By Cindy Christy Fertsch
Everything is exactly where it is supposed to be,” says Ken Shiles. Ken has been playing music most of his life, but when he met CiBon Jackson in the summer of 2015, everything changed. Remarkably, they had no face to face contact before taking the stage to perform together. The instant their voices blended, they knew they had stumbled upon something special. Shortly afterwards, in a similarly fateful fashion, violinist Valerie Vuolo joined Ken and CiBon in a performance, creating a synergy as Ken and CiBon’s voices blended with Valerie’s soulful strings. The trio, Originaire, was formed.
Their connection is so strong it is nearly tangible, both on and off the stage. Talking with them was very much like chatting with a family. There were a lot of laughs, joking and one could easily finish the others sentence or complement their point with a related story or example. “We are like a family,” they say, almost in unison.
Originaire’s music focuses on a raw stripped down acoustic guitar, violin and vocal harmonies with a variety of genres including Bluegrass, Indie, Folk and Americana. “It invokes emotion and will make you feel something for sure,” says CiBon.
Ken adds that sometimes the deep personal meaning of the lyrics makes him feel vulnerable. All three were performing musicians prior to forming their trio and feel very comfortable on the stage. CiBon reflects “If there is one thing I never doubt in this world, the formation of their trio is it, and that is priceless.”
Originaire’s first single, “Irish Goodbye,” was released in July 2018 and in May 2019 they released the single “Seven Sixteen.” Originaire is now getting ready for the release of their new EP, titled “Off The Ship,” on February 21st . The four track EP has relatable lyrics about hardships and overcoming addiction, something so many people are struggling with today.
Originaire’s EP release party will be on February 28th at the Philadelphia Folksong Society in Philly, along with Jackson Pines and j solomon.
Originaire has buit quite a name for themselves, playing up and down the east coast including cities like New York and Philadelphia as well as all over the Jersey Shore. With so much already accomplished and an EP on the way, Originaire is a band to watch in 2020 and beyond.
If you would like to learn more about Originaire or see them perform go to originairemusic.com
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