[CONTEST!] QBiM Q&A with The Mountains & The Trees

To win yourself a copy of Hop, Skip, & a Jump by The Mountains & the Trees, see contest details at the end of this post.

Although no one will ever describe him as burly, semi-burly, quasi-burly, burly-like, burly-esque., Jon Janes’ one-man band The Mountain & The Trees has been described by one adjectively-challenged person as “mountains-and-treesy”.  I guess that’s sort of like calling a spade a spade, eh?

These days most people are calling Janes a breath of fresh Newfoundland air.  The light, breezy folk pop on his debut EP Hop, Skip & A Jump has drawn a lot of attention to this young man.  He’s cracked into national consciousness with a song in rotation on CBC radio 3, he’s coming off a pair of support slots for none other than Mr. Billy Bragg himself, and he’s also been working on a project with Jillian Freeman called Bird & Bear, another triumph in its own right.

Jon agreed to subject himself to a little cross-examination by QBiM, and then even turned the tables asking a few questions of me, too.  I think what follows offer an impressive glimpse into how Janes works, what he thinks, and where he’s going as we head into 2010.  At best, it’s a bit more revealing than “mountains-and-treesy”.

QBiM: State your name for the record, and mention your record while you’re at it. Where are you from, how did you get here, and where are you going next?
Jon Janes: My name is Jon Janes, better known (I think) as The Mountains & The Trees, and the newest release is Hop, Skip, & A Jump a 4-track EP recorded in the fall/winter 2008/09 in St. John’s, NL.  I was born in Pasadena, on the West coast of Newfoundland, and went to university in Corner Brook, NL, which is only 20 minutes away.  I moved to St. John’s, the most easterly city in North America, in the fall of 2008 and still live here.  As for where I’m going, who knows?  I suspect I may have to move someday, but we’ll see, we’ll see.

QBiM: Who’s hanging out with you?
JJ: Well, the “band” is essentially just me.  The Mountains & The Trees is my stage-name, like Iron & Wine or Octoberman.  However, over the past year, I’ve made some great friends who just so happen to be excellent musicians themselves.  I really enjoy playing as a “full” band these days.  I’m still doing solo shows on occasion, but just a few nights ago there was an 8-piece version of The Mountains & The Trees featuring guitar, glockenspiel, 2 vocals, cello, violin, euphonium, tuba, bass, drum-set, and a concert bass drum.  That was fun.  We played in a room specifically designed for classical music and only mic’d the vocals.  It was great!
For the past couple excursions outside of the province, it’s been myself on vocals/guitar/banjo/drums/harmonica, Jillian Freeman on vocals/guitar/glockenspiel, and Paddy Byrne on bass.  This has been the main traveling configuration, mostly due to budget, but in town there’s a whole host of other players who join as part of the Valleys & Seas Orchestra.  They’ll be featured on the upcoming full-length album as well.
Outside of St. John’s, Outside Music is doing distribution for “Hop, Skip, & A Jump” and getting it out there via iTunes and other services.  They’ve been great to work with and are just really nice people (and music lovers) at heart.  Finally, myself and Jill will be rubbing shoulders with Billy Bragg (thanks to Sonic Concerts) mid-November both here (St. John’s) and in Halifax.  We’ll be playing as a duo at home and Halifax will be a solo show, after which I’ll spend a couple days enjoying Nova Scotia before flying home.

QBiM: Is Newfoundland Canada’s secret musical weapon?
JJ: We’re no Julie Fader, if that’s what you’re asking, haha!  I think Newfoundland has an abundance of good music, but geography makes it difficult to leave the province and spread it across Canada and the world.  Even our direct flight to England has been re-routed through the mainland.  However, travel funding is good, and I think more bands are making the attempt to get out there.  Only time will tell I suppose.

QBiM: What’s the one sound that drives you crazy?
JJ: An out of tune banjo, which I have been known to be guilty of.  It’s probably why it gets to me so much.

QBiM: Other than music or other artists, what influences you as a musician and songwriter?
JJ: My surroundings, my upbringing, personal experiences.  I find it hard to write about something that isn’t at least slightly tied to something personal.  Sometimes a song is very literal (“Apartment Song”), other times it’s about a mood or feeling I’ve experienced (“Up & Down”).  I definitely like being near water and find that helps a lot when it comes time to write/arrange.  There’s just something about the ocean that I’m drawn to, which is likely tied to living/growing-up in Newfoundland.

