Emm Gryner's So Busy She's An Hour Ahead

Perhaps it was her hectic schedule or maybe lingering excitement over being chosen as Chart's heir apparent to the soulful singer-songwriter throne in the October issue, but it took Emm Gryner almost a week to set back her clocks.

Considering that her life has recently been occupied with work on two new albums (her own and David Bowie's) as well as preparation for an upcoming west coast tour with Ron Sexsmith, it was probably just as well that she lived an hour ahead of the rest of us for awhile. Her time difference may have made for one slightly under-prepared interviewer, but it was nothing that a few questions about the "Next Sarah McLachlan" title couldn't handle.

"I love that it was all written with a sense of humour," says Gryner, who was particularly amused by the article's claim that she might have to sell out again to reach full Sarah status.

"We're all grasping onto the most familiar comparisons and I think it's quite funny."

Grasping for further comparisons, Emm, just like Miss McLachlan before her, has recently had one of her songs prominently featured in a film.

"Southern Dreamer," a track from her critically-acclaimed Science Fair album, closes the soundtrack to the independent film The Debut, which is currently making its way across North America. She's thrilled with both the film and her song's part in it.

"It works perfectly with the whole story and it's nice when a song can play over the end and summarize what happened in the movie."

Gryner's experience with The Debut has convinced her that she'd love to work on film scores and not just contribute songs.

"I would love to one day score for movies, which is a completely different beast, but I'd still love to do that."

While the possibility of film scores looms in the future, Gryner is focusing on her present recording projects. Having recently finished singing and playing clarinet on Bowie's upcoming Toy album, which she describes as "totally back to 1970," she is now working on her new disc. All of the material is written and she's a third of the way through recording it, but she's still wrestling with the perfect title.

Emm will have time to ponder that idea as she heads out West in support of Ron Sexsmith beginning in Winnipeg on November 21 and winding up in Victoria on the 27. If inspiration doesn't hit on the road, she can always call her record The Next Sarah McLachlan.

Gryner laughs at the suggestion, "I'll call it Fumbling Towards Selling Out."

Emm Gryner Tour Dates:
Nov. 9 Hamilton, ON @ Hudson's
Nov. 10 London, ON @ The Embassy (all ages)
Nov. 16 Montreal, QC @ Club Zone
Nov. 17 Ottawa, ON @ Zaphod Beeblebrox
Nov. 21 Winnipeg, MB @ West End Cultural Centre w/ Ron Sexsmith
Nov. 22 Saskatoon, SK @ USSU Place Riel Theatre w/ Ron Sexsmith
Nov. 23 Edmonton, AB @ SideTrack Cafe w/ with Ron Sexsmith
Nov. 24 Calgary, AB @ U of Calgary Blue Banana Lounge w/ Ron Sexsmith (afternoon)
Nov. 24 Calgary, AB @ Calgary Centre for the Performing Arts w/ Ron Sexsmith (evening)
Nov. 25 Vancouver, BC @ Richard's on Richards w/ Ron Sexsmith
Nov. 26 Vancouver, BC @ living room show! (Contact lorianne_jackson@hotmail.com)
Nov. 27 Victoria, BC @ Lucky On Yates w/ Ron Sexsmith
Dec. 1 Halifax, NS @ The MarqueeDec. 2 Sydney, NS @ The Savoy
Dec. 3 Fredericton, NS @ The Upper Deck
Dec. 6 Toronto, ON @ The Rivoli
Dec. 7 Toronto, ON @ The Rivoli