In April 2007, Just Friends Records released From the Photographs. This astounding LP is Laura Peek’s first full-length album and it also marks pop icon Mike O’Neill’s (The Inbreds) first venture into producing. The album features melodic pop songs with dark undertones, using a “less is more” production approach that focuses on Peek’s unique voice and songwriting. From the Photographs was engineered by Charles Austin (The Super Friendz) and features a small, tight-knit cast of musicians, including both O’Neill and Austin. This summer, The Winning Hearts toured from the Maritimes to Ontario in support of From the Photographs. While in Toronto, the group shot a video for “Stand Right There” with Juno-winning director Ante Kovac (Joel Plaskett, Sarah Harmer). The video features a supporting cast of actor-cats in party hats. Apparently, The Winning Hearts are the first band ever to get a VideoFACT grant without having a distribution deal. Though this is Peek’s debut album, she has been an integral part of the Halifax music scene for over five years. She has played with such bands as Brent Randall & His Pinecones, The Sweet Tenders, and the French “crazywave” outfit Le Coque et les Phoques. In the summer of 2006, she toured Canada and the United States as a vocalist/multi-instrumentalist with Buck 65. From the Photographs peaked several times at #1 on CKDU (Halifax), and reached #9 on the national Earshot chart. Sneak Peek, Laura’s 2004 EP, made the CKDU chart for 11 weeks straight, peaking twice at #1 and ranked #7 on the station’s 2005 year-end chart. The Winning Hearts have played at Pop Montreal (2007), the Halifax Pop Explosion (2004, 2006, 2007), and North by Northeast (2005), and have been invited to appear at CMW 2008. In the last year, Peek has opened for Final Fantasy, The Besnard Lakes, Julie Doiron, The Acorn, The Meligrove Band, Bella, and Immaculate Machine. Nine out of ten kitties agree: Laura Peek and the Winning Hearts throw a mean party!?! |
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