We have a headliner coming to do a concert in Smithers and she’s one of our own.
Elena Erin Goddard, singer/songwriter, was homeschooled and grew up in rural Smithers. She will be here, May 24, to showcase her new album Roaring 20s.
For the past several years, Elena has been doing her recordings while living in London, UK. Her drive, however, to succeed in music began shortly after beginning piano lessons with one of our valley music teachers, Wolfgang Loschberger, according to The Interior News, April 1, 2021.
Catching up with her now, in Elena’s words, ”I took lessons from seven years old till I was 16 and finished Royal Conservatory of Music (Classical piano).”
Her song, "Build A Ship" charted number 2 on CBC Music Top 20 in 2021 and is streaming on Spotify, both of which prompted listeners from Canada, to send messages to her videos.
“That has been really special,” she told The Interior News that year, “it’s this cool homeland connection.”
After high-school graduation and working at Bugwood Coffee, while taking online courses, she got accepted into Berklee College of Music in Boston; but without scholarship, she could barely afford to stay there one semester. Calling on the energy she needed, Elena got involved in every student program and extra-curricular activity she could. She persuaded them to give her a scholarship to stay and got her degree in three years.
Her current tour, in addition to her hometown of Smithers, will encompass Calgary, Prince George, Victoria, Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Toronto.
“I always wished I had an example of someone doing what I wanted to do (the style of music), and never really did. So this is also me giving back in a way,” she said.
It is her hometown connection that has brought Elena’s tour to Prince George and Smithers.
As I write this. it is Mother’s Day. I think, perhaps, there may be a musical son, daughter or student that would love to see Elena perform live.
Her concert will be Saturday, May 24, at the old St. James Church on King Street. Tickets can be purchased at Mills Interior Stationary.
On a little note that I just got from Elena, “I’ll be doing an acoustic set from previous albums at Bulkley Valley Brewery the night before (May 23) as well now.”
If you have items for this column, please contact sonja.lester.b.c@gmail.com or phone 250-847-4414.
