Singer/songwriter Shannon Lyon will be making his Cochrane stop May 30 at Legacy Guitar and Coffee House.
His folk music reign as a solo artist began in 1994, following his premier studio release, Buffalo White.
In the 20 years since, Lyon has recorded a total of 10 albums on a series of record labels, most recently Busted Flat Records, spending several of those years developing fan bases while living in Spain, Germany, France and The Netherlands.
A world traveller who brings his stories to the stage in earnest folk tradition, Lyon uses this experience to serve his role as a producer in his Lost Creek Recording Studio — an isolated, rustic cabin he sought out along the Yellowhead Highway, in between Kamloops, B.C. and Jasper, Alta., soon after his return to Canada two years ago.
“It’s the folk tradition — it’s been a cathartic journey,” laughed the music man, 45, reflecting on his long tenure in the ever-evolving music business and his ownership of his own identity as a musician.
“I feel like a spy. I mean, we all go out and experience life, but I always go and report back to the song.”
Accompanied by his storied tools of the trade, including his precious, beaten-up Taylor guitar — which has survived two isolated incidents of being left outside overnight in the rain — Lyon is on the brink of the release of his 11th album.
Working with producer Rob Szabo, Lyon was greeted with a blast from his musical past when Szabo began selecting tracks off of Lyon’s early albums — some of them unavailable due to the tanking of the labels they were released on.
“We picked some songs I wrote over 20 years ago…It was interesting because we’re always writing away from ourselves — I always think my most recent album is my best, but that’s not always the case.”
A self-proclaimed “twentieth-century boy” who still loves to “listen to records front to back”, Lyon said that while his return to Canada and venture into the production end of the business has made him feel like he’s starting over, it’s an invigorating part of the journey.
“When you’re out there, on the road, that’s when the magic happens,” he said, while in the middle of a 35-date tour from B.C. to Ontario.
Feeling settled with his home in the woods and long trips in his car, Lyon is happy to call Canada his home again, feeling renewed to meet other artists, write music and produce budding artists.
“At this very moment, I’m happy with where I’m living right now,” said the troubadour, who cites Neil Young as a major influence.
The songwriter is planning an album release tour in September, followed by a return to Europe to revisit his fans there.
Learn more at shannonlyonmusic.com.
