| Few performers can claim to be as single-minded in their careers as singer- songwriter Jay Burns. Burns, whose career has spanned a stint with Winnipeg’s Fleshtone Rockets and years knocking around the business from New York to Toronto, has finally settled in Calgary, finding his voice and musical stride.
With the release of his first full-length solo album, Letters: Volume 1, Burns is fully living out his philosophy of "all in or all out." Recorded in 2005 and being toured across Canada this year, Letters is only part of the proof that Burns is, as he says, "Absolutely committed to it (his music)."
Now, with his new band, The Council, and poised with a healthy inventory of original songs, he is set for his next recording projects. The magic, it seems, is in two parts – first, his arrival in Calgary and second, the producer for this solo CD.
"It’s only been in the last couple of years since I’ve come out to Calgary that I’ve sort of understood what made me tick as an entertainer – what kind of songs brought the best out of my voice, what range is best for me and all that different stuff," he says. "When I go in now and I just do that, and it’s real and the songs are real, I think that comes across. I’m hoping it’s going to come across, anyway."
With the release of this CD, Burns has proven that his 2003 decision to go solo has been the right one. Partly prompted by his desire to pursue original material and ditch the cover tune path, Burns has come out with a stronger voice and even stronger guitar licks. It was, however, something he admits he couldn’t have achieved on his own.
Juno-nominated producer Daniel Elmes pushed Burns in the right direction, drawing out his talents and building on his strengths.
"He convinced me that I could sing," Burns says. "I was never overly confident in my vocals as a ‘singer singer’ and (he influenced) a bit of the guitar too, some of the guitar work on it… and ‘No, I don’t think I can hit that.’ or ‘No I don’t want to try that.’ By the end of it, he had convinced me to kind of go in and take a few more risks and understand that I was able to do some of the things I didn’t think I was able to, both vocally and playing wise."
Acknowledging his strengths, though, Burns remains focused. He knows what he wants and he isn’t prepared to overextend himself.
"I’m sort of that school though, that I know there are lots of guys that are doing producing and they’re doing playing and they’re doing a whole bunch of different stuff," he says. "I don’t know that I have the talent to do all of them well. I think each one of them is a full-time deal. I wouldn’t want to spread myself – I don’t think I can. Some guys can, I need to put everything into one thing for it to kind of go ahead."
Burns is moving ahead with his new band The Council," composed of Sheri Young on keys, Owen Ehgoetz on bass, Donnie Saviak on drums and Greg Cockerill on lead guitar. Together, Burns and The Council are putting out a lot of original material, and along with other original bands in town, showcasing their material every second Saturday at the Soda Lounge.
Is there a secret to this original path that Burns has blazed?
"I don’t know, other than I just haven’t given up on it," Burns says. "That was sort of the first thing that anybody told me. The only people that don’t crack the industry are the ones that stop trying to crack it, you know." |
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