Previously known as one of Victoria’s indie darlings to watch, Lola Parks—real name Sandy Powlik—is now a Vancouverite, and has recently released her newest album, No Apologies. Powlik describes herself as a “life enthusiast soul adventurer”; while critics have previously described the musician’s music as “indie folk,” the singer-songwriter disagrees.
“I’ve never really thought of myself as a folk [artist],” says Powlik. “I’m not a traditional folk type of player.”
Powlik’s award-winning music features in film, TV, and on radio—one of her compositions is the theme song for CBC’s The Early Edition. Speaking from a break from an industry insider Los Angeles-based film and music conference, Powlik says that her appetite for learning pushes her into new realms and dimensions: a good thing, whether or not everyone agrees.
“Fans and artists evolve, we all evolve… Genres evolve,” says Powlik. “[No Apologies] was a definite veering in the [pop] direction. How I write on piano has more pop sensibilities as well.”
Close friends provided imperative feedback to Powlik during the writing process for the new album, which helped Powlik take her music wherever it needed to go.
“[They said], ‘People are going to love whatever you do,’” says Powlik.
Powlik has been writing songs since the age of 12, and says that there is always more to learn. Her songs come from a figurative place—a place where the lyrical “bones” of songs await to be incarnated with melody—that Powlik calls her “lyrics graveyard.” A lot of this musical discovery happened here in Victoria.
“I was in Victoria 20 years,” says Powlik. “I got my first degree at UVic, then ended up being in a band; I stayed for music.”
Since the debut Lola Parks release in 2002, and after two subsequent follow-up records, Powlik says that the band has evolved into a solo project that includes “a beautiful coming together of some really great friends and musicians.”
“I’ve always been a writer,” she says. “I’ve always been a question asker, but my way of asking questions comes out more through songs. I wasn’t the person who put their hand up in class; I was, I think, too timid. I can talk a lot but I’m actually an introvert.”
The word “timid” isn’t an adjective one would expect to come from Powlik, nor from Lola Parks, however, it takes exactly two seconds before Powlik’s self-deprecating and humble nature shines forth from her bubbly demeanour.
“I strive to be better [and] fight the not-good-enough type of thing,” she says. “I just want to keep learning.”
Lola Parks (with Chris Van Sickle and Gordon Light)
7:30 pm, Friday, November 13
$20, Hermann’s Jazz Club
Or livestream by donation
hermannsjazz.com