Me, myself, and my trusty Macintosh computer (GarageBand)
Influences
My musical family for passing it on- "Smiling Jack", ma G, Julie, Jodie...The band back home--I miss the Niagara boyz (Kevin, Rob, Jim, Brandon)...good times!
Icecream influences me. late nights. chronic dreamers. diversity. human stamina. perseverance. kindness. compassion. flaws. honesty. time...I could go on
Singer-songwriter types Ron Sexsmith, Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan, Coldplay, Emm Gryner, Chantal Kreviazuk, Serena Ryder, Bif Naked, The Frey, Feist, Sheryl Crow, Keith Urban, Johnny Cash, Phil Collins, Alicia Keys, U2, Norah Jones, Amy Winehouse
Big voices: My mom, Eva Cassidy, Wynonna Judd, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis, Joss Stone, Aretha Franklin, Frank Sinatra, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Stevie Wonder...etc etc etc....
Being surrounded by music is something singer/songwriter Janie Grand depends on. Janie grew up in a musical family and became the lead vocalist in a family band, appropriately named, The Grands.
“Yes, we had fan clubs, says Grand... They were cousins, but still...” Humour aside, the Grands developed quite a local following over the years. They performed at local festivals, charities, on various television morning shows, and telethons across Ontario. In 2001, the band performed in Toronto and became top 5 finalists at a BMG music industry songwriting contest.
Years later, Janie now resides in London, Ontario where she received her post-graduate degree in Marketing and Corporate Communications from Fanshawe College. In between her 9-5 marketing job in the corporate world, Janie is a freelance writer for various Canadian magazines and spends her spare time recording demos in her home studio. “It's always been a goal of mine to distribute my songs to a larger audience. As a songwriter, I would love to get my material into the hands of some well-known artists and in TV/film soundtracks…. I'm using Garageband for demo purposes, with the goal to record the project in a professional studio with real instruments. ”
As far as comparisons, Grand says she sounds like her twin sister, but she is partial to music with meaningful lyrics. Canadian lyricists like Jann Arden, Sarah McLachlan, Joni Mitchell, and Chantal Kreviazuk are a few artists who have been influencial. “I respect all genres of music but I think the best music crosses genres and can’t be categorized. It’s raw and simple...real emotion.”
"Music is inspiration in the best of times, and comfort in between" J. Grand
It was such a pleasure to see you again recently, Janie. It gave me another chance to hear you sing so beautifully when you connected me to your url on Myspace. I love the softness and reassuring tenderness coming from your voice. As you have already learned, if you always please yourself musically, the honesty will shine through and your audience will grow, and grow. Sign me up for the Janie Grand fan club. Many Hugs, Carol.
Thanks for finding me on here and inviting me into your space. I was actually first introduced to your music through Louise as well. The room was captured by it at first listen! So it's extra lovely of you to say such generous things about me.
I hope we'll get a chance to be more than virtual friends someday...
