In My Soul
The recording method employed was a highly spontaneous one. “We had no music written out. The players came in and heard the track for the first time, and I told them ‘we’ll sit on you until we get something out of you,’” laughingly recalls Al. He and his co-producer/engineer, Dave Angell, did exactly that, then crafted the results into one highly compelling record.
Matches
Matches showcases the development of the Toronto-based Lukas as a songwriter of real emotional eloquence. Match this with his fluency as a guitarist (both acoustic and electric) and his powerfully soulful vocals and you have a genuine triple threat.
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AL LUKAS
In My Soul
By: Kerry Doole
The choice of album title here is totally appropriate. On In My Soul, his third solo album, Al Lukas digs deep, exploring matters of the heart and soul with both passion and precision. The Toronto-based singer/songwriter includes his talented musical accompanists in the equation, stressing that “the title is not just about the music being in my soul, but in the soul of everyone who came in on this album and performed.”
The recording method employed was a highly spontaneous one. “We had no music written out. The players came in and heard the track for the first time, and I told them ‘we’ll sit on you until we get something out of you,’” laughingly recalls Al. He and his co-producer/engineer, Dave Angell, did exactly that, then crafted the results into one highly compelling record.
If forced at gunpoint, Al would describe his style as “just something Al Lukas would sing.” And can this boy sing! Giving his latest album In My Soul a coherent focus is his rich and resonant voice. It seizes your attention from first listen, and never relinquishes its hold. Believe it or not, Al actually had to be coerced into becoming a singer. As a skilled acoustic guitarist, he was touring northern Ontario in his family’s bluegrass-based band while in his mid teens, and was soon playing rock ‘n roll in the bars of his hometown of Kapuskasing that’d let him in under-age.
“Singing was never something I wanted to do, but my mentor and singing teacher told me ‘you can’t just play guitar. You need to at least sing backups, and a singer may want to take a break so you can do a couple of songs.’ I couldn’t argue with the logic so I said ‘O.K., I’ll learn how to sing.’ As I started to sing and project more I noticed I had this rather gruff voice.”
Lukas quickly noticed its impact. “It’s interesting to see how people react when I sing that first note onstage. I do see heads turn,” he says. That’s a natural response to a voice that is more a force of nature than an instrument. It has been compared to the likes of Tom Waits, Van Morrison, Howlin’ Wolf, and Richie Havens.
Al cites such guitar greats as Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, and Stevie Ray Vaughan as key inspirations, alongside the likes of Ry Cooder and bluegrass star Tony Rice. “I don’t write bluegrass songs, but I sometimes still think that way on guitar,” he says, as you can hear on the banjo-like picking that graces “Restless Flames.” Lukas has distilled these diverse influences into a sound that is all his own, and his songwriting style is now equally original.
Honesty is the crucial and consistent ingredient of an Al Lukas song. “I don’t invent stories,” he explains. “I try to portray my thoughts and emotions. These songs are all personal interpretations of situations that have happened to me.” In My Soul confirms the songwriting strides Lukas has made since his two previous albums, 2007′s self-titled debut and 2009′s Fall & Flight.
Whether it’s opening for Blue Rodeo, joining Jack deKeyzer onstage in Windsor, playing blues and roots festivals through Ontario, or participating in a jam session with some of Detroit’s top blues and jazz players (including legendary trumpeter Marcus Belgrave), Al has never failed to impress.
