Myles Palmquist grew up on the prairies. And somewhere in the midst of thos… Read Full Bio ↴Myles Palmquist grew up on the prairies. And somewhere in the midst of those prairies, between moving from place to place around Manitoba with his family, somewhere around always being the new kid and finding where he belongs, Myles taught himself guitar and sang along to his favourite cassette tapes.
As a young man craving change, Myles made the jump to Alberta. And somewhere in the midst of the mountains, between delivering furniture and apprenticing tattoo artistry, Myles discovered a new guitar style. With the raw materials for forward motion still missing, Myles knew that to progress in his songwriting he had to return to square one, his home; the prairies, where all the inspiration he needed was waiting for him. Myles began playing gigs around Winnipeg, and while working a variety of day jobs (and night jobs), struggling for a balance between creating music and paying the rent, Myles's true songwriting form took shape. He created a studio in his bedroom, found percussion in potato chip containers, good acoustics in the bathroom, and was sure that his futon was always immaculately made the same way for each mixing session.
A collection of songs from these recordings became Myles's first full-length release; "...and away we go". Myles is a self-taught guitarist who never really cared for theory, resulting in a very original sound; and his unique point of view is expressed through songs with subjects that range from love, friendship, politics, and even the weather. Bringing new context to the old conflicts that affect us all daily, "...and away we go" captures the listener by allowing the clever and compelling themes to trade the spotlight with fresh guitar work. In a live setting, these dynamic compositions seamlessly sway from uplifting rock choruses, to verses so melodic and eerily quiet, they continue to silence even the noisiest of venues. Drawing comparisons to artists including City & Colour, Dave Matthews, Elliott Smith, Neil Young, and Nick Drake, the album is a journey fueled by the desire for more, shaking a finger at progress, arriving at the place where you appreciate what you have.
The last couple of years have seen Myles enjoy a seat in the producer's chair, completing two albums for local singer/songwriter Sara Paquin ("Heal" and "Through These Ears"), and branching into the hip-hop genre, working with poet Karl Ray Jones.