Artists discuss song inspirations
We asked some of the artists appearing at JUNO Songwriters’ Circle Presented by SOCAN in association with Canadian Music Publishers Association questions about who they would like to write for, their favourite song and their biggest success.
ISKWÉ If you could write a song for anyone to perform who would it be?
Alive: Toronto Symphony Orchestra Deceased: Janis Joplin
What is your favourite song and why?
Glory Box by Portishead. This is the actual song that made me realize I needed to sing and write songs for a living! I LOVED the blend of electronics, bassy synths and orchestras, and her floaty, interesting vocals overtop of it all just melted my soul. Plus, it’s a song of sensual female empowerment ... hands down, my favourite song of all time!
What has been your biggest success to date?
Writing a song that my two-year-old niece loves so much. She requests my new single, The Unforgotten, to be played the moment she walks into my parents’ house each morning (“daycare” is at Grandma and Grandpas house), and then sings along, word for two-year-old word, at the top of her lungs. I even have a video of it and there’s nothing I’m prouder of!
ROSE COUSINS If you could write a song for anyone to perform who would it be?
Bonnie Raitt
What is your favorite song and why?
Hard to choose one but I tend to go to Bonnie Raitt’s I Can’t Make You Love Me because it gets all the jobs done brilliantly — sentiment, delivery, emotional impact, devastation (personal fave). The feeling is translated so well. I actually heard the cassette tape of co-writer Mike Reid’s demo of this song and it’s so close to her version which is about the highest compliment for a writer. It gets me every time.
What has been your biggest success to date?
Making a living as a performing singer songwriter for over 10 years. Songs pay my bills.
It’s not lost on me that, though it’s extremely hard work, I get to do what I love and that what I love connects to people who listen and make my career possible.
RUTH B. If you could write a song for anyone to perform who would it be?
I would love to write with Paul McCartney. He’s one of my favourite writers of all time and just seeing him work would be a dream.
What is your favorite song and why?
So many but I love To Zion by Lauryn Hill. I’ve been listening to it since I was super young and the song feels like home now.
What has been your biggest success to date?
Anytime someone comes up to me and says that they have connected with one of my songs, that’s when I feel that what I do is important.