By Kerry Doole
Jenn Grant - Judy (Independent). Award-winning Nova Scotian singer/songwriter Jenn Grant is readying the release of a new album, Champagne Problems, preceded by the first single, Judy.
Judy was written and performed with Kim Harris and a press release explains that "it is Harris’ parents’ love story reimagined inside a horn-laden 1960s rock ’n’ roll song. The cinematic video depicts a new take on Kim’s parents’ history. Filmed on location at Johnny's Snack Bar in Halifax, it showcases some of the city’s brightest stars including Kim Harris, Mo Kenney, Aquakultre, Zamani Folade, Mel Stone, Jools Annie and Chudi Harris."
The clip for Judy was directed by Grant's sister-in-law, Tessa Fleming, and shot by her brother, cinematographer, Daniel Grant (Station Eleven, Night Raiders) “The capturing of these scenes in the diner felt to me like the making of a short film, in the city where my brother and I grew up," says Jenn. The story we made is about love, about wanting more, and never giving up.”
“Writing Judy with Kim Harris felt like a gift from another realm,” adds Grant, “and when I sing it now I can feel the power and the joy in it for others, which is just amazing to see. I love Kim so much and us having both lost our precious mothers too soon was something we first connected on many years ago the first time we met. And this song fell into our laps over the piano one day in Lake Echo. I am so beyond honoured to have written this magic song with her and to give Judy some wings."
Grant's pure and expressive voice conveys the story masterfully, and the imaginative production of Grant and longtime collaborator and husband Daniel Ledwell helps make this a real winner.
Since launching her career in 2007 with her full-length debut, Orchestra For The Moon, Grant has been nominated for three Juno Awards to date, and multiple East Coast Music and Music Nova Scotia award nominations and wins over the years, plus Polaris long-lists. In recent years her music has been used across several international ad campaigns, trailers, and TV shows and her song Dreamer from her debut album is the long-running theme music for the hit CBC series Heartland, now going into its 16th Season. Her discography has now reached double figures.
She is currently supporting Blue Rodeo on their western Canada tour dates starting today (Nov. 10) in Thunder Bay, and closing out in Calgary on Dec. 4.
Links
Publicity: Susan O'Grady
Management: Blue Grace Music
Bookings: Tom Kemp and Josie Cheng
Aya NakamuraMarion Gomez/Billboard France