The sky may be overcast, but the stars are definitely aligning for singer-songwriter Doug Hoyer.
Just check his planner and its full of squiggles and dates. This weekend, the pop singer is in Toronto and Montreal playing several concerts before he backtracks to Hog Town for a video shoot of his single To Fall In Love.
Earlier in the year, he collaborated with Good Woman Dance Collective and by June 15 he released a sophomore pop-art album, To Be a River. Later on June 20, he was one of the timely musicians playing at Calgary’s Sled Island Festival before it was cancelled due to unprecedented flooding.
“It was a Thursday afternoon (June 20) and we were lucky enough to play before we were evacuated the next day. We were outdoors under a tent and were really skeptical of the weather. It was raining while we set it up, but when we started to play it stopped. And then it started again,” Hoyer says.
The St. Albert Catholic High graduate now lives at Melrose Place close to the Saskatchewan River and walks to the water’s edge to reflect on things. It’s a tranquil environment that helped shape his thoughts for the 10-track To Be a River, a contemplation on time, getting older and the flow of life.
“Heraclitus says you can’t step in the same river twice. Life is changing every day, every time,” states Hoyer taking his cue from the Greek philosopher.
Not particularly worried about trends, the pop practitioner writes catchy music that he would like to hear. Lately world music has caught his ear, especially Afro beats, calypso and in the more rhythmic grooves.
“Afro beats resonate with me and you can hear them in this album. It has more fun rhythms, more dance rhythms.”
But intertwined within the album’s light boogie beats are serious musings about time likely prompted by big changes in Hoyer’s own life. Last year, he graduated from MacEwan University with a degree in sociology and proposed to fiancĂ©e Maureen Murray, a muse that inspired several romantic numbers such as To Fall in Love and The One For Me.
Surf’s Up instead meditates on Hoyer’s youthful experiences while the electro-pop Minimum Wage reflects on sacrifices we make to enjoy life.
Although Hoyer lacks a formal degree in music, he’s a multi-instrumentalist tackling bass, ukulele and accordion. And while still a teen, he appeared on Rock Camp, a CBC reality TV show where young musicians were assembled and groomed into polished musicians. The lanky musician was also a sideman and bass player for the Edmonton version of Christian Hansen & the Autistics.
Adding to his resume, Hoyer was given the nod for two nominations – Best Male Artist and Best Pop Album – at the 2012 Edmonton Music Awards.
Although he lost in both categories, he sees the award ceremonies as a positive institution.
“It (nomination) didn’t help directly, but it helps build momentum towards something else.”
The pop artist’s next gig is Edmonton Gets Felt Up, a rippling project Hoyer says fell into his lap.
Animator Simon Glassman created Felt Up, a reality show peopled by puppets sharing embarrassing sexual escapades.
Glassman had made a 2010 music video, The Lakes of Mars, with Hoyer and was completely in synch with the musician’s style. He asked Hoyer to write the theme song with a whimsical, despondent theme.
The lead character, Simon Puppet, lives with a roommate and writes a blog. Simon approaches his roommate to sing a song. The voice actor was a great puppeteer, but was unable to hold the notes. So Hoyer was handed the microphone.
“I’m trying to mimic a puppet voice and it’s funny, but more people will hear me sing the theme song and I’m not even singing in my own voice.”
Edmonton Gets Felt Up premieres two full episodes along with a three-song performance by Hoyer. Fans can catch it live at Metro Theatre at the Garneau on Tuesday, July 16 at 7 p.m.
