Mark Bragg enters a different season of music and life

Mark Bragg, a Newfoundland musician who's been a staple in the rock scene for two decades has signed a publishing deal, with the international company Arts & Crafts Music, it was announced Monday.

The company, which has a roster that includes critical darlings like Broken Social Scene, Feist, Dan Mangan and the late Gord Downie, provides creative services and promotion.

"I'm very excited," Bragg told CBC News, saying the company will look for royalty-making opportunities such as pitching songs to television and film.

Bragg, who moved from St. John's to Corner Brook in the fall of 2017, has released a new album with a sound that's a departure from his usual music.

He said the album, Winter, came about partly because of his habit of procrastination.

"I kept seeing this image of Snow White in a snowstorm," joked Bragg, referring to the white space of an empty page.

Music and life changes

Winter is a filled with lower-key ballads and piano-based songs, which is a bit of a change from the often raucous, high-energy songs Bragg performs with a full band.  

Bragg's life has changed, too. In the past few years, he has been working on film scores, documentaries, and has taken some university courses. He along relocated with his family to Corner Brook.

"It's fun to be somewhere new. The west coast [music scene] is almost a different world," he said.

Bragg said he has been playing in smaller, quieter venues and house concerts, which suits the songs on Winter.

"I'm doing lovely spaces which are friendly to that kind of music."

"It's good timing that I should make an album like this."

Have a First Listen to Mark Bragg's conversation with Weekend AM host, Heather Barrett.

Do you have a new album of music that Weekend AM should know about for First Listen? Email us wam@cbc.ca and tell us about it.

You can hear First Listen Sundays on Weekend AM from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. (5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in most of Labrador) on CBC Radio One.