Fortunate Ones
Sherman Downey
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Fortunate Ones is Newfoundland’s JUNO-nominated duo Catherine Allan and Andrew James O’Brien. Known for dynamic live performances, effortless union of voices in harmony, and anthemic melodies – they embody a wide-eyed energy, deliver messages of reflection and optimism, have an earnest mission for connection, and are endearing audiences across Canada and beyond. Their songs celebrate coming of age, ambition, decisions we make to persevere, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Their sophomore album, HOLD FAST, is a study in resilience and community and sees the duo stretching their musical muscles into new, fully realized sonic territory. Filled with the familiar and effortless harmony, boundless energy and optimism that has gained the duo thousands of fans, HOLD FAST, produced by ECMA award winning producer, Daniel Ledwell, is a collective effort that has yielded songs from a pair whose humility and quiet dignity belies a roaring artistic heart.
The title track “Hold Fast” hit #1 on the CBC Music Top 20 Chart and remained in the Top 20 for 10 weeks. The album also took home three Music NL Awards in 2018: Pop Artist of the Year, Video of the Year for Northern Star (directed by Jason Levangie) and Album of the Year. HOLD FAST was recently nominated for four East Coast Music Awards: Album, Group Recording, Songwriter, and Fans’ Choice Entertainer of the Year.
Their 2015 debut album, The Bliss was nominated for a JUNO Award, garnered two #1 singles on CBC Radio 2’s Top 20, won the 2016 “Rising Star” ECMA, the 2015 “Vocal Group” Canadian Folk Music Award, and four 2015 Music Newfoundland and Labrador Awards.
Sherman Downey’s radio-friendly brand of upbeat folk/pop appeals to a wide demographic. His debut album “Honey For Bees” was well received by fans and critics alike, earning him ‘Musicnl’s Male Artist of the Year’ and broadening his reach on an international stage.
His highly anticipated second release “The Sun In Your Eyes” was awarded ‘MusicNL’s Pop/Rock Recording of the Year’ and given Newfoundland and Labrador’s ‘SOCAN Songwriter of the Year’ distinction as well as an ECMA nomination for ‘Group Recording of the Year’ with his band, The Ambiguous Case. The album’s first single ‘Thick as Thieves” went on to win Sherman the CBC’s inaugural Searchlight Prize as ‘Canada’s Best New Artist’ while increasing his profile as a touring act with a growing fan base.
Sherman’s latest collection of songs, entitled ‘New Beautiful’, offers a glimpse at what it’s like to wander from home and long for return. Fans of his first two albums will be happy to hear familiar character-driven songs that embrace the folk and country roots he cut his teeth on, but will no doubt notice a new musical exploration. Downey delves into straight-up keys-pop before switching into gritty up-close-and-personal meanderings on parlour guitar and piano with lush strings and horns sweeping in to carry the listener through the album. When he sings of letting loose in the local dance hall, people-watching from the front porch, or playing with love in out-of-the-way gas stations, Sherman speaks to those of us who yearn for some sort of change in their day to day. ‘New Beautiful’ will be available in the coming months–stay tuned!
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