With the upcoming Winterfolk Blues and Roots Festival, it seems fittiing that we get to know one of the many artists coming to Toronto for this one-of-a-kind festival. Mean Mary (née Mary James) has been in Canada before, but Winterfolk will mark her Toronto debut. Last week, Mary and I took some time to discuss her long musical trajectory.
Mary James was born in Alabama, in a family that lived a nomadic style for some time. During her formative years, Mary’s mother (Jean) taught her to read music. By the age of six, Mary had already recorded her first album. Her early years kept her family busy on the road. Given her prodigious nature and her ability to play a mean note on the banjo, the nickname ‘Mean Mary‘ was born and “it stuck.”
But as Mary describes it, at eleven years old, she and her folks were getting tired of the commercial country scene. At this age, she heard historical folk music for the first time at a country festival. Her and her brother Frank enjoyed what they heard, they eventually started to play this type of music and create their own version of it as well. Mary believes this switch in music helped her “in becoming a songwriter”.
Life was not always easy for the James family, Mary suffered an accident that damaged her vocal chords, but she pushed on. Eventually, healing and continuing with her musical career. Throughout the years, Mary learned to play up to eleven musical instruments. On tour, however, she brings her three main ones, the fiddle, guitar, and banjo. When recording, Mary likes to mix the instruments as it gives the music a different sound. Mary describes her writing style as one that is driven by “what inspires me at the time… I think this song goes with this instrument… it’s an organic process.” And when listening to her music, you get that feeling.
Mary is on the road several times a year, and touring has “become second nature but I always want to get back to a creative project” at home. Being an independent artist makes for a busy lifestyle. Mary also has a TV reality show, which she hopes to get back to in the next little while. But being on the road is always “new and exciting.” On stage, she likes to see how the audience interacts with her and her music. “As long as the audience is happy, I am happy.” It really is all about having a good time.
Mary’s music is becoming widely known outside of North America as well. She counts herself as “being very lucky in receiving some great and positive feedback”. Mary will be travellin to the UK and the Netherlands later this year. For now, she is very excited about coming back to Canada. She is very much looking forward to learning more about the “local Folk scene, as well as, playing with Hotcha!” Mean Mary will be playing at Winterfolk on Saturday and Sunday, February 15-16. For more information on all artists, tickets and venues, visit winterfolk.com.
*Photos by: Johnny Giles.
