ABOUT BILL KOCHER
A native of Southern Ontario, Bill Kocher began writing music in his mid teens, building an impressive collection of demo recordings pieced together in his tiny bed-sit with crude but creative multi-tracking methods. Teaming up with long time friend Dawud Wharnsby, the two young musicians began aping the writing styles of artists and groups like The Kingston Trio, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams and Simon & Garfunkle. In typical folk song tradition, their early collaborative compositions were whimsical musings and, as members of various folk and rock bands, the two writers wrote prolifically together throughout their late teens and early twenties.
As a guitarist and bassist, Kocher has always remained unconcerned and unbound by rules and standards for musical composition, while his lyrics touch the emotions, and sometimes even the funny bones, of listeners. A comedic gem like "Beautiful Bathroom" is based on text from a magazine ad for a bathroom and spa renovation company, while the sensitive simplicity and warm sincerity in "Follow" (featured on the CD "Vacuous Waxing") is proof that Kocher takes composition very seriously. Kocher's writings often capture his child-like observations of the world, reflecting his acute social consciousness and articulating the innate human desire for simplicity, love and acceptance. His sometimes satirical lyrics speak out on behalf of the working class ("Blue Collar Life"), the socially insecure ("Love Strong"), or the ill treated ("Argus Array").
Bill Kocher continues to write and record, while also running a successful gaming business in Kitchener, Ontario.
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ABOUT DAWUD WHARNSBY
A third generation Canadian with Scottish and British roots, Dawud Wharnsby's recordings and reputation have established him as a pioneer in the development of English language "nasheed" (spiritual songs of Qur'anic and sufi thought). His writings and recordings have taken on a life of their own - with his CD's (including "The Prophet's Hands" , "A Whisper of Peace" and "Out Seeing The Fields") spreading far beyond official marketing territories by way of a bootleg industry which circulates his recordings unofficially and uncontrollably throughout the world.
Wharnsby - a traveler, writer, troubadour and multi-instrumentalist - emerged onto the North American folk music scene in 1991. His debut solo recording "Blue Walls and The Big Sky" (1995), firmly established his skills not only as a crafty lyricist, but also as a powerful vocalist, capable of drawing listeners into his world like a vibrant stage actor, or an intimate storyteller. The CD, "Vacuous Waxing" is his first joint effort with co-writer Bill Kocher, bringing together a unique mix of featured artists and presenting an obvious maturing of Wharnsby's lyrical expression.
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