I can relate to the songwriter
but how can the worker
how can the plumber
bring it to bear
where credit lines and parking fines
and suppertimes topple the rage
and all light
flights of fancy
fade, as the lady alights
on the stage?
Erika's played a few fun shows, opening the stage for legendary Richie Havens at Hugh's Room in Toronto, as well as sharing the stage with local heroes Mary Margaret O'Hara and Mr. Bob Snider. With two full-length albums out and two more in progress, Erika has toured solo and with a rotating crew of players across Canada and abroad to Australia (Melbourne, Erika misses thy pleasant demeanour and bright upbringing, eucalypti cloud, feathered and human owls, and small but very warm fires. Even the midgies, she misses).
Other musical projects include Christine Duncan's amazing Element Choir, John Tielli's band Metal Kites and Tarik Zaky recordings; stay tuned for news of these ensembles as well as new albums by Erika Werry with greater commentary on the wiles of the small world.
"I dig Erika’s grainy alto, her in-and-out-of-pespective songs, delivered with expression. An observant poet, a cliché distorter, a fearless traveller, a band leader – Miss Werry is all of the above, and a competent guitar strummer to boot. One might liken her to a female Al Tuck. Arrangements incorporate brass, pedal steel, stand-up bass, and violin. Songwriter is a rather comical song about, you guessed it, being a songwriter – she takes us from the bedroom to the stage..." Mary Beth Carty, Penguin Eggs Summer Issue no. 34
"A lyricist & melody maker, an endearing presence, and that voice, 'something strong but still the water and the wind get through. And the sunlight. And the sadness'" (Noah Zacharin)
"Time on our Hands, the second release from local musician Erika Werry, is consistently impressive... [her] singing voice is quite lovely - a kind of perfectly imperfect semi-croak.." Toronto's EYE Weekly, Nov 16 2006
Erika's "pleasantly hypnotic vocals and charming simplicity ring true [...] something to experience live" (Sean Ridgeley in the St John's Telegram and Scope weekly, Newfoundland)
Born in Toronto, the songwriter gets inspiration from travels cross-country and abroad, has studied French and English literature and dance in Ottawa, Toronto and Montreal. Erika's full-length debut album, Nothing Clearer Comes, was rated NNNN in Toronto's NOW MAGAZINE (Aug 18 2005), for its lyrical originality and "beautifully morose trumpet flourishes..."
Nothing Clearer Comes (produced with Ryan Fairhead) is followed up by Erika's 2006 self-produced indie folk project, TIME ON OUR HANDS. Songs from each record are posted here for your listening pleasure. A third release is in progress, in studio, so *STAY TUNED, and in tune, etc. Hear the roots rock band (Ryan Fairhead guitar, Mike Hopkins bass and Marshall Bureau drums), and Erika Werry's moody improv ensemble (with a rotating crew of musicians including Wes Neal, Justin Haynes and Johnny T Tielli), touring downtown venues. Pick up a copy of TIME ON OUR HANDS, featuring guest players Bryden Baird (horn), Tom Howell (violins), Christine Bougie (lapsteel/drums), James Robertson (elec. guitar) and Wes Neal (double bass), available in Toronto at Soundscapes and the Cameron House (or order one by mail from Erika herself, $15 shipping in).
