Working as a commercial pilot has its fringe benefits – travel to exotic locales while wearing a cool uniform. And while most of us sit fenced in by cubicle walls, pilots see spectacular views of the sky day-after-day.
But St. Albert resident Tony Soloway is the first to admit that piloting commercial airplanes across multiple time zones at crazy hours in a confined space can rapidly deplete mental and physical energy. The demands are extraordinary.
Soloway, a commercial pilot for Air Canada’s international routes, uses an unusual form of preventative medicine to combat potential issues that crop up.
While some pilots decompress playing golf, he writes songs and produces them in his second-storey home studio.
One of the newest voices on the block, Soloway just completed a soft release of Solitude, his third studio album. With the exception of Glen Campbell’s Wichita Lineman, the 10-track carries all specially tailored originals.
Initiated more than a year ago, Solitude was recorded in bits and pieces between scheduled flights. Even the CD’s jacket, a photo of Soloway standing in a graffiti-painted alley in Sydney, Australia, was snapped during a layover.
“Solitude has two meanings. It could mean that you’re alone or that I don’t have a band. I’m on my own and I’m content with that,” said Soloway.
There’s a touch of the gambler in the singer-songwriter who enjoys buying lottery tickets and takes in the occasional lunch at Century Casino.
His opening song, Livin’ The Dream, explores the life of a gambler, a man addicted to vices who wins $10,000. Written initially on piano, drums were added to give it punch.
“He loses his dream. He loses his assets and he loses the one he loves.”
But the first song that kicked off the writing sessions is Get Over You, a ballad about not wanting to lose someone special.
“I added a clarinet and gave it a jazzy feel. In this one, I was inspired by Paul McCartney. Everyone says I sound like him.”
Soloway switches to a blues-rock vibe in Sweet Melodies, a travelling song showcasing piano tracks, percussion and kick drums.
Running your finger down the track list, it quickly becomes apparent Soloway’s forte is love songs or relationship charts.
There’s Je t’aime (I Love You); Shame, a heartbreak song; and Into the Nite, originally recorded with George Blondheim at Wes Dakus Studios several decades ago.
For Soloway, who writes and records solo projects, producing and shaping the album brought the greatest fulfillment.
Adding extra vocal tracks, testing out violin or clarinet lines or subtracting drum and bass lines pushed his creative juices to an all-time high.
“I like production – adding and taking things away. I admire the influence of Brian Wilson (Beach Boys). He really knew how to put things together.”
Solitude is available on iTunes and at tonysoloway.com.
