Jenn Grant previews show, discusses connecting with an audience, and shares sound advice

Acclaimed song writer, singer and performer Jenn Grant is set to perform live as part of the Huntsville Festival of the Arts Nursery Nights Series at Sandhill Nursery.

This won’t be Grant’s first visit to Huntsville, having visited for a vacation in the past and enjoying her time here. However, it will be the first time she’s performing and is excited about the opportunity.

“I love Huntsville, I had a great visit there a long time ago,” she recalls. “The show is going to be a trio performance.”

Joining Grant on stage will be Kim Harris, who collaborated on newest single Judy, and Grant’s partner Daniel Ledwell. All three are Maritimers bringing their styles and energy together for this show.

“We’re going to do a mix of stuff,” she says. “A bunch of stuff from the new record as well as mixing in some songs that people know.”

The show takes place on October 13 beginning at 7:30 p.m. Find out more and get tickets at: https://huntsvillefestival.ca/event/jenn-grant/

Grant explains that her most recent works featuring Canadian collaborations are great because of fellow artists vibing off each other during song writing and recording sessions. She says that even when finding that free flow energy on her own, it’s all about finding something she feels passionate about to drive the creativity.

“I’m an innate song writer and artist,” says Grant. “I feel fulfilled when I’m creating. I like doing that with music, and performing, and painting, and I just started doing some acting.”

A three-time Juno Award nominee as well as a multiple award winner and nominee for the East Coast Music and Music Nova Scotia awards, Grant has also been long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize.

For over a decade Grant has been touring Canada, the US, and internationally, while her music has been heard in international ad campaigns, trailers, TV shows and her song “Dreamer” from her debut album is the long running theme music for the CBCs ‘Heartland’ now going into its 16th Season. 

Grant says playing live and sharing her music around the globe is a privilege she is proud to be part of. She talked about finding the same “free flow state” on stage as when she’s in the privacy of her own studio.

“That idea of free flow state, if you can achieve that with a group of people and an audience, everyone gets that experience together, it’s a really special thing,” says Grant. “The goal is to get lost in the music. I love connecting with an audience and telling stories about what’s happening. It’s never the same thing twice.”

For up-and-coming artists and entertainers, Grant shared some sound advice to help with their careers.

“Something that has helped me over the last couple of years is I grew my skill sets so I could do more things to promote my work, like graphic design and video editing and creation of videos,” she says. “I’m someone who really loves those pieces that go with the music, so if I can make them myself, it allows me more freedom and control and it can be a good financial decision to know how to do that stuff on your own.”

In addition to finding great people to collaborate with and perform live with, Grant advises finding ways to “work a record” once the studio part is done and the promotional time has begun.

“What I’ve found is you need to find a way to support the marketing and promotion that fulfills you creatively so it’s an extension of your project rather than just pushing yourself on social media or something like that.”

That’s the best advice anyone promoting any product or service can receive – find a way to fulfill the creative fires within when doing the work.

Now, support Jenn Grant, the Huntsville Festival of the Arts, and Sandhill Nursery by getting tickets to the show on October 13.