Email:
contact@sillanyoung.com
The Group
Biography
Whether you’re listening to them on your ipod or lucky enough to lap them up in person, you’ll quickly try to categorize their oddly uncategorizable sound. Is it the love child of Damien Rice and India Arie? Perhaps. Is it a younger and sassier second cousin of Dianna Krall? Maybe. The real answer is Sillan & Young are simply and authentically 100% Sillan & Young. In a time when everyone is desperate to sound like someone else, they are happy to sound like themselves. How refreshing.
While their new album, Under My Feet, may salute their first CD Better Thing, there is certainly an evolution and newness they can’t wait to share. The folk, jazz and acoustic roots are still there, but there’s a fresher more streamlined presence that Juno winning producer Russell Broom helped make possible.
It’s exciting times for a group brimming with talent and empty on ego. Sillan & Young have never reached for the cash grab or instant gratification, preferring to stay the course and remain focused on their craft. Playing to crowds bigger than the cities some of them grew up in, they have heard the appreciation from their faithful followers go from a gracious clap to a loud roar. They’ve also been reaping some impressive industry attention, including Johanna’s nomination for the 2007 Western Canadian Music Awards. Proud? Yes. Letting it go to their head? No. Sillan & Young just aren’t like that.
Individual Bios
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Smart and soulful, Sillan & Young have effortlessly been
drawing in their faithful listeners with their eclectic acoustic
pop, genuine songwriting and intimate performance style for five
years now. Their music is deep and poetic, resonating like a good
friend that always knows what to say. Whether you’re in your
twenties, thirties or beyond, you just might find yourself falling
for Sillan & Young. And there’s absolutely nothing you can do to
stop it. Led by the little blond with the big voice, Joanna Sillanpaa and co-lead by guitarist Aaron Young, this accomplished quintet is rounded out with rhythym section of Kodi Hutchinson, Chris Andrew and Tyler Hornby. They hail from far away places like Sweden and Saskatchewan, tossing their individual influences in the collective talent pot that is Sillan & Young. They’re all accomplished on their respective instruments. All dedicated to their art. All oozing the passion and heart it takes to succeed in this fickle business. |
Whether you’re listening to them on your ipod or lucky enough to lap them up in person, you’ll quickly try to categorize their oddly uncategorizable sound. Is it the love child of Damien Rice and India Arie? Perhaps. Is it a younger and sassier second cousin of Dianna Krall? Maybe. The real answer is Sillan & Young are simply and authentically 100% Sillan & Young. In a time when everyone is desperate to sound like someone else, they are happy to sound like themselves. How refreshing.
While their new album, Under My Feet, may salute their first CD Better Thing, there is certainly an evolution and newness they can’t wait to share. The folk, jazz and acoustic roots are still there, but there’s a fresher more streamlined presence that Juno winning producer Russell Broom helped make possible.
It’s exciting times for a group brimming with talent and empty on ego. Sillan & Young have never reached for the cash grab or instant gratification, preferring to stay the course and remain focused on their craft. Playing to crowds bigger than the cities some of them grew up in, they have heard the appreciation from their faithful followers go from a gracious clap to a loud roar. They’ve also been reaping some impressive industry attention, including Johanna’s nomination for the 2007 Western Canadian Music Awards. Proud? Yes. Letting it go to their head? No. Sillan & Young just aren’t like that.
Individual Bios
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Johanna
Sillanpaa -Vocals Johanna Sillanpaa has the type of voice that makes you want to stand up and shush the entire room. She’s just that good. And she’s worked hard to get there. An alumnus of both the Grand MacEwan music program in Edmonton, Alberta and the Banff School of Fine Art, Johanna has worked tirelessly to develop the strong, sultry and introspective voice that could be described as one part Erykah Badu and one part Norah Jones. She’s got the talent and the passion, but she’s incredibly smart too. Joanna Sillanpaa knows exactly how to craft the right sound, the right lyric and the right performances style at just the right time, resulting in pure magic. Johanna's solo debut album Good Life was recently nominated for a 2007 Western Canadian Music Award, which was an incredible honour for the girl from Boras, Sweden. She’s a rare find. You almost want to keep her a secret. But don’t. |
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Aaron Young-Guitar/Vocals By the time Aaron Young was just 23 years old, he had already produced, arranged and performed on over 15 albums. It was clear that music wasn’t going to be in his future, it was going to be his future. With eclectic influences ranging from Randy Rhodes and Ricky Skaggs to Jim Croce and Ozzy Osborne, Young went on to perform in the world-beat stage show Barage for 5 years, touring Asia, Scandanavia, the UK, Canada and the US. Over the years he has continued to hone and shape his brilliant guitar skills and prolific writing, evolving into the well-known and well-respected artist that he is today. Aaron is proud to lend his experience, immense dedication and raw instincts to Sillan & Young as well as The Polyjesters and Monkeyking. He’s even prouder to catch the odd glimpse of himself on PBS, CBC, MTV and the BBC. Not bad for an oddball kid from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. Not bad at all. |
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Kodi Hutchison – Double Bass A native Calgarian, Kodi Hutchison started making his mark in the biz when some of today’s pop sensations were still in diapers. Creative, introspective and just a happy-go-lucky guy, Hutchison has established himself as one of the top call bassists in Western Canada, getting the opportunity to perform with artists like PJ Perry, Laura Crema, Dave Restivo, Owen Howard, Hugh Fraser, Paul Tobe, Ingrid Jensen, Ross Taggart, Mike Murley, the Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks along the way. As much as it’s a business, Kodi is a true artist that finds musical inspiration in the simple things. And he channels this inspiration into his work with both Sillan & Young and the Hutchison Andrew Trio. |
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Tyler Hornby He’s versatile, well traveled and just a really great drummer. It’s no wonder Tyler Hornby is in such high demand. While he works primarily in the jazz genre, Tyler is also a skilled Latin drummer and composer. To date Tyler has performed with such artists as Bob Mintzer, Ingrid Jensen, Frank Mantooth, Alain Caron, Brad Goode, Mikc Murley, Hugh Fraser, Tommy Banks, Chip Stephens, Shelly Berg, Ralph Bowen and Decidedly Jazz Danceworks. His taste, control and rhythmic finesse have led him on an exciting musical journey of North America, South America, Europe and back to Calgary where he performs with Sillan & Young, jazz-fusion group Terrain as well as The Tyler Hornby Quartet. In addition to a hectic performing schedule, Hornby is also busy releasing his debut acoustic jazz album entitled Shadows of a Brighter Day while teaching the jazz program at Mount Royal College. Does Tyler sleep? That’s a very good question. |
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Chris Andrew Performer. Recording artist. Composer. Pianist. Teacher. Musical Director. There are very few hats that Chris Andrew doesn’t wear. As one of Canada’s finest pianists, Chris brings ingenuity, highly acclaimed technical abilities and passionate performances to the musical table, making it a table other musicians want to join. In fact the very talented Andrew has graced the stage with Josh Redman, Paquito D’Rivera, Thomas Chapin, Kirk MacDonald, Sunny Fortune, Joe LaBarbera, PJ Perry and Brad Turner. In addition to rounding out the Sillan & Young quintet, Andrew is also a member of Bomba! and the Hutchison Andrew Trio, who were both nominated for a 2006 Western Canadian Music Award. Chris was also recently given the Rising Star Award at the 2008 National Jazz Awards. His star will only continue to rise. Just watch. |