Major Love

MAJOR LOVE is the moniker of Canadian songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Colleen Brown – and a collaboration featuring Alberta rock darlings Scenic Route To Alaska. Co- produced by Jesse (& the Dandelions) Northey, and Aaron Goldstein (Daniel Romano, Altameda) – they’ve made an album of soulful pop-rock music for their hoser friends.
The self-titled debut album ‘Major Love’; is the first under this moniker, and was conceived in the lamplight of London’s Bedroom Bar during their first tours overseas in the spring of 2015. Both Brown and Scenic Route To Alaska were wrapping up shows in Germany and the UK, promoting their newest albums. The two acts found themselves on the same dimly lit stage in Shoreditch, 7000 kms from their home-town, bonding over an appreciation of vintage Harmony guitars, singalong pop/rock anthems and an affinity for the spacious, soulful recordings released on the Stax and Motown labels in the 1960’s and 70’s.
An album was tracked live off the floor a month later during a summer heatwave, in Edmonton’s True North Studios with Jesse Northey on keys and faders. The record was mixed and co-produced by Toronto-based pedal steel guru Aaron Goldstein, along with Kenneth Roy Meehan (Daniel Romano) and the singalong single ‘So Good’ mixed by Brooklyn’s prodigious hit-makers Gus van Go and Werner F.
Released on Cowboy Junkies’ imprint Latent Recordings (Warner) Aug 24, 2018, the first two singles ‘Tear It Down’ and ’So Good’ were both embraced by CBC Radio 2 (landing in the Top 10) and enjoyed some initial satellite and commercial radio crossover. It debuted at #19 on the earshot National College Radio charts where it ranked for thirteen weeks in the Top 50. It also made an impressive showing on 2018 year-end lists, at #9 for CJSR Edmonton, and #6 for CKUA Radio across Alberta.
Both Colleen Brown and SRTA have released their own records during pandemic lockdowns, and they’ve also prepared a full batch of new songs to record together as Major Love in the spring of 2022.
These songs thrive at the intersection between Brown’s resonant vocal expression and SRTA’s spirited swagger…music to move body and soul.
‘You can hear the warm frenzy of creation in the songs. Major Love wield energy with an electric bite: melodies twist catchy and Brown’s pop-happy voice swoops into psychedelic undertones…Major Love have managed to propel the joy of finding — and connecting with — other Canadians abroad, and has turned it into a soundtrack for revelry’ – exclaim.ca
‘…the record is imbued with an infectious energy. Brown’s voice cuts through ‘Tear It Down’s naggingly insistent riff and backwards guitars, giving way to the mantra like chorus- an ode to new beginnings.’ – The Line Of Best Fit (UK)
‘…driven by a sense of fun and Ms Brown’s inimitable vocal which, as I may have said before, has all the dexterity of Joni Mitchell coupled with the raw abandon of Carole King. The uncomplicated, confident production, spotlighting hefty bass and chunky guitars give the songs weight and claws while the performances on the record are of a band who have properly found their sound and hit their stride.’ – Red Guitar Music (UK)