THE EMRSN PROJECT opens for Musicfest 2022 in this weekend’s food bank fundraiser
Treat yourself to this weekend’s Musicfest 2022 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 87 where the food and entertainment will be off the charts. Seven local bands and a blend of styles make for a recipe for success where Kirkland Lake’s newest teenage band, THE EMRSN PROJECT, will get their first taste.
Doors open at 5:30 p.m and dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. THE EMRSN (pronounced Emmerson) PROJECT will be the first act of the night and is scheduled to perform during dinner. The band shares an eclectic style from Fleetwood Mac to Red Hot Chile Peppers, to their original works.
THE EMRSN PROJECT consists of Emmerson (Emmer) Drew-Brook 17 (vocals/piano), Ella Rose Lacarte 17 (bass), Carter Armstrong 16 (guitar/vocals) and Will Coupland 16 (drums/guitar). The four KLDCS students were introduced to the school’s Spring Arts Night, and each other, earlier this year by local musician James A. Taylor.
The lead singer and guitarist for Rockslide has helped many fellow Kirkland Lakers, musicians and students in the community throughout the years including the Jamie Taylor and Friends Christmas Fundraiser, Songwriters Circle, 2007 Music Festival and more.
“He asked who would like to be in a band,” says Will Coupland, “and there were a few different names, and we had done a few different songs. And when we heard Emmerson sing Creep (Radiohead ), then we all sort of fell in love with his voice.”
The musicians say Taylor asked if they would like to “stick around” with each other and try to get something going. Coupland set some stuff up in his basement where the group meets for rehearsals and Carter Armstrong’s mom (Trish McNaueal) set them up for the Musicfest gig. McNaueal will also be performing Saturday with her band, Eva Electra.
“We’re hoping to maybe have a few more (gigs) in the future,” says Coupland. “See how it goes.”
“We are a tad bit rushed,” confesses the drummer, “but we feel like we can definitely pull through and have a good time.”
“We can do it,” adds Ella Rose Lacarte. “I didn’t even process the fact that we were going to be in it until two weeks ago. “
When asked if they’re nervous Coupland says, “Nervous, yah. But I know it will definitely be good. For sure. We’ve got a few solid songs and trying to practice some more this week. It will be good.”
Some of those solids might include Creep (Radiohead), Under the Bridge (Red Hot Chile Peppers), Lithium (Nirvana), Dreams (Fleetwood Mac) and The Man Who Sold the World (Nirvana cover of David Bowie original). The band says the Nirvana rendition is different and “more grungy”.
“It will be fun,” continues Lacarte.
“There might be a few songs with piano in it,” says the band’s front man Emmer Drew-Brook, “because I do play piano and do vocals.” Drew-Brook says he’s been singing and playing piano for about five years and that he is inspired by the “little known” band Summer Salt, who made their debut in 2014 in the style of 60s-era pop, doo wop and bossa nova. Through the years, the Trop-Pop duo from Texas rose through the ranks to pass one million monthly listeners on Spotify and toured the world.
“Emmer’s actually the one that got me into piano,” praises Lacarte. “I’ve been playing guitar since I was nine and I’m seventeen now. But bass, I’ve only been playing for about three and a half years. I play piano and stuff, a little bit of clarinet, but bass is my favorite.”
“My favorite band,” continues Lacarte, “I love Ween. They’re funky – and I love them. And Pink Floyd. It’s (band) always been one of my big inspirations.”
Originating in the 80s and with 1,244,108 monthy listeners on Spotify, Dean and Gene Ween are self-described as “the ultimate cosmic goof of the alternative rock era”.
Carter Armstrong says he started guitar when he was “around seven or eight”. “I would just play on my dad’s guitar,” says Armstrong, “and on my twelfth birthday, my grandpa, Brett McNaueal, sent me my first guitar and my first amp. And I’ve been playing ever since.”
“Probably,” adds Armstrong, “my favorite band would be Fleetwood Mac, just ’cause they’re an all around good band. And my biggest inspiration would probably be Lindsey Buckingham (lead guitarist and lead male vocals for Fleetwood Mac).
