A Coquitlam musician who was about to go on tour to promote his début EP when COVID-19 shut down the world is now out with his first full-length album.
And on Thursday, June 20, Etienne Siew will officially release his work, which he titled Chasing Dreams, with a show at Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre.
A graduate of Dr. Charles Best Secondary, Siew told the Tri-City News that while he was disappointed about his tour stop in early 2020, the forced break “gave me time to reflect and process a lot of things that were happening in the world.”
His dozen new tracks speak about strength, the environment and familial ties — especially with his grandmother Elizabeth, for whom he’s dedicated a song.
Siew also wrote about B.C.’s wildfires after visiting friends in the Interior. In his song “Leviathan,” his second single from the album after the title tune “Chasing Dreams,” he said, “I wanted to write a message of hope for those people.”
On “The Hurricane Rider,” Siew urges listeners to go after the things they want.
The 34-year-old musician said he’s knows his songs can have a powerful connection because “I write music that’s authentic and resonates with many people.”
Recorded at Echoplant Studios in Port Coquitlam, the album includes performances by audio engineer and producer David Ziehr and his fiancée: electro–pop artist Chersea, aka Chelsea Laing, who was raised in Port Coquitlam.
As well, Siew looped in vocals from his mother and grandmother on two tracks to give the album a personal touch.
Still, Siew said the sound on his inaugural album, which has funding from the Canada Council for the Arts, may be different as he’s exploring tones with his electric guitar.
“Music is a journey that can take many shapes and forms. And I’m on that road.”
For tickets to see Etienne Siew at the Evergreen Cultural Centre (1205 Pinetree Way, Coquitlam) on June 20, visit the facility’s website. You can also catch him play live at the Mission Folk Music Festival on Saturday, July 27 at 2 p.m. — a spot he won after clinching the Fraser Valley Music Awards in 2022 where he was named Best Country/Folk Roots Artist of the Year and earned the Fan Award.
