As the Whistler Summer Concert Series begins to wind down, Ocie Elliott is making a quick jaunt across the Strait of Georgia.
The Victoria, B.C.-based duo is composed of Sierra Lundy and Jon Middleton, the latter of whom is also known for his two-decade-long musical partnership with Roy Vizer as Jon and Roy. Lundy and Middleton first encountered one another on Salt Spring Island by way of mutual friends, and since 2017 have been active as Ocie Elliott.
"It was kind of a weird way of starting, because we were hanging out with my sister and one of her friends, and they kind of forced us to play a song together," Lundy remembers. "It was uncomfortable at first, but then it became really natural and a really cool feeling. We decided we needed to keep doing it."
A 2001 Honda CR-V became the backdrop for several of the pair's music videos: an aging vehicle they praise for its well-rounded acoustics and intimate setting. It's also proven to be reliable on numerous road trips through Western Canada.
Lundy and Middleton's harmonious relationship mirrors their emphasis on musical harmony. Much of their repertoire is acoustic, folk-based and sweetly sung: a combination that has netted more than 15 million online streams. Ocie Elliott has been lauded by publications like American Songwriter, Atwood Magazine and PopSugar, and was nominated for the 2022 Juno Award for Breakthrough Group of the Year.
"It's obviously great to be recognized with that kind of thing," says Middleton. "Our parents, I think, were much more enthralled than we were [about the Juno]. We were like, 'oh, that's cool,' and everyone else was like, 'oh my God, can't believe you guys got nominated!' Of course, we lost."
'Our writing really reflects what we're going through'
As partners on and off the stage, Lundy and Middleton have taught each other many things over the years.
"For me, it's definitely discipline [that Jon has helped me with]," reveals Lundy. "I have ADHD, and it's not the best when you're trying to practice and get better at things. I hadn't had a lot of experience performing [before Ocie Elliott], and I think it's just so much easier to go on stage with another person.
She continues, slightly tongue-in-cheek: "If you mess up, you have that support and you can blame it on the other person."
Middleton adds: "Sierra has definitely affected me in many ways. The biggest one for me, I think, is in lyric-writing because I've been writing songs for a long time. At this point, I've probably put out 200 songs, so I have a tendency to maybe repeat things, and go down a road that's easy sometimes. Sierra never lets me do that, which is sometimes frustrating, but ultimately, it's a great and positive thing."
Ocie Elliott hasn't performed in Whistler before, but its members frequent the area to visit and compose new songs. They've got lots of local friends who are probably anticipating their imminent show: featuring bassist Evan Miller, trombone player Dave St. Jean and a level of production value they haven't necessarily attempted before.
Another new item on Lundy and Middleton's radar is an eventual full-length album. They've habitually released EPs of seven tracks or less in the past, but are hoping to broaden their creative horizons and possibly take a few risks.
"Our writing really reflects what we're going through at the time, and since that's always changing, I think that kind of helps keep it a little different each time," Lundy says.
Comments Middleton: "Most of the stuff you come up with when you're writing is not good. If you're willing to accept that, then it's easier to just keep going until you actually write something that you like."
On Aug. 23 at 6:30 p.m., DJ LAZY FNGZ will bring Whistler Olympic Plaza to life before Ocie Elliott takes the baton at 7:30 p.m. More details at whistler.com/events/concerts.
