Christine Whelan FEO, July 7, 2022, VOL. 3 ISSUE 23
During these exciting days of reaping his rewards of creative work, Spencer Mackenzie takes time to reflect on his inspirations and influences, paying it forward with his timely message to other young musicians. “It’s time to get together. It’s time to just play!”
When asked about the beginning of this journey for the Ridgeway resident who just turned 23 years old, Spencer shared, “I picked up a guitar when I was five years old. My parents got me a guitar. But we soon found out it was the wrong hand. I’m left-handed.”
He continued, “Although I wasn’t able to play it yet, I loved music because my dad, Richard Mackenzie, would always be playing music around the house. He wasn’t musically inclined but he’s one of the biggest music lovers I know.”
The young musician began naming names. “I’ve always heard musicians like The Beatles, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Rolling Stones, Muddy Waters,” just to list a few of his inspirations. “There was a lot. When I got older, what I took away was from B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and even today, I would say, Joe Bonamassa and Gary Clark Jr.”
The influence began to play out. The journey shifted to hands on. “By the time I got serious with the guitar, I was about 12 years old. Around that time, I was fortunate to have met two local musicians, Elton Lammie, and then later for guitar, John Navarolli.” Navarolli, Spencer explained, is from Buffalo but came over the river to teach in Niagara Falls, Ontario for a number of years.
“After that, I started at Mohawk College for Applied Music and Contemporary Guitar.” He just completed his four years of study.
“Brant Parker also played a big role in my journey.” Spencer explained, “He runs the Saturday Guest Spotin Thorold at a place called Donnelly’s Pub. He would get me up to jam. After already learning from some great teachers, I really learned there, how to play with a band and how to play the blues.”
“After that, I really started getting serious about my music, releasing my first album, Infected With the Blues, in 2016, then the second album, Cold November, in 2018.” The first two albums were produced when Spencer was still in high school.
During those years, the musician began receiving nominations and winning awards. He was a Talent Search Winner with the 2016 Toronto Blues Society. He won New Artist Of The Year at the 2016 Maple Blues Awards and Blues Artist Of The Year at the 2017 Niagara Music Awards. The full list is on Mackenzie’s website.
It’s a Family Thing
Spencer talked about his songs included in the new release. “I write my own songs. My dad co-writes with me. I would say, at least half of my songs had already been written. They were stockpiled.
“We’re really big into not making it a big deal if we don’t get a song recorded. We have it. One day, we’ll use it. I had a lot to draw from for Cold November.”
He added, “I wrote a song myself called Can’t Do Right.”
On June 7th, Spencer announced on Facebook that the new single and title track to his new album, Preach to my Soul, was out.
He posted, “Preach to my Soul was inspired by the powerful influence from those who came before me who are fundamentally preaching to my soul, channelling their passion, communicating their love for the blues to play through me in my music.”
The next single on the new album to be released will be Baptized By Coldwater on July 8th.
August 12th is the big day. The full album, Preach to my Soul will be released, along with the single Don’t Wanna Be Your Dog, including an official music video directed by Lisa Mann.
“Those three songs kind of show the palette for the rest of the album, a bit more blues rock. There are a few sentimental songs on the album for contrast, so there is a variety.
“We also play two covers. The one cover, Paranoia Blues, features a musician named Steve Strongman, a phenomenal guitar player in Hamilton, also a huge inspiration of mine.”
Mackenzie talked about the travel that he’s been enjoying, but says there’s nothing really like home. “I’ve had the good fortune to have been able to play at a lot of festivals across Canada. This year, we’re going out to the Montreal Jazz Festival, to New Brunswick and even to Drumheller, which is an hour outside of Calgary.
“We play a lot away from home but one of the first times I’ll be playing the album front to back is going to be at the First Ontario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines. And that’s on September 16th.
“We’ll have a six-piece band which compliments the album a lot more because we’ll have my four-piece and backup vocals. It will probably be a two-set night. It’s a ticketed event. This show will be a true CD release, not just an afternoon spot playing some covers.”
“I usually try to do some local shows, as local as I can. Spencer will be playing at the Waterfront Supper Market, “That’s just down the road from me.”
The musician has now started what seems the next natural step. “Something that I’m doing now, now that I’m out of Mohawk, during the week, I am taking on students. Especially people who want to study guitar, voice or both. I teach out of Ridgeway.”
Messages To The Community
Spencer owes a lot of his accomplishments to the support, guidance and influence of other artists so it’s not surprising he has words of encouragement, paying it forward.
To young musicians, “I know right now, we’re just getting over a scary time, and being able to get back in school, but we are also able to get together now and play. I would say that getting together and playing, whether it be having your parents drive you to a gym or to a friend’s house to play, or you or a friend have a car, I would say, that is one of the most important things for a young musician, to play with other people. Nowadays, it’s definitely something that has gotten smaller.
“Being an Instagram guitar player, a social media musician, is one thing. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if you want to play at shows, it’s a perfect place to start. Get together with some friends and just start playing. It’s definitely where you grow.”
Spencer says that he is extremely grateful for the community’s support in his career so far, and he’s excited to bring them more music.
Check out Spencer’s website, www.spencermackenzie.ca, for details on his music, view photos and find his email to contact him directly.
Photo provided by Spencer Mackenzie via spencermackenzie.ca
