Christine grew up along the St. Lawrence River with her musical Québecois and English family.
She began to whistle when she was 10 months old and her sister whistled at 11 months.
Then she started singing her songs to the dog.
At 10 years of age, she was sent to a convent to take piano, recorder and ukulele lessons from a belching nun.
Having taught herself guitar in the mid 1990's, she has since written more than 200 songs in a wide variety of styles and is currently in the studio recording a bunch more. Enjoy the tunes and check back for you never know what song Christine may post next!
FEATURE SONGS PLAYING
Row (Your Ondine Boat) Original Score to the award winning independent 2006 documentary, Beyond the Horizon written: 2005; recorded: 2006,
Christine, all vocals, guitars, percussion; Darriel Arlinott, mandolin; Mark Duggan , tambourine and synth strings (Christine designed and developed his website a few years ago-listen to his song samples there, he's amazing!)
This is the first solo piece that Christine wrote to accompany another person's lyrics and is quite different from her other music. Helga Wafaei wrote the lyrics and Christine edited them to fit the song. The song was written for Helga's daughter, son-in-law, and Christine's friends, Julie (Wafaei) Angus and Colin Angus who in May of 2006, became the first to ever circumnavigate the globe only using human power. ( expeditioncanada.com angusadventures.com ) The song is a bit Canadiana with deep sentiment depicting a most grueling journey ever which proudly is a Canadian first.
Highlights from the film, Beyond the Horizon
Instrumental 001 written: 1997; recorded: 1998
Christine, guitar and arrangement; Kenji Fuse, viola; Liz Johnston, violin; Name Unknown (a red haired fellow from New Zealand playing a Galiano and apparently from a well known NYC chamber quartet - please inform if you know this person), cello. Christine was inspired to write pieces such as this, while she played music with Zoltan Rozsnyai who accompanied her music and exposed her to his soulful renditions of Bach, Shostakovich, Shubert, Tchaikovsky and Zoltan Kodaly. Christine was drawn to the passion and psychedelic nature of this music. Other classical players began to accompany Christine's music and also featured her at their chamber concert performances.
Penitentiary Scram and Double Agent Go Go written: 1995; recorded: 1996
Christine is playing all of the instruments and added two background audio clips, one she made and the other is a sample of her family doing their nightly jam around a fire back in 1976 (the loud voice singing, "He thinks I still care", is Christine's mom and the voice with the smokers cough is her late Uncle John who died in May from emphysema). ~ So there it is, C's music can be many different things including bizarro! tee hee hee!! ;)
Potato Prince and Love Sick 3 written: 1995; live show: 1996
Even though Christine does have some demo studio recordings of these tracks, today she feels more partial to this live performance from when she had a dreadful cold and flu. The show was performed at The Gown and accompanying C are Ken Baird and some guy named Steve who joined spontaneously from the audience on drums. Twas a splendid evening, oh Christine was so young and innocent, compared to the current day Christine who is a bitter crotchety old hen!! HAHAHAHAHA kidding...
Swim in the Breeze live studio improvisational: 1998
Pulled from Christine's music vault of random audio recordings, this one features Christine making all the sounds (except the fitting amp interference which sounds like Asian radio) using a friends 2 track reel to reel in his loft on a sunny afternoon in Kensington Market, Toronto. Being silly is fun!
PREVIOUS SOLO PROJECTS
1994 to 1997 - Christine played many solo shows alone, or with various musicians in her circle of artists and musicians. During this time Christine also went in the studio and recorded some of her music that is yet to be heard. She shared the stage with many artists who later became quite successful. Christine also had the pleasure of opening up for Iggy Pop and the late Junior Kimbrough at the Detroit State Theatre in 1996, singing a short a capella set. She was invited to do this show by her friends who were also on the bill, The Demolition Doll Rods.
1997 to 1999 - Christine Leakey and Her Extra Fancy Band and sometimes called Christine 16, featured Christine's originals and some old ballad standards from the first half of the 20th century. The musicians varied from various professional classical and jazz players. Graciously, Kenji Fusé (Victoria Symphony), Zoltan Rozsnyai (Vancouver Symphony), Liz Johnston (Canadian Opera Company), Reuven Rothman (plays in various symphonies), Ian McIntyre, were among some that accompanied Christine’s music at small venues and chamber concerts.
OTHER MUSIC PROJECTS
2007 - Mark Wirtz presents, Cooking For Cannibals project: Christine co-wrote 2 songs with Mark Wirtz in 2007, for the upcoming Mark Wirtz production. Christine will also be featured singing on this album when it happens. This project is completely separate from Christine's current recording project.
1993 - Lightly Toasted Jazz band featuring Christine singing a few jazz standards at poetry readings
1994 to 1995 - The Double Feature Creatures The Double Feature Creatures on myspace This was the first band Christine formed and wrote the music for, while just learning to play guitar. She put out several releases including vinyl and a recent full length CD on Teen Sound in Italy, celebrating this exciting and short lived band.
1995 to 1996 - Tijuana Knievel A Garage Psych-Rock band featuring Christine's originals and 1 or 2 covers, with guitar, organ, trumpet, bass, and drums. This band played several venues in Hamilton, Toronto and Detroit. The band’s only stamp in history are live tape recordings.
1996 to 1997 - Cadillac Bill and the Creeping Bent Christine was the back-up vocalist. Cadillac Bill & The Creeping Bent: circa 1996 on myspace
1999 - The Pin-Ups! Christine did some vocal work on their "B Movie Drive In" release for this now split Toronto garage band that featured 4 guys with gold lame jackets, gold glitter instruments and 3D glasses.
1997: Christine and Zoltan goofing around on guitar and cello...
Circus Ditty In My Progressed Brain written: 1997; live performance (audio): 1998; video: in the wee hours of 2008
Christine on a CASIO keyboard, Jef McLarnen on bass and Jon McCann on drums. Perhaps Jef would have done a better job at visuals since he makes puppets professionally!! Enjoy! :)
Circus Ditty In My Progressed Brain (music 1997)
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not by the desire to beat others." ~ Ayn Rand