QBiM: What’s the one song you wish you’d have written?
JJ: “Don’t Think Twice, It’s Alright.”  Actually, you know, I don’t wish I had written that.  I’m glad it was Dylan.  It wouldn’t be the same if I had written it, heh.  Lately, “Already Yours” by Bahamas has been hitting me hard.  That song is beautiful.  So simple, so laid-out so well.  “No need to convert a believer – I’m already yours.”  Also, “Oh My God (It Still Means A Lot To Me)” is really nice too.

QBiM: Do you listen to your own music in the car?
JJ: Jeez, will I sound really egotistical if I say yes?  Sometimes, I’ll break out a demo from ages ago and go over some older material to see if there’s something that should be re-done or brought back into the repertoire, but I don’t just drive around listening to Hop, Skip, & A Jump.  I’m too busy listening to other music.

QBiM: Do you sing in the shower?
JJ: I do most of my writing in the shower, let alone singing.  Is this the question I can make a confession on?  I don’t write down lyrics.  Often, I’ll have a bunch of guitar chordings and I’ll get into the shower and be thinking about one and start singing.  Maybe I’ll get a verse, chorus, or an entire song.  Now, the trick is – will I forget it as I’m drying my hair?  Don’t laugh it’s happened!  My theory is, if I really like a song I’ve written, I’ll play it over and over again until I remember it off by heart.  If I don’t practice it enough, I forget it and write it off as a “b-side.”  Funny enough, “Up & Down” had an extra verse back when it was written.  I forgot it and I think it’s better for it.

QBiM: What’s the last good book/movie/record you read/saw/heard?
JJ: If I were to talk records, I’d fill this entire interview up with them.  Records getting heavy rotation lately include Dan Mangan, The Wooden Sky, Timber Timbre, and Bahamas.  Some “older” records include Beirut, Hayden, Iron & Wine, Elliott Brood, Gogol Bordello, and Andrew Bird.  Also, there’s always at least one Joel Plaskett CD kicking around (Ashtray Rock is a killer road trip record).

I just saw Shawshank Redemption for the first time very recently.  I can’t believe I’ve never seen it before.  I’m a horrible movie-watcher.  My collection consists of lots of movies I can put on in the background, pop my head up form my work every 10 minutes or so, and still be able tog grasp the entire plot.  Nobody should envy my movie collection.  I’m currently on the hunt for Stop Making Sense by The Talking Heads though.  That concert is amazing!  Had the CD for years and it’s time to add the visuals (they’re just as stunning as the songs).
My bookshelf is quite full, mostly of books about design and art history.  There’s an entire shelf dedicated to graphic novels/comics (pick your poison).  I recommend the series Y: The Last Man, about what happens when everything with a Y chromosome dies at the same instant, except for a man and his pet monkey.  I got in on the ground floor of that one.  It’s finished now and I highly recommend picking up the volumes and reading it yourself.  I’m also following The Walking Dead.  It’s a black and white affair and, while there are plenty of zombies, it’s about the effect a zombie uprising has on those that survive.  I love zombies (Zombie Survival Guide anybody?) and this book is something I’ve never seen before.  Get it – now!

QBiM: “Up & Down” recently cracked into the CBC Radio 3 30.  What did you think when you heard the news?
JJ: Oh man, I was off-the-wall excited!  Blown-away!  In disbelief!  Now it’s been there several weeks and keeps climbing.  I try to remain cool about the whole thing, but every time Friday comes around, I’m on the edge of my seat to know where I am – did I rise, fall, fall-off? (Faints)

QBiM: What was your best subject in school?
JJ: Math.  Band too.  What does that say about me?  Oh wait – that was high school.  In university, it was Roman architecture.  Actually, what does THAT say about me?

QBiM: What would be the one moment in time you’d go back and relive or experience?
JJ: None.  Time moves forward and I’m always looking that way.  There’s always something new and exciting on the horizon, new ups and downs.

QBiM: Any vices?
JJ: Coca-Cola.  Love it!  I know it’s horrible for me, but I love it anyways.

QBiM: Is there anything left to explore?
JJ: Oh yes!  There’s always something left to explore.  I’m always acquiring new instruments and trying to learn them myself, even if it only resolves in a slightly better understanding of the sounds they can/can’t make.  However, if I can ever find one, I’d love to get my hands on a TR-808/909.  I’m really a vintage gear-geek at heart!

