NL·First Listen

Chris Kirby finally gets around to producing his own album

Chris Kirby didn't mean to take seven years to release his latest album, What Goes Around, but his music producer's brain kept getting in the way.

Have a First Listen to What Goes Around by Chris Kirby

Chris Kirby has released What Goes Around, his first studio album in seven years. (Paula Gale/CBC)

Musician Chris Kirby didn't mean to take seven years to release his latest album, but his music producer's brain kept getting in the way.  

Kirby had planned to work with a recording producer in Ontario on What Goes Around, so he could keep his focus on writing and performing the songs on the album.  

"I talked to a few producer friends and they all said the same thing," said Kirby.

"'You are a producer, like it or not, and you're going to have to produce yourself, because you're not going to be happy unless you do, and it's going to take three times as long.' Which it did." 

In-demand producer

Kirby is now based in Halifax. (Chris Kirby)

After Kirby released his 2012 album, Wonderizer, he was asked by Halifax-based blues musician Charlie A'Court to produce his album. 

Word spread, and now Kirby has a waiting list and producer credits that read like a who's who of the East Coast music scene. He's also an in-demand songwriting collaborator and side musician. 

Currently based in Halifax, Kirby has also become a mainland mentor for Newfoundland and Labrador musicians such as Beauwater and Quote the Raven.    

"Like it or not, Halifax is a hub for the east coast," said Kirby. 

"I really try to connect them [Newfoundland and Labrador artists] and export themselves." 

I'm definitely more confident on this album, and I'm trying to be myself more.- Chris Kirby

Kirby said all that experience with other artists has helped him with his own work on What Goes Around

"I'm definitely more confident on this album, and I'm trying to be myself more," he said. 

Kirby admitted that he could probably use help from some of his newer artists when it comes to releasing music in 2019. 

"Streaming was very much frowned upon when I released Wonderizer [in 2012]," said Kirby. 

"Luckily, most of my fans are analog people." 

Hear Chris Kirby talk about his own music, and working with other artists: 

Do you have a new album of music that Weekend AM should know about for First Listen? Email us, wam@cbc.ca, and tell us about it. 

You can hear First Listen on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in most of Labrador) on CBC Radio One. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Heather Barrett is the host and producer of Weekend AM on CBC Radio One in Newfoundland and Labrador.