The Collective West

The Collective West is comprised of four talented artists of diverse backgrounds. Erin Faught of Beaumont, AB, began her career on the Edmonton music scene as a solo singer songwriter, turning heads by incorporating looped vocals and beats into her heartfelt folk songs before collaborating with Alexander Klassen, a bold and technically stunning musician from Fort St. John, BC. With musical roots in metal, Klassen had recently gone acoustic and solidified himself as a beloved fixture in the underground Edmonton music scene while performing as Alexander Chemist. Alex Charlton of Yellowknife, NWT, who had previously joined Klassen in metal pursuits, was called upon to provide smooth, technical bass lines, and Dave Sustrik of Sherwood Park, AB, utilizes his Grant MacEwan musical training to play every instrument under the sun - from the accordion to varied forms of percussion. From this group, you are as likely to hear a gentle, audience-silencing ballad as you are to hear a bold, provoking rock tune or a Kanye West cover. Yet, their sound manages to be cohesive, accessible and true to every member’s background no matter how distinct, and it is evident from their live performances that the band is passionate about their music, performances, audiences and their bonds with one another. Following the success of their debut album (Things We Do) and a western Canadian tour, The Collective West released their second album, Fire & The Ocean early November, 2012. Fire & The Ocean is meant to demonstrate the band’s development into a cohesive songwriting unit and highlight their bigger, more developed sound.

Edmonton, AB