nashville unwittingly changed that.
“Devin and I started [Leaf Rapids] because Steve said, ‘hey, do you have some songs? I’d love to record an album with you,’ and I said, ‘yes, we do have songs.’ Which we didn’t,” laughs Keri, “but we wrote some!”
Dawson signed them to his label and they began recruiting other musicians for the project. “We don’t love playing as a duo, especially as a couple, it’s not as fulfilling,” she says. Chris Dunn, guitar, and Joanna Miller, drums and vocals, became regulars, playing and recording with the duo. Over the years it became clear that the four of them were the band.
Velvet Paintings, which came out April 19, is Leaf Rapid’s third album but their first album as an official four-piece.
“It just feels special,” says Keri. “I can hear everybody’s personalities in there.”
They’ll soon be hitting the road to tour what they describe as their “ethereal folk, driving country, and wiry honky-tonk” sound, including four stops in Alberta.
“We love coming to Alberta,” says Keri. She grew up in Lethbridge and bandmate Chris Dunn is from the province as well.
Fans of the otherworldly theremin will be pleased to hear that Keri is a devotee of the instrument and will, as always, have it on stage.
She got into it when she was still in the band Nathan. “We really wanted it on this one song, “Discarded Debris.” We thought, ‘oh that weird instrument from the sci-fi movies would be so perfect here.’”
They couldn’t find anyone who played it and couldn’t even find a theremin itself. Then one day, they were in a Mother’s Music store “and in a corner, covered in dust, half-price, was this theremin,” she says. “We snapped it up.”
They both gave it a try. “Devin, right away, went, ‘ugh, I can’t handle this,’ and for four solid days I tried to put together some kind of a melody for that solo. I just completely became obsessed. It’s really addictive.”
Speaking of obsessed, Keri says all the band members love CKUA. “We would be nothing without CKUA,” she says. “It’s just a really really important part of music in Canada.”
It’s currently CKUA’s Spring Fundraiser. If you care about supporting Canadian bands like Keri’s, donate to keep CKUA alive. The time is now.
Leaf Rapids will be in Edmonton on April 25, Calgary on April 26, Turner Valley on April 27 and back to Calgary on April 28. Details and tickets on the band’s website.
“Velvet Painting” from Leaf Rapids’ new album of almost the same name:
