 Sir Canyon. Photo by Robbie Jeffers.
LA-based songwriter Sir Canyon (Noah Lamberth), who previously played pedal steel with Katy Perry and shared stages with Willie, Dierks, Brad Paisley, and more, is preparing for the release of his new project, Ventura Skies, on March 2nd.
A cinematic album, Ventura Skies, transports the listener to the spacious landscapes of Southern California and is inspired both by the location where the album was recorded as well as artists such as Glen Campbell, The Beach Boys, Gram Parsons, and Buck Owens. Ahead of its release, Lamberth kindly answered his Essential 8 and talked the story behind the album's title, finding your voice, meeting Merle Haggard, and more. What’s the story behind your album’s title, Ventura Skies? I used live above Ventura Boulevard in the valley and I had a back yard with a killer view. When we wrote the title track I had the view in mind, but it was also an idea of looking West and starting over. Since Ventura about as west as you can get before you fall into the ocean it seemed to fit--”none more west” if you will. With “Cindy Come Over” what was the “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect? When I wrote “Cindy Come Over” with Ryan Jackson, I knew we had a good song. The lyrics were interesting, we had a good melody with a great chorus that was reminiscent of a classic 70s song, but it wasn’t until we started on this record and the producer (Andy Davis) suggested we add mariachi trumpets--that’s when I knew we had some magic with this song. We searched for a horn player and finally found a guy who was the real deal, and he nailed it. I really love that song. Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? Books, Movies, personal experience, other musicians? It always changes. When inspiration hits, I want to be able to capture the moment. On this record I had a song idea after reading an article about Lauren Bacall which helped me finish “Shine Bright Diamond.” “Grace Grace” came from a dream I had; I woke up one morning with the melody and words “Grace, Grace” rolling in my head for whatever reason. I ran with it and was able to capture it in song. Have you met any of your heroes? How did it go? I met Merle Haggard about 12 years ago and it was a great experience. I was backstage at a show in San Bernardino and he was exactly how I thought he’d be; friendly, down-to-earth, honest and super chill. Really sad that he passed away, but I’m thankful for his music and the opportunity to meet him. I’ll never forget that moment. What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out? Find your voice and be honest. It’s okay to draw from your heroes, but the world doesn’t need ten more copies of Adele or Maroon 5, they need you to be you. What’s your favorite food on the road? I always try to find a local coffee roaster or a local brewery. Most of time they’re located in the hip/hot hubs of a city and you’re able to get great a vibe for what the locale is like. I do my best to explore and immerse myself in any city I visit. What are your “must have” albums for the road? I fly a lot, and on every take-off I have to listen to “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac. For some reason it calms me down. I’m one of those people that gets anxious on planes, at least at take-off. I love listening to some Glen Campbell, too. Morrissey & Merle Haggard are both a must. And of course, you can’t go wrong with Tom Petty’s greatest hits! Is there a recent release you cannot stop listening to? I’m really into Dan Auerbach’s “King Of A One Horse Town.” I love his use of strings and baritone guitars on this one; it’s almost like a modern take on a Glen Campbell song. Website Insta
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