Listen to the #SPOTLIGHT daily this week for ROYAL WOOD at 3:40 pm during Weekdaze with Jay
Royal Wood performs LIVE at The Mary Webb Centre this Saturday, October 15th! Tickets available NOW at 99.1 CKXS and marywebbcentre.ca!
Royal, named after his great grandfather, Royal Rufus Wood of Chatham, was born in Lakefield, Ontario. He grew up in a house filled with music and started playing piano at four and by his teens had become a multi-instrumentalist well-versed in numerous styles. Royal’s accolades range from Juno nominations to songwriter of the year.
CBC Music states ” The songsmith brings class and craft to his pop-rock stylings, delivering them with a rich and resonant voice, while his charm as a performer has earned a sizeable and loyal audience “.
For more on ROYAL WOOD at the MARY WEBB CENTRE, CLICK HERE.
GHOST LIGHT
Cadence Music
There are various explanations for the term ‘ghost light’ in relation to the world around us. There is the supernatural narrative – that every theatre has a ghost, and that when the light isn’t lit, the darkness provides a chance for the dead to haunt us. And then there is the Royal Wood version of GHOST LIGHT. The kind that lets someone truly shine from within– raw, honest and open…. and that’s why he has named his new record after this mythical glow.
“This album for me was a full return to writing and recording simply for the joy of creation – like when I was a kid. A true letting go and allowing,” says Royal. “I jumped around from instrument to instrument in the studio; playing piano and guitar solos, bass, keys, percussion, anything and everything I could get my hands on.”
In fact, Royal played on almost 90% of the record, with a few artists like Hannah Georgas and Felicity Williams (Bahamas) adding their special blend of talents along the way. It was recorded in both Los Angeles and Toronto, with Bill Lefler and Royal at the production helm.
The result is an album that exudes raw emotion and emanates a feel of the songwriters of the sixties and seventies. Without modern day studio trickery like auto-tuning and digital perfection, the album is warm, inviting and completely forthright.
“I felt like on this album, I snuffed out the external Ghost Lights, and allowed my internal light to glow instead,” says Royal, “this allowed the spirits of my past, present and future into the room to guide me along my artistic path.”
The first single ‘Long Way Out’ exemplifies this definitive focus of the record. It’s gripping and melodic and screams with sincerity.
This album marks an immense change is his life and his artistic path, delivering more and more of a letting go to the forefront of his music. The record seizes his sincerest passion for creativity and imagination. It showcases a deeper understanding of where his journey began and what he wants to take it. GHOST LIGHT has given a new meaning to the path in Wood’s career, where unabashed creativity and performance will continue to shine and cultivate his trajectory – no matter where it leads.
Royal Wood – Highlights:
– First single from GHOST LIGHT, “Long Way Out” debuting at commercial radio October 2015, along with national press and marketing plan
– National tour planned to support GHOST LIGHT in spring 2016, including a show at the National Arts Centre’s Southam Hall, with the NAC Orchestra
– Multiple JUNO award nominations
– Past press coverage includes: CBC Q, Toronto Sun, Canada AM, Exclaim!, NOW Toronto and more
– High-profile sync placements including: Grey’s Anatomy, Private Practice and Hockey Night in Canada
– No. 1 added single HOT AC Radio – “Forever and Ever”
– 2014 Album The Burning Bright debuted in the Canadian Top 30
– CBC Music Awards nominee
– 2012 Album We Were Born To Glory debuted in the Canadian Top 25
– CBC Radio 2 – Top album 2010
– 2010 iTunes Pick for Top Pop Single, Top Pop Album, and Songwriter of the Year
Royal Wood – Press:
“Wood’s manner is smooth, heartfelt and direct” and “impressive and expressive” – The Globe and Mail
“One of Canada’s major talents.” – Metro
“Like a sober and spiffily cleaned-up Tom Wait’s, Toronto singer songwriter Royal Wood writes lovely, memorable…songs that grab the heart like a gospel singer praising the Lord.” – Ottawa Sun
“The cream of Canada’s songwriting crop.” – Exclaim!
www.royalwood.ca and @royalwood