Fourth in a sequence of 5 Music Life Journal interviews with 2025 Inductees into the Canadian Songwriters Corridor of Fame. The Legends Induction Ceremony takes place Friday, Oct. 17, on the Lyric Theatre within the Meridian Arts Centre in downtown Toronto.
By Jim Barber
If there was anybody for whom the title or epithet artist belongs, in all sides of its advanced which means, it’s Jane Siberry. And even then, she, herself would most likely gently dissuade you from claiming that title on her behalf. Which in flip, makes the demarcation much more true.
It isn’t from false modesty, nor from lack of gratitude or any feeling of unworthiness that she eschews formal designations, assignations and celebrations. It’s, because it appears, as a result of to her the act of creation, the method of communing with the muses, of taking what’s effervescent and boiling beneath the floor of her psyche, what’s meandering via the religious house she inhabits, is who she is, not what she is. It isn’t a job description or title; it’s who she is. Siberry, via her music and different types of inventive processing, lives a lifetime of remark and reportage on the human situation. She crafts songs that incorporate deep thought, magnificence, fact, ardour, life, love and light-weight and makes use of the automobile of her recordings and stay performances to commune with fellow people, to share these ideas and concepts, to present and obtain vitality.
And whereas such discuss, to some, would possibly seem to be pretentiousness, that ‘artsy fartsy’ kind of dialog that’s lampooned in films and in style tradition, there isn’t a pretense in Siberry. No artifice, simply rarified integrity, authenticity and creative magic.
One can sense via the sheer degree of experimentation, the various exploratory musical adventures she has embarked upon, the burden of mental vitality and emotional efficiency that imbues each notice, each lyric and each beat that there’s a stressed cacophony of tales, characters, colors, shapes and sounds ready to return out. The sense of unbridled curiosity and fearlessness in the best way she presents her experiences of the human situation is sort of child-like; definitely nearly harmless in that it’s unencumbered by any exterior expectations, bows to no pattern or trend, however is fairly timeless and perpetually related to these prepared to bend an ear.
It’s for this, for her collected physique of musical creativity that Siberry is to be inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Corridor of Fame at particular Legends occasion on Friday, Oct. 17, in Toronto. She can be enshrined alongside different Canadian musical luminaries equivalent to Gino Vannelli, Ian Thomas, Triumph and Andy Kim.
Sure, Siberry has sipped from the golden chalice of economic success, she has spent her time within the brilliant lights of fame and been thought-about amongst the glitterati of ‘pop stars’ and hit makers, had her face on the covers of magazines, popping up recurrently on video music channels and her voice. However she has additionally rejected the machinations and equipment that infects and dominates the ‘enterprise’ aspect of the music enterprise, carving her personal path, residing a life that’s unfettered by materialism, and one that’s definitely opposite to the existence seemingly celebrated by the modern leisure trade. Life, artwork, music and all that goes with it has been lived, performed, expressed and skilled on her personal phrases. For this, whereas the favored mass acclaim is probably not what it as soon as was (fame, as everyone knows, is fairly fickle and ephemeral) her music, her phrases, her voice and her performances have ensured that she is beloved, honoured, admired and revered by those that recognize their artists to be true to themselves first, artists who can pluck concepts and tales and feelings from their very own hearts, and be unafraid to be actual, and uncooked – the buzzword ‘genuine’ is apt, however within the context of it’s fashionable overuse, appears missing with regard to Siberry.
From her earliest days within the Toronto music scene, to being signed to Duke Avenue/A&M Data, the place she earned accolades and airplay aplenty for her albums No Borders Right here (1984) which produced the large, and a few would say sudden hit, ‘Mimi On The Seashore,’ a masterwork and impressed melange of avant-garde, New Wave, people and pop music, which garnered important spins on radio stations, in addition to MuchMusic, regardless that the music was greater than seven minutes lengthy.