“I’ve always had a drum set in the house,” says Coupland. “I’ve been playing since just about out of the womb. I started playing guitar when I was about seven years old.”
“I sort of stopped playing all instruments”, continues Coupland, “around twelve years old – maybe thirteen. And I’d play every now and then, but the Spring Arts Night really, totally, brought me a lot more out of my shell to be playing. Playing with some more people, some more cool people – it brought music back into my life.”
Coupland’s biggest inspiration is the late Taylor Hawkins who died earlier this year at the age of fifty. Hawkins was the drummer for the Foo Fighters since 1997. Coupland’s favorite band is The Red Hot Chile Peppers and he’s inspired by Flea (bass) and co-founder/lead singer Anthony Kiedis, as well as Foo Fighters front man and founder David Grohl.
Collectively, the band shares the same sentiments towards Taylor.
“Amazing guy,” praises Coupland. “I’ve known him my whole life. Kind of like our mentor.”
“I love James”, says Lacarte.
“Jamie is like, the best kid ever,” praises Drew-Brook.
“I think Jamie Taylor is a big inspiraton for everybody,” says Armstrong.
“He brought us all together for sure,” continues Coupland. “We – all – love – Jamie Taylor. Absolutely. Definitely. He really brought us there one hundred percent.”
The KLDCS students say they didn’t all really know each other before this all happened. Armstrong and Coupland knew each other, and Lacarte and Drew-Brook knew each other.
“I’ve known Carter for a few years,”says Coupland. “Got close recently. And I grew up with Emmer, like, very early years. And I know Ella from family. We’ve got some close relatives.”
The young musicians are excited about being part of this weekend and feel good about the cause. All proceeds from the show will go to the Kirkland Lake Food Bank and the bar sales will help the Legion. The other six bands include Ruckus, The Neighbours, Blue On Black, Off the Beaten Track, Eva Electra, and Black Sheep.
“I’m proud of the musicians all putting their talents to use,” says James A. Taylor, “to support those in our community in need. I’m excited to be out and enjoy some of Mona’s great food and to cheer on the bands, and especially the young group, THE EMRSN PROJECT, who I helped find their way at KLDCS.”
THE EMRSN PROJECT has hopes for the band’s future but says it’s “too soon to ask”.
“But I definitely feel it is a big part of my life,” says Coupland. “If all goes well, and we see where it goes – try out some local stuff. Festivals and all that, maybe go around Northern Ontario.”
“You know, we’re all quite young,” adds Coupland. “Another two, maybe three years left of high school for some of us. We’ll kind of see how it goes.”
“It’s good to have an event that’s going to draw a good mix of people,” says Royal Canadian Legion Branch 87 President John MacDonell. “A lot of people are still having this semi-fear of the current health situation in the country. And this Musicfest, we hope, brings more people out to socialize the way we did pre-COVID.”
“We’ve got Mona’s lasagna from the Fed,” continues MacDonell, “which is gonna be awfully hard to beat. Mary Desjardin’s going to be on the Lounge Bar side, April Emms is going to be on the Hall Bar side, so it’s familiar faces you haven’t seen for a while.”
MacDonell says that everybody knows the cost of food is going up and that the Legion is pleased to be hosting the event to help out the Kirkland Lake Food Bank.
“And unfortunately,” continues MacDonell, “the food bank donations are going to have more people looking for food because of the way the cost of food is going up. So any kind of support the food bank can get from anywhere in the town is greatly appreciated.”
“We’re just too happy to host the Musicfest on behalf of the food bank this year.”
“This should be a good night,” adds MacDonell. “I’m looking forward to seeing everybody that hasn’t been in here the last few years and I hope everybody has a good time.”
Tickets are forty-five dollars and now only available at the Legion Branch 87, and from Musicfest co-chair Kathy Zidar (705-642-7467). Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and dinner starts at 6:00 p.m. featuring Mona’s lasagna from The Fed. There will be plenty of door prizes and an evening buffet. The fun continues until 1:15 a.m.
“Come on out and say hi,” praises MacDonell, “to everybody that you haven’t seen for a couple of years.”