Shaye: God
The reunited folk-pop trio charms with lovely harmonies on a gentle plea.
By Kerry Doole
Shaye - God (WMG): Pop-folk trio Shaye comprises three of the best voices in Canadian music; Kim Stockwood, Damhnait Doyle, and Tara MacLean. The group’s former existence was relatively short, from 2003-2009, but over the course of two albums, The Bridge and Lake of Fire, Shaye won SOCAN and Canadian Radio Music Awards and earned a Juno nomination and multiple ECMAs nods.
The three principals have remained active as solo singer/songwriters, but it's a treat to hear their voices raised in unison once more.
In a press release, MacLean explains that “we had planned to reunite to honour Ron Hynes at the East Coast Music Awards and when that was cancelled, it was heartbreaking. When Kim called about recording God it felt like the perfect way to come together again. The song is one of our favourites to sing together and we had never recorded it. It just felt so right, singing together. Good for the heart.”
Stockwood recalls that “I woke up in the middle of the night singing this song in my head, it used to be our encore song. The next day when I found all the lyrics, I teared up...I just knew it needed to come into the world now…music has always brought people together . . . it is the great healer. And it's so incredible to sing with the girls again, even from afar."
Doyle adds that “There’s been something very illuminating about being quarantined these last few months- you realize what’s important and what isn’t . At the end of the day the only thing that matters are your relationships with the people you love. I’m so happy to be singing in harmony with Kim and Tara again."
God is written by Toronto songsmith Jeen O'Brien, and it proves to be a perfect vehicle for Shaye. Accompanied only by a guitar strum, the voices shine alone and together, on a gentle plea: "God of all gracious I got problems If you could find the time Would you ease my mind."
We're not sure if this is just a one-off reunion song, but we can be grateful for its timely appearance.
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Management: Sheri Jones, Jones & Co
Yuri Hasegawa
