Press release –
Whether it’s the isolation or the natural environment, there’s something distinct about Yukon singer/songwriters. Caleb Tomlinson, based in Whitehorse, is a prime example. His music shines with an intimacy and simplicity that on the surface seems disconnected from the modern world, although its effect is an immediate connection to a listener’s soul.
Tomlinson’s latest six-song collection, Solstice, is a pure expression of his gifts, which draw inspiration from the timeless work of Leonard Cohen and Kris Kristofferson, as well as Jason Molina and John K Samson. Although the EP appeared on streaming services in 2024 with little fanfare, Tomlinson is giving Solstice a proper release today in response to his expanding touring schedule that included a January/February jaunt to the UK and Ireland. In any case, Solstice captures a moment that deserves to be shared, no matter when it occurred.
Tomlinson explains, “I worked with Kelvin Smoler at his Whitehorse studio, and it was one of his first singer/songwriter-type projects. It started out with just my acoustic guitar, although we had the idea of bringing in some other Whitehorse musicians I knew, but had only played with casually before. That turned into 12 musicians contributing to the sessions, and a handful of those joining my live band, The Perseids.”
Those results place listeners squarely in the midst of the recording sessions, with Tomlinson’s shimmering guitar and rough-hewn voice complemented by unobtrusive strings, horns, percussion and backing vocals. There’s a haunting quality to all aspects of the sound, and it’s not surprising that the first song laid down was “Ghosts,” one of Tomlinson’s country-flavoured songs, along with “What Now,” an homage to George Jones.
“That song came directly after a three-day canoe trip, during which my new girlfriend and I broke up halfway through,” Tomlinson says. “We had to keep being cordial and talk about the usual stuff despite both of us realizing the relationship was over. There was a highway crossing early in the third day and we got my friend to pick us up to avoid another day on the river. But things are good now; she’s a great person and we’re still friends.”
Indeed, most of the songs on Solstice deal with the inherent complexities of relationships, while at the same time evoking memories many of us have of unrequited love on summer nights. Of course, that’s something residents of northern Canada experience differently as well, and the songs “Walls” and “Southern Solstice” express those feelings brilliantly.
Caleb Tomlinson’s Solstice is the type of record that takes hold after two or three listens, and continues to unravel more mysteries after that. As he prepares new material, these six songs serve as a vital introduction to a powerful new voice on the global singer/songwriter scene.
Track Listing:
01 Homesteader
02 Southern Solstice
03 Walls
04 What Now
05 Ghosts
06 Caroline
