Blizzard album is out since Friday May the 7th 2021. We met with its creator, multi-instrumentalist Ben Nesrallah
Blizzard features revamped and expanded versions of musical highlights from the live-show, which underscores all of the nostalgia, poetry, and intensity that makes the show so unique. The goal with this album was to have a slightly more concise musical experience that still conveys the true spirit of the show.
The album was originally supposed to be recorded in early 2020 after a 50-show run in Western Canada and the United States, however our final dates were cancelled, and upon returning back home, all of the recording studios closed. However, nine months later, I was finally able to get things back on track, recording the piano parts in Montreal, and the remaining parts in Toronto. At the recommendation of my sound engineer and co-producer Thomas Upjohn, we enlisted the help of percussionist and sound designer Andrew Beaudoin to fill out the arrangements from his home in Montreal. Making an album at a distance proved to be an exciting challenge, as we didn’t have the ability to rehearse any of the music, or flesh out ideas in person. All of the production of the album came through numerous zoom sessions and notes, but given that we were all on the same wavelength in terms of our tastes and vision for the music, it made for a smooth creative process.
The biggest difference is that unlike the live show, I don’t have to play everything at the same time. In the live show, I perform every instrument and sing in real time, which is exciting for the audience, but limiting in terms of how much I am able to do. The second difference is that since I didn’t have to be so closely tied to the acrobat’s movements and timings, it allowed me some freedom to elaborate and add in new sections to the pieces. That’s not to say that the album sounds completely different from the live show, rather it adds to it, giving those who have already seen the show a refreshing and new experience.
Blizzard is a diverse show that explores a wide range of emotional states that accompany living through winter in Canada. Sometimes we feel nostalgic, other times introspective; sometimes joyful, and other times very dark. The music was all written in Quebec City during what might have been the most intense winter I have ever lived through, which I feel like really helped bring a sort of honesty to the themes and the landscapes evoked in the music. On the album, each sound and texture was chosen to reflect this, and I hope that the listeners will feel this as well—whether they have lived through winter their whole lives, or if they’ve never once seen a snowflake.
The album is available to purchase on my website and available to stream on the platform of your choosing. However, if you enjoy the music and have the financial means, I would encourage you to purchase it!
