EMM GRYNER
Thursday, January 22
Jubilee Auditorium
She's like the best friend you've always wanted. The cool kid in school who knew how to do a French braid and French inhale. The pretty girl no one hated because she was so unbelievably nice. Emm Gryner may be all of these things, but first and foremost she is a music fan.
She unashamedly mentions Platinum Blonde and Peter Gabriel in the same sentence when discussing her musical influences. She understands the thrill of buying a new album or seeing a great live show and has even hosted her own demo listening parties at the homes of her fans.
With confidence that is as infectious as her laugh, in just a few minutes she can make you feel like you've known her for years. It's not hard to understand why her fans are so loyal and musical heavyweights such as David Bowie (with whom she toured in ’99) and Rob Zombie (on whose album The Sinister Urge she appeared) want to work with her – she is really good at being herself.
Gryner says the time on the road with Bowie helped her grow as an artist, and playing at famous venues such as Wimble Arena, The Glastonbury Festival and on Saturday Night Live allowed her to become comfortable expressing herself in front of large crowds. But Gryner is still a music super-fan and sometimes being star-struck can warp your better judgment.
"When we were in Vienna once, David Bowie asked me to do interpretive dance in front of 3,000 people," Gryner says. "That's a little bizarre especially because I'm not much of a dancer."
Bowie might have made her bust a move, but the girl from the small town of Forest, Ontario has traveled the world, making a name for herself in music – doing so on her own terms.
"Coming from a small town helped me," Gryner says. "Not having all the facts is empowering in the beginning because you feel like you have a dream to be somebody and there's not someone two doors down trying to do the same thing. There is something a little magical about growing up in a small place and knowing that you can do anything."
When Gryner left home she moved to Toronto, where she went to college
and discovered punk rock and indie-pop. Originally focused on theatre, she soon became absorbed in the local scene and started playing music.
Gryner's career received national attention with her 2001 album Girl Versions, a cover album where her renditions of songs by Nick Cave, The Clash and Ozzy Osbourne flowed seamlessly into one another in a soft-spoken hit parade. Her piano and cello version of Def Leppard's glam party song "Pour Some Sugar On Me," has brought members of her audience to tears. She even covered the Fugazi classic "Waiting Room" and received a personal thank-you note from punk legend Ian MacKaye.
"I feel like every record I make is in response to the last one in terms of trying to improve on what you didn't like or what you've outgrown," she says. "I really want to make an album that I'll be proud of in five years time. I feel like I'm getting closer to knowing how to make that album – that's a first for me."
Thriving on change gives Gryner focus and enables her to constantly move forward. She isn't comfortable resting on past successes and likes to challenge herself with new experiences. She has recently relocated to gothic Montreal and is enjoying discovering the city and its musicians.
"I have an affinity for Toronto because that's where I got my start and
I do feel like there is a real supportive music community there, but Montreal has a darker side to it," she says. "I live in a really creative neighbourhood. Everyone has a piano and people are making music all the time."
Gryner has most recently released Videochrome – a DVD compilation of her music videos and never-before-seen studio performances. The DVD is a response to huge fan demand for a video retrospective. Gryner can relate to her fans because she is, in a sense, still one of them. By giving her fans what they want, she creates genuine relationships with her audience.
"I do as an artist what I'd want my favourite artist to do," she says modestly.
CELEBRITY TOP FIVE
The five people, alive or dead, Emm Gryner would want to play a duet with:
1. John Lennon
2. Maya Rudolph from Saturday Night Live
3. Jesus
4. Sass Jordan
5. Lionel Richie |
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