The ACT Americana Trio

The ACT Americana Trio never strays far from its North Star – solid songwriting, rootsy riffs, and heartfelt harmonies. Their commitment to the Americana genre led The ACT to True North – their debut EP and title single – all about the magnetic draw of where we come from and where we are going. When everything else in the world seems a little too uncertain, it’s good to know True North will always lead you home. 

 The ACT Americana Trio started playing together in Vancouver five years ago, collaborating on tracks and tunes that showcase smart lyrics, well blended vocals, and skills on acoustic and resonator guitars, dobro, mandolin, and piano. 

The True North EP was produced by The ACT Americana Trio with Steve Dawson and The Henhouse Express. Steve Dawson is an award-winning Canadian musician and producer living and working in Nashville, TN. The True North EP was recorded during the pandemic, with borders closed. As a result, The ACT and Dawson used remote digital technology to record the tracks in four separate cities – Vancouver, Nashville, Toronto, and Las Vegas. The tracks were then mixed at Dawson’s Henhouse Studio in Nashville.

 The ACT Americana Trio is made up of “A” for Andre Chrys, a Winnipeg-born singer-songwriter (Terminal Avenue, Window to Nowhere) who brings years of live performance and a couple of vintage Gibsons to the group. “C” stands for Chris Lok, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose dobro resonates all over the band’s tracks and whose other projects include The Venn Collective and work as a solo artist.  And then there is Taryn Laronge (Little Doorways), an Indigenous Canadian singer-songwriter, whose soulful voice and piano playing rounds out The ACT to a “T."

The Songs

The EP kicks off with the title track 'True North' – The ACT’s anthem for the magnetic draw to where we come from, and where we are going. It’s for anyone who’s ever felt too far away, for far too long. When everything else in the world seems a little too uncertain, it’s good to know True North will always lead you home. 

'Whole Lotta Livin’' is The ACT’s way of keeping the faith when it seems like everything is going south. We’ll be on the other side of this soon, and while we’ve all lost a lot, there are happier times ahead.

'Rescue Fantasy' is a country-tinged exploration of a longed-for relationship that comes true. Pianist and songwriter Dave Pickell (Robbie Robertson, Carly Simon, Bryan Adams) lends his talents to the track. 

'Nothin’ You Can Do About That' is a bluesy riff-based tune about accepting that there are things in life you just can’t control, no matter how hard you try.

The True North EP was recorded in Vancouver, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Nashville.

Produced by The ACT Americana Trio with Steve Dawson and The Henhouse Express.

 The True North EP features:

The ACT Americana Trio:
Taryn Laronge: lead and b.g. vocals
Chris Lok: acoustic and resonator guitars, lead and b.g. vocals
Andre Chrys: acoustic guitar, piano, lead and b.g. vocals

Dave Pickell: piano

The Henhouse Express is:
Steve Dawson: electric guitars, pedal steel
Jeremy Holmes: electric and upright bass
Gary Craig: drums