One Artist at a Time: Rita Chiarelli
- Erin Dunham
- 09 Apr 2016
I had the privilege of meeting with Rita Chiarelli at the Cannon for a chat over hot beverages at 8:30am, (too early for both of us). She is from Rita Chiarelli and Sweet Loretta; there are seven ladies in the band, sometimes eight, and they play original music in the genres of bluesy, R&B with a touch of country. She is a riot, and totally worth getting up early for.
Twitter: @rchiarelliblues | Website: ritachiarelli.com
Tell me about what you are doing in music right now.
I’ve booked about nine theatre gigs all around Ontario — Port Dover, Ottawa Brockville, Hamilton — and I’ve put together an all-female blues and R&B band that just brings the house down. It’s a first for me to work with all women on the road. It’s fantastic. There’s so much joy in this project, and there’s something very magical. It’s really exciting.
On April 16 we’re playing at the Molson Canadian Studio at Hamilton Place. It’s my hometown, of course, so it’s exciting. One of the other gals in my band is from Hamilton, I’ve known her for years and years. Her name is Lily Sazz. All the rest are living in Toronto. I’ve also known Carrie Chesnutt for years, and the other gals I’ve met through doing different blues things. We did the Women’s Blues Revue together and we brought the house down. I say that not pretentiously — you cannot be pretentious before 10AM.
Why have you chosen to live in Hamilton?
I was born in Hamilton…
All the best people are (I said with a devious smile as I am also born in Hamilton *wink*).
Hamilton was a way rougher town when I was a kid. There was a music scene so to speak — there were a few clubs that I played at. But, the real Mecca was Toronto. You had to leave town and go to Toronto in those days. So that’s what I did pretty much out of high school. I ran away from Hamilton. Hamilton was a rough town. You had some places to play but there wasn’t much diversity or acceptance of being a little different. It wasn’t too open for me.
For the last while Toronto was very crowded. The heavy traffic really started getting to me. Three years ago I started looking for a house in Hamilton. It helps that there’s been such a resurgence in the music industry in Hamilton. What a great change.
What’s your favourite indoor space in Hamilton?
There are a few that I really like. I like This Ain’t Hollywood a lot. It’s just sort of funky and reminds me of the 1970s in LA. I love The Pearl Company too. I played there a few times and it’s a really interesting space. They try to do something wonderful for Hamilton, they really do.
What’s your favourite outdoor space in Hamilton?
Gage Park. First of all, the park is beautiful. I love the fact that it still has that bandshell from the 1940s, and the dressing rooms underneath. Just the way it should be. I love the fountain from 1923 that’s just kept immaculately and it’s beautiful. It’s so underused. It’s one of those hidden treasures of Hamilton.
If you could change one thing about Hamilton, what would it be?
Right now, I think one of the things I would like to see is a little more support for retail and things like that. More diversity in little shops where rather than going to the mall we would have little areas that people can go and shop. We need a lot more Locke Streets.That’s just about the only thing that I miss about Toronto. I lived near the Beaches, so I would go down there and not even buy anything, but just walk and there would be people out window shopping.
That’s just about the only thing that I miss about Toronto. I lived near the Beaches, so I would go down there and not even buy anything, but just walk and there would be people out window shopping.
Hopefully, it’s coming that we’ll have a more vibrant retail scene because I think retail is still kind of hurting here in Hamilton.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Oh, I’m guilty of a few things. I’m going to tell you the safe ones. One guilty pleasure, a food, is Portuguese tarts. And I do mean the food. I can’t resist them. That’s something that Hamilton has that I discovered at Pane Del Sole and Ola. I love Ola. I go there often. I hope it never, ever changes. You go in there and say “I’ll pick up lunch” and it’s $15 or something.
You’re stuck on an island. You can take three animals with you. Which do you take and why?
Definitely, a dog to be my companion. A horse, to help me get around the island. And maybe a bird, like a cockatoo or something that talks back to me.
So most of them are to keep your sanity?
Oh yeah.
There’s a zombie apocalypse. Where do you go to protect yourself?
I’d go to Christ The King, even though I’m not religious. Are they going to come there? It would be hard for them to get into. People are going to say “oh, she goes to church.” No. Only if there’s an apocalypse. I don’t think I’ve been to church in 30 years.
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