Starting a new career at the mid-point of your life is rough, but for singer-songwriter Koreen Perry, 48, it’s an adrenalin rush that’s been a long time coming.
In fact, her new four-song EP, a pop-country classic rock cocktail, coming out later this month is tentatively titled Never Too Late.
“When it’s in your blood, it’s in your blood,” Perry responded when asked what prompted her to return to the stage.
“I started writing songs again. I didn’t think I’d get into it seriously, but life has a way of surprising you.”
Born and raised in Edmonton, Perry was surrounded by music, theatre, film and performance from an early age. As a growing vocalist, she was part of the Edmonton Musical Theatre stable training under the renowned Dr. Dasha Goody.
She put her performance skills to use first as a TV reporter and later moved into court reporting.
Eager to experience the world, she moved to Calgary for 10 years and spent six months living in Australia working as a live TV captionist – a profession she continues today.
But that was then. Push the fast-forward button to 2012 and Perry had returned to Alberta. After raising a family, she decided to follow her dream – that of a contemporary country singer.
Perry trained with Cooper Studios, paid her dues at festivals, clubs, bars and casinos before receiving a grant from RAWLCO Radio to produce her first self-titled CD.
Her first kick at the can was an easygoing-country-style album of cover songs from luminaries such as Olivia Newton-John, ABBA and Fleetwood Mac.
Combining albums and singles, Perry delivers an eclectic variety from the bubbly Lucky and soulful Face to Face to the jazzier Playing My Emotions and the edgier Law of Attraction.
“I wrote a bunch of songs as a teen, but I never thought I’d be doing them.”
The first local watering hole Perry performed at in 2011 was Apex Casino and later showed off her pipes at Rainmaker Rodeo. Five years later, she’s adopted a more polished Shania-esque presentation.
Perry, supported by guitarist Alan Tymofichuk, drummer Ben Samuels and bassist Jeff Godley, will perform at LB’s Pub on Friday, Jan. 15.
