SiriusXM’s Top of the Country Finalist Interview – Ian Janes

Photo Supplied by Ian Janes

On May 17, voting opened for SiriusXM’s Top of the Country music competition. There are nine amazing semi-finalists vying to be Canada’s next big star and win the grand prize of $25,000. Here at Canadian Beats, we wanted to introduce you to the finalists, show you their studio session video, and then we urge you go vote for your favourite in each market, once per day!

So far, we’ve spoken with Chris RyanJason BenoitThe Redhill ValleysAndrew Hyatt, Kristin Carter and Shawn Austin. We’re keeping the fun going today. We had a chat with Dartmouth, NS-based Ian Janes. Check out his video below for “Somebody’s Gonna Love You” and find out more about this talented artist. Go vote for Ian HERE. Remember, you can vote once per day for each market until June 6!

First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?

My name is Ian Janes. I’m a singer/songwriter/musician/producer from Hantsport, Nova Scotia but now live in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia

You are in the semi-finals for SiriusXM’s Top of the Country music competition, how does it feel to be vying for the top spot?

GREAT! As a songwriter, having people connect with words and music you’ve written is the ultimate reward. In this digital age, it can be difficult to be heard given the volume of music and information that’s coming at people 24-7. Opportunities like this are SO valuable for cutting through that noise.

The competition features some incredible Canadian talent, what was your first thought when you found out you were one of the nine semi-finalists?

I was stoked to be in such great company!

The winner will win the grand prize of $25,000, what would your first plan be for the winnings?

I’ve just finished building a new home studio and still need lots more gear for that. I’m also working on a new album and travel back and forth to Nashville regularly, which isn’t cheap! So it would be a welcome shot in the arm to my finances for sure!

What are you currently up to in your career? Do you have any new releases or tours on the rise?

-Last year, a song I wrote called “Can’t Remember Never Loving You with veteran Nashville songwriter Byron Hill was used prominently in the TV show “Nashville”

-I just finished recording/shooting a live in-studio session for CBC to be broadcast on radio/web/TV early this fall. It’s a full hour concert featuring a mix of songs from my last record Yes Man, songs from next record and my own version of ‘Can’t Remember Never Loving You”

-I’m headed to Nashville from June 4th to 14th to finish writing my new record and to keep building business relationships there. This will be my 9th trip to Music City in the past 3 years.

-I will be playing lots of great festivals this summer including The Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Stan Rogers Folk Festival and The Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival.

If you were to speak with a newcomer, what advice would you give them about making it in the music industry?

Put in the time. Work hard to be as great as you can at your craft and try as hard as you can to concentrate on what’s going RIGHT, not what’s going wrong.  Positivity and faith are very tough to maintain sometimes, but you’re dead in the water without them.

Last but not least, is there anything you’d like to say to your fans who are voting for you daily?

Thanks so much for the support! I’ve got lots more great songs written that I can’t wait for you to hear!

Connect with Ian Janes:
Website
Facebook
Twitter