Biography

With her debut album, Linda Saslove has given us Everything she can. The 10-song collection indeed lives up to its title in displaying the pure heart and soul Saslove has consistently projected as she’s risen through the Canadian folk music world.

Having built her reputation through songs on various compilations and in international songwriting contests, in 2017 Saslove teamed with producer/guitarist Bill Bell (Tom Cochrane, Jason Mraz, Marc Jordan) to make a full-fledged record. In the process, Bell assembled a band of session stars to participate, including cellist Kevin Fox, pedal steel player Burke Carroll, keyboardist Mark Lalama, drummer Davide Direnzo and bassist Marc Rogers. The combined efforts provide the perfect accompaniment to Saslove’s classic voice and writing style.

She credits this to her family’s musical influence from her earliest memories while growing up in Ottawa, Ontario. Her grandparents—immigrants from Russia—sang and played a variety of instruments, and she was even named after one of her parents’ favourite songs, the popular 1940s hit “Linda.” Saslove soon embarked upon her own musical path, singing in choirs and musicals before following the examples of iconic female artists such as Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro and Bonnie Raitt.

She became a part of the Ottawa folk scene after purchasing a Gibson B25 acoustic guitar in Ottawa’s Byward Market. With it, she wrote her first original song, “Someone Who Cares,” which, all these years later, has found its home as one of Everything’s standout cuts. Saslove also added to her experience within the wider folk music world with a six-month stay in Venice Beach, California where she performed at the renowned McCabe’s Music Store in nearby Santa Monica.

Saslove settled in Toronto after that, performing at folk venues such as C’est What, Holy Joe’s and the Free Times Café. Another of Everything’s notable tracks, “The Last Goodbye,” was earlier recorded for several compilation albums, and covered by other artists in Canada and the U.K. Further songs on Everything, such as “Special,” “Sweetheart Tree,” “Wonderland” and “It’ll All Work Out” have equally resonated as staples of Saslove’s live shows, and can now be heard in sparkling studio versions.

Saslove’s musical journey began the moment she walked into Ottawa’s legendary coffeehouse, Le Hibou, and her music continues to open new doors and offer new opportunities. Everything also fulfills her late father’s wish to see his daughter’s name on an album containing her original songs. With that goal accomplished, Saslove now has her sights set on bringing these songs to as many ears as possible. She may have written them at different stages along the way, but their themes of love remain timeless, and in many ways have taken on much deeper meanings.

Noteworthy

• Worldwide radio airplay for Everything
• Album of the Week for Everything, Blues and Roots Radio