The Speckless Sky album adopted a 12 months later, which propelled Siberry’s gentle even larger into the pop music stratosphere, resulting in a extra substantial American document cope with Reprise Data (the label began by Frank Sinatra, which included the likes of fellow Canadian Neil Younger), resulting in her third album, 1988s The Strolling, which helped land her opening slots on excursions by the likes of Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel, however was extra experimental, extra intricate, and thus, at the very least to these within the document enterprise, much less industrial.
Shifts in her life result in shifts in musical tone and course, along with her subsequent couple of albums, Sure By Magnificence and particularly 1993’s Once I Was A Boy demonstrating the dynamism of her compositional expertise, in addition to a seemingly extra liberated and adventurous persona on document. Different types and genres of music had been added to the musical recipes Siberry was concocting, which had been personally and creatively satisfying, however not as pleasing to the company label’s backside line or their need to wish to management how music was to be produced. Therefore, Siberry went unbiased in 1996, beginning her personal document label. To today, she is basically a self-contained indie artist who writes, data, produces and releases her personal music, on her personal phrases, when she feels finest happy to take action, led by a ravenous intelligence, chic poeticism and an unbridled curiosity.
“I didn’t try this, actually, from cynicism. Warner Brothers/Reprise wished to make me have a producer, and I didn’t need that. So, it was for the inventive freedom, that’s why I left the label. That meant that was the tip of the music machine, serving to with distribution and promotion, and I’ve undoubtedly missed that as a result of that was such an exquisite factor to have individuals hear about my music. Now, I just do nearly as good music, however perhaps not many individuals hear about it. So, I do miss that, however in the present day I’m creating issues totally alone phrases and that makes me comfortable. That’s all I wish to do,” she mentioned.
“And let me increase on that. Two occasions in my profession I’ve turn out to be jaded and felt an unfairness and I needed to undergo that and suppose, nicely why am I doing this? It makes you rethink every thing. I got here out on the opposite aspect, each occasions, in a greater place, and now I’m totally in a superb place. There are a whole lot of great individuals within the music trade. It’s not the faceless factor we expect it’s, and everybody’s studying their classes, everybody’s speaking to their very own God or no matter, it doesn’t matter what their job is, ? And shopping for into that entire factor, the facet of competitors and artwork being about reputation, it’s not the reality of it, and it’s good that increasingly individuals know that and are seeing that. The underside line is cash and the individuals, the musicians make a option to go on it or not, so you possibly can’t utterly fault the system if persons are willingly selecting to be part of it.”
And she or he feels finest happy to be issuing forth certainly one of her most bold initiatives later this month, the digitally launched triple album, In The Thicket of Our Personal Unconsciousness.
“I’ve been engaged on a document for 4 years, so there’s a whole lot of stress on each greenback that is available in. And I don’t like debt, however I’ve an enormous debt from it, so that can cease quickly because the document involves an finish, which it simply did. I don’t suppose debt is wholesome for anyone, so I’ve needed to kind issues out and maintain issues tremendous small for 4 years. However I nonetheless have good espresso within the morning, I nonetheless get pet food, I nonetheless, after I play, get handled like royalty, and I maintain making an attempt to reframe it, , that I’m privileged to be a musician, and that’s the last word manner I see it. So, can I make a residing after I play? I can if I play solo. If I play with multiple participant, it turns into a labour of affection and it’ll usually price me to play. With a band, it’s similar to, can I spend money on placing on a superb present for individuals and go into debt? No, it’s at that time now, however it could change. You by no means know,” she mentioned, including that the choice to write down, document and launch comes extra from an inner realization that she has one thing to say, and that she needs to share what she has to say with the skin world.
