Jeremy VanSlyke is just the kind of guy you love reading about, following his classical music dreams, running his own business and juggling family life. We’re not going to repeat all his successes with Leaf Music Inc., the only classical music label east of Quebec; he’s already been profiled in La Scena Musicale (link:  https://myscena.org/wah-keung-chan/leaf-music-the-independant-label-that-could/)

Instead, we thought we’d get some thoughts from Jeremy about how the current pandemic is affecting his business, where he sees classical recordings going in future, and about life at home with his family, including adorable son, Thomas. CMC Atlantic Region Director Peggy Walt has a chat with Jeremy.

Jeremy with Carrie & Thomas

Q: How’s life been treating you during the pandemic?

A:  I’ve actually continued to be quite busy; though there are definitely changes as well.  We have a number of other projects currently in post-production and we are looking at releasing those in the coming months while we aren’t able to record.

At the same time, we are already looking at creative ways to record solo and chamber music later this summer or in the fall as things begin to open up.  Unfortunately, it is going to be a while – perhaps several months – before our artists are able to perform live for large audiences or even get together in large ensembles.  But that does leave some time and energy for recording in small groups.  In that way, we are managing to adapt.

Q: Working out of Halifax’s North End for the last six years, we know you’re an avid cyclist and advocate for the city’s ever-increasing bike lanes.  Have you kept biking during the pandemic?

Bike riding by the Halifax waterfront 

A.: Since I have not been travelling as much for work, I have managed to go on several family bike rides over the past few weeks.  Just this week, the parks in our province were re-opened and we had a fantastic time biking through the beautiful, wide trails at Point Pleasant Park in Halifax and even stopped to watch the waves.

Q: You’ve worked with clients as diverse as the Trailer Park Boys and Halifax Camerata Singers. Do you have a favourite project from the last few months?

Currently, we’re working on a kid’s TV series called ‘Fireman Sam’ that is being produced by Halifax-based animation firm DHX / Wildbrain for Mattel.  It’s lots of fun and our two-year-old just LOVES this show.  There are lots of fire engines, helicopters and fires to put out.  These TV projects are tedious work, but I really enjoy it.

I am also really looking forward to helping to produce the 2020 virtual Scotia Festival of Music, which they have nicknamed “Scotial Distancing.”  We’ve been working on polishing some of the footage from previous years’ festivals so audiences all over the world can continue to get a daily dose of high-quality chamber music performances this Spring.

Q: You just finished the recording of Breathing in the Shadows with Saman Shahi right before travel restrictions went into effect.  What was that like?  And when are you anticipating the release of this recording?

Recording in Toronto in March – Breathing in the Shadows

A:  Yes – in March, I managed to get to Toronto for a recording of two brand new song cycles by Iranian Canadian composer Saman Shahi.  We got that recording done just under-the-wire as things really shut down.

I’ve just received some of the early-stage edits from the recording engineer on the project, Pouya Hamidi.  I really love what I am hearing.  This was a special project because it involved Soprano, Maureen Batt, whom we worked with for a 2017 release “Lady of the Lake” and Pouya and I were colleagues at McGill University’s sound recording program.  We graduated together in 2013 and it was so nice to be working together again.

Q: How is the current pandemic affecting your recording and travel plans?

A:  There have been lots of cancellations.  The East Coast Music Awards in St. John’s, the MusicBiz Convention in Nashville, and recording sessions have been postponed as well.  However, I expect we are going to be able to start recording again within a couple months.

We’re currently using some pretty sophisticated tools like “Source Connect” so that we can do virtual live editing and mixing sessions with artists and composers in other parts of the world.  This tool is also being used to screen mixes with directors and producers for Fireman Sam and other shows we’re involved with.

Q: What do events like the cancellation of this year’s JUNO and ECMA Awards mean for your label and Canadian classical artists in general?

A:  This is certainly a struggle.  One of the earliest cancellations for us was the Canadian Screen Awards which we were hoping to attend in Toronto at the end of March and had a nomination in the ‘Best Sound Editing’ category.  Of course, we do need to stay home.  But the impacts of not holding these events are going to have effects in the years to come as it certainly effects the label’s ability to source new talent and discuss projects that might appear in our release schedule in one to three years from now.

Q: Favourite family moment during the lockdown?

A:  There have been many favourite moments.  One is that just about every morning now, I’ve been getting up early with my son Thomas and making omelettes.  I chop up onions, mushrooms and spinach and Thomas has gotten very good at stirring the mix before it hits the pan.  These are special moments and not travelling as much for work means being home more, and I do cherish these moments.