By: Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
Cottam musicians Katie (KT) and Josh Pascoe are at the core of Fresh Breath, which is about to get its first opportunity to get on a European stage.
The local band – which travels throughout Canada and the US to perform its original music – recently won first place in the North2North Competition, an exchange initiative bringing Canadians to Europe with their music, and bringing Swedish bands to the Great White North.
The win is providing Fresh Breath with a chance to perform at the Lilla By Festivalen, from June 12-13 in Rinkaby, Sweden. Irish Millie and Donita Large Music will join them.
Katie described it as a countryside music festival, and the duo is thrilled to be going.
At the festival, Katie and Josh will be able to perform on a couple stages, connecting with a new European audience.
As part of the competition to get on the festival roster, Katie and Josh had to submit a press package online, assessed by a panel of judges. Their application was selected out of hundreds as part of the top three to represent Canada on the Swedish stage next month.
“We kind of checked a lot of boxes with the fact that we have been out there professionally performing and touring for many years, and continuing to release new music,” Katie explained.
And “they liked our music,” Josh added, noting to win was a big deal for the couple.
“They said it seemed very Canadian, roots-sounding,” Katie noted.
Josh commented on the format of this competition, noting that being from a small market can make it difficult to participate in voting systems. To win on merit was amazing.
He said there were four adjudicators from the Toronto area and three from Sweden. They went by the material and how much they liked it. They all picked Fresh Breath as their first-place choice in the competition.
Being selected based on the quality of their work was very rewarding.
To learn they were selected in the top three “was very surreal,” Katie added. “We were shocked and excited because we get to bring our full band, as well.”
Festival organizers, she said, liked that Fresh Breath started with its “Barn on the Farm” annual concert, which is similar to how the festival started.
The couple learned about the competition through those in the industry who were promoting the unique opportunity.
They hope the opportunity will help get their foot int he door in the European music market.
“I feel like it will be a great opportunity for people to hear our live sound with our band, because we just have this incredible band we get to play with,” Katie commented.
To be able to play for new ears is great exposure for Fresh Breath. They hope to continue to travel to Europe to perform after this initial introduction takes place.
They will bring with them an arsenal of original music, including a new single they dropped on New Year’s Eve, called “Everything is Good.”
“A lot of our songs in the past have kind of been like the world has gone crazy and everything is a mess,” Katie noted. “Everything is Good” is a nod to that, but also reflective of her sitting in the van one day at a store, and watching people go about their business. She thought “Everything seems pretty good.”
She said it is an uplifting, new pop-rock direction for them.
“Everybody has been enjoying the upbeat and fun sound that kind of takes you away from that overly introspective and serious vibe. It has been fun to perform, too,” she noted.
Josh added it has gotten airplay across Southwestern Ontario, which has also been exciting.
Fresh Breath returned home about a month ago, after spending the winter performing in South Texas.
Over the summer, after returning from Sweden, the local band will play shows across Ontario.
Though it is difficult to make a living as musicians, Katie and Josh are living their dream by continuing to perform, tour, and create new music. They also have a company where they help others put on concerts, design merchandise, and order materials and CDs.
For more information, log onto www.freshbreathband.com