Behind the Hits: Liz Rodrigues and the Spectacular Launch of the Four Chords and the Truth Songbook Series
By Stevie Connor | The Sound Cafe Journal
Photo Credit: Anne Connor.
An intimate evening of remarkable songwriting, exceptional musicianship and the stories behind some of the songs that have travelled around the world.
There are evenings when everything seems to fall into place: the venue, the sound, the performers and, perhaps most importantly, the music. Friday, November 13, was one of those evenings as I made my way to the sixth floor of Allied Music Centre in Toronto for the launch of Four Chords and the Truth: The Songbook Series, featuring Toronto-born songwriter Liz Rodrigues.
What an evening it turned out to be.
The Allied Music Centre Theatre is a wonderful space, offering an intimate listening-room experience that feels particularly suited to this kind of performance. The sound quality was exceptional, allowing every musical detail to be appreciated. There was a real sense that everyone in the room was there for the same reason: to listen, appreciate and enjoy the music. There was no need for elaborate production or spectacle. The songs, the stories and the musicians were more than enough.
For those familiar with Four Chords and the Truth, Andrea England will already be a familiar name. Andrea has built something rather special around one simple but important idea: celebrating the stories behind the songs and the people who write them.
Her Songwriters in the Round format has given songwriters an opportunity to share their experiences, perform their compositions and explain the creative journeys that brought their songs to life.
The Songbook Series takes that concept a step further. A vision Andrea has been developing for a couple of years, it gives one songwriter an entire evening to explore their catalogue, their stories and their creative process.
To me, this is what makes the concept so exciting. We regularly hear songs performed by internationally recognised artists, sometimes becoming enormous hits, without necessarily knowing much about the people who actually wrote them. These songwriters are often working behind the scenes, contributing to the soundtrack of our lives while their own names remain largely unfamiliar to the public.
Andrea has given them a stage, an audience and an opportunity to put their talents firmly in the spotlight. It is a wonderful idea, and Liz Rodrigues was a spectacular choice to launch the series.
The Songwriter Behind the Hits
A proud Torontonian with Portuguese roots, Liz Rodrigues has built an impressive international songwriting career. Her work includes compositions recorded by Celine Dion, Eminem, Pitbull, Nicole Scherzinger, P!nk and many other artists, including material associated with The Mavericks.
Her songwriting credits include six songs on Celine Dion's album Courage, including its title track, as well as contributions to Eminem's Grammy-winning albums Recovery and The Marshall Mathers LP 2.
Liz was completely in her element throughout the evening, taking us through a selection of songs she had written and co-written for other artists. What made the experience so enjoyable was hearing these compositions through the voice of the person who helped create them. We weren't simply listening to someone performing familiar songs; we were hearing the songwriter revisit her own work, bringing a different perspective and personality to each performance.
Liz also shared something of her personal journey, including an ambition she had carried from an early age: to write a song that Celine Dion would one day perform.
It was a dream she managed to realise, not just once but on more than one occasion.
That story made the performance of Courage particularly special. Knowing what having her work recorded by Celine meant to Liz added another dimension to the song. Her performance was quite simply out of this world. There was something remarkable about hearing the song delivered by one of the people who had helped bring it into existence.
It was one of those moments when the room seemed to become completely absorbed in the music.
Something else that impressed me was Liz's generosity in talking about the artists who had recorded her songs. She heaped praise on the performers and musicians who had taken her compositions and brought them to audiences around the world. There was a genuine appreciation for the collaborative nature of songwriting, and no shortage of recognition for those who had helped make the songs what they became.
A Gathering of Exceptional Talent
The evening was made even more memorable by the appearance of three special guests, each with their own connection to Liz and her songwriting.
Mackenzie Arromba, brought another welcome dimension to the evening. A talented singer-songwriter in her own right, she has shared a songwriting connection with Liz, making her appearance particularly fitting for an event celebrating the craft of songwriting. Her contribution was a reminder that the relationships formed through writing together can extend well beyond the studio, finding their way onto the stage and into performances such as this. It was lovely to see her included in an evening that celebrated not only the songs themselves, but also the people and collaborations behind them.
