MP3: Christopher Arruda
Olympus At Noon

This week's featured artist from Get Thorny 3, our free download compilation available here, is Christopher Arruda.

Christopher Arruda came very close to never making music again.

Having spent his late teens and early twenties fronting popular rock band The Lady Esther and touring with ambitious post-rock outfit Open, Parachute!, the twenty-six year old artist spent a year and a half trying to live what he thought was a normal life. “I had a job, a girlfriend and a home. I’d given up on music because I’d never been able to succeed. I really thought I had all the ingredients to be happy and then all at once, I woke up and realized I’d become so afraid of failure that I’d stopped living at all.”

This revelation spawned an explosion of creativity. His debut record “God Hates a Coward” was recorded almost immediately in Victoria, B.C. over the summer of 2009. It was a personal statement for Arruda – a record about hope – about standing for something – about stepping over the edge and taking a chance. While the initial plan was to sell the record at a few local shows, the collection was so well received amongst his peers that a music video was shot for the title track in April 2010 followed by a tour of Western Canada. Christopher returned home to even more good news – he had been selected as one of the top 20 BC acts to participate in the prestigious Peak Performance Project put on by Vancouver’s 100.5 The Peak FM.

His momentum continues to build. By cementing a foundation in Western Canada and surrounding himself with like-minded individuals through the Peak Performance Project, he is an artist poised on the edge of finally reaching his full potential. His performances are bold and varied. One moment a boisterous shout and the next a soft whisper, he strives to connect with his audience through unbridled fervor and a captivating presence. The material also continues to pour forth – a collection of intimate and raw demos entitled The SWAIN EP was released September 5th 2010 to outstanding feedback. The SWAIN EP has already sold out of it’s limited pressing.

With success stacking up behind him, Christopher Arruda is the young Canadian artist to watch. “Find Someone, Build an Empire”, his second full length record is being written with plans to record in the summer of 2011. A national tour will follow. Christopher has been fortunate enough to share the stage with such artists as Thrice, Tegan and Sarah, Acres of Lions, Said the Whale, Hey Ocean!, Maurice, Protest the Hero and Theset.

Chris has a brand new recording available, the Swain EP is available for whatever price you want to pay at christopherarruda.bandcamp.com.

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