It was during a performance at Peterborough’s Market Hall in February that I heard beloved local musician and actress Kate Suhr first sing her song about the Selkie Bride. A haunting story about a mythical seal-like creature that comes from out of the sea, the selkie sheds her sealskin and takes human form to dance on the shore in the moonlight.
I was so enraptured by the song I immediately messaged Kate that night and told her that I hoped she would someday record the song, because I wanted to listen to it again and again.
Well, Kate hasn’t only recorded the song, but has made it the title track of her first full-length album Selkie Bride. She will be returning to the Market Hall on Saturday, September 30th to celebrate the release of her new record.
“Selkies are mythological creatures in Celtic, Scottish and Icelandic lore,” Kate says, explaining the album’s title. “They are said to live as seals in the sea, but they shed their skin to live as humans on the land.
“My song Selkie Bride is about a woman whose sealskin was stolen by a man, so she loses herself. It’s a metaphor for parts of my own journey. I lost myself in a relationship, and it’s about the journey to find myself again.”
VIDEO: The story of The Selkie Bride
The selkie is not the only mythical creature Kate has written a song about for Selkie Bride. She transformed an unfinished song that first appeared as an intro to her 2015 EP Something More into a composition called “Lady in White”, which talks about the ghostly white ladies said to haunt rural areas worldwide.
“Lady in White is one of my most favourite songs because it was a turning point for me,” Kate says. “It was a new chapter of diving into folk lore and fairy tales and storytelling, as opposed to my prior songs which were about me and my experiences.
“The story itself is based around these spirits called white ladies. They are many stories about these sightings of women haunting countries and towns in long white dresses. Usually they have been women who have been scorned by their husbands or lovers. I had read an article about the white ladies and it just stuck with me for a while. I couldn’t get it out of my head.”
Another song on Kate’s album even takes on the Virgin Mary.
“Although I’m not a particularly religious person, I’ve become enthralled with the Virgin Mary,” she admits. “There is a beautiful piece I read about Stella Marie, which is the Virgin Mary that sailors pray to. They have their own Mother Mary, and she is a star in the sky and sailors pray to her when they get lost at sea.”
But not all the songs on Selkie Bride are mystical and mythical. Kate also includes some songs that are a bit more down to earth, but still cling close to the heart — including a song dedicated to local director and playwright Gillian Wilson.
“I wrote Til It Goes Away for my beloved friend Gillian Wilson. Gillian has been a huge inspiration in my life.”
Kate says there are also a couple of other “gutsy and gritty” tunes on the record.
“The album is a nice balance of dark and light. In the darkness, light is always found.”
Selkie Bride is accompanied with haunting photos of Kate walking along the water in a white dress and wrapped in darkness, created with the help of photographer Jennifer Moher, who has also designed the CD package alongside Kate. Kate says that she and Jennifer, as well as their friend Ally Boothroyd, made an early morning trip to the Scarborough Bluffs to take these eerie yet beautiful photos.
“We got up at 4 a.m. because we wanted to take the photos during the sunrise,” Kate recalls. “The three of us were standing on the rocks with the waves crashing. It was the best time.”
Recorded throughout the summer of 2017, Selkie Bride was produced by James McKenty, who also plays guitars on the album, and features an all-star lineup of local musicians and performers including Loel Campbell, Greg Marshak, Jimmy Bowskill, Ian McKeown, Melissa Payne, Paul Crough, and Kate Brioux.
Although Kate currently lives in Toronto, where she has been pursuing a successful acting career and has appeared on stage and in commercials, Kate’s fan base still holds strong in Peterborough. With a heart as beautiful as her voice, Kate’s genuine kindness has endeared her to everyone whose lives she has touched and, in return, her friends and fans have continued to support her through every step of her career.
In fact, only moments after Kate announced her album release party, the show announcement spread like wildfire throughout social media.
“I don’t take one second for granted,” Kate says. “I couldn’t do what I do without the support of the village. It makes me emotional often because I just don’t understand it. I can’t even begin to know how to thank everyone.”
And even though Kate is living in Toronto, her heart remains in Peterborough.
“It’s special what happens in our town. It’s easy to draw on the negative first: unemployment and hatred and homelessness. But I believe so fiercely in the arts, and that’s one thing I think we all are into together. We realize life is hard and it’s a journey, and there are things happening that are upsetting in our town. So we have to cling to the light, and we need to cling to each other and we need to cling to kindness and we need to cling to the arts.
“The arts is about being human. The arts is about storytelling. It’s a place where people can escape and feel inspired. That’s what Peterborough gives back to me. Peterborough really believes in the arts, and we believe in each other.”
On Saturday, September 30th, Kate will be performing the songs of Selkie Bride at the official album release party. Special guests include James McKenty, Kate Brioux, and Melissa Payne, along with opening act Tonya-Lee Watts. Tickets are $25 general admission or $50 for cabaret seating in front of stage (the $50 ticket includes one complimentary drink ticket).
Tickets are available at the Market Hall box office (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough, 705-749-1146) or online at markethall.org. Tickets are also available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
