Ontario’s Jamie Warren has just released a new single, “My Kinda’ Pretty” so we caught up with him for our newest segment of Five Questions With. Check out the single below and take a few moments to find out more about him!
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Jamie Warren and I was raised in a small town, Hanover Ontario. I spent most of my childhood playing sports and trying my best to ignore music. My parents were both musical and I believe they tricked me into playing instrument lol…piano lessons at 5 and guitar lessons at 8. It all started to make sense when I wrote my first song at 14. I thank them every day for pushing me. I’ve always taken great pride in my writing. I seriously considered a career as an English teacher, but instead studied Broadcast Journalism and Television Arts. Winning a talent show in College lead me to a life of “no real job”.
Tell us a bit about your music and writing style.
I grew up listening to the music my folks listened to…Country music. I’m a fan of traditional country music but I’ve never written in that style. Many times, during my 35-year career it was often suggested I wasn’t country. I am a huge fan of Merle Haggard as well as the 70s California vocal bands (Buffalo Springfield, Poco, Eagles). I’d have to also mention the Beatles. Years ago, in a radio interview, I was asked to describe my music. I said I was writing for the Beatles with Merle Haggard as their lead singer!
Do you have any upcoming shows? For someone who has yet to see you live, how would you explain your live performance?
I do have some upcoming shows. I’d suggest you go to jamiewarren.com to find out where I’ll be. If you come to see me perform, you’ll get a rockin’ show offset with some intimate story song moments. I guarantee you a few laughs (stories) and a lot of killer vocal harmonies.
If you were asked to suggest only one of your songs for someone to hear, which would it be?
“One Step Back” is probably my signature song. It’s an honest look back about growing up in Hanover. I’ve often said that songwriters who grow up in small towns spend their first 20 years writing songs about getting the hell out of a small town and the next 20 years writing songs about trying to get back. Btw “Sunny Day In The Park” is a cool song too!
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so who are your current favourite Canadian bands/artists?
We should be proud of our Canadian musical heritage. I believe that Deric Ruttan is the best country songwriter we’ve ever produced! Dean Brody is impressive as well. I was also very influenced by Dan Hill and the Guess Who / BTO. Go Leafs Go!! Sorry, I got carried away!
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