Norine Braun releases "East Van Crossing" and connects with us on the creation and inspiration behind the track
- STAFF
- 3 days ago
- 7 min read
By: Staff
“East Van Crossing” is a breathtaking blend of soulful energy and raw emotion that captures the heart of East Vancouver.
Vancouver’s own Norine Braun has just released a track that pulses with raw emotion and soulful energy. "East Van Crossing " is a powerful ode to a neighborhood that’s shaped her identity and music for over three decades. With its rich mix of urban twang and roots-rock, the song instantly transports you to the heart of East Vancouver, capturing its vibrancy, resilience, and the quiet rhythms of everyday life. But behind the music lies a journey of personal transformation, one that Braun spoke with us about in a deeply reflective interview.
In our conversation, she shared how the powerful connection to her surroundings influenced the song’s creation, her collaborative experience with a dynamic group of musicians, and how the Henhouse Popup Sessions gave the track an electrifying immediacy. From finding her voice to discovering how hope drives her artistry, Braun’s insights into her craft are as raw and heartfelt as the song itself.
We dove into what drives her, what keeps her grounded, and the experiences that shaped her career. And as she continues to evolve as an artist, Braun leaves us with one question: what’s next?
Get ready for an inside look at the making of East Van Crossing and the journey that’s only just begun.
Begin Interview:
Hello Norine Braun, we’re thrilled to have you here for this interview! We've had an amazing time exploring your music and diving into your creative journey. Now, we’re even more intrigued to get a deeper look into both your brand and your personal and professional inspirations.
Q. We loved "East Van Crossing". The exciting and upbeat drums with those bright resonant guitars were magical. As always, we're absolutely in love with your vocals. The soaring notes with emotional and emphatic delivery over those twinkling keys were incredible. When did you first discover your voice, and what moment in your life shifted it from being something personal and intimate to recording with the intention of sharing it with a worldwide audience, setting the stage for the powerful and viable career we're experiencing now?
A. My mother said that I sang before I spoke. I've always made songs up in my head as an expression of my life here on the planet. Throughout my teens and early 20s I was always writing songs and then playing them for friends. It wasn't until my early 30s that I met producer James Bowers, who took me on as a client and started to produce my songs first as a songwriter and then as I progressed and grew, I decided that I was the one who I wanted to sing my own songs as an artist and that was the feedback from publishers as well to pursue my music as an artist. I was a late bloomer but as they say better late than never.
Q. "East Van Crossing" feels like a soulful love letter to Commercial Drive. Can you describe what makes this neighborhood so special to you after living there for over 30 years?
A. East Vancouver or Commercial Drive is the area where I live. This is a vibrant and colourful community. I grew up in a small town in Alberta and even though this is a big city this community feels like a small town in the sense that people watch out for each other and are respectful of each other's point of view and open to understanding. There's always something happening on the drive from artwork to protests to community celebrations. It's never a dull day here. There are many small businesses, incredible multiculural restaurants and you can walk wherever you need to go so no need for driving to shop.
Q. Being part of the Henhouse Popup Sessions, you had only an hour to record. How did that limited time frame influence the energy and creativity that you brought to "East Van Crossing"?
A. There is an immediacy just like when you play live that you have to bring it in that moment and that's what I really like about the one hour we have to record, it's a vibe we are after. We are striving in the moment to be authentic and bring our very best in that time frame. I have been surprised and excited with the outcomes.
Q. This track has a strong sense of community and collaboration. Can you talk about the dynamics of working with Steve Dawson, Sheldon Zaharko, and the other musicians in the Henhouse team? How did their contributions shape the final sound?
A. Steve Dawson is the originator of the hen house sessions and he is the one who put the group of musicians together and Sheldon the engineer for all the artists who take part. They have all played and worked together and are top shelf musicans who can work on the fly. Alice is my partner and joined on harmony vocals. Adam Popwitz has produced 8 of my albums and he mastered the single. Basically I send the chords and lyrics of the song with the BPM and key of the song along with a phone demo to Steve to hear it. I let him know what instruments I'd like featured too. He charts it for the band and we are ready to go. We have a short discussion at the onset and the musicians offer ideas on production as well and then we are off recording!
