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VIDEO: Juno-award winning folk duo showcase B.C. history in new song

Video filmed in historic 153 Mile Store was the 91Ƶperfect place91Ƶ

Pharis and Jason Romero have made it into the Smithsonian.

Well, into Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, that is.

91ƵIt91Ƶs really exciting for us, it91Ƶs our first time doing a record with a record label,91Ƶ said Pharis, one half of the award-winning folk duo. Though they are usually self-reliant, producing, promoting and distributing their own records, the pair are happy to hand over those jobs for this release.

The pair91Ƶs latest album, 91ƵTell 91ƵEm You Were Gold91Ƶ takes its name from one line in the song Souvenir.

The line stuck out for both of them, from the lyrics Pharis wrote, and which Jason then put the music to.

The video for the song was filmed in the historic 153 Mile Store, near Williams Lake.

Pharis said the location for the video came about after talking to Rick Magnell, a local photographer and videographer who she and Jason have worked with many times before.

91ƵHe91Ƶs the ultimate videographer and photographer because he is constantly pushing his skill set and his equipment set,91Ƶ said Pharis, of Magnell.

The folk duo have worked with Magnell on three records to make promotional photography and videos.

They were brainstorming historic and interesting locations which would fit with the song91Ƶs theme and title, coming up with Barkerville, their old barn and then Magnell suggested the historic store.

91ƵI had never been in it, but that was the perfect idea,91Ƶ said Pharis, who explained the location seemed like a fit for a couple of reasons.

Pharis91Ƶ maiden name is Patenaude, so she is distantly related to Roger Patenaude, who along with his wife Alison, have been caretaking the store for the past few years on behalf of the Patenaude family.

Roger91Ƶs family used to own the 153 Mile Ranch and have been maintaining the historic store for a couple of generations now. The store is something of a museum, housing all manner of historic goods.

91ƵIt91Ƶs this incredible time capsule of Cariboo history,91Ƶ described Pharis, referencing one line in the song: 91Ƶa souvenir of time.91Ƶ

91ƵAlthough the song is not a direct reference to things being physical, tangible souvenirs, the store felt like such a great representation of just the idea of things being a souvenir.91Ƶ

She said the filming of the video in the store, however, was a challenge. They were trying to convey a sense of intimacy in music and a sense of the place they were in, and to overcome working in such an old building.

91ƵWe had extension cords running all over the place,91Ƶ recalled Pharis, with only one electrical outlet to light the space.

But the video gives no hint of those hurdles, and the video glows with both light and the warmth of the folk power-couples91Ƶ voices.

The Souvenir video is the first for their new record, an album that seems different to them, she said because it has more of a thematic feel, focusing on banjos, with Jason playing seven unique banjos in the 16 songs.

The emphasis is on each of these instruments91Ƶ sounds and backstory, which is appropriate because this year marks 20 years of the couple91Ƶs banjo-making business and this year they will produce their 500th banjo.

91ƵThere91Ƶs lots of like 91ƵTing! Ting! Ting!91Ƶ moments,91Ƶ said Pharis. 91ƵIt feels quite incredible, actually.91Ƶ

Jason has been building and hanging onto banjos for the last few years to work towards this project, which also included a film crew coming up to Horsefly, documenting the making of the album.

This year also marks 15 years of marriage for Jason and Pharis.

While in some ways, Pharis said the 15 years can feel like they have gone by quickly, in other ways, it has been far from high-speed.

91ƵIf I sit back and just think about the last 15 years of my life and what91Ƶs happened, I think 91ƵOh no, that91Ƶs not fast at all.91Ƶ It91Ƶs so full. So that91Ƶs a good feeling.91Ƶ

The pair so far produced two kids, five records, won three Juno awards and seven Canadian Folk music awards.

91ƵLots of similarities and lots of difference, enough to keep it interesting,91Ƶ says Pharis, of the partnership.

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ruth.lloyd@wltribune.com

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Ruth Lloyd

About the Author: Ruth Lloyd

I moved back to my hometown of Williams Lake after living away and joined the amazing team at the Williams Lake Tribune in 2021.
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