Linda McLean - Official Website

LINDA McLEAN
Singer Songwriter
Canadian/Americana/Roots/Folk/Rock/Pop

“Once in a great while, out of the blue, comes an indie masterpiece. Such is the case of Linda McLean....Another superb Canadian female singer-songwriter you need to seek out.”

(*Maverick Magazine, UK on NO LANGUAGE)

Award winning singer songwriter LINDA McLEAN lives in the forests of Northern Ontario, writing taut memorable songs full of fire and emotion inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds her. The reviews are unanimous, and sound something like a chorus of acclamation “Once in a great while, out of the blue, comes an indie masterpiece. Such is the case of Linda McLean's NO LANGUAGE... NO LANGUAGE (BongoBeat 2005) follows steadfastly on the heels of her brilliant debut CD, BETTY'S ROOM (Rounder/Europe, 2003), “these are songs that have been lived. Linda is a singer/songwriter in the best tradition of fellow Canadian Joni Mitchell's 70's work.” (VARA Radio, The Netherlands).

McLean is creating a stir on both sides of the Atlantic with reviews ranking her among the best of her North American contemporaries; descriptors such as“country-tinged beauty with reference points stretching from Lucinda Williams to KD Lang.” (UK Music Media Review), and, "There is a 'holy trinity' of Canadian singer songwriters, Sarah Harmer, Kathleen Edwards and Linda McLean."(CBC Radio), and, “material straddling the line between roots stylings and an adult contemporary-tinged sound à la Jann Arden or Sarah McLachlan that possess the ring of hard earned truths.”(Exclaim Magazine, Canada), are backed by hometown endorsements like “These are tunes with the ache and retrospective wisdom of a dame in her prime.”(NOW Magazine) and “NO LANGUAGE serves notice of the arrival of a committed and focused artist.”(Toronto Star).

If writing great songs isn't enough then her beautiful voice might be; “Linda really is in a class of her own when it comes to her vocals...there is no doubt she can handle anything when it comes to singing.” (Pennyblack Music, UK) Partnering her talents with musician/husband Andy McLean, whose knack for writing melodic hooky guitar parts has it's benefits; continual radio airplay across Canada, in the US and Europe and rave reviews of live performances included. Weighty comparisons and all the attention aside, Linda McLean remains true to her artistic intentions.

With her clear resonant voice and straight ahead guitar playing, McLean has built a solid following of fans around the world, touring and playing solo or with her band, in Canada, UK, and Benelux, and showcasing at international festivals, In The City (UK), SXSW (Austin), IPO (Los Angeles), Rockrgrl (Seattle), NXNE (Toronto) She has opened for Chis Whitely, Tim Booth, Ron Sexsmith, Stephen Fearing, among others, and shared songs, stories and stages with Stacey Earle, Jenny Whiteley, Bob Egan, Katherine Wheatley, David Celia, Jian Ghomeshi, Valdy and many others.

McLean has established herself as a respected professional among her musical peers, attracting top players to her recording sessions and live performances including drummer Gary Craig (Anne Murray, Bruce Cockburn, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings), bassists Maury Lafoy (Jann Arden, Sarah Harmer), and John Switzer (Jane Siberry, Brother's Cosmoline) and guitarists Bob Egan (Blue Rodeo, Wilco), and Tim Bovaconti (Ron Sexsmith).

Writing about life in the style of the great poet songwriters who inspire her, McLean stays in tune with her muse, integrating deeply felt and experienced lyrics with a unique and fine musical sensibility. Collaboration with her partner Andy, with a past of musical feats (The Tenants, Doubledare) and Brit-pop sensibilities, has proved sanguine; prolific songwriting and the production of finely crafted tunes.

In September 2003, BETTY'S ROOM was released across Europe on the respected Rounder label, from UK to Italy, achieving critical acclaim, fan support and radio and concert guest spots for McLean, as well as her debut being chosen as the top pick by UK distributors. As a songwriter, McLean has won the BEST SONGWRITER award at the Northern Ontario Music and Film Awards for her song 'Mandolin'.

Her newest CD, NO LANGUAGE, released through the Vancouver based Bongo Beat Label, with distribution through Canada, the US and UK, Benelux and Spain in Europe, has found regular rotation on regional stations across Canada, charting action on college stations, AAA charting in the US, and print media reviews that are universally stellar. A gifted performer and prolific songwriter, McLean has firmly established herself as a committed and focused global artist.

HI-RES PHOTOS

Click the thumbnails below to download the hi-res version in a .zip archive...

LINDA'S STORY

“My approach to songwriting is like my approach to gardening. I like to get right into the dirt and see what's going on in there. The garden is teaming with its own story until I start mucking around. When we work together we create something beautiful. If I try to impose my will on the garden, the life chemistry is knocked off balance and everything dies off.

“I was raised on the music my older siblings listened to, Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, the Beatles, Rolling Stones and the Doors... My family emigrated from Norway before I was born, I was the youngest of four growing up in small town Ontario, and when I was old enough to notice them, my siblings were leaving home. One sister moved to Montreal, lived a 'Bohemian' lifestyle as an actress and social activist. My other sister moved to Toronto to join the hippies in Rochdale. My brother moved north and became an organic farmer. I was left with my parents and their record collection of European folk music, American jazz and Hollywood musicals. I would beg my sisters to bring back their records when they returned home for holidays. Every Saturday morning I would go with friends to Sam the Record Man, and we would agree on the 45's we were going to buy, go to someone's home and listen to the songs over and over again.

At age 12 I formed my first “band”, 4 singers and 2 acoustic guitars, and we played folk covers at schools and churches. At 14 I was going solo, too young for the bars, but playing wherever anyone would listen. I also became interested in the theatre, (a stage for all ages) and since performing came naturally to me, acting became a strong interest. In my 20's I turned off popular music and tuned in to classical works, I listened to everything I could find from JS Bach to Mahler. I bought a piano, and studied music with some great teachers, music theory, composition, piano and voice. Music lived deeply in me, but it didn't become clear until I was in my 30's that I was ready, and willing, to write my own songs.