While performing live has largely been halted during the pandemic, the pause gave Michael Peters time to craft his inaugural EP.
The Valemount singer channeled all his COVID-19 downtime and energy into producing his debut extended play of original songs, Have I Lived A Good Life, which was released on Feb.4.
The EP, co-produced by Peters and Prince George singer-songwriter, William Kuklis, was recorded at Vinyl Deck Studios in Prince George last fall.
Peters said raising funds to record in pandemic times, without touring or other revenue streams, is challenging, but it forced him get creative.
“I managed to secure a partial grant, I held a fundraising concert, I even did some busking,” Peters said.
“I would have cleaned bathrooms to raise money if I needed to. Thankfully, lots of people who couldn’t come to the fundraiser still donated to this EP, as did family, so that was awesome. And I didn’t have to scrub toilets.”
Peters has already had some success in getting two new songs played on the radio at Peace FM in Chetwynd and a station near Halifax. But perhaps his biggest accomplishment so far was having the EP’s title track, Have I Lived A Good Life, featured recently on CBC Radio’s Daybreak North program with Carolina de Ryk to listeners throughout northern B.C.
“It might be a cliché, but there really is something special about hearing a song you’ve written and recorded talked about and played on the radio,” Peters said. “These are personal songs, relatable songs about the power and need of relationships, family, nostalgia and self-reflection. The title song poses the eternal question — have I lived a good life?”
Have I Lived A Good Life is available digitally on a number of online music streaming services or for purchase at Peters’ website, gmichaelpeters.com.
