What People Say about Jacob and Lily
Intense Duo
Steve Alexander
Loplops Lounge & Gallery, Sault St. Marie ON
"although you may not have heard of this intense duo just yet, they are destined to be one of the major acts to follow throughout Canada over the next couple of years"
Western Gem
Craig Cardiff, ON Singer/Songwriter
"Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen of Winnipeg opened up and they are phenomenal. - a bit of a central western gem. unpretentious"
Bring Back Jacob and Lily
Louise Lawrence, Creston Valley Music Fest, BC
"Jacob and Lily were the hit of Creston Valley Fest 2007. Of all the performers, the people are asking us to bring back Jacob and Lily"
Adam Lewis, The Planetary Group
Boston, MA USA
"(Ruby) A really a strong song; makes me look forward to hearing more music
from them"
Dynamic Duo
Lindsay Jane, Solid Ground Arts & Coffee Room, MB
MB Singer/Songwriter
"Manitoba's "Dynamic Duo", Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen, deliver a one-two musical punch during a live performance"
Passion & Intention
Karen Olch, Acoustic Junction KRVM-FM
Eugene, OR
"Thanks for the passion that you put into your music and the world. It was clear from our brief conversation that you two live with intention...which makes me appreciate your music even more."
One on One
Ben Pasley, Worship Circle Records & Blue Renaissance Creative Group
Colorado Springs, CO
"I believe the key to being a great artist is to have a great love for the people who are listening. Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen are those types of artists, and I think Karla's freshman album release, Come Home, reveals a very strong voice and some even stronger convictions about caring for others and dealing with real life."
The Real Thing
Tracy Koga, Shaw TV Winnipeg
"When I interviewed Jacob and Lily, first impression was…They are so passionate about their music! After hearing them play I now know why. Jacob and Lily are the real thing"
VenusZine Band of the Month
Caryle Wisel, www.venuszine.com
"It may seem a bit odd that Karla Adolphe and Caleb Friesen — the two musicians who comprise Jacob and Lily — are neither named Jacob nor Lily. However, a closer look into their world reveals the meaning behind not only their name, but their mission as artists.
Stemming from a conversation about what they want their music to represent, Adolphe and Friesen chose their name from one of the oldest texts in existence: the Bible.
"It became obvious that we both loved the story of Jacob where his name was changed to Israel as a sign of a deeper work within his life and character," Adolphe says. "We chose Lily, as opposed to Israel, because we wanted a female counterpart to represent the guy/girl duo, and that name means 'pure and innocent,' quite the opposite of 'deceitful,' which is what Jacob means. It represents the duality we all face of who we aim to be and who we are in this very moment."
If there's one thing Jacob and Lily know, it's who they are. Joined by Adolphe's husband Gary, dog Sampson, and a load of instruments, the two musicians travel from show to show in their own version of a tour bus — a 35-foot motor home they permanently reside in.
"See, the thing about us is we want to share a message with our audience and the music industry that we are defining the terms of our success," Adolphe says. "Success is playing music every day, seeing the country, meeting incredible people and actually having time to have a coffee or chat with these incredible people. That is who we are, so selling our homes and quitting our jobs to tour full time in an RV seemed to be the best way to accomplish our goals and be ourselves."
Jacob and Lily's full-length 2006 release The Cathedral, is no exception to the uniqueness of their story. In order to capture unique, organic sounds, the album was recorded in several Winnipeg locations, including a church, a restaurant, and their former home.
"It was a very intense experience, as we were selling our house and transitioning into full-time RV life at the very same time," Adolphe says.
With 70 shows and 500 copies of The Cathedral sold in 2007, Adolphe and Friesen are proud of what they've accomplished during the past four months of touring. "Grassroots marketing, booking, and promotions [are] a lot of work, but very rewarding," Adolphe says.
The duo also hopes to get its message across to the audience. "We feel we carry a responsibility to sew seeds and 'stir the pot,' so to speak," Adolphe explains. "Our music serves our message, which is to be yourself, redefine lifestyle and success, and find a lifeline to feed your spirit as you allow yourself to be you."