Interviewed and Photographed by Laikynn De Boer

Laikynn De Boer is the Founder of Norfolk Music Press, a page dedicated to promoting live music and musicians in Norfolk County. Follow her on Instagram @NorfolkMusicPress to see weekly updates of where and when you can see amazing local music.

Laikynn is also a talented photographer, more of her work can be found on Instagram @Laikdebo

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Amber Banks is one of many amazing local musicians from Norfolk County, Ontario, but she stands out for the ethereal tone of her voice and the way she brings a wave of peaceful calm over any crowd. As well as having a true heart of gold and telling the best jokes, she is an incredible singer and songwriter, and has been performing live for over 7 years. She has played in venues across Norfolk, and has even opened for Blue Rodeo and David Wilcox.

Q: What inspired you to first get into music and performing live?

I started posting videos in highschool, mostly for my grandma, And then one of my dad’s bandmates, Tony Duclos, gifted me everything that I would need to play music publicly. I was really nervous to do so, but he said ‘Well you’ve got all the stuff now, you got to use it!’ Everyone was just super lovely and encouraging every step of the way, so I really credit Tony Duclos and Sarah Moody-Velduis. She encouraged me to play opening for Professor Louie & The Crowmatix. Of course my dad has played music for years too, so he’s always been a huge cheerleader for me playing music, and my mom is a singer and a songwriter as well.

Q: What advice would you give emerging musicians in Norfolk who are just starting out in their performing or songwriting journeys?

Amber: Keep with it, for sure. It’s so worthwhile. It’s such a worthwhile endeavor to learn an instrument, to play music, to sing, and to join community in music, and jump into it headfirst. You’re never going to be 100% prepared. Just do it scared, do it confused, do it clumsily, and the comfortability will come. I’ve never really gotten over my stagefright 100%, but there are ways and people who will uplift you especially in Norfolk County who are so radically accepting and radically loving of live music. If you put your heart in it people will meet you halfway and celebrate that with you and it’s so worth it. Live music is right here under your feet, half the price of super expensive concert tickets and right in your backyard. I think people would be really surprised by how much fantastic talent we have in small towns and even just at bar gigs or whatever right? There’s so much great live music to be seen, and I want for all young folk who are just starting out to be a part of that. Join in, y’know, do the scary thing, because doing the brave thing is really worth it.

Q: Do you have an all time favourite show you’ve ever performed locally?

I feel like the Valley Heights show with Professor Louie was really special. I got to play with Nolan Gibson and Jesse Murphy opening for David Wilcox in Port Rowan, and I got to play opening for Blue Rodeo at Burning Kiln last year. Such a unique experience and so wild to be in front of that many people at one time, but it was so well worth it and so awesome. And any show at Homegrown Hideaway is so special. It’s my favourite place to play music, I think, in Norfolk County, because they’re just so lovely and welcoming, and it’s such a special place for live music in particular.

Q: What does the live music scene in Norfolk County mean to you?

Amber: It truly means the world. I feel like every single musician I’ve interacted with the entire time I’ve been playing live music is just so accepting and wonderful and positive, radically loving and accepting. Truly, everyone is just your biggest cheerleader no matter where you go and people will show up and make you feel loved and accepted and proud to be there and to be a part of this community. So I am a huge superfan of the Norfolk County music scene in particular, and it truly just makes things like Friendship Festival or Cornstock [Birdtown Jamboree] feel like big family reunions y’know? Everybody getting together to raise money and play music and just join together in song and connect and build community in a really beautiful way. I love Norfolk County music so much.

Q: You recently debuted some of your original songs at one of the Songwriter’s Rounds held at Homegrown Hideaway here in Norfolk. Can you tell us a little more about one of your new songs?

Amber: At the last concert I played a song called ‘Orbit’, and it’s one of the only two songs that I’ve written on an electric guitar. I started writing it about three years ago now, but I just couldn’t find the ending for a long time. Finally, in the last 6 months, I started picking up my electric guitar and playing it a bit more and I finally found the end of that song which was really satisfying.

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