First Listen: Lavender by Andrew Pike

Andrew Pike is best known as a rock musician, but he has always wanted to make an album of classical music.

His album, Lavender, is an instrumental recording, inspired by the flowers in Pike's mother's garden.

Pike has incorporated some classical elements of composition into his music, and he has invited some accomplished local classically-trained musicians, including Bill Brennan, Douglas Vaughan, and Kathy Conway-Ward to play on the album.

"It's almost like painting a record," said Pike, of his studio work involving the styles of the invited musicians.  

"It's exciting because I get to play with good players, even though I'm not in the classical world."

Even though Pike considers himself primarily a rock musician, he said both his rock and classical music are closely linked, with one exception.

"Maybe the volume is different. The rock music is a lot louder."

Have a listen to Andrew Pike'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 [email protected] 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 Labrador) on CBC Radio One.