Film’s love for Winnipeg shows in soundtrack

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This article was published 27/01/2017 (3549 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Director Tyson Caron has said the film Lovesick is his love letter to Winnipeg, and that idea carries through in the soundtrack.

Composed by Matt Schellenberg, best known for his work as a member of indie-pop outfit Royal Canoe, the 13-song album features collaborations with local talents such as John K. Samson (the Weakerthans), Alexa Dirks (Begonia), Matt Peters (Royal Canoe), SMRT and Bobby Desjarlais (Attica Riots).

Schellenberg has worked with Caron on projects in the past and said the director was passionate about the idea of having a Winnipegger at the helm of the film’s music. 

 

"He was always there being supportive and offering advice, but he definitely gave me the artistic reigns," says Schellenberg of working with Caron. "He wasn’t stifling in any way. He was there to buy me a coffee or buy me a beer, offer his opinion if I wanted it, but also he was so open to me steering the musical ship. He’s incredible to work with."

It wasn’t always the intent to have only Manitoba artists contribute to the soundtrack, but as songs started to be completed and fall into place — and Schellenberg took advantage of his musical connections in the city — it made sense to push forward with that concept.

"It just came together in a way that it just happened that it was only Manitoba artists, and then that became an intentional mantra at some point in the process," says Schellenberg.

"And I think everyone was excited to be part of a feature film with some known actors in it. It all came together with a lot of enthusiasm."

Schellenberg has already been nominated for a Canadian Screen Award for Achievement in Music — Original Song for Draw Blood, which he says is featured in a "pretty poignant moment" in the film. A day prior to his nomination for the award, he noted Draw Blood is his favourite song he wrote for the soundtrack.

"I haven’t written a song in just straight-up acoustic guitar style in ages and so this was my favourite version of that that I could come up with in the last couple years, and I was happy that it happened to be quite featured in the film," he said.

Unlike many film soundtracks, in which bands are sought out to fill the musical needs of the visual images on screen, Schellenberg instead wrote the songs himself in the genre that was needed — from folk to blues to Latin to hip-hop-inspired riffs.

"That was kind of odd, but really challenging and good, and probably the weirdest part about the soundtrack but also the most fun," he says with a laugh.

The soundtrack album is available for purchase on iTunes and a limited amount of hard copies will be available at Cinematheque while the film screens there. The music can also be found on streaming services such as Spotify and Soundcloud.

erin.lebar@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @NireRabel