We look for connection everywhere.
It's why we're on our smartphones constantly. It's why we listen to music. It's why we go to church. It's why we get married. It's why we wake up in the morning. No matter how civilized we become, there's an innate inclination towards tribalism. That yearning won't be pacified until it's satiated or satisfied by the embrace of a tribe either.
Halifax-born and Vancouver-based singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jon Bryant explores the conundrum of connection on his full-length debut for Nettwerk, Cult Classic.
"Over the past few years I've really become a skeptic. Thanks to social media, politics, religion and news media, etc.," he explains. "Many songs on the album reflect that skepticism and emphasize the ways I've evolved as both a writer and person; spiritually, mentally and emotionally."
The artist's personal path simultaneously twisted and turned in the most unexpected of ways, eventually leading him from Seattle to Vancouver. New in town, Bryant sought connection, so he joined an undisclosed organization at the urging of a close friend who also belonged to this -- we'll call it a "group."
Joshua Hyslop
Joshua Hyslop is a modern folk musician, an amalgam of influence in the classically romantic tradition of Damien Rice, Iron and Wine, and Sufjan Stevens. Like the said ballyhooed folksters before him, Joshua is inspired to write largely as a result of the people and relationships surrounding him, while also subjecting his songs to his own vulnerabilities, doubts, and conflicts. He integrates these revelations with his agenda of lyrical candidness, creating an expressive and open artform.
Though jj white was born in the “Paris of the Prairies”, it’s hard to put a finger on where this Canadian artist reins from musically. He’s a proud chameleon of many genres and a true believer in blurring the lines that typically confine an artist into a single category.
jj studied voice at Humber's Jazz and Contemporary music program located in Toronto. There he was able to study and perform with some of the finest Canadian musicians including Shannon Gunn, Mark Kelso and Hilario Duran. This experience, in what jj considered “The big city”, influenced his music immensely. After graduating jj received several awards, including the “Thomas Kehoe award”, the “Yamaha Canada Award” and Humber's coveted “Studio Award”. Some performance highlights include playing Saskatchewan Jazz fest in 2016 & 2017 with JJ White & The Release as well with Mo'Love, Playing Backwards Ness 2017, opening for Sean Kingston, Danny Fernandez and playing alongside Mike Stern and New York Voices.
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