Jann Arden's Everything Almost tour comes to North Vancouver's Centennial Theatre Monday, March 14 at 7:30 p.m. Sold-out.
Juno Award-winning, multi-platinum artist Jann Arden stops by North Vancouver's Centennial Theatre for a sold-out show March 14.
The evening promises new material from Arden's recent album Everything Almost with a mix of '90s nostalgia and old favourites such as "Insensitive" and "Could I Be Your Girl."
Everything Almost, helmed by Grammy Award-winning producer Bob Rock who has worked with rock legends Aerosmith, Bon Jovi and Mötley Crüe, was released in 2014 and peaked at No. 2 on the Canadian Billboard chart.
The album's lead single, "You Love Me Back," is described as "poignant, progressive and distinctly Jann Arden." The North Shore News caught up with Arden in Las Vegas this week.
North Shore News: What's your opinion of North Vancouver, either through firsthand experience or what the Internet tells you?
Jann Arden: Don't take this the wrong way but it was one of the unhappiest times of my life, there busking on the street and being broke. But other than those memories, I love it.
North Shore News: Let's talk about Everything Almost. How far out of your comfort zone were you at first and how did you push past any feelings of self-doubt? Did Bob Rock's rock background intimidate you?
Jann Arden: He did intimidate me but not anymore. Now he inspires me and pushes me to recreate myself. When you work with great people and record live off the floor, you tend to get a very honest piece of music.
He really spends a lot of time on keys - singing a song in the right key is supremely important. Sometimes it's a little out of my comfort zone and sometimes it's lower than I normally like to go.
North Shore News: When you heard the finished product and the diversity of the music on the album did you view yourself differently as an artist?
Jann Arden: No, not really. It's another project and another rung in the ladder. It felt great and I was very proud of what we had done.
North Shore News: "You Love Me Back" is mesmerizing, infectious and upbeat and clearly a departure from your early, signature emotion-laden ballads. What headspace were you in when you wrote it?
Jann Arden: I was thinking about simple sentiment and how easy love should be and could be. Sometimes we complicate things a lot.
North Shore News: "This is not the life she planned" is a line from "Karolina." My question is: Is this the life you planned?
Jann Arden: I have never planned anything, thank heavens.
North Shore News: How did you hook up with Kristen Hall for a collaboration? Would you consider a country album or future contributions to this music genre?
Jann Arden: No, I wouldn't consider a country album. Kristen and I share a mutual friend. She is a great talent.
North Shore News: On collaborating with Michael Bublé. What was your initial impression of his music/talent? What is it about your personalities or music interests that allows you guys to work together and create great songs?
Jann Arden: I think a lot of the time funny people are the most sensitive ones. He is a wonderful person.
North Shore News: Who's the bigger comedian, you or Michael?
Jann Arden: Let's put it this way; he steals my jokes.
North Shore News: Do you have a funny story about being on the road with him?
Jann Arden: I can't go there because he's got some stories about me.
North Shore News: When's the last time your humour got you in trouble?
Jann Arden: Just now.
North Shore News: What was going through your head as you hung off the edge of the CN tower?
Jann Arden: Holy eff!! Blank blank blank!
North Shore News: What artists currently make your playlist cut?
Jann Arden: Daughter. Dolly Parton! Coldplay. Beyoncé. Rose Cousins. Trisha Yearwood. Celine Dion. And I love Reba!
North Shore News: What's your opinion of Taylor Swift as an influential artist of her generation?
Jann Arden: I love Taylor Swift. I think she's an amazing writer more than anything and that is mainly what has propelled her forward. Great material is all.
North Shore News: What music did you grow up on? Jann Arden: Abba, The Carpenters, Better Milder, James Taylor and lots of other stuff.
North Shore News: Have you ever talked about collaborating with fellow Albertan k.d. Lang?
Jann Arden: We have never talked about it. We have tweeted a few times and I'm always slightly excited.
North Shore News: Who would be your dream collaboration? Jann Arden: Abba.
North Shore News: You're a social media maven ... what value do you get out it?
Jann Arden: I love social media. It's my bitch.
North Shore News: What will the set list be like for your Centennial Theatre show? What can the audience expect, a mix of familiar favourites and new material?
Jann Arden: They are going to laugh and cry, and will be sad to go home. That's what we are hoping anyway. It will be a mix of old and new.
North Shore News: Are you sick of "Insensitive," even if it's what the fans want?
Jann Arden: Never, ever. Perfectly written song. Wish I had written it.
North Shore News: Your memoir Falling Backwards, was it a cathartic experience writing it and why the decision to get personal?
Jann Arden: Believe it or not, I didn't think I was being all that personal. I guess I'm used to writing songs that are personal, so this wasn't a big departure.
North Shore News: Your parents were diagnosed with dementia ... did you find music to be therapeutic for them or help bring back some memories?
Jann Arden: Yes, they love music. They've both always responded to it very positively and further to that, they can remember certain songs.
North Shore News: You came on the Canadian music scene relatively around the same time as Celine, Shania, Sarah and Alanis. Reflecting on that era in Canadian music, what do you think led to that explosion of talent and did you ever feel pressure to change your image?
Jann Arden: I never felt any pressure. I knew that if I was to ever have success it was going to depend on me being myself.
North Shore News: Where do you see yourself in the next decade?
Jann Arden: Las Vegas!
