Blending emotional lyrics and musical styles in music is connected with Babe Gurr’s diverse interests in melodies and art.
Her latest album, Hearts Up to the Sun, reflects her interest in embracing sounds and fusing them with her roots style.
“It takes you on a little bit of a ride emotionally as well as lyrically,” she said.
Exploring different music styles isn’t new to the singer-songwriter. In her previous album, SideDish, she incorporated Spanish, Middle Eastern and Brazilian nuances.
“I personally get bored of just doing one style,” said Gurr, adding she listens to various genres. “I am influenced by it because I love it.”
Her newest work’s title comes from one of the songs on the album, Throw Our Hearts Up to the Sun.
Gurr said it talks about being “trapped in Vancouver during the godawful winter,” the months with nothing but rain. It explores the feeling of needing to get away, “get sunshine and positive energy. Finding yourself again,” she said.
Hearts Up to the Sun explores a diverse range of topics including politics and mid-life crisis.
“Most of my songs are taken from things around me that influence me,” said Gurr.
She said she’s lucky because she doesn’t have to constrain herself to one genre.
“As an independent artist you don’t have to marginalize your style,” said Gurr. “It gives you the freedom to stretch out a bit.”
While Gurr is recognized for her sultry roots voice, her songwriting also garners attention. She’s been in the top 10 in the Billboard World Song Contest and was selected as a finalist for her song, My Love, for the 12th annual Great American Song Contest and Hearts Up to the Sun for the 13th annual awards contest.
Gurr treats writing songs like her day job. She sits in her office working on songs.
“Sometimes certain songs are painfully slow,” said Gurr. “And sometimes songs come out of the blue and you can’t really describe why or where they come from.”
She said those songs that seem to come out of nowhere come from a place of energy.
When she’s not writing and singing her own songs, Gurr also works as a producer collaborating with other musicians.
“I love wearing the producer hat,” she said. “It’s really creative.”
Gurr said she works with a number of artists open to collaboration and open to suggestions on music arrangements.
Gurr is co-billed with Jim Byrnes at the Queen’s on Saturday (Feb. 6). She’s known Byrnes since the 1990s when she appeared on his show, The Jim Byrnes Show. Since that time the two have performed together numerous times.
Doors for the concert open at 7:30 p.m. and the show begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $26 and are available in advance at the Queen’s or $30 at the door.
arts@nanaimobulletin.com