By: Alexander Hutt (Vancouver Correspondent - Canada)

Cory Woodward recently emerged on the Canadian music scene with his release The Princess of the Skies, an album he is currently promoting in his tour across Canada. Sporting a blues-rock and electronic sound, Woodward has rousing vocals and immense musical talent as is evidenced by his mastery of numerous instruments. I caught up with him while he was on the road and asked him some questions regarding his tour, the build up to his career, future releases and the Olympics.

Alex (A 'n' E Vibe): What were your musical influences when you were growing up?

Cory Woodward: Mainly my dad, he was a songwriter and he turned me on to 80s country. Nitty Gritty Dirt Band...I remember going to concerts when I was seven and I was just captivated by it. I'm in love with music. I grew up with Tom Waits, Wilco...They've really gotten me going for the last half of the decade.

Alex: If you could tour with any musician in the world who would it be?

Cory: Probably at this point it would be Bruce Springsteen. I've been traveling for the last couple of weeks and I have satellite radio and Sirius has a station that plays Springsteen all day. They play two of his concerts a day. I‘ve never heard him live, but it sounds really fun, he brings friends up and his music is very captivating.

Alex: What is your favorite instrument? Your least favourite instrument?

Cory: The guitar is my number one. I don't have a least favorite, each one has unique thing to add to music.

Alex: What are your feelings about using the glockenspiel?  

Cory: I liked the sound of it when we were making a record. Matthew Rogers and I spent the better of three months, chiseling away at a sound [for the record], and we just tried it out. It's a nice instrument that adds to the darker music lines and pretties them up a bit.

Alex: How has the tour been so far?

Cory: It's been a very interesting experience, being on the road traveling over 6000 kilometres; you have interesting conversations with yourself in the car alone. It's been a little different, but the shows have been great. There's been a lot of CD sales and the fans have been great. It's definitely something I could get used to.

Alex: Your favorite stop on the tour so far?

Cory: The show in Edmonton at the Black Dog. I grew up in Edmonton, and I've always wanted to play there. I'm also looking forward to the homecoming show in Vancouver, I'm sure it will be a good one.

Alex: Any good road stories from the tour so far?

Cory: Well, when you're by yourself, it's more just observation.  The other day, there were these birds just popping out of gullies and they would fly out and almost hit your car. It looked like a game they were trying to play or they were suicidal or something. I saw some road kill [of the birds] at some points and I thought, "Has Mother Nature adjusted to this new animal that goes really fast on the highways like the cars?" It was really depressing because those animals woke up that morning and they didn't know what hit them [when they died].

Alex: So would you say you support animal rights?

Cory: Oh yeah, definitely. I have two dogs and a bunny. Me and the wife, we foster animals all the time. We take care of anything that comes through the door, kittens or whatever else it is.

Alex: What do you like the most about The Princess of the Skies?

Cory: I'm very pleased with the outcome, because I really feel that I found an introduction to myself as an artist and the musician that I want to become. I really feel that I found myself on this release and I'm looking forward to the future.

Alex: Any plans for another release soon?

Cory: I already have the next album mapped out, but for the rest of the year I'm going to be selling this one. Pre-production will be the next year.

Alex: Do you agree with the comparisons that are being made with you to Bruce Springsteen and Joe Cocker? 

Cory: I wouldn't deny it. Springsteen, I haven't really gotten into him until recently. I bought his first record about two months ago because his stylistic choice just speaks to me.  I have been interested in Joe Cocker for years, mainly because his voice just captivates me.

Alex: How would you describe your musical style?

Cory: I would say a blend of electrosound with folk rock music.

Alex: How did you find the musicians you work with?

Cory: One was my wife [Dallas Woodward], I met her about six years ago, in a dinner theatre that we both worked in. Ryan McMahon was my first musical friend when I moved from Edmonton to Vancouver...We just enjoyed the same music tastes, he's a good friend and I'm glad that I know him. Same with Debra-Jean [Creelman], we had the same music tastes. I've had the pleasure to collaborate with her on stage and in the studio.

 Alex: How long have you been in the business?

Cory: Since I was a little kid and I sang in talent shows. The decision to seek it forcefully and want it as a career probably came about six years ago, when I broke up out of a band and decided I didn't want to be in a band anymore.

Alex: Did you have any alternate career paths before you became a musician?

Cory: Not really. I've always been into entertainment, acting and comedy at lots of dinner theatres. I've always loved to be on the stage and command an audience, to bring the show to the audience. It's a different avenue but it's entertainment and I've always wanted to do it.

Alex: Are you a sports fan? If so, which teams?

Cory: No. I've played lots of sports... My brother was a jock, so I grew up with stats and stuff, but all I really enjoyed in sports was the uniform and being dressed up and stuff. 

Alex: What is the best Canadian city?

Cory: It would have to be Vancouver. I've been to most Canadian cities now except for the Eastern ones. [Vancouver is] the best place to live, I love the attitude, the people, even the rain. I enjoy the rain, it's better than snow in the minus thirties from growing up in Edmonton.

Alex: Will you be watching the Olympics?

Cory: Not religiously, not too hardcore. I always felt comforted to watch world sports rather than the normal stuff on TV. Mostly I like to watch the ski jumps.

Alex: Would you consider joining a band again?

Cory: I work with guys right now but, the band idea, where everybody needs a piece of the creating of the songs and such, that aspect of that doesn't appeal to me. I work with guys and I enjoy their input a lot. We collaborate on the music, and they complement it, and I'm appreciative of that and I let them know that. Especially Matthew, he is a talented producer and he brought me to new levels. So I'm in a band right now, we just operate under my name.

 Read the A 'n" E Vibe review of Cory Woodward's Princess Of The Skies