Toronto folk singer-songwriter Avalon Tassonyi released their latest album, Annette Street. I love the timing of this release, as with nicer weather approaching, this is the soundtrack for my nature walks. It is also the perfect album to listen to at a bar while enjoying a favourite cocktail. This is because these mid-tempo tracks are soft and soothing. The core band for this project includes Avalon Tassonyi, Eliza Niemi, Jason Bhattachrya, and Tom Gill. However, there is also room for specific elements to shine, such as the horn sections or intimate stripped-down parts of songs where it is just Tassonyi and the piano.
The album was mainly recorded live off the floor, meaning that the four band members were together in the studio capturing the music in a way that felt natural. According to Tassonyi, “We were trying to capture the sound of people playing together, not using a metronome.” Tassonyi’s goal was to create an album that sounds as natural as possible, giving it the live human quality. Tassonyi adds that the band trusted each other to collaborate in this way versus recording one element at a time, making sure it sounded perfect before moving on to the next song.
In addition to the core band there is also a horn section. Tassonyi states, “I just always imagined there being a horn section. I am just a really big fan of music that has horns, classic pop, R&B and Motown and also jazz and even big band music. I love the sound of those instruments and what they bring to a pop song.”
One of my favourite tracks is “The Opener.” My interpretation is that this song is a love letter to Toronto’s music scene, as well as Tassonyi’s determination to pursue music despite what anyone says. As Tassonyi states in the last verse “Thought I’d finally quit / They were all so certain / But I’m sitting at the piano smoking / And they’re tugging at the curtain.” The song opens and closes with just Tassonyi’s vocals and piano, enhancing the storytelling, and representing that the performance is about to come to an end. Then toward the end the song there is a slight pause in the vocals before Tassonyi sings “I am just the opener,” and the piano and horns come in for the last few notes mimicking a round of applause.
Another fun track is “Teddy Tin Can.” To me it feels like a TV show theme song. It is light and catchy with the only lyrics being “Teddy Tin Can.”
The final track on this album is ‘Let The Credits Roll,” which, in my opinion, is a call back to the idea of watching a show. This is heard in the lyrics, “It is not the end of the world / Just the end of the show / Now it’s time to let the credits roll.”
This is a 10/10 album for me. I enjoyed all the live elements and the incorporation of the horn sections.
Avalon Tassonyi is performing an album release party in Toronto on April 17th at The Baby G. They are also hitting the road with Eliza Niemi in June.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
