About a year ago, Elmo, the Sesame Street character, asked a question on social media.
“Elmo is just checking in. How’s everybody doing?”
Since then, more than 220 million people have seen the online post, revealing many people are not OK and are struggling with loneliness post-pandemic.
This winter, Coquitlam musician and songwriter Gina Williams tapped into the challenging emotion by offering her fans a lift with Christmas carols.
Called A Cozy Christmas, her online program is an interactive check-in that invites music lovers to be more connected during the holiday season.
Williams, who is working to get the program patented, wraps up her inaugural outreach Jan. 7.
“It’s like music therapy,” Williams told the Tri-City News last week.
“It’s designed to cheer people up during what can be some sad weeks. I want to make sure that people, even within my music circle, are remembered and not forgotten.”
On Feb. 9, Williams will spread her goodwill and spirit at Coquitlam’s Evergreen Cultural Centre when she performs in a concert called Kaleidoscope.
Tickets for Kaleidoscope featuring Gina Williams and her band are now on sale at $41/$37/$16. Visit the Evergreen Cultural Centre online or call the box office at 604-927-6555.
Williams, who has her master’s degree in piano performance from the University of Alberta as well as TV and film credits, and has recorded with Academic Choir of the National Radio of Ukraine, plans to take the crowd on a positive journey.
“It’s going to shift from genre to genre,” she said of the Evergreen show.
“We’re playing gospel jazz, classical, blues rock, adult contemporary and everything in between. And we’re going to bring together people who might not listen to other genres and share stories.”
The 90-minute show, which also includes her band on bass, guitar and drums, will highlight a couple of her original tunes from each of her albums.
In 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Williams dropped five compilations in different genres — classical piano, traditional gospel, Caribbean pop, electronic dance and symphonic rock — of which she says the songs came to her as divine downloads.
Williams said the symphonic rock album, titled Toxic Love, which focuses on bad relationships, has been especially popular with her fans in the United States; many of them will be travelling to Coquitlam on Feb. 9 to see her perform, she said.
Williams said her closeness with her audience prompted her last year to create a subscription service for VIPs to not only get the latest news about her music and touring schedule, but also to receive bonus material and discounts to shows and merchandise. GINA-US members who pay $50 a year are also emailed a monthly newsletter.
Besides her Evergreen show, Williams plans to release more compositions in 2025.
“I have catalogues of music in my head that I need to get out,” she said.
📣 Got an opinion on this story or any others in the Tri-Cities? Send us a letter or email your thoughts or story tips to [email protected].
📲 Want to stay updated on Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra news? Sign up for our free daily newsletter.
💬 Words missing in an article? Your adblocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.
