The Collective West is comprised of four talented artists of diverse backgrounds-- musical or otherwise. The project was born out of the collaboration of two already established artists; one a roots-folk singer-songwriter and another of a metal background—coming together to form a distinct sound. From them, you are as likely to hear a gentle, audience-silencing ballad as you are to hear a bold, provoking rock tune or a Kanye West cover. Yet, their sound manages to be cohesive, consistent and true to every member’s background no matter how distinct, and it is evident from their live performances that the band is passionate about their music, performances, audiences and their bonds with one another.

Erin Faught, raised in Beaumont, Alberta, is the group’s female vocalist, banjo player and contributing guitarist. Before joining forces with the men of The Collective West, Erin had established herself on the Edmonton folk and blues music scene as the up and coming artist to watch. Erin captivated audiences not only with her deeply personal yet relatable lyrics and unique, soulful voice, but also with her magnetic personality and genuine love for performance and her audience. Erin has opened for well-known acts such as The Powder Blues Band, Souljah Fyah, Wool on Wolves, Aidan Knight and Dave Vertesi of Hey Ocean! as well as played the main stage at the 2009 and 2010 Beaumont Blues Festivals.

Through a mutual gig in Edmonton, Erin was introduced to Alexander Klassen. Alexander’s musical foundations were in metal music—Alexander was the lead guitarist for the successful band The Butcher’s Hand which he had formed with friends from his hometown of Fort St. John, BC. After a well-received national tour, Alexander moved to Edmonton and embarked on an entirely different musical project as Alexander Chemist. In 2010, he self-recorded, produced and released ‘Infinity’- an album rife with scorching social commentary and musical diversity. The album has it all- jaw dropping instrumentation, hooky melodies, deeply thoughtful lyrics, guest artists providing raps and harmonies, creating an obviously well thought-out album that has become a favorite of local music fans. The album continued to gain significant popularity after Alexander’s striking performance opening for the Spill Canvas. Alexander’s vocal talent and catchy melodies have had him likened to Jason Mraz or Jack Johnson, while his incredible skills on the guitar and charged lyrics demonstrate his roots in intricate metal and his speculative, intelligent lyrics distinguish him from mainstream pop. After playing several more common gigs, Alexander and Erin formed an unlikely duo, combining Erin’s raw, heartfelt folk music with Alexander’s intricate, bold style. Soon after, Alex Charlton, the creative bassist (as well as possessor of a recently discovered talent for the egg shaker) from the Butcher’s Hand as well Dave Sustrik, a gifted musician with

The band’s songs are a culmination of Erin and Alexander’s written works. On Erin’s songs, Alexander contributes bold, spacey guitar licks and deep harmonizing vocals to create a more polished, technical sound. On Alexander’s songs, Erin provides gentle harmonies and folksy banjo riffs, making a grittier, more rooted sound. Alex C. and Dave bring yet another dimension the songs with their innovative rhythms, anchoring bass lines and unexpected instrumentation. The result comes out innovative, complex yet catchy and relatable—fitting in with Alexander and Erin’s pact to never make music that sounded like anything else they had ever done before or heard. Anchored by Alexander and Erin’s perfectly suited vocals, The Collective West’s music is truly unique and captivating. Since their formation, The Collective West has already opened for well known local acts 100 mile house and Jeff Morris, played an Edmonton Arts Show for the Common Ground Society and is the winner of the Arusha Song for Social Justice Prize at the Calgary Folk Music Festival's Ship and Anchor Songwriting Competition. They are in the process of completing a full-length album; produced and recorded entirely by Alexander, set to be released on June 18th to the anticipation of a quickly growing fan base