Daniel Lanois
One of the main reasons I was drawn to New Orleans was its profound connection to music and the legendary artists who shaped it—many of whom had ties to Daniel Lanois’s work. Lanois has always been a figure I deeply admire, not only for his incredible talent but also for his story. Here was a producer who grew up in the same towns—Cambridge and Dundas, Ontario—that my friends and I called home, and yet he went on to create some of the most iconic albums and songs in history. His journey is a testament to how global impact can begin in the humblest of places.
In 2017, I was fortunate enough to spend time with Daniel at his studio (more on that in another post), but during a trip to New Orleans, I made it a point to visit Kingsway Studios, his legendary recording space. Walking those streets, I felt a powerful connection—not only to the musicians who had walked them before me but also to the very places that inspired their creativity. I even visited the spots where these artists ate, drank, and made their music. One standout moment was visiting the bar where The Tragically Hip famously wrote the lyrics to Little Bones: “It gets so sticky down here; better butter your cue finger up.”
Daniel’s impact on New Orleans was nothing short of transformative. He brought a group of Canadian musicians into this vibrant city, helping to produce landmark albums for artists like Bob Dylan, Blind Melon, and Emmylou Harris. But his influence didn’t stop with international stars—it also helped shape some of the most defining albums in Canadian music history. Engineers from Kingsway Studios returned to Canada with new techniques and inspiration, which contributed to masterpieces like Road Apples by The Tragically Hip, Diamond Mine by Blue Rodeo, and The Days in Between. The cross-pollination of Canadian and New Orleans musical culture is something truly remarkable.
As I’ve gotten older, my bond with my hometown has only grown stronger. Standing in New Orleans, I couldn’t help but feel a deep sense of pride knowing that someone from my community had such a profound impact—not just globally, but in a city with as rich a cultural heritage as New Orleans. It’s a powerful reminder that our roots can take us to extraordinary places.
