Not Just Ladies Who Lunch: Elizabeth McGee
Getting to know some fabulous ladies who work in the arts!
Welcome to the Monday series Not Just Ladies Who Lunch. This will be an ongoing addition to the blog, meant to introduce you to some arts professionals. Their jobs will vary from freelance graphic designers to music composers, auction house specialists to cake decorators. Be sure to check back every Monday for a new profile. If you would like to be featured, please do send me a note! I am opened to suggestions as this piece evolves. Here goes week three:
Meet Elizabeth!
Elizabeth and I met in grade four – the year we learned the art of creative writing with Mrs Burst and Mrs Springstead at East Oxford Public School. We’ve been friends for almost twenty years! She’s always been cool – but her new musical endeavour: Vedal Pearl, with American-born boyfriend Daniel, probably makes her the coolest. You best keep an eye on these two if you know what’s good for you. You can follow Elizabeth on Pinterest here, Facebook here, YouTube here, and check out their tunes on Bandcamp here. Here’s what Elizabeth has to say about her work:
I am a singer-songwriter for Vedal Pearl, an indie-folk band based in Ottawa. We play some local shows, but won’t be in Ottawa forever, so are trying to get our music out there in other creative ways- YouTube videos, as well as working with TAXI an independent A&R company. TAXI works by getting music/song requests from film production companies, music publishers, record labels, etc., independent artists submit their music via TAXI in response to these requests, and TAXI reviews the music and decides whether or not it will be passed along to the film production company, etc. for consideration. We’ve had songs passed along for six different requests, which is really exciting. Now it’s just a waiting game to see if they actually get picked up and used.
I did an undergraduate degree at Windsor University in psychology, my masters in community psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University, and I recently studied creative writing at Humber. I currently work as a singer/songwriter (and occasional poet). To pay the bills I work in the not-for-profit sector as an evaluator.
What did you want to be when you were growing up?
According to my school journal in grade 2, a writer. I still have copies of stories I wrote in grade school. One story was about Fred Penner marrying my mother. It was quite hilarious. I started writing song lyrics/melodies and poetry in my early teens.
What is the best piece of advice you were ever given?
My father always stressed that there was no luck, just hard work. My grandma and mom taught me live empathically. I do my best to do both these things. I work hard at pursing my goals. And I am compassionate about this big old world we live in and all its people; it’s important to give back, to want to give back and to know our job in giving back is never done.
Whether directly or indirectly, all three taught me an awareness – of people, of things, of emotions. Sometimes this awareness is a double-edged sword, you are hyper-aware which makes you sensitive and vulnerable, but at the same time this is what can make your ‘art’ great (in my humble option).
Can you name your biggest success and/or failure in your career so far?
I think the biggest misstep you can take when pursuing something creative is trying to please everyone. I used to be scared to put my music out there because I knew it wouldn’t resonate with some people. I have since changed my mindset –‘make music I love, share it, and it will find someone, somewhere to connect with’. You really have to say ‘fuck it’ about the rest of the people. If you don’t, your creative process and output will be stifled. Intuitively this all makes perfect sense, but it’s hard, as humans we are inherently risk-averse.
Name a tool you can’t live without.
A Sharpie pen. I use them all the time to write. I have them in all different colours, even extraordinarily, impractical colours like gold.
Do you have a mentor/Who would your dream mentor be?
My dream musical mentor would be Cat Power. I absolutely love her. Kurt Vile is also amazing. Tom Yorke. I’d follow any of these people around all day, including watching them sleep and brush their teeth. You can learn a lot about someone from how they sleep and brush their teeth. And they can learn something about you- you are fascinated with oral hygiene and love to snuggle.
Tell us about your favourite picture/photograph/sculpture/etc.
There are so many, but one of mine is certainly Christina’s World by Andrew Wyeth. This painting has always captivated me. There is a powerful dichotomy at play –an innate strength in the girl, as well as a struggle, an isolation, and a vulnerability. I think it’s these types of dichotomies I am always fascinated by in all art, in people, in life.
