So I had a good gab with Jann Arden the other day, as one does.
She was her reliable, firecracker self: frank, confident and ready for whatever comes next. I hung up from our conversation sort of wishing we could put Jann Arden in a room with all the global bullies and let her sort things out.
Isn’t that what we all want to feel right now? Confident and ready for whatever comes?
As politicians in the Canadian federal election campaign jockey to position themselves as the best choice to protect Canada’s future, they could only dream of capturing the heart of the nation the way Jann Arden has. And not just with her music. Her social media post entitled “I am Canadian” nailed the personal expression of Canadian identity in heartfelt fashion, and it really struck a chord. Simple, straightforward lines like these helped the post go wildly viral.
My failures and my triumphs are here in the dirt, forever part of whatever this wonderful place is.
My ability to think and reason is Canadian. My heart is Canadian. I can go out further into the world and be courageous in my career and my art, because I am Canadian.
Jann Arden is getting ready to head out on tour for her new album, Mixtape, a compilation of (mostly) 90s covers. She’s also just finished writing her next book. Somehow, in the midst of all she’s got on her plate, Jann found time to sit down with me to talk about being a cultural icon in a nation that may be fighting for its life, and about how she’s keeping level-headed amidst the staggering uncertainty in our world right now.
Her playbook for managing unknowns seems to read like this:
don’t get caught up in fear and worry
remember your strengths
spend time doing things that make the world a little better
ground yourself in nature
We talked about all of that and more in a hilarious, wide-ranging conversation. You can hear my feature-length interview with Jann Arden in an upcoming episode of the new podcast, A Love Affair with the Unknown—coming soon to a podcast app near you (I know I keep saying that, but it’s really getting close… just a couple more weeks!)
But for now, I wanted to share Jann’s thoughts on navigating this uncertain moment in history. Enjoy.
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