{"id":124859,"date":"2026-06-04T14:38:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T18:38:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/?p=124859"},"modified":"2026-06-04T15:47:28","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T19:47:28","slug":"interview-composer-musician-joel-toews-talks-new-album","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/2026\/06\/04\/interview-composer-musician-joel-toews-talks-new-album\/","title":{"rendered":"INTERVIEW | Composer\/Musician Joel Toews Talks About His New Album"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_124860\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124860\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124860\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081347.090.jpg\" alt=\"L-R: Album cover for Joel Toews We Remember Moments; composer Joel Toews (Photos courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081347.090.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081347.090-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081347.090-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081347.090-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124860\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">L-R: Album cover for Joel Toews We Remember Moments; composer Joel Toews (Photos courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Composer and musician Joel Toews recently released his debut EP <strong>We Remember Moments<\/strong>. The release includes seven original tracks in a classical crossover style, revolving around a theme based on a quote by Italian novelist and poet Cesare Pavese, \u201cWe do not remember days, we remember moments.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Each of the tracks is based on a memory or impression, resulting in atmospheric and evocative pieces.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s joined on the album by musicians <strong>Jacqueline Goring<\/strong> (harp), <strong>William Lamereaux<\/strong> (violin), <strong>Jess Lajner<\/strong> (guitar), and<strong> Matt Smith<\/strong> (trumpet), with Toews acting as composer, producer, pianist, and mixer.<\/p>\n<p>LV spoke to Toews about the music.<\/p>\n<p>Joel Toews&#8217; Sleeping Giant, inspired by Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, and performed by Michael Newnham and Orchestra Toronto:<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/AsAc510gWH8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h2>Joel Toews<\/h2>\n<p>Contemporary Canadian composer, arranger, songwriter, and keyboardist Joel Toews is based in Toronto. He studied at Berklee College, and subsequently earned a Bachelor of Music in Jazz and Contemporary Popular Music from MacEwan University. Joel recently completed a Master of Arts in Music Composition from York University with a specific focus on composing music dedicated to Canadian National Parks and their ongoing sustainability.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of style, Toews is influenced by Western classical, jazz, and contemporary pop music and techniques. His goal is to create music that touches the emotions in a versatile style.<\/p>\n<p>Joel\u2019s compositions have been commissioned and performed by a variety of ensembles throughout North America.<\/p>\n<h3>Joel Toews: The Interview<\/h3>\n<p>Toews\u2019 musical journey began early.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI started doing piano lessons when I was really young,\u201d he says. \u201cI was five.\u201d He studied the Royal Conservatory curriculum.<\/p>\n<p>The spark to create music also began in childhood.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFrom a pretty early age, I realized I really liked sitting down at the piano and seeing what I could come up with.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He recalls going to his piano lessons, and his instructor would first ask if he\u2019d learned his scales and exercises for the week. \u201cI\u2019d go, no, but I tried writing a song.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The piano is often a gateway to composition.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere\u2019s something about it begin a very visual instrument,\u201d Joel says. It\u2019s easy to understand the patterns of harmony and music theory.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_124862\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-124862\" style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-124862\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081446.938.jpg\" alt=\"Composer Joel Toews (Photos courtesy of the artist)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081446.938.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081446.938-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081446.938-1024x536.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/06\/Copy-of-Copy-of-INTERVIEW-2026-06-04T081446.938-768x402.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-124862\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Composer Joel Toews (Photos courtesy of the artist)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>The EP<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cIt came together in a relatively short time once I decided that I wanted to put together the collection,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>Two tracks, Prairie Sky and Stephanie\u2019s Theme had already been written some five or six years ago. \u201cBut I had never really recorded them. I decided last year to do a little more of a recording project.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He composed the other five pieces between January and March of 2025, then headed to the recording studio between March and May. Then came several months of editing and production work. Through the whole process, he was conscious of trying to create a collection of music, rather than seven separate tracks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really tried to find ways, while writing the pieces, and putting together some of the electronic elements, that one piece flows into each other,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of style, they incorporate all of his influences from classical to jazz and pop.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think broadly I would use the term classical crossover, even though that\u2019s a very broad category in and of itself. It is influenced by all the different music upbringings that I had.\u201d His studies included both Western classical and jazz, and as a performer, he also played in pop bands, and in folk groups with friends. \u201cIn my writing, I like to include all of those.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>He was also conscious of creating something new with each piece. \u201cIt provides its challenges, to try and find those different feelings from one to the other,\u201d he says. Solace, recorded with jazz trumpeter <strong>Matt Smith<\/strong>, incorporates improvisation and jazz harmonies. Joel\u2019s classical influences are much more apparent in Stephanie\u2019s Theme.<\/p>\n<p>As Joel emphasizes, the tracks are based on memories, but not in an encyclopedic way, attempting to recreate a place or sensation in detail. Memories are built on impressions left by specific moments, those bits and pieces that we stitch together to recall the emotional imprint of an experience.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe memories that I\u2019m trying to emulate in the music are all from different feelings and different people. We don\u2019t have a picture perfect memory. Our memories are actually quite fallible,\u201d he explains.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s the emotion of the experience, that is what we are left with, and that\u2019s what carries into our present day lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s how he\u2019s looking to connection with his listeners \u2014 through their emotions.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is very personal music. This is really coming from my own experiences. There is something with music, that when you have your own experiences, it resonate with other people. There\u2019s a kind of beauty in it.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The music is melodic, and that\u2019s another aspect he\u2019s hoping listeners can connect with. \u201cThat they feel the melodies [&#8230;] that there\u2019s an inspiring character to them. That they can reflect on their own lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The music conveys the memories and associated emotions that are important to him.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThat someone listening to the music can reflect on their own memories.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"jetpack-video-wrapper\"><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-Hwh_JkbfQY?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en-US&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/div>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>Now that the EP has been released, Toews is already thinking about next steps.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI\u2019m thinking about doing an album maybe next year,\u201d he says. He\u2019s looking to deepen the collaborative aspect of recording, and incorporate more instrumental variation.<\/p>\n<p>There may be some live dates during the summer in support of the release.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe last thing I would say is, if someone wants to look at this album and focus on one track, that is August 2006,\u201d Joel says. It\u2019s music based on his memories of a specific stage in his life. He was 12 years old, and it was summer time. \u201cI experienced a real taste of freedom.\u201d His biggest concern at the time was where he and his friends would go on an afternoon. \u201cThe birds singing and the wind going through your hair.\u201d The music captures a sense of both that freedom, and a nostalgia for a time of life that\u2019s past.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>We Remember Moments: <\/strong>The EP<\/h2>\n<p>Joel Toews debut EP We Remember Moments was released on May 1, 2026.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Find it on Spotify and other major streaming sites [<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/linktr.ee\/joeltoewsmusic\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">HERE<\/a><\/strong>].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong><em>Are you looking to promote an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ludwig-van.com\/toronto\/advertising\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"color: #0e101a;\"><u>event<\/u><\/span><\/a>? 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