Writer’s block led Canadian singer/songwriter Jill Barber to The Banff Centre, and her three-week residency in the Leighton Artist Colony proved to be exactly the cure she needed.

A double Juno Award nominee with a sound best described as folk-alternative, Barber came to Banff with a list of unfinished songs. On her first day she wrote the list on a blackboard, and as she completed each song, she erased it, eventually writing most of the material for her third release, Chances. The album is a bit of a departure for Barber, consisting of ten fully orchestrated songs that draw on jazz, folk, and country music influences.

Jill Barber talked to Inspired about the impact of her residency.

How did your time at The Banff Centre help in the creation of Chances?

As a songwriter I struggle from time to time going through bouts of writer’s block. when I first heard of The Banff Centre, it just sounded like this place where artists can go to get away from daily life and get their focus back. A little light went off in my head because it was the kind of thing I felt I needed. I’m a big believer in having a physical space, but The Banff Centre also provided me with a mental space — a three-week period of time with the sole purpose of going deep into my own creative psyche.

All ten songs are fully orchestrated; can you explain this new direction?

I think I’ve always been writing songs that hearken back to another time. Old songs were all about love and romance, and you don’t find that as much in modern music. What I’m trying to do is emulate that timeless quality achieved by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Cole Porter, Etta James, Sam Cook — I felt compelled to contribute original music to that songbook. People have referred to this album as a departure. I really do feel like it’s less of a departure and more of an arrival.

You had never done any co-writing prior to this album. Why start now?

It was important to me that I challenge myself to stretch my songwriting muscles. I went straight to the top and asked Ron Sexsmith to come out to Banff and do some writing with me for a few days. Prior to this experience I considered songwriting to be a solitary experience. I think what I was worried about was that if I co-wrote a song I would feel that it’s only half mine. I don’t feel like that at all now. I feel they are absolutely mine and I was able to share the experience with another person. I learned to not be closed-minded when it comes to creativity, it can only help to try new things.

After the experience of making this album, what advice can you give?

It can be very dangerous waiting for inspiration to come. You could be waiting a long time. If it’s not coming to you naturally, you have to do everything in your power to let your mind find it. That was the opportunity The Banff Centre provided me with and I will always be grateful for that.

Image courtesy Jill Barber.