“For about six years, I didn’t have that stress in me. After which it got here again and I had one thing to say and one thing to say that wished to be in communion with others about it. I get the sensation, I get a need for that communion after which the visions I see and really feel turn out to be magnetic, after which the phrases stream in. So it’s a stress in my coronary heart. And it comes from observing and seeing and feeling what’s occurring on the earth. I sort of take all of it in. Simply earlier than COVID, I completed a giant tour all over the world, taking part in for followers in residing rooms and llama farms and issues like that, after which I used to be seeing every thing all over the world and I spotted there’s manner too many individuals on the planet. There’re manner too many automobiles. We’re actually not doing that nice and never taking excellent care of our planet. And I keep in mind individuals throughout COVID saying they will hardly wait until issues get again to regular, however I’m pondering, we’re so sick, we aren’t regular, . After which I suppose, I don’t know the right way to say it different that the stress in my coronary heart simply began to create, um, containers for concepts, I suppose.”
A way of communion, of being collectively in a single place, both bodily or metaphysically appears to be Siberry’s aim in placing her ideas and experiences and observations into musical language. It’s to tell, to encourage individuals to open their eyes, ears and hearts and make their very own observations, to be open to sharing and caring, and expressing their considerations and fears and loves and joys as nicely.
“I see one thing lovely and I’ve to do one thing, I’ve to make one thing from that, and I solely write after I’m impressed, actually. The gist of the music is impressed and comes from a a lot larger vibration than regular life. It might say it’s linked to the best better energy or larger energy, like love, or no matter you name it. So inspiration carries me ahead, as a result of I’m really fairly lazy, so I want that. My writing is basically an expression of hope. I’d by no means really feel snug saying I knew what individuals ought to do or say or suppose.”
Siberry additionally prefers to launch music in lengthy type – the old style LP. She believes albums are a extra complete and compelling automobile for a songwriter to unburden themselves, take inventory of their lives and experiences over a sure time frame, create some type of emotional connective tissue between every music, and to supply the listener the change to go on a journey via the songwriter’s course of, emotional dynamics and perspective over a sure time frame. Over her profession, she has launched 16 full size studio albums, (Within the Thicket of Our Personal Unconsciousness is her 17th), 5 stay albums, and right here have been 5 compilations. Some songs have been included in film soundtracks, probably the most notable being ‘It Can’t Rain All of the Time’ within the 1994 cult traditional, The Crow.
“I like lengthy tales. And I like delicate tales. And I see from the bingeing that folks do on Netflix and different streaming companies that folks love tales. I feel it’s a throwback to once we couldn’t get our dad and mom to learn to us lengthy sufficient for our personal satisfaction. Now we get to press the button for the subsequent episode all by ourselves, again and again, if we wish to. I’m seeing that folks love lengthy tales, and so they love being carried away and carried ahead, and so they beloved being dumbed up too, . They don’t must dumb down. I’m like that too, and I simply write what I’d get pleasure from proper. So, I don’t wish to be transported someplace superb after which have that world finish after six minutes. I need the entire. I need longer,” she defined.
“So the triple document I made, it’s a three-part story and I type of describe it as a musical Netflix, as a result of it’s all linked with interwoven segues. And there are individuals arguing again to the music, and issues like that. It’s being launched digitally as a result of I don’t have a funds for vinyl or CD. Though I’m fascinated by the renewed curiosity in vinyl. I’m heartened by your remark that there are such a lot of younger individuals stepping into vinyl. For the final, perhaps, 20 years, I’ve questioned the place all the unique thinkers had been, as a result of, actually, I all the time felt like I used to be purported to be connecting with youthful individuals, , an ageless group of listeners. So, yeah, I’m glad to listen to about that, however stunned at how lengthy it’s taken and now I’m listening to that youthful persons are began to actually recognize commerce smiths, , woodworkers, studying the outdated crafts.
