In The Know...11 Questions w/ Leif Vollebekk

Canada is irrefutably wealthy in natural resources.

Sure we’ve got scads of fresh water, oil, timber, wheat, and precious, precious metals. But, most importantly, we’re loaded with gifted folk singers.

Eat your heart out Iceland.

Montreal’s Leif Vollebekk is one such talent. Since entering the world back in January, the singer-songwriter’s debut record Inland has pleased ears from coast-to-coast, piling up gushing critical acclaim to boot. And he was even featured in La Blogotheque’s gorgeously shot, highly intimate Take Away Shows series in HD (see above).

Vollebekk’s rise is understandable. Inland is, simply put, a beautiful, introspective alt-folk record, a release that’s all him (Vollebekk arranged and orchestrated the whole offering). Musically, Inland is an uncluttered affair that unabashedly emphasizes Vollebekk’s poignant voice, thoughtful lyrics, and quaint, but affecting, acoustic strums.

If you’re interested in hearing what Vollebekk is all about, I highly recommend swinging by the Lo Pub on July 20th (Forest City Lovers are also on the bill). If you can’t make it, I have the next best thing: a copy of Inland for giveaway (courtesy of Nevado Records). Entering is same ol’, same ol’: open a new tab and fire me off an email (on the right) by July 15th @ noon with the subject line “Leif Vollebekk - Inland Giveaway”, and I’ll draw the winner randomly.

I tracked Vollebekk down the other day and fired off 11 questions to the upstart troubadour. Here’s what he had to say.

1. Where are you right now?
 I just got back from a beautiful lake, but now in Montreal.

Let’s talk music…

2. What are some albums that completely changed your life?
Love Country Style - Ray Charles
Blood On the Tracks - Bob Dylan
On the Beach - Neil Young..

3. Of the records you own, which has the best cover art?

Sigur Ros' Takk... - It just melts into that opening track so well.







4. What was the most memorable show you’ve played so far?
Probably De Barra's in Clonakilty, Ireland. I was opening for Sam Amidon but he missed his connecting flight. The crowd was so warm and kind that I ended up just playing two sets and having a lovely, Guinness-infused evening.

5. Who is one producer, alive or dead, you’d just love to work with?



Daniel Lanois. I think Time Out of Mind is the best-sounding record of the nineties.

6. What is your favourite music video?
I don't really watch videos, but I think my favourite is Radiohead's 'No Surprises'. It keeps your mind on the song. Doesn't take too much away, you know?

And some hodgepodge…

7. What is your current ringtone?
My 2004 Nokia is set on "Frog". It croaked for the last time in May and now it only vibrates.

8. What’s one film you can watch over and over again?
Toby Dammit, Fellini's adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's Never Bet The Devil Your Head.

9. What book(s) are you currently reading?
Some biography on Cortés, some Kerouac and a little Joyce?

10. Jon Stewart or Stephen Colbert?
Colbert, though Jon was the gatekeeper.

11. And finally, would you rather have the ability to fly or turn invisible?
This is the kind of thing you'd regret, I think, if it ever did happen. I think. Maybe not.