The fifth album from Ottawa-raised, Toronto-based singer/songwriter Amanda Rheaume, The Skin I’m In presents a compellingly portrait of an artist fully comfortable in her own skin, personally and musically.
Produced by Colin Cripps (Blue Rodeo, Junkhouse) at The Tragically Hip’s famed Bathouse Studio, it sports a full-blooded band sound, thanks to the contributions of an A-list musical supporting cast.
Rheaume’s supple and expressive vocals fit neatly in the centre of the sonic landscape, while her eloquent and well-crafted songs were written with such noted collaborators as Jason Blaine, Melanie Brulée, Jim Bryson, Justin Glasco, and Tim Bovaconti.
One of Rheaume’s great gifts as a songwriter is her ability to take the personal and make it universal, drawing upon her own experience to deliver messages with a wide resonance. She digs deep on The Skin I’m In, reflecting upon her Metis heritage, as on the profoundly moving title track and “Return To The Water,” and addressing issues of identity and mental health.
Her earlier albums met with widespread critical acclaim. 2013’s Keep A Fire earned her a 2014 Canadian Folk Music Award for Aboriginal Songwriter of The Year as well as a Juno Award nomination for Aboriginal Album of the Year, while 2016’s Holding Patterns received a Canadian Folk Music Awards nomination.
An engaging performer, Rheaume has developed a following across Canada and in Europe, where she tours regularly.
She has long employed her music as a force for good, as shown by three trips to Afghanistan to perform for Canadian military personnel, plus visits to the Alert base in Canada’s far north and the troubled Indigenous community of Attawapiskat.
Rheaume co-founded Babes4Breasts, an initiative that, through concerts and recording projects, raised money for breast cancer charities across Canada over a 10-year period.
This is an artist with a heart as big as her talent.
Name: Amanda Rheaume
Genre: Americana
Founded: 2003 was my first EP, 2011 my first full length album
# of Albums: 5 including this one
Latest Release: The Skin I’m In
Latest Single: The Skin I’m In (Single)
Latest Video: The Skin I’m In (Single)
Favourite Restaurant:
Paris Paris (Dundas and Ossington)
Favourite band as a teenager:
Nirvana
Favourite band now:
The Band
Guilty Pleasure Song:
Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves
Live Show Ritual:
Quiet backstage time with the band and some red wine
Favourite local artist:
Melanie Brulée
Sneaky Dees nachos, pasta from Terroni or a superfood salad from Fresh?
SNEAKY DEES NACHOS FOREVER
Queen or College St?
Queen Street… West. I basically live on it 😉
Trinity Bellwoods or Highpark, Riverdale or Kew Gardens?
Highpark
EP or LP?
LP
Early bird or night owl?
early bird
Road or studio?
ooooh tough…road
Swiss Chalet or Roti?
Roti
Where can we follow you?
Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Website
Any shows or albums coming up?
February 21st Cadillac Lounge in Toronto – Album Release Show
New album, The Skin I’m In, dropped February 15th 2019
