Kris Ulrich

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Multi-talented musician, songwriter, and producer Kris Ulrich hits the legendary King Eddy stage on April 19.

About Kris Ulrich:

It’s a new era for Kris Ulrich.

An incredible producer, musician, co-writer, road warrior, and friend, Kris is connective tissue in his community. A Daniel Lanois-esque man of many talents, his sonic fingerprint can be heard throughout a powerful musical movement happening in the middle of Canada and beyond. He’s has his hand in projects by Boy Golden, Field Guide, Cassidy Mann, Roman Clarke, Fontine, Dweller and more. Out of these collaborations with a fertile collection of creators, he’s found a new sonic voice for himself.

Kris’ new songs are built with a new sonic palette: production and songwriting built on driving drum machines, woozy synth layers, dogged hooks, and a clear lyrical voice. The songs are both hopeful and melancholic, simultaneously holding reflections of a dusty past played on old tape machines and the surging brightness of future possibility – all while sewn together with a tongue-in-cheek self-awareness. It harkens back to sounds from the late 2000s (see: Kings of Leon, The Stills, Wilco) and touches on newer folks like Ethan Gruska, Sam Evian and The War on Drugs. His past releases have been radio favourites and these new songs will be no different.

Kris cut his chops as a hard-touring guitar sideman and he brings this same pro pedigree to his song writing. The songs are seasoned, rich in first-person narratives and effortlessly catchy. And when he does lean back into his guitar playing, he accesses something deep and expressive – the instrument acting in honest conversation with his voice and lyrics.

“I think a big part of this new sound for me is an acceptance of myself and a confidence in my tastes.

I went through a bit of a phase where I felt I had to stay in my lane process and production wise, writing the songs on acoustic guitar, recording the beds live, minimal instrumentation and big beautiful tones, to keep to a certain sound I was chasing. I bought a drum machine, synth and 4 track recorder in a pretty close window to each other and it blew open the doors on how I write songs. Suddenly I was looping chord progressions on a synth with a drum beat going while playing a bassline over top and humming a melody. It just kind of hit me and I was like, I’m having so much fun, I feel like a kid again. I listened to a lot of bands like Boards Of Canada and the Postal Service and I guess I just forgot for a while how much I love electronic music. I felt really free when I allowed myself to make music in a new way and allowed myself to get more experimental. I used to make weird little songs as a kid with my Casio keyboard run through guitar pedals and now I feel I’m back on the same stuff. This record feels like a true culmination of my influences in a genuine way and for that I am really proud of it.”

Sound production equipment for the King Eddy provided by PK Sound.