By David DeRocco

The first thing you need to know before reading any further is that Steven Page, solo artist and former co-captain of the Barenaked Ladies, has a new album out. It’s called Heal Thyself Part 1: Instinct. You should also know it’s a great album. No, make that, a fantastic collection of wonderfully inspired,  superbly sung and masterfully crafted adult pop gems. It reflects the amazing  musical sensibilities of a talented Canadian hit-maker who has, in the past, created some of the most endearing pop music ever released from this country.

That was then. Heal Thyself Part 1 is now. It’s where Steven Page lives these days.  And when critical praise for the album suggests he is now “at the top of his game” nearly a half dozen albums into his post-BNL solo career, then Page is finally willing to concede that, after years of soul-searching, anxiety and self-analysis, the critics might be right this time.

“Assuming as an artist that that is something you want to read, then you know what, I do feel that I am at the top of my game,” said Page, who’s prepping his band for their June 17^th appearance at Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Amphitheatre Performance Series. “I think most times when I put out an album, whether solo or with Barenaked Ladies, I felt like I was doing the best work that I’ve ever done. I think you kind of have to feel that way. You have to believe so fiercely in your recent work that it makes you excited to go out there and play it for people and stand behind it. I do feel that I’ve grown record to record. And I do feel that this record is probably the truest expression of what I’ve tried to communicate to people. This is the truest expression of what I sound like.”

What Page sounds like on Heal Thyself: Part I is an artist confidently paying homage to the music that helped shape both his love of the art and his songwriting; recorded between Vancouver and Toronto and co-produced with long-time friend Craig Northey of The Odds, Heal Thyself features 12 solid tracks fully barnacled with a range of musical influences, from 60’s pop heroes like the Beatles and Beach Boys to bouncy 80’s and Calypso-infused rhythms. Woven into the fabric of every track are some of Page’s most cleverly observed lyrics. For example, at face value the song “Linda Ronstadt in The 70s” reflects a nostalgic longing for the musical era in which she ruled; in truth, the track brilliantly captures the challenge artists (i.e. Page) face when their fans stay stuck in the past, all the while lamenting that their musical heroes aren’t making music like they used to. It’s a reality of being a musician that Page has come to accept on both an artistic and personal level.

“If I didn’t have a different perspective on what I’m doing now it would bother me, because it would seem like what I’m doing didn’t have value. But what I realized through the process – and it  took time, and some of it took leaving Barenaked Ladies and even before that – but there was this realization that those songs, especially that first (Barenaked Ladies) record, have a different value to people than new songs. They hear a new song and I may speak to them and it may have deeper meaning in the future, but to have young people, young adults come up to me and say ‘If I Had A Million Dollars’ was the song my parents used to play to me in the car all the time. That’s what we used to sing as a family. Or ‘Brian Wilson’ reminds me of my first year of university. Or ‘What a Good Boy’ was the first song at our wedding. Those songs at that point have nothing to do with me anymore. And that’s such a powerful feeling, that I’ve contributed to something that is just part of the world and part of other people’s real lives. It’s not about picking up my work or buying my record. It’s the fact your songs have usefulness, real usefulness. That a great feeling. I think most songwriters aren’t lucky enough to have that much impact on people’s lives. Whether I was a young person or an old person writing those songs, I don’t take it for granted. I appreciate it. And when people come to see us now I’m well aware of the fact that they want to hear my voice sing those songs that remind them of those moments.”

What’s clear on Heal Thyself is the fact that Steven Page is having a good time making music as a solo artist. While there’s an obvious increased level of maturity in the songs, Page still managed to let his playful juvenile out to have some fun during the creation of the album – like in the video for “Surprise Surprise”, a concept suggested by Craig Northey’s son that features a kaleidoscopic backdrop of colourful boxer shorts.

“It is a necessity,” said Page when asked if  having “fun” is on his hierarchy of needs as a musician. “You can have fun ‘quote unquote’ playing a song that is not necessarily an up-tempo or even uplifting song. It can be a dark song. But to have this sense of emotional connection between yourself and the other players that’s real and deep, that’s what I would consider to be fun. The human element. Sometimes when I’m by myself it’s not what I’m thinking about. It’s how do I get what’s in my head out and as close to what I’m imagining as possible. Then I get into a room with other musicians and I remember how important it is to have that fun. When you write a song by yourself it’s very private. It takes a little bit of bravery to share it with other musicians before you share it with an audience, and once you have that you trust each other, it’s a pretty heavy feeling, a wonderful feeling. I just did some shows with The Odds last weekend and when I got off I said, ‘this is the greatest job in the world.’ To stand on a stage with some friends and sing.  It doesn’t get any better than that.”

If there’s one thing better than a Steven Page appearance at Jackson-Triggs, it’s two appearances. Page returns to the stage in July to perform with along Northey, The Pursuit of Happiness frontman Moe Berg and Sloan’s Chris Murphy. The event is called “Rootstock,” and Page says he’s looking forward to the experience.

“We talked to Chris Murphy years ago about doing a kind of band thing just playing each other’s songs for the audience. We talked to people at Jackson-Triggs and they were totally game for us to try it out. We’re just four guys who love each other’s songs; we can trade off instruments and we can also tell stories. Although we didn’t all tour together, we all toured at similar times and have similar stories about what it’s like to choose to be in a band. That was the point Chris made; we all made the conscious choice to be in a band. I left mine seven years ago but we grew up in that. We didn’t set out to be solo artists, we wanted to be in a band. That mentality shapes the way you think about music and the way you think about yourself. Couple that with all the times we’ve spent in vans driving coast to coast in winter and there are a lot of stories.” 

For more information on Steven’s new album visit https://www.stevenpage.com/.  For information on the Jackson-Triggs concert series visit  http://www.greatestatesniagara.com/?method=pages.showPage&PageID=957D013E-F297-F539-3B6F-72A559028119&originalMarketingURL=Events/Jackson-Triggs-Amphitheatre-Tickets-2016