Tyler Kekewich | ENTERTAINMENT REPORTER
The voice behind one of the most famous jingles on Canadian TV honed her skills at Humber.
“Always fresh at Tim Horton’s,” sings Emilie-Claire Barlow, repeating the memorable catch phrase.
Barlow, 30, is also a jazz singer who has been recording and performing with a band since her college years. Others might remember her as the voice of Sailor Mars on the popular anime show Sailor Moon.
“In my heart and soul I’m a singer, however I think that using my voice in any way is what I want to do with my life,” Barlow said, who attended the music program at the Lakeshore Campus from 1996 to 1998.
Barlow grew up in a musical family and spent a lot of time around studios. She was singing various jingles before the age of 10, including ones for Kellogg’s Corn Flakes and Smurfegetti, but didn’t decide to get serious until college.
The resourceful student knew she could use her voice to earn money and hired an agent. She landed the role of Sailor Mars in one of her first auditions.
“Everyone has a hard time at first and it was a bit of a fluke,” Barlow said. “I went out for this thing and I got it right away.”
Barlow formed her first band with fellow students at Humber. This gave her a chance to try out the written arrangements she had been working on at school.
“It didn’t sound perfect by any means but it was pretty exciting to hear the notes you had written played by this big band,” Barlow said.
During this time the band began its recording process and playing live gigs and Barlow released her first album – Emilie-Claire Barlow Sings.
She describes her style as traditional, great American songbook jazz with a Brazilian/bossa nova feel. She has released five albums including a Christmas CD called Winter Wonderland.
One of the teachers that inspired Barlow here was Shelley Berger, who taught her theory and arranging.
Berger, an accomplished bass player, producer and arranger, who has worked with Diana Krall and Matt Dusk remembers Barlow as an outstanding student and already considered her a professional.
“Usually there’s one or two (talented students) in a class but she was beyond that,” Berger said.
It has been almost 10 years since Barlow attended but she still remembers her education.
“I’m still going back to my notes and my textbook – which is totally tattered now,” Barlow said.
The successful vocalist advises students to “get out there and do it, put a band together with your fellow musicians, your fellow students, ask your teachers to come and play on a gig, because that’s the way you’ll learn – by playing with all kinds of people.”
Barlow, a married mother of two, has been nominated female vocalist of the year at the National Jazz Awards. Fans can vote for her at www.nationaljazzawards.com.
The Toronto native will be releasing her sixth album – The Very Thought of You – in June and will be performing at The Rex jazz club in Toronto, on March 24.
