Every once in a while, you are stopped pretty much dead in your tracks by the striking harmonies of a particular group.
Consider the Travelling Mabels, a folk/country foursome from a few communities around the province who not only sing like angels with a rare sonic precision, but also build beautifully-crafted tunes brimming with a warm acoustic richness.
The group, featuring Lana Floen, Keith Floen, Eva Levesque, and Therry Lawson, perform at the Lacombe Performing Arts Centre's Shunda Theatre on Dec. 6, starting at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets are available at lacombepac.com or at the Mary C. Moore Public Library.
"We've been together for 16 years now," said Lana during a recent chat. She noted the three ladies initially joined forces, and soon journeyed to Winnipeg as one in the group was up for Bass Player of the Year.
"We were later invited to party, and they asked us to get up and sing."
A few folks promptly insisted they needed to push forward with getting the word about out the exciting new collaboration.
"I came home, and told Keith all about it. So we had the girls come to the house, we sang a bit, he said, 'Holy Smokes'," she recalled with a laugh. Next up, they recorded an album and took their growing collection of tunes on the road.
As to forming a list of Christmas tunes for the coming series of shows, Lana said they each typically bring a few favourites to the table.
"If we can 'Mabelize' the song, it gets to stay. If it can't, it gets thrown out, and we pick something else," she said with a chuckle.
Keith agreed. "That has always been the approach to all of our shows. They've always been like kitchen parties," he said, adding the structure of the show takes shape from there. Lana added that the band ultimately looks for songs that are going to take the audience on a ride.
"We will make them laugh, we'll make them cry. We make them stand up and cheer. That is what we look for, because we believe in the power of entertainment for starters,' she explained.
Overall all, the group has gelled so well from the get-go. That stems from their ability to blend seamlessly together, but is also comes from the personal diversity in their individual tastes.
"I think that if you get the chance to dive into different kinds of music, number one - it makes you a better musician," explained Lana. "I know of a lot of classically trained vocalists who are also great rock singers!"
For Lana, her primary love is classic country. "It's what moves my soul, and it's what I love to listen to," she said, adding that overall, she also appreciates any music that is simply well-crafted. And as Keith pointed out, groove is universal, where style is about personal taste.
For both Lana and Keith, a passion for music was sparked early on.
"My mother was a piano player, and had a beautiful voice," said Lana. "My dad played trumpet, too." There were several talented fiddle players in the family as well.
"And so I grew up listening to a lot of music. I always loved to sing, but had been pretty shy. Then I met Keith, and it took me a couple of years to even sing in front of him! But over the years, I've been able to break down that shyness.
"But yes, music has always been a huge part of my life - I have always loved it." She just took up the drums last year, so it's a steady learning experience, too.
"I'm constantly learning, growing, and finding new things about music that I love, and that motivates me to keep getting better and better," she said.
Keith also knew early on that music was pretty much essential to his life. 'I started playing when I was two, and progressed from there.
"I eventually started touring with a lot of the country bands in the late 80s and 90s, who were touring Canada."
As a couple, their musical gifts were honed even more, and now with the Mabels, there are loads of opportunities to explore even more sonic territory.
"Music sort of just flows through you - it's who you are," said Lana.
"I can't even imagine my life without music. It absolutely moves me, motivates me, and excites me. It takes me on roller coaster rides of different emotions. If I'm having a great day, I love to bounce around the kitchen, or if I'm having a bad day, I like to sit and listen to other people's stories, and connect with those.
"There is also the connective (nature) of what it does, and how it brings everyone together," she said. "There is the natural power of music. We have seen it time and time again - what it does to people, and for people. There is nothing like it."
Keith added that really, music is his language.
"I love playing with other musicians," he said. "I love creating. It's in my blood for sure; it has defined who I am and the world around me personally."
