To say Jann Arden is an icon in Canada is an understatement. The Alberta native singer, songwriter, broadcaster and author has held 19 Top 10 singles, won eight JUNO Awards and 10 SOCAN Awards, has a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame, was awarded the Order of Canada and was recently announced as a 2021 Inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. She has crossed continents and genres, including the country realm in 2001 when she joined Alabama on their song “Will You Marry Me,” which went to #41 on the US Country Charts. This past March, Jann released Hits & Other Gems, a collection of 12 career-spanning hits and a cover of a classic by The Cure as a message of love to all, and on May 20th, she will be delivering that message through her music for a one-night-only livestream concert event “Jann Arden On Stage.” Ticket packages can be purchased here.
We caught up with Jann to talk about her incredible career in Canada and beyond, her upcoming livestream concert, and a cause that is near and dear to her heart.
CN: First and foremost, congratulations on your induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
JA: Thank you!
CN: What does this incredible recognition mean to you?
JA: I’m extremely humbled, that’s for sure. I think as far as awards go, something like this is very easy for me to get behind because I really believe it’s about a combination of time and a body of work. And what I love about it more than anything, is it’s not about best anything. And I think in the Arts Awards, as I’ve gotten older, I’m kind of like, well, it’s great to have award shows and everything, but people really are starting to realize that there’s no such thing as the best duo or the best group or the best songwriter, etc. It’s impossible to judge the arts that way. But I think when you celebrate each other, when you cheer each other on…with a body of work, traveling, things you’ve done, live shows, whatever it is it — that kind of thing feels really great to me, and I’m extremely humbled. There are so many brilliant artists and people who have worked hard and have been doing it longer than me. I’m just I’m just gobsmacked. I still can’t believe it.
CN: For our readers who may not be familiar with you, you are a true Canadian icon. Can you share with us a little bit about yourself and your illustrious career?
JA: Well, I think certainly in the states and globally, I would be best known for a song I recorded and put on a record called Living Under June. The song is called “Insensitive.” It ended up on a Bed Of Roses soundtrack. I had another song called “You Don’t Know Me” on My Best Friend’s Wedding, and a lot of people heard that over the years because it got a lot of radio play. But I think “Insensitive” was on the Billboard charts for a number of weeks. I think I think it capped out at number 10. I was so thrilled. I think when people hear the song, they absolutely know it. They may not know that I was the person doing it, which is interesting.
My other little claim to fame in the states is that Paula Cole had the theme song to Dawson’s Creek, the TV series. Years and years ago, one of the creators asked if I was at all interested in writing an alternative theme song for the show. So I wrote a 32-second song that ended up on all the DVDs for Dawson’s Creek and people were so mad!
In Canada, it’s been a different story altogether, which has been very interesting. I did the rounds in the states in the 90s you know, Good Morning America, the Today Show, Kathy and Regis, David Letterman, Jay Leno. For 18 months, I was running around doing the whole shebang. And I really, really enjoyed it a lot. It was great. And then I just kept going in Canada. You know, I kept doing my stuff. I toured the states with Michael Bublé.
And I’ve never stopped here in Canada. It’s been a great run.
CN: Our readers probably also know you from your show, JANN, a sitcom where you play a fictional version of yourself, which is currently in production for season 3. What spurred the idea for the series?
JA: We just finished season three. We came out on Hulu just before Christmas in 2020, and it was pretty exciting to finally have the first two seasons out in the States. I’ve been approached many times about television. Certainly, scripted television has never been on my mind. Certainly not scripted, comedic television. And I just thought if we’re going to do this, I don’t really think of myself as an actor so we need to keep it kind of close to home, something I can kind of relate to. Long story short, the network wanted me to use my name and have that as a launching off point. But it’s completely fictitious. I mean, the fact that this character is a musician, but my mother’s long since passed away. I don’t have a sister. I don’t live in that house. TV Jan does a lot more dating than I do. You know, the only comparison would be that the character in the show is a singer-songwriter looking for relevance trying to make her way through the world — that’s about it. It has been so much fun to do. I’ve just had the time of my life.
CN: How has the production of the show changed due to the pandemic?
JA: Oddly enough, it felt familiar within the constraints required by the government and the province. There are 100 people on set making the show. We were tested three times a week. We were always masked, except when we were shooting scenes. We ate by ourselves in our trailers. The lunches were in boxes so there was no buffet, constantly hand washing and things like that. And we didn’t have one incident.
CN: You have a huge event coming up later this month! On May 20th you will be live streaming a concert of all your hits along with some new music for your fans, and this will be your only concert of 2021. How did the idea for this one night only event come about?
