Those of you who know me reasonably well are aware of my ongoing love/hate relationship with country music. As a Gen X-er, I was raised in the UK on a steady diet of my mom’s 60s and early 70s country albums (several of these artists remain firm favorites) – before discovering rock music in my teens and dismissing the country genre as uncool. The revival era of ‘new country’ in the 90s brought the music back to my attention, but as we transitioned into the twenty-first century, the genre hit a fork in the road – prompting you to turn left down the alt-country/Americana path, or turn right down the pop with an accent route. The third option was to say nada to both and bid the genre farewell…
It only takes a quick refresher on the country artists that I frequently feature here at GDW to tell you which direction I chose – and it’s a path I continue to walk today. “Americana!” “Outlaw!” “Progressive!” “Alt-country!” – no matter what you call this variety of the genre, I simply love the diverse mix of traditional country, bluegrass, and good old-fashioned rock n roll – and I’m always on the lookout for musicians that respect the past whilst embracing the present. Artists such as Colter Wall and Zachary Lucky have strong ties to the traditional elements of the genre. Or Kaia Kater and The Slocan Ramblers, who are redefining contemporary bluegrass music. And when seeking that fusion of rock and country, names such as Sara Dufour and The Redhill Valleys are leading the charge. For me, the common denominator here is an emphasis on outstanding musicianship and songs that resonate. Yeah, I’ll happily pass on that ‘right turn’ and skip the bubblegum pop stuff, thanks.
Of course, there are a few outliers among the current generation of artists that have discovered yet another path. Rather than be forced to turn left, turn right, or turn back, why not simply keep walking straight down the middle and bring together the best from both worlds? Once loosely defined as crossover country (where pop and country met), while this is not a new phenomenon (Shania Twain, anybody?), in my opinion, it is much tougher today to reconnect both the Americana and mainstream avenues – with widening gaps and a seemingly renewed sense of isolationism. One artist successfully straddling the line, however, is Montréal native Brittany Kennell, who continues to win over both crowds with her authenticity and radio-friendly music – dismantling those barriers by walking a parallel path that shifts the proverbial line in the sand.
With the release of a stunning self-titled EP late last month, emerging artist Savannah Jade is another Québecker tossing her hat into this twenty-first century crossover country ring. Deciding to pursue a career in music following an audition on the Canadian talent show The Voice Québec back in 2013, Savannah signed with MDM Recordings and found success as one half of country pop duo Five Roses (as ‘Jade Godin,’ with Zach Ouimet), before setting this solo project into motion. Boldly announcing her debut last summer with the release of her single “He’s The One,” Savannah Jade found comfort among the mainstream country crowd, but also gave folks like me a green light to slap an alt tag to her music and legitimately welcome her into the other country music community.
Choosing to kick off the EP with her first single, the progression into “One Night Stand” dictates the direction that shall follow – modern, melodic, well-produced country music that shares many traits with the new country era of the 90s. I’m immediately hearing Jo Dee Messina cues during this toe-tapper, and hints of Gretchen Wilson once “I Don’t Have Exes” bursts through my speakers. And if you are convinced that there are similarities to Shania’s “Any Man of Mine” while humming along to the opening moments of Savannah’s “More Like It,” then face it, you too are a 90s crossover country junkie (and be sure to check out the official music video for this single embedded below – I’ve not enjoyed seeing a bar room brawl of this nature since Aerosmith’s “What It Takes” video back in the late 80s). It’s all over in a flash though – clocking in at just 25 minutes of airtime, these seven tracks (along with the previously released Fireside Version of “He’s The One”) play out very quickly. Savannah’s line “no I couldn’t catch my breath, I felt that tick, tick boom” during “Oops (I Think I Love You)” summarizes this rapid listen perfectly.
So, what stood out for me the most during my first spin of the EP? Too easy! My senses were elevated when encountering a recognizable tune down the stretch that left me considering that while Savannah Jade easily wins over the crossover crowd, she dangles some tasty bait to lure in the indie pop-rockers too – offering a delightful (and uncensored) cover of the Alanis Morissette hit tune “You Oughta Know.” You may very well ask, that on paper, does this tune really belong here on a country album? Perhaps not. But when spinning the EP, you’ll instinctively reach for the volume dial … and likely the repeat button too. Yeah, it fits! It fits perfectly. If you’re not singing along to the chorus at the top of your voice, you’re likely comatose, to be fair…
“This EP is for anyone who has fallen in love too fast, bounced back faster, and turned every ‘oops’ into a power move,” Savannah shares via her press release. “These songs aren’t about chasing love, they’re about choosing you, owning every messy moment, and dancing through the chaos in killer boots like it’s your runway.” I always appreciate artists that know how to raise a ‘regular’ album into ‘great’ album territory by thinking a little outside of the box – and having a ton of fun doing so! Savannah Jade defies convention perfectly with this fabulous debut release, standing up (and rightfully so) alongside fellow country rockers Sara Dufour and The Redhill Valleys with a quest to reunite fans of all country music derivatives.
Photo Credit: Artist Website / MDM Recordings
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
