Hello Steve Gates

I have a confession. Please don’t tell my boyfriend…but I have completely fallen in love with Steve Gates after listening to his debut EP, Hello Jesus.

On some debut albums, the sound of the artist can get lost in the bustle of too much percussion, sounds and tracks. Gates doesn’t get caught up in this–focusing on the quality, not quantity of tracks, which comes out in his vocals and melodies.

The Halifax singer-songwriter’s EP plays like a four-course meal, with each track representing an exquisite dish.

Gates starts off showcasing his strength in songwriting with “Bright Blue Eyes”. This feels similar to a chef presenting an appetizer of their work at the beginning of a meal, leaving the audience craving more.

Tracks “Hello Jesus” and “You Were Always on My Mind” (featuring Catherine Maclellan and made famous by, Willie Nelson) are the meat and potatoes of the EP, demonstrating two unique sounds, but are connected seamlessly by Gates voice. The familiarity of Willy Nelson’s famous tune is fresh again, and like a good dish has one coming back for more.

For dessert, “Highway of Tears”, a dedication to Highway 16 in British Columbia, slows down and closes the set on a reflective note. The pitch of Gates voice is slightly higher in this piece, drawing your attention to the lyrics and reflecting on what happened along the highway (nearly 10 women have disappeared along the road since the 1970’s) – a history lesson through music.

Gates is set to release the EP on October 18, and is on a tour of selected cities through the fall. Based on the strength of his EP, Gates’ full length, due in 2012, is not one to be missed, as he’ll be adding more dishes to an already impeccable meal of music.