JA: Well, it was so disappointing to postpone my tour in Canada twice due to the pandemic. The fans have been so unbelievably forgiving and so unbelievably supportive. I’m telling you, 98% of the people that bought tickets said, “I’m keeping my tickets there on the fridge. I’m not returning them!” This event is our way of saying there’s light at the end of the tunnel. A show where you can watch in your home is something to bridge that space. That was my motivation. Just cheer people with a nice evening at home.
CN: Can fans expect any surprises or special guests?
JA: We opted to go with the band and myself. I have an amazing opportunity with this event. For example, I was part of the launch of the McCartney III (three) album. His label chose artists from each territory — the states Australia, Asia, Canada and the UK. I was chosen to represent Canada, and my Paul McCartney song is called “Lavatory Lil.” It’s a fascinating song. We did our own spin on it, and the fans haven’t heard it. They’ve only heard a 15-second clip when his album was released. So, we will perform the full-length version of Paul McCartney’s “Lavatory Lil.” We’re also doing one of my favorite songs of all time, which is “Lovesong” from The Cure. I felt like it’s the definitive message for everything that’s happened over the last 15 months. No matter how far away you are, I will always love you. No matter how much time goes by, I will always love you. To me, that is a home run.
CN: Unfortunately, due to the ongoing pandemic, the concert will still not be performed in front of a live audience, but you will have virtual meet and greets with fans which will help close the distance per se. How important is it for you to reach out to your fans this way given what the past 14 months or so have done to live music?
JA: I think it’s unbelievably important. When this first started happening, there was a bit of magic that was going on with the internet. Artists from every genre, every corner of the world, we’re sitting at home, opening up their computers in their kitchens, in their living rooms in their wherever. And they were sending messages of hope. They were sending songs. They were going live on Facebook and other social media channels. They were doing live hits for fans, and we’re all cheering each other on. We were connecting with our fans. My longtime producer-guitarist Russell Broom and I did a few concerts on Facebook, just the two of us standing in my kitchen.
We couldn’t believe the thousands upon thousands of people watching. We couldn’t believe it. That connection. So yeah, that’s important. And another piece of this puzzle, too, in a selfish way, I needed it as well. I needed to be lifted up and that the fans were also there for me was so incredibly special. I’m used to traveling 250 days a year. I’ve absolutely missed it, but I’ve absolutely cherished and very much leaned into my time at home because it’s not going to last. We’re all going to be back out there in the world, swinging that bat.
CN: Those who purchase tickets can also receive exclusive merchandise, a copy of your latest album Hits & Other Gems, a deluxe collection of hits as well as a cover of The Cure’s “Lovesong” which you just released in March.
JA: Some of the packages are very interactive. With one of the packages, we can have a chat where you can ask me questions about the songs. That’s not something I thought about doing before. I think it’s something artists will absolutely continue to do as we move forward out of COVID.
There’s a merch package with beautiful candles. I have to say thank you to my team at the label and management. They pulled these wonderful packages together, and I love that they’ve done that. I bought the souvenir book at every concert I’ve ever gone to, and I’ve got so many concert books. I still have mine from Olivia Newton John. So, do people want a souvenir? Sure! And we kind of did that. I think it’s nice to have something.
CN: Lastly, you are an advocate for animals all over the world. To help bring awareness to these causes, what are some of the organizations that you work with?
JA: My main focus for just over a year now has been with the Canadian Horse Defense Coalition. I know that’s very long-winded. The website is easier: www.horseshit.ca
We ship large draft horses, the ones that are 17 hands high. Think of the Budweiser horses, a workhorse. These horses are purposely bred for a world away. They are crammed into small wooden crates and flown in a giant 747/767 Dreamliner on a two-day journey. In these small crates, there is no headroom, and it’s unsanitary. They’re flown to a tiny island in Japan, where they are brutally slaughtered to be eaten raw as sashimi, a very expensive horse meat. Our cause is not about what people eat, or how they eat. And I don’t think it’s ever going to be my place to say what anybody eats. Our sole focus is the lack of humanity. Horses have been loyal to us for thousands and thousands and thousands of years. They’ve worked for us, fought alongside us in world wars. We have police officers all over the United States and Canada on mounted horses. You see them in the streets of Chicago, in New York. They are companion animals. And I think we have to decide, certainly here in Canada, that it’s just not the right thing to do. We’re not even talking about domestic slaughter, which is a whole other thing. We want to eliminate putting them into crates and flying them on a very perilous journey. This was banned in 2006 in the United States. However, American breeders, ship these horses up to Canada. It’s a loophole. And I know there are many advocates in the United States also working tirelessly to stop this practice. We are making headway, and we’re hoping to solve the border issue and solve the whole problem. It’s just not right.
For more information on Jann Arden and to purchase tickets to “Jann Arden On Stage” Concert, visit www.jannarden.com