"…her voice will stop you cold in your tracks. It's one reason she's attracted such devoted local fans who faithfully attend her gigs.Ste-Croix definitely isn't afraid to simultaneously show her intense and comic sides on stage. And the audience falls in love." Vancouver Courier.
Described as a prolific and introspective writer with the ".demonstrated talent it takes to write a hit song." Billboard World Song Contest President/Director, Bonnie Ste-Croix is not resting on her laurels to bask in the glow of her last album, Here I Am. The 2007 release solidified her place in the world of music, earning international radio airplay (charting in the top 100 in Canada), film placement and Canadian and international acclaim from industry and fans alike. "The Gaspé, Québec native possesses the songwriting prowess of storytellers Dar Williams, Shawn Colvin and Tom Waits." B.Whitehall, Xtra West. "Produced by Vancouver's Bill Buckingham and featuring some of our best players, this is a rich amalgam of writing styles from a fine singer…with songs like 'Berry Point Road" show loving attention to craft." John P. McLaughlin; The Province.
Using these accolades to fuel her passion, this Contemporary Roots Artist decided to venture into uncharted territories and record an album that will be a FIRST FOR CANADA. With thirteen of her original tunes in her pocket, and a hard drive of downloaded base tracks, Ste-Croix is traveling to each Province and Territory to record with guest artists including: Nova Scotia's multiple Juno Award-winning Natalie MacMaster on Fiddle for the title track, Canadian Girl, Juno winner Stephen Fearing on the Six-String Nation guitar for the Ontario Song, Juno winner Leela Gilday for the NWT song, B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame member Shari Ulrich; Saskatchewan-born WCMA-winner Joel Fafard; Kim Beggs for the Yukon, three-time 2010 Canadian Folk Music award nominees The Once for the Newfoundland song and East Coast CFMA-winner Catherine MacLellan and Emmanuelle LeBlanc (of Vishten) for the PEI song. Alberta's The Fates participated on the recording completed in Calgary, and Marie-Josee Dandeneau, Winnipeg's Wyrd Sisters bass player recorded with Bonnie in Manitoba. Ste-Croix has also confirmed a "guest appearance" from the Six String Nation guitar. The project is passion-driven; born as a concept, by the artist, as a celebration of her return to her East Coast roots, her West Coast years as a an adult and her many travels from Coast to Coast for family and for touring over the years.
Background
Ste-Croix was born into a musical family in Gaspe, Quebec and showed promise as a vocalist from the age of six. Her debut album, Flying High, released in 1996, was in heavy rotation on Vancouver's Z95.3 FM. It was picked up by Sony Music in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and had independent distribution throughout Asia. Her follow-up, 2002's Summer June, included two songs that ended up in films. "Gravity" was heard in Vic Sarin's Deluxe Combo Platter, and "Complete Me" was featured in The Party Never Stops. The album received local commercial radio play from both QM FM and Clear FM. Most recently, Ste-Croix performed at Robson Square during the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver, and one of her songs was chosen for a compilation album honouring the life of Dr. Martin Luther King.
Live Performance
It was evident early in her life that Ste-Croix possessed a stage presence that alluded to a comfort born there. Genuinely emotive, her voice consistently gains comparisons for arousing sentiment reminiscent of some of the greatest performers to date: ". a voice possessing the anguish of Annie Lennox, the passion of Chrissie Hynde, and the tender innocence of Janis Ian." The Georgia Straight. Her "…immediately recognizable, smoky voice fluctuates between a sensual bluesy Bessie Smith, an assertive country-tinged Mary Chapin Carpenter, and a heartfelt acoustic rocker Sarah McLachlan." Xtra West.
But it is her charismatic presence, natural ease and knack for amusingly clever expression and perception that draw the audience in that extra step further building unshakeable loyalty to the artist. "It's one reason she's attracted such devoted local fans, who faithfully attend her gigs…often compared to Jann Arden for her witty humour, interactive and friendly stage presence…Ste-Croix definitely isn't afraid to simultaneously show her intense and comic sides on stage. And the audience falls in love." F. Hughes, Courier.
"Ste-Croix wanders around soul-deep Christine McVie but with a rain and sunshine coast Shari Ulrich-like sensibility." SEE Magazine; Edmonton
Discography
Canadian Girl,(2011) Produced by Bill Buckingham/B. Ste-Croix
Here I Am (2007), Produced by Bill Buckingham
Summer June (2002) Produced by B. Ste-Croix/Craig Zurba
Flying High Produced by B. Ste-Croix/Craig Zurba
Love You Always, Valentine Records Singapore
Vancouver's New Music CD, Z95.3 FM Vancouver
Earotica, Music West Compilation
Grrrls with Guitars, Vancouver
T.E.A. South Compilation, Toronto
Martin Luther King Tribute CD, Los Angeles, CA, USA
