Pharis and Jason Romero have made it into the Smithsonian.

Well, into Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, the nonprofit record label of the Smithsonian Institution, that is.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 really exciting for us, it含羞草研究社檚 our first time doing a record with a record label,含羞草研究社� said Pharis, one half of the award-winning folk duo. Though they are usually self-reliant, producing, promoting and distributing their own records, the pair are happy to hand over those jobs for this release.

The pair含羞草研究社檚 latest album, 含羞草研究社楾ell 含羞草研究社楨m You Were Gold含羞草研究社� takes its name from one line in the song Souvenir.

The line stuck out for both of them, from the lyrics Pharis wrote, and which Jason then put the music to.

The video for the song was filmed in the historic 153 Mile Store, near Williams Lake.

Pharis said the location for the video came about after talking to Rick Magnell, a local photographer and videographer who she and Jason have worked with many times before.

含羞草研究社淗e含羞草研究社檚 the ultimate videographer and photographer because he is constantly pushing his skill set and his equipment set,含羞草研究社� said Pharis, of Magnell.

The folk duo have worked with Magnell on three records to make promotional photography and videos.

They were brainstorming historic and interesting locations which would fit with the song含羞草研究社檚 theme and title, coming up with Barkerville, their old barn and then Magnell suggested the historic store.

含羞草研究社淚 had never been in it, but that was the perfect idea,含羞草研究社� said Pharis, who explained the location seemed like a fit for a couple of reasons.

Pharis含羞草研究社� maiden name is Patenaude, so she is distantly related to Roger Patenaude, who along with his wife Alison, have been caretaking the store for the past few years on behalf of the Patenaude family.

Roger含羞草研究社檚 family used to own the 153 Mile Ranch and have been maintaining the historic store for a couple of generations now. The store is something of a museum, housing all manner of historic goods.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 this incredible time capsule of Cariboo history,含羞草研究社� described Pharis, referencing one line in the song: 含羞草研究社渁 souvenir of time.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淎lthough the song is not a direct reference to things being physical, tangible souvenirs, the store felt like such a great representation of just the idea of things being a souvenir.含羞草研究社�

She said the filming of the video in the store, however, was a challenge. They were trying to convey a sense of intimacy in music and a sense of the place they were in, and to overcome working in such an old building.

含羞草研究社淲e had extension cords running all over the place,含羞草研究社� recalled Pharis, with only one electrical outlet to light the space.

But the video gives no hint of those hurdles, and the video glows with both light and the warmth of the folk power-couples含羞草研究社� voices.

The Souvenir video is the first for their new record, an album that seems different to them, she said because it has more of a thematic feel, focusing on banjos, with Jason playing seven unique banjos in the 16 songs.

The emphasis is on each of these instruments含羞草研究社� sounds and backstory, which is appropriate because this year marks 20 years of the couple含羞草研究社檚 banjo-making business and this year they will produce their 500th banjo.

含羞草研究社淭here含羞草研究社檚 lots of like 含羞草研究社楾ing! Ting! Ting!含羞草研究社� moments,含羞草研究社� said Pharis. 含羞草研究社淚t feels quite incredible, actually.含羞草研究社�

Jason has been building and hanging onto banjos for the last few years to work towards this project, which also included a film crew coming up to Horsefly, documenting the making of the album.

This year also marks 15 years of marriage for Jason and Pharis.

While in some ways, Pharis said the 15 years can feel like they have gone by quickly, in other ways, it has been far from high-speed.

含羞草研究社淚f I sit back and just think about the last 15 years of my life and what含羞草研究社檚 happened, I think 含羞草研究社極h no, that含羞草研究社檚 not fast at all.含羞草研究社� It含羞草研究社檚 so full. So that含羞草研究社檚 a good feeling.含羞草研究社�

The pair so far produced two kids, five records, won three Juno awards and seven Canadian Folk music awards.

含羞草研究社淟ots of similarities and lots of difference, enough to keep it interesting,含羞草研究社� says Pharis, of the partnership.

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ruth.lloyd@wltribune.com
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