"Blues music to me all about being real and authentic. It’s the basics, it’s something everyone can understand and feel.  It’s everyone’s stories."

Miss Quincy: Standing At The Crossroad

Miss Quincy's album “Like The Devil Does” is a moody collection of songs filled with dirty guitar licks, sweet gospel harmonies, swampy grooves, and stories of old time deal breakers. Miss Quincy and producer, Canadian roots & blues legend Tim Williams, set out to create an album with the gritty sound of tube amps, a tight rhythm section, and a band playing live-off-the-floor. A natural evolution from her debut album “Your Mama Don’t Like Me”, this new record takes Miss Quincy's signature vocal prowess, her love affair with the electric guitar, and songwriting skills into new-found down and dirty territory. Like The Devil Does is both 4am at the whorehouse and the Sunday morning after.

This year also marks the debut of Miss Quincy’s smokin' new band The Showdown. Featuring upright bass and drums, these ladies are armed with attitude, killer musicianship, and are without a doubt the hottest all-girl rhythm section around. Miss Quincy doesn't fit the classic girl singer/songwriter mold and The Showdown isn't your average all-girl band. You won’t find them singing pretty pages out of their diaries, instead you’ll find them getting down and rocking out with raunchy electric roots & blues. Unsuspecting audience members may find themselves suddenly shaking it on the dance floor, shouting out inappropriate comments, and buying the ladies rounds of drinks. Coming together from the far reaches of BC and Alberta, the band currently calls the road its home. Hitting the highway hard for 8 months of solid touring this year, The Showdown will be joining Miss Quincy for her 3rd tour of the UK and Europe as well as a cross-Canada album release tour that will include many appearances on summer festival stages.

Interview by Michael Limnios

When was your first desire to become involved in the music & who were your first idols?
I’ve always sang and told stories. Playing music and living this life of traveling and singing feels natural. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

What characterize Miss Quincy’s sound and progress?
I play music that is authentic and real. The music that I love and listen to has heart and soul and I try to always sing and play my own music with heart and soul.

Which memory from the European tour and “the road life” makes you smile?
Road life always brings on the unexpected. I’ve met the most amazing people and had the most crazy experiences while touring. My favorite times are when we meet another band and play music until the sun rises.

Which was the best moment of your career and which was the worst?
I have some of the best and worst moments of my career everyday on the road. Life on the road is one of extremes. We’ve had our van towed in foreign countries, been broke down on the side of the highway, and had everything stolen, but we’ve also experienced some of the kindest acts from strangers, been openly invited into people’s homes and lives, and met life long friends.

What do you learn about yourself from the blues music?
Blues music to me all about being real and authentic. It’s the basics, it’s something everyone can understand and feel.  It’s everyone’s stories. There’s a lot to be learned about being real and authentic and playing with everything you have.

                                                                                              Photo by Peter Mazola

How/where do you get inspiration for your songs & who were your mentors in songwriting?
I get my inspiration for songs from overheard conversations, from road signs, from stories I hear, from dreams, from the people I spend everyday with and the people I rarely see. Everything can be the inspiration for a song if you look hard enough.

What experiences in your life make you a GOOD musician and songwriter?
Practice and commitment. A love of music and words. Uncompromising standards.

How do you describe your contact to people when you are on stage?
I always try to talk to an audience directly, to make a real connection with them. I feel like I’ve done my job when the audience feels like they know me and I know them at the end of a show.

Tell a few things about your band The Showdown, Where did you get that idea about all girl band?
I’ve always wanted to play with a kick ass girl band. I love playing in a band where the music comes first and the fact that we’re all women is a fun side note.

Do you remember anything fanny or interesting from the recording time?
Recording “Like The Devil Does” was a really great experience for me as we were surrounded by amazing and experienced bluesmen. Tim Williams produced the record and we decided to record it mostly live off the floor. There is a lot of musical interplay on the record, we left room for spontaneity and the magic that happens when you put good musicians together in a room.

What do you think of CANADIAN ROOTS music & how close are to the BLUES?
Canadian roots music is special because of the community of musicians we have in this great big country. In order to work in Canada one has to tour, so there is a network created across the country of musicians who help each other out, play together and make the Canadian music scene special. Canadian roots music is special because of the musicians more than any one definable style of music.

The Online home of Miss Quincy

                                                                                                Photo by Jodie Ponto