QBiM: What is your opinion on the state of Canadian music in 2009?
JJ: Better than ever!  I’m finding new Canadian artist everyday from every part of the country through MySpace and the various review sites.  Bands are making more music and even giving more away, which I think is great!  I know, for myself, if I’m given something for free and I truly enjoy it, I buy it.  I bought Nice, Nice, Very Nice twice – once from iTunes and once in a CD shop, to get the liner notes.  All in all, music is getting out there more than ever before.  Bands are starting their own record labels and being taken seriously – it’s great to see!

QBiM: What’s the worst bit of musical advice you’ve ever been given?
JJ: I’m not sure if it counts, but a bar owner here in NL once told me “Go away, make a name for yourself, and then come back.  Maybe then you’ll get some respect.”  That was about a year and a half ago.  It still stings a little.

QBiM: If you didn’t make music what would you be doing with your life?
JJ: Well, I have a visual arts degree, but I can’t really see myself doing anything other than music, to be honest.  I never really could.  I worked at a postal outlet for awhile.  That was soul-sucking.  It was about as far from music as I could be.  I went to the ECMAs (East Coast Music Awards) and just never went back after.  I made the decision then and there to really make music my life.  We’ll see how that works out I guess.

QBiM: Anything to declare?
JJ: I’m a dog person.  Sorry to all cat people.  Let me flip the table for a second and ask you a few questions:

JJ: After reading the above questionnaire, recommend a few albums I should listen to.  I’m always looking for new music!
QBiM: As of right now, I’m telling every one about the new EP from Bird & Bear, but that doesn’t count since you play in the band, too and already know about it.  Have you checked out The Wilderness of Manitoba yet?  That’s an amazing record.  They get compared to Fleet Foxes a lot but I like them far better.  There’s also the new album by Daniel, Fred & Julie–which is basically Daniel Romano of Attack In Black, Julie Doiron and Fred Squire of Calm Down It’s Monday.  It’s a pure joy, too.

JJ: What’s your favorite instrument?  Why?
QBiM: What an interesting question to ask a non-musician.  Having said that , I have to admit that I own both a piano and guitar, and can pluck out a few notes on either.  If I had to pick one, though, it would have to be piano.  I’m a sucker for a singer-songwriter sitting at a piano alone playing their heart out.  My partner plays piano and organ, and I’m always amazed at the way he can sit and play.  I’m envious of his talent, but at the same time I feel so lucky to be able to experience his playing.  He doesn’t do it too often, which is another story in itself, but sometimes he sits at my piano and makes it sing, filling the whole house with organic song.  You can’t get that from a stereo.

JJ: What’s been your “funnest” live show of the past year?
QBiM: Unfortunately, I don’t get to live shows very often, so the funnest show of teh past year is also the only show I’ve been to:  Joel Plaskett at Brok University.  My friend Mart Lou plays in a chamber music group and I’ve been to see her a few times this year, and on Monday I’m flying out to New York City because she’ll be playing with Aprile Millo, the world renowned opera star, whose holding a recital at Lincoln Center, so that will be fantastic.  In a couple weeks, Two Hours Traffic is coming down to my neck of the woods and I’ll be in attendance there, too.  I guess that’s the problem, if I want to see a show, I’d probably have to head to Hamilton or Toronto, and it’s not always easy to do when you have to keep a day job in order to pay for all this.  That might change now, as I’m getting the bug to get out and hear more live music.

~~~

CONTEST DETAILS

Jon has been such a good sport about helping us with this post, just like our previous interviewees, he’s given us some swag to share with a few lucky readers.  The drill gets a bit of a twist this time out:  We need to spread the word about the QBiM Q&A, so I’m adding a new way of getting your name in the game:

1.  You can still drop an email at CONTESTS [at] QUICKBEFOREITMELTS [dot] COM with Q&A in the subject line, and youur suggestions for future interview questions and your mailing address in the email body.

OR

2.  You can log onto your Twitter account and retweet QBiM!  Go to twitter.com/JimQBiM and find our tweet for this post and retweet it.  That’s it!  You’re in.  If you win, well contact you via Twitter to get your mailing details.

Thanks again to Jon for helping us out with this week’s Q&A, and stay tuned for next Monday’s interview with Two Hours Traffic!

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