Q. The urban twang and roots-rock elements of "East Van Crossing" add a lot of emotional depth. What drew you to this style for this song, and how does it tie into your broader musical influences?
A. I write and record in a variety of genres. Steve Dawson is well known in the americana roots genre and I thought it would be fun and interesting to do that style for East Van Crossing, especially as the song has that small rural influence that I had growing up and I can still feel it in East Van in the big city, so we're taking the urban and the twang together in keeping with the feel and lyrics.
Q. You've spoken about how important hope is in your work. How does this theme manifest in "East Van Crossing," and what role do you think hope plays in your artistic journey?
A. Hope is crucial for all of life. Without hope we perish to depression and fatalism. Hope is what makes us work toward change if we didn't have hope we would wither and die. East Van gives me hope because there is great diversity in the community in so many ways and most of us try and make space to find common ground and understanding and celebration.
Q. Commercial Drive is known for its cultural diversity. How does this diversity influence your music and the way you approach songwriting and performing?
A. This diversity has a great influence in my writing and performing, musicians I perform with are well known local blues musicans, indie rockers, jazz specialists and roots musicians. I perform at Pride events, Indigenous events, African Folk festivals, Arts in the Garden and more. I am diverse within myself so I am in the right communtiy for my expression.
Q. After 30 years in East Vancouver, what's one specific memory or experience you've had there that has deeply influenced your music or life?
A. That is a really hard question! Musically, my CD releases in the neighbourhood venues like The Princeton, Cafe Deux Soleil, PAt's Pub are fond memories I deeply cherish with folks who have long supported my music. Playing at East SIde Pride, Trout Lake Community Concert, National Indigenous Day Celebration and Car free days over the years all propel me forward to continue making music, I can't single out just one moment.
Q. Looking back on your musical career, what would you say has been the most important learning experience that has shaped you as an artist and that you still carry with you today?
A. Come from my heart and lead from my heart not my head when I sing to an audience and in the process of writing and then the music that expresses will be real. Once something is created then critique it but don't be critical in the flow.
Q. When someone asks what kind of music you make, what's the first thing you say?
A. Bluesy roots rock originals with a dash of jazz and ambient music,
Q. What's something you're working on right now, whether musically or personally, that your fans might be surprised to hear about?
A. I am preparing another song for a session with the Hen House crew and recording it in October releasing in November and an EP including East Van Crossing on it! I also perform with another band Asian Persuasion All Stars the band kind of just happened during the pandemic. Tony Lee reached out to a bunch of local musicians to see if we'd lend our voice or instrument on a cover song Racist Friend to combat the anti-Asian violence that was happening. We released the single as a fundraiser for Eliminate Hate and suddenly people wanted to hear us and see us and a band was born! . We play a few times a year but have just started writing originals together and performing them so perhaps recording them is on the horizon!
Q. Outside of music, who or what has had the biggest influence on your personal growth or artistic perspective?
A. Nature, the planet, the state of the world impact and influence all that I do. I wrote an album released it in 2022 Songs For Trees to honour the trees and help save them. Without trees we can't exist, if we all understood this interconnection and how sacred mother earth is, the world would be such a different place. I hike and spend much time in the forest or by the ocean, it heals me and I want to find a way to heal back.
Q. What do you want people to remember most about you after hearing this song and reading this interview?
A. Hope is possible, celebrate where you live and work toward positive change.
Q. And finally, what' s next? We can't thank you enough for sharing these intimate details! Can you give us the inside scoop on your upcoming projects and what fans should be excited about? We'd love to be the first to share the news!
A. Look for the next single Cannonball coming out mid September and the new EP November 7 if all goes according to plan! Thanks so much for the opportunity to share my music may love and peace prevail.
Norine Braun, thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to talk to us.
End Interview
We’re happy to have shared Norine Braun’s exciting journey with you and uncovered such inspiring insights about their creative process.
