Cayley Thomas has just released her third project, How Else Can I Tell You, a five-song sampler of music filled with flowing pop sounds that seem lifted out of the Laurel Canyon dynamic from the late ’60s early ’70s.
Cayley Thomas has an Arts & Entertainment background unlike many others in today’s music world. At a very young age she was already performing in musical theatre at the Citadel Theatre. She’s tackled the daunting part of Juliette in Romeo and Juliette as part of Shakespeare in the Park with the Free Will Players in Edmonton, She also has a BFA in acting from the University of Alberta and she’s an amazing songwriter.
The EP starts with Two Minds and Midnight Hours, Thomas’ latest songs written for this project, “I feel closest to those two in that they were a more recent version of me. A lot of my creative-minded friends can relate to ‘Two Minds’. It’s an anthem of beginning again and again.” In Midnight Hours, Cayley was able to create a sonic soundscape that picks you up that carries you off in a transcendental dream. “It was super fun for me to have an opportunity to add instruments like the vibraphone and explore a variety of different sounds on that track and I’m pleased with the way it came together.” We are pleased as well. It’s a great way to open the new album.
How Else Can I Tell You, was created between the city she grew up in and the metropolis in which she currently resides. Mixed and produced by the venerable Nick Kozub (Shout Out Out Out, The Wet Secrets) in Cayley’s birthplace of Edmonton and Steve Chahley (U.S. Girls, FRIGS) in Toronto, where she now calls home. Thomas was quite involved in shaping the sound she wanted to achieve on this project, “It takes a while as you are slowly defining your sound and you are building up a team of people that you work well with. From learning about the production and all the little micro-decisions that go into creating your recording, especially if it involves a lot of instrumentation. Having a little more experience helped in creating this particular series of songs has really formed my process moving forward. However I did find myself suffering from impostor syndrome early on because I knew what I wanted but from a technical perspective, not having gone to audio engineering school, it’s about being able to put language to what you are after. In this process I was able to hone that skill. Deep down, I was clear in the direction I was going with my music, and could articulate precisely what I wanted to achieve. I also didn’t realize this was going to be such a big part of this process.” The production on this EP is wonderful where every minute second has a lovely tone and a certain ambiance that will lift your spirits.
Cayley Thomas
Joining Cayley Thomas on How Else Can I Tell You, is a great cast of musicians. The aforementioned vibraphone was provided by Naman Cale and you can hear that on Sunshine and Midnight Hours, Eli Browning (tracks 1-4) and Robin Claxton (track 5) provided the drums. Connor Snell, who also assisted Cayley with additional mixing provides most of the guitar work. Josh Beatty, Justin Perkins, and Josh Eygenraam also add some guitar work throughout the album. James Hill (synth), Julia Knight and Kyle Newmaster (trumpet), Peter Mason (bass), and Aron Parker (noise and organ) also add their touches to this project. “I was able to bring a bunch of different people in on this and each song is a little unique in that way. As I developed each song further, I reached out to a few different people. Take Midnight Hours, there’s some dreamy vibraphone elements in that song so I reached out to Naman Cale and asked if he’d be interested in collaborating. Because the initial tracks were recorded in Edmonton, I was able to take those stems and sit with them for a while. That allowed me to bring in the perfect people for particular components. It was interesting that I got to work with a cast of characters who added their own touches. From this process I have a great story for everyone on the record. This is a nod to the community around me that I was able to get these different people to say yes and sprinkle their talent dust across this project.” It’s a cast that worked out quite well as Cayley nurtured this album to its fruition. She harvested quite a musical yield. When you are a solo independent artist it’s important to have a network to call upon when needed. Adds Thomas, “I have deep gratitude for all these people and I was able to learn a lot.”
How Else Can I Tell You is an ethereal trip laced with southern California soft pop culminating from her musical experience growing up. Thomas’s voice lends a sense of familiarity to the listener with a blend of Judy Collins, Carly Simon, Linda Ronstadt, and Carol King, all influences in her music from a young age. “Luckily my folks played a lot of good music when I was growing up. All of those great singers were some of the earliest voices that were in my ears and informed my melodies. I didn’t analyze what those singers did, but it’s music that was embedded in my brain.” These five songs showcase crisp and forward vocals coupled with the sonic soundscape she was able to create with the help of a great supporting cast. It will leave you wanting more.
For more info visit Cayley Thomas. For updates and possible live streams stop by her Facebook page or her Instagram feed. How Else Can I Tell You is available everywhere you get your music.
