Fred Magie

Dundas songwriter Fred Magie will be celebrating the release of his new album entitled “Window To The World” with a performance at Cest What on September 15, 2010. Joining Fred on stage will be Lisa Winn (backing vocals), Andrew Aldridge (guitar), and Chris Lamont(drums) all of whom also played on the recording.

On this, Fred’s fourth studio recording, he collaborated with producer, Trevor Titian (Michelle Titian, Harrison Kennedy) and world-renowned musician Bill Dillon (Sarah McLachlan). The songs on the album were shaped and rewritten in a downtown Hamilton studio overlooking the fountain in Gore Park, until Magie, Titian, and Dillon all agreed that the lyrics, chords and storylines were cohesive.

During those long nights reworking the songs, a trusting connection was formed enabling the studio team to journey through a creative process that saw the album actually being recorded twice.

“The first version of the album sounded a lot like the Travelling Willburys with layers of vintage electric guitars. Listening back it was clear that while it sounded good, it just didn’t reflect enough of who I am”

Going back to the drawing board, the second attempt was focused on the natural acoustic guitar sound of Fred’s musical heros, Neil Young and Ron Sexsmith.

“When we played the songs with mainly acoustic guitars we had an ‘aha’ moment realizing that this was it. This sounded like Fred Magie!”

Lyrically, “Window To The World” explores loss, coping with change and finding hope to overcome challenges. Some of the songs follow characters through intricate storylines, while others are more representative of Fred himself. For example, “Co-star is a story of an ambitious actor who is visually impaired, while “Cedar Lane” reflects what it was like for Fred growing up in Muskoka.

Fred has been writing and performing his songs for ten years. A previous release entitled “Vote For Orb” under the band name, Molten Blue, earned the title “Best Band of 2002” by The Record in Kitchener Waterloo.