'Feels just like family': Serena Ryder plays show on P.E.I. as part of tour

Canadian singer and songwriter SerenaRyder says she loves visiting Prince Edward Island and was happy to be back for another show.

She performedat theConfederation Centre Wednesday night as part of across-country tour for her new album, Utopia.

"I just love how friendly it is. It feels like where I grew up," Ryder said, referring to her hometown of Millbrook, Ont.

"Prince Edward Island feels just like family."

New album

When talking about her new album, Ryder told Mainstreet's Angela Walker she wrote the catchy dance song "Got Your Number" while playing the drums, a first for her.

"I was in my apartment in L.A. sitting at my drum kit and just kind ofstarted bashing away at the drums. I wanted to do kind of a New Orleans dancey song and the whole point of playing the drums was I wanted to find a beat to make people dance. So I guess it worked."

Ryder said she worked on the album for three years, adding it was great to have that amount of time to work on songs and chose which ones she wanted to include.

100 songs

"I wrote upwards of 100 songs which was really fun because I was just doing it for fun."

Ryder took an extended break from touring after her last album and saidshe just wrote new songs. "Then I got to chose my favourite songs for the album."

The singer said choosing the best songs to perform live for the audience is also important to her.

"If they don't translate on stage it's not really worth it for me to put something on a record."

Ryder will continue her tour of the Maritimes with two more shows in Halifax Friday and Saturday.

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