Musical pairing creates mystery

May Day is a time of new beginnings and a little known St. Albert duo is releasing their first CD to inaugurate a fresh commitment to music.

St. Albert resident Kjierstin Hubka and her Edmonton-based writing partner Garett Gunderson are releasing a 13-track self-titled acoustic pop album on Saturday, May 1 at La Crema Caffé.

The duo, known to fans as the fun and whimsical Where’s Lula?, met a decade ago. Hubka, originally from Bow Island, moved north to study theology at the Camrose Lutheran Bible College before moving to Concordia College for a year of arts education. While at college, she sang in numerous choirs and taught herself to play guitar.

Gunderson, a St. Francis Xavier student, instead picked up the music bug playing trombone in a swing band and was in a high school rock band called The Cage. Like Hubka, he is a self-taught guitarist and has expanded his artistic inclinations to mural painting.

In fact, Hubka met him while taking private art lessons. But it wasn’t until three years ago the duo realized their artistic visions meshed and they turned to collaborating professionally.

As for the origin of the name Where’s Lula?, Hubka says, “We don’t tell people until they come to the live show. We want to create mystery. But if you want to get all deep, think of it as a concept. What sets you on fire? What makes you get creative?”

Over the past few years, Where’s Lula? has evolved into an acoustic pop duo with a 1970s edge. They’ve been strongly influenced by Fleetwood Mac and April Wine and have patterned themselves after the Mamas and the Papas, renowned for their sweet melodies and intricate harmonies.

But if you listen closely to seven of their new songs uploaded on the website, there’s a thin patina of folk ambrosia lingering through some of the tunes. “Garett has a descriptive way of writing. It’s almost like telling a story.”

Most of the lyrics are about love and relationships. Happy is one of the more introspective pieces that says, “At the end of the day, all we really need is love.”

I Am Alive, a percussive pop-rock song is a stream of consciousness creation that gets right to the point, and Thong Song is a country-rock flavoured melody about a man excited to meet a woman coming back from a trip.

Losing My Head is the album’s one song that pays homage to the trombone and Bliss was a tune Hubka wrote and sang for a friend at her wedding.

Early on in the game the duo made a commitment to connect with audiences. To that end, they bring percussion instruments — chicken shakers, tambourines and rain sticks — for the crowd to play. “People love to find their inner child. We make good music and people walk away feeling entertained.”

Where’s Lula? is also performing at The Kasbar, 10444 – 82 Ave. on Thursday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m. For music information go online at www.whereslula.com.