Translucent Clear Vinyl
Limited Edition of 200
Song of Songs is a conceptual album drawing inspiration from the ancient poem of the same name, exploring the multifaceted nature of love. Minster's lyrics traverse the spectrum of love, encompassing its dark complexities and awe-inspiring glory. Her deep interest in psychology and personal development, coupled with years of dedicated research, imbue this album with a profound exploration of both romantic and non-romantic love. The album, funded by the Toronto Arts Council, the Canada Council for the Arts, and a large-scale Kickstarter campaign, was recorded at Union Sound, Revolution Recording, and Genesis Sound studios in Toronto.
Composed of eight tracks, Song of Songs features a 30-piece orchestra, including woodwinds, brass, percussion, and strings. Four of the songs showcase orchestral arrangements by the gifted Colombian-Canadian composer and orchestrator Felipe Tellez, performed by the Canadian Studio Symphony. The orchestra comprised many accomplished Canadian classical players, including concertmaster Lynn Kuo, the acclaimed violinist and Assistant Concertmaster of the National Ballet of Canada.
Song of Songs artfully merges jazz piano and vocals with classical influences, resulting in a unique blend of musical genres. The remaining four tracks are more intimate, jazz-inspired pieces incorporating the grand piano, voice, upright bass, and gentle percussion. They also feature two incredible soloists: virtuoso Canadian cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne, who has created his signature multi-layered cello arrangements for three tracks, and Juno-nominated Canadian trumpeter Tara Kannangara, who played moody atmospheric trumpet and flugelhorn on two songs. The recording and mixing process was handled by the talented sound producer and engineer Jeff McMurrich, who has previously collaborated with Minster on her albums Hour Of The Wolf and Father, ensuring impeccable sound quality for this new record.
In addition to Song of Songs, the album draws inspiration from the iconic films of Wim Wenders, the literary genius of Hermann Hesse, and ancient Greek myths such as the stories of Orpheus and Eurydice and Narcissus. Poetic and profound, each song represents a certain emotion and shade of love, depicting a journey from “Innocence”—the unconditional love and elation of youth—through experiencing the darker sides of love and all that comes with it, including jealousy, obsession, rejection, and the bitterness of loss, to the universal, all-encompassing love, “Song of Songs”. Minster uses floral metaphors in her lyrics, such as “a lily white among the thorns” and “black narcissus,” and the striking album art reflects this, presenting the singer surrounded by a sea of flowers, some beautiful and fresh, others dark and fading, each representing a different emotional experience.