Witchy, Jazzy, and Powerful!

Brought to you by Ghostly Hounds x CreativeMornings/Montréal.
Live February 27th opening for #MTLCM #CMethics

Ghostly Hounds is a Montréal witch-folk quartet that combines strings, horns and powerful vocals to create a dark, jazzy sound.  Francesca Daoust, vocalist and banjo extraordinaire, started playing a few years ago in BC. After hitchhiking and busking her way from Victoria to Halifax, she settled in Montréal and quickly began playing shows around the city. After performing a private patio concert in July 2015, she was approached by Matthew Dorfman (double bass) who was interested in collaborating. Shortly after, Suzanne Stirling and Zafer Zephyr joined the duo, adding trumpet and viola. This creative fusion came about very organically and the new quartet began recording their EP. Ghostly Hounds has since been playing multiple venues throughout Montréal and you can catch them throughout the city several times per month. This March they will take it on the road for a small Ontario tour. For tourdates, definitely check out their Facebook page.

What is the creative process like for the Ghostly Hounds?

Francesca creates songs as a way of processing her feelings and experiences. The writing is sporadic. Many months can pass without creating anything, while other times several songs may be written in one week. Francesca begins each arrangement with lyrics, vocals and banjo. She then reworks them with Matt to ensure a proper structure. After some modifications, the entire group jams together until a good composition emerges. The process is very collaborative.

Do you think being a ‘creative’ in Montréal is different from other cities?

Definitely! - Francesca says with a sparkle in her eye.

“The sheer number of people who are trying to do something with their creativity in Montréal is so much larger than any other city I have been to. Almost everyone seems to be connected to a creative outlet, whether through poetry, dance, painting, music, etc. There’s a real sense of celebration and community here. It’s been easy to connect in Montréal, whether through events like Creative Mornings or jamming in the park, it all facilitates more opportunities to expand, meet, create, and to be creative.”

On ethics and creativity.

Francesca believes that creatives who put themselves in the public eye should align themselves to the morals with which they identify with and should express themselves accordingly. However, she also acknowledges that once you create something it can easily take on a life of it’s own, becoming a separate entity from the person who created it. This can be observed in situations where fans enjoy a piece of art while simultaneously speaking out against the personal behaviours of the artist who created it.

Come listen to the Ghostly Hounds live at the next #MTLCM x #CMethics !

Find out more about Ghostly Hounds on their page Ghostly Hounds, Bandcamp or on Facebook

Interview with Francesca Daoust

Written by: Sophia Kapchinsky

Photo by: Daniel H Nadeau