Saskia and Darrel Delaronde come from decidedly different musical upbringings, but the duo have found they work well together.
Delaronde grew up in Mount Nebo, SK., learning his craft in Saskatchewan country music halls, while Saskia was learning her craft under the tutelage of her grandmother in the music room in Untrech in the Netherlands.
The different upbringings also mean quite different musical backgrounds. Delaronde said his own background is "everything from country, to the sixty's rock and on from there, while Saskia's includes "European folk and classical."
"We love all good music with melody and cadence," he added.
Together they have created their own sound.
"We play Prairie roots. An original, roots, folk, country, blue, euro, Metis mix with lots of harmonies and great stories," said Delaronde.
Their music has taken the duo, which performs at 5th Avenue Cup & Saucer in Yorkton March 9th, from the Maritimes to Europe, including highlight performances in Switzerland, Holland and Halifax.While busy performing the pair also finds time to write.
"We write continually, we are driven and obsessed, no stopping the muse, and when there is enough for an album, we go back in the studio," said Delaronde. Between the pair there are seven albums. The newest release is called 'Sailing Saskatchewan'.
While living in Saskatchewan, the latest disk was recorded in Nanaimo, B.C.Delaronde said the studio is its own unique experience.
"Recording is on stage under a microscope. However there is some room for mistakes as one has the opportunity to re-record," he said.
"On stage you do not get a second chance to make a first impression.
"So we practice hard and ongoing which makes the studio process quite easy as we have sung the songs a 1000 times by then."
While a performer usually hears things on a disk they would have done differently, Delaronde said they are happy with the latest disk.
"Absolutely there is always room for better and we are our own worst critics, but overall it is a fun sweet album," he said, adding it follows their earlier efforts nicely. "It is very similar in terms of the story telling. Canadian content all the way."
