Album Premiere: “Where You Go” by Joel Saunders

Where You Go by Joel Saunders started with a brainstorming session about what kind of music I would like to record. Struggling to find an answer, I decided to record something similar to my solo live performances: a mix of genres and playing styles that changes (but also flows) from song to song. Thanks to an amazing group of talented friends, musicians and artists, Where You Go has become more than I ever imagined.

Joel got his first guitar at the age of five. Growing up in a small town in Ontario he had the opportunity to be in several school bands playing different instruments and was an active member of local theatre production companies both as a musician and as a sound technician. Upon graduating high school Joel was the recipient of the Uxbridge Youth Theatre scholarship and the Uxbridge Music Trust scholarship.

Joel Saunders studied music and jazz guitar for four years at the University of Guelph. While in Guelph, Joel played with a wide variety of musical groups in genres ranging from jazz, free jazz, rock, choir, pop, folk, and blues. It was here that Joel became interested in fingerstyle guitar and singing and started to develop a name for himself as a solo performer. Joel’s musical journey has allowed him the opportunity to play hundreds of the gigs in venues ranging from private parties, cafes, markets, bars, weddings, concert halls, music festivals and more.

In 2016 Joel competed in the Canadian Fingerstyle Guitar Competition against 25 competitors from across the globe and placed 4th. Joel now resides in Toronto where he teaches guitar, ukulele, piano and singing and performs regularly by himself and with various groups.