Harrowsmith – June 2019

12 | harrowsmithmag.com

Award-winningNovaScotiaproducer
andartistErinCostelolaunched
hernewalbum,SweetMarie( Ve nu e
Records/Pheromone),lastfall.
Recordedin 10 daysina timber-frame
homeontheoceaninLittleHarbour,
NovaScotia,thealbumfeaturessome
ofthebestmusiciansinthecountry,
includingGlennMilchemofBlue
Rodeoondrums,AnnaRuddickon
bass(RandyBachman,BenCaplan)
andLeithFleming-Smithonorgan
(MattMays,HawksleyWorkman),as
wellasErin’slongtimeguitaristand
partner,CliveMacNutt.
Harrowsmithhadthechance
tocatchupwithCostelo,whohas
beencomparedtoCaroleKingand
NinaSimone.Here,shesharesher
favouriteNovaScotiahaunts.

Harrowsmith:Youwereborn
inNovaScotiaandthenleftand
returned—whatdrewyouback?

ErinCostelo:Thatisa funnystory.

Letmeprefacethisbysayingthat

I thinkdeepdownI reallywanted

toreturn.I hadmovedfromTexas

toTorontoandgota dogwhilein

Toronto,Mason.Hewasa biggoof

ofa doggy,butfilledwithanxiety.

Hewouldpullallthefoodoutofthe

cupboardswhenI leftthehouse,

atemyroommate’sdrumsticks,

andcouldopenthefridgeandhelp

himself.I decidedthathewouldbe

muchhappierinthecountryinstead

ofthebigcityandthathisanxiety

wouldmeltawaywithlongwalkson

thebeachintheHighlandsofCape

Breton.I movedhomeforthedog.

(OrsoI toldmyself.)Hewasterrified

inthecountry.Scaredofwaves,

wind,prettymucheverything.After

a fewyears,hemellowedandwe

compromisedwitha movetoHalifax.

Alittlebitcityandcloseenoughfora

countrywalkwhenwewanted.

HS WhereexactlyinNova

Scotiadidyougrowup?

Whatwasitlikegrowingupthere?

EC

I grewupallover:Dartmouth,

NewGlasgow,Bridgewater,

andmyextendedfamilyalllivedin

CapeBreton.Tothisdaythereisstill

somethingabouttheclimbupCape

Smokeythatmakesmecry.Itfeels

likecominghome.

HS HowhasbeingfromNova

Scotiainfluencedyour

musicandstyle?

EC

Myfamilywereallvery

musical. We grew up with

lots of music in our house—kitchen

parties and singalongs. I think the

deep understanding of music as a

communal thing was instilled in me

at a very young age. I feel very lucky to

play with the musicians I play with;

they feel like family to me.

Musical Origins, Fish and Chips,

and Coming Home

Harrowsmith catches up with

Nova Scotia musician Erin Costelo.

BY CATALINA MARGULIS

A CUP OF

WITH

A LOCAL