Ryland James had travelled two hours to be there, a lovely reflection of the musical relationship and connection they share through their collaborations. His vocals were spectacular, bringing a real presence and quality to the performances. He was one of those guests who reminds you just how much talent can exist on a single stage.
Then came LOCKYER, the brother duo of Will and Charlie. Originally from Thunder Bay and now making their home in Toronto, they genuinely stunned me.
Their stage presence, harmonies and musicianship were outstanding. There was something particularly impressive about the way the two worked together, and they brought something very special to the stage.
Having these artists perform songs they had co-written with Liz was entirely in keeping with the spirit of the Songbook Series. It wasn't simply about celebrating one songwriter; it was about recognising the relationships, collaborations and shared creativity that make music what it is.
The Musicians Who Made the Evening
I also have to give considerable credit to the musicians accompanying the performers.
Brian Rivlin on keys provided wonderful accompaniment throughout the evening, bringing exactly what was needed to support each song and each vocalist.
However, it was guitarist James Brian McCollum who absolutely blew me away.
From beginning to end, his playing was out of this world. He is a monster guitarist, and I found myself watching him almost as much as I was watching the performers.
What impressed me most, though, was not simply his technical ability. It was his understanding of the music and the way he complemented every artist who stepped onto the stage.
He knew when to step forward, when to let a song breathe and how to add something special without ever taking away from the person performing. That is a real skill, and it made an enormous difference to the evening.
For me, James made the whole experience. His guitar work was a highlight from start to finish, and I came away thoroughly impressed by his musicianship.
Behind the Hits: Liz Rodrigues and the Spectacular Launch of the Four Chords and the Truth Songbook Behind the Hits: Liz Rodrigues and the Spectacular Launch of the Four Chords and the Truth Songbook With the amazing Liz Rodrigues, great to meet again. With the very talented Thunder Bay Duo, Lockyer
Photo Credit: Anne Connor.
A Vision that Reaches Beyond the Stage
There was another important announcement during the evening that deserves recognition.
Andrea England shared her ambition to develop a music programme through MusiCounts, with the goal of fostering and encouraging young songwriters. It is an exciting vision and a natural extension of everything Four Chords and the Truth represents.
Donations were being encouraged on the evening, with the hope that contributions throughout the remainder of the Songbook Series would help the initiative reach its fundraising goal.
I particularly like this aspect of Andrea's vision. It is one thing to celebrate established songwriters and recognise the people behind successful recordings, but to take that commitment further and help create opportunities for the next generation is something else entirely.
Young songwriters need encouragement, opportunities and places where their creativity can be nurtured. If this initiative can help provide that foundation, it will be an extremely worthwhile legacy for the series.
I hope the donations and support continue to build throughout the remaining performances.
A Spectacular Beginning
Walking away from the evening, I found myself thinking about what Andrea England has created and where she might take it next.
For me, Andrea has always been about featuring the stories behind the songs. That was the foundation of Four Chords and the Truth, and this new series takes that philosophy even further. It recognises the people who craft the songs that go on to become hits in the hands of other artists, giving those songwriters an opportunity to step out from behind the scenes and take their rightful place in the spotlight.
Friday's launch featuring Liz Rodrigues demonstrated just how effective that idea can be.
We had an outstanding songwriter, wonderful guest performers, musicianship of the highest order, an intimate venue with exceptional sound, and stories that gave us a much greater appreciation of the creative process behind some very familiar music.
Most importantly, we were reminded that behind every great recording there is a story, and behind many of those stories is a songwriter whose name deserves to be recognised.
Andrea, congratulations on bringing this vision to life. If the opening evening is anything to go by, the Songbook Series has a very bright future.
And Liz Rodrigues? What a way to get things started.
Sometimes the people who write the hits are the very people we need to hear from most.
Andrea England has given them the stage. Long may it continue.
The Sound Cafe Journal
Where the story behind the music matters.
Find Out More About Stevie Connor HERE
Find Out More About Four Chords and The Truth Songbook Series HERE
Find Out More About Liz Rodrigues HERE
Spotify and Sony Music Publishing Canada supported the show by working together to launch a “Written by Liz Rodrigues”playlist in advance of the event.