“I nonetheless have hassle understanding the best way individuals take heed to music, via streaming and on their telephones, I don’t even see why individuals would wish to stand up and switch over a vinyl document. However perhaps it’s as a result of they’re craving that have. I do know I like listening right through. I actually miss having the ability to have a look at the art work in my palms as I hear. I maintain making an attempt to suppose that perhaps I might do a vinyl document that doesn’t have vinyl in it, however has a code, and has all of the full-sized art work, so you possibly can nonetheless take heed to it and flip via the lyrics and liner notes – even have that very same sq. vinyl dimension, which may be very pleasing, large enough to learn. All of my digital recordings have a PDF with all of the art work in it, so at the very least there’s one thing type of tangible. But it surely’s the bodily factor I miss, like, I miss having the ability to give individuals my CD in a bus shelter, the place I don’t know individuals. I beloved doing that. That was a extremely enjoyable a part of it. I get to fulfill individuals and share one thing and so they have a brand new document. Now, I don’t have something to present you.”
Once more, Siberry’s music is extra than simply artwork for arts sake, or a option to make a residing, or categorical oneself. In dialog, one can inform that music, the making of it, the eager about it, the pondering the which means of each lyric, the tone of each notice, the infrastructure of each nuance of each music is as integral to her as meals, air and water. Thoughtfulness is her default in conversations, as is honesty and plainspokenness.
She reacted to the accolade with a way of gratitude, but additionally a tiny little bit of discomfort, not due to any emotions of unworthiness, however extra as a result of what she values from her artwork, will not be actually in step with the American Idol sense of music success.
“It was sudden and a cherry on the highest. Actually great vitality coming in the direction of me, and I’ve very grateful. And I do perceive now that it’s from my friends, not a system that I perhaps didn’t know an excessive amount of about. There are lots of people concerned within the songwriter craft, all great visionaries, , making an attempt to create one thing. So I’m appreciative. It’s what I do, it’s very good, however I already know I’m a songwriter, and whereas I’m grateful, we are able to’t purchase into these items an excessive amount of,” she mentioned.
“I’ve all the time questioned about this entire notion of awards and competitors and, I imply, particularly within the final 20, 25 years, the place artwork is throughout TV now; the place it’s all about competitors and profitable and la-di-da.”
It should even be identified that this honour comes pretty shut on the heels of incomes the 2025 Slaight Household Polaris Heritage Prize for The Speckless Sky, 40 years after it’s preliminary launch.
Having spent a time, within the mid-Eighties, the place your worth as an artist was measured and enumerated and dissected by varied numerical metrics, the place your ‘fame’ means larger venues to carry out, however a lack of privateness and anonymity, Siberry is okay with not chasing after one thing as fickle as notoriety and recognition.
“I had a bit little bit of that sort of expertise and it actually wasn’t enjoyable. I’d not prefer to be a well-known singer/songwriter. When individuals began coming to my present, making an attempt to seem like me, that’s a bizarre world and never proper for individuals. They shouldn’t be doing that. So, yeah, that was not one thing I actually wished. And it meant that I couldn’t go to indicate and make my very own jewellery and promote it or this and that. It’s like when every thing is measured within the 1000’s or tens of 1000’s, it’s boring,” she mentioned.
“It’s essential for musicians to listen to and perceive that they’ve worth in and of themselves. That’s actually essential for individuals to listen to as a result of musicians can typically contemplate themselves second class residents. However I feel it’s essential that all of us perceive that we’re all serving to one another be extra within the service of affection. It’s a service of the better to be a musician and repair is type of a brand new idea for individuals. We’re all on this collectively, and that’s the reality of it. I feel it’s, anyhow, all of us, not simply musicians. You, me, everyone.”
And Siberry can be collectively alongside fellow Canadian Songwriters Corridor of Fame inductees on Oct. 17. For extra info, go to https://www.cshf.ca.
For extra info on Siberry, her new releases and upcoming reveals, go to https://janesiberry.com.
- Jim Barber is a veteran award-winning journalist and creator based mostly in Napanee, Ontario, Canada, who has been writing about music and musicians for greater than 30 years. Moreover his journalistic endeavors, he works as a communications and advertising specialist and is an avid volunteer in his neighborhood. Contact him at bigjim1428@hotmail.com.
