NEW SINGLE

Sugar Tree, is our current single released Jan 8, 2021. It is about trying to make a relationship survive when times are hard. Relationships can get difficult, especially when we start a family and have trouble making ends meet. It's not always easy to face those realities and sometimes we abandon ourselves to temptations and foolish things. But eventually we all need to look at ourselves in the mirror and persevere.

America is HemlockHotel's first single from their debut self-titled album released Sept. 25, 2020. The song is about growing up and wondering if you’re bound to repeat the life of your ancestors. A lot of us want to see political change but how do you go about that when you no longer have role models. The boy in the song wants a better world but he’s clearly unsure of himself and what to do.

Sugar Tree

Release date: January 8, 2021

AmericaHemlockHotel

00:00 / 03:50

"if you like Americana rock and appreciate skillful songwriting. You’ll find their eponymous seven-track debut a treat."

DivideAndConquerMusic.com

"I love the way the album sounds. I think you got a really nice tone to the whole album - quite nice to listen to"

Jeff Laroque - CKCU Tuesday Morning Blend

ALBUM NOW AVAILABLE

Recorded at Raven Street Studios and mixed at Studio Mandragore, HemlockHotel's debut record is a no frills work of art. In recording this album, the band retains the raw energy of a live performance, always staying connected to the core elements of folk Americana songs.

The band’s philosophy is rather simple. Write heartfelt songs that people can dance and singalong.

RECORDED AT Raven Street Studios
ENGINEERED BY Burke Johnson
ADDITIONAL RECORDING AT Studio Mandragore
ENGINEERED BY David Fournier
ASSISTANT ENGINEER Lionel Pezzano
MIXED BY David Fournier at Studio Mandragore
MASTERED BY Paul Edwards

PRODUCED BY HemlockHotel and David Fournier

Band Bio

HemlockHotel is from Ottawa, Ontario Canada.

With past lives in R&B, jazz, franco-rock, country and progressive rock, the members of the band have been performing and recording since the 1990s.

Working at the same multistorey office complex, the guys were introduced by a common friend when asked to play for a lunch time charity event. The connection was so good they soon after decided to form a band.

In creating their sound, HemlockHotel weave folk, rock and country music together. Their audiences often describe them as having an Americana feel, but with Canadian roots. The band performs a mix of original and cover music in a live performance.

ROD LEGGETT

Lead Vocals, Bass, Rhythm Guitar

While working day jobs in Montreal’s hotel industry, Rod spent the nights of his early 20s playing music professionally with a number of bands. He studied a little music at Concordia University but spent most of his time working with and learning from established players in rock, folk and even Brazilian jazz.

As a boy, he was introduced to a songbook with songs written by Woodie Guthrie, Hank Williams, Willie Nelson and spiritual hymns. The elegant simplicity and meaningfulness of these songs left a lasting mark on his writing. Over the years he wrote a small catalog of songs, some of which were reworked with HemlockHotel and appearing on their first album.

MARK PARÉ

Lead Guitar, Vocals

Growing up on the outskirts of Toronto, Mark’s early inspiration came mostly from artists like Hayden and Change of Heart while hiding out in places like the Opera House and the Rivoli,

After high school, he cut his teeth musically in the franco-ontarian music scene, with multiple appearances at both le Festival franco-ontarien and Sudbury’s La nuit sur l’étang. Mark took the spot of lead guitarist in a country band and has played with a few Ottawa-based rock and indie bands until finding his most recent home with HemlockHotel.

Currently, Mark’s musical influences are Neil Young, Alabama Shakes, Ben Harper, and many other artists across the spectrum.

DAN LEDUC

Drums, Vocals

Dan started playing drums at a very young age. Flipping over his mom's cookware and wailing on it in the middle of the kitchen. He later got his first drum set handed down to him by his brother and was performing in front of audiences by the age of 10.

He first learnt by ear but eventually studied to read music and was percussionist for the Ottawa Youth Orchestra at the age of eighteen. Dan is a very versatile drummer and has played in various bands throughout his career.

At the turn of the century, Dan settled down and put aside the drums to raise his family. However, he was always tapping a rhythm on anything he touched. Now he is back behind the kit doing what he loves.