Published: August 17, 2010

Legendary Folk singer-song writer Valdy will be performing tonight at Spirit Square for Music In The City.

The all-ages free show starts at 6 p.m. and goes till 8 p.m.

The Merritt Herald caught up with Valdy after a private show in Toronto this week. Q: Do you write all of your own songs?

A: I do write a lot but I also cover songs by other writers that I enjoy. Songs that I think are relevent and worth sharing with people.

Q: Of your own music, do you have a favourite song or album?

A: No. I would say my last record is the one I’ve had the most fun with and I have a whack of new material I’m going to be recording in September or October, so I’ll be featuring some of that as well.

But right now, I’d say the old standards are just as much fun to play as the new ones, ‘cause they have legs – they’re good tunes.

Q: What’s your technique for song-writing?

A: The core of it is usually a concept or an idea or an ethic. And then I couch that in either a community or an individual or a couple or a world movement and just personify that ethic somehow to make a narrative of it.

Generally I like to have an idea of a verse chorus structure prior to finishing the lyric, so that it gives it a matrix to put the lyric on.

Q: You’ve been doing this for a few decades now?

A: Yes, it’ll be four decades... this year!

Q: Do you still live on Saltspring Island?

A: Yes, my wife and I have an acreage on the south end of Saltspring. I’m a logger by attrition, because the trees are getting so old and crowding each other out.

Q: So your style is classic folk music, right?

A: I’m a folk singer, but folk music is everything; rock and roll, rap, ska, all of the music comes from folk music, so I have a very broad brush to choose from.

Q: Are you planning on putting out another album soon?

A: I’m putting one out this fall. I do like collaborating with people, because I’m a good lyricist, but I’m a better musician. I’d rather come up with melodies and chords. Co-writing is quite exciting ‘cause you get more than just the sum of the two parts.

Q: What’s it like being one of the best-known Canadian musicians?

A: It’s an honour that my songs still have legs and I’m able to make a living at what I’m doing. It’s a great career. It’s not much money, but it’s a great living.

Q: How did you get the name Valdy?

A: It’s short for Valdemar, which is my middle name. Paul Valdemar Horsdal. My dad was Paul Valedmar Horsdal as well. He got the Paul, I got the Valdemar. He asked me not to use the family name in show business. So I became Valdy on my front porch as I left home.

Q: What were your two Juno Awards for?

A: Folk Singer and Folk Entertainer of the Year, I think. And nominations were all for Folk Singer of the Year.

Q: What can the Merritt audience expect from your show tonight?

A: Old chestnuts and newer tunes sprinkled in.