International Songwriting Competition Finalist x 2 and Semi-finalist x2!

I just found out that songs I cowrote have landed some notice in the International Songwriting Competition!!! This is a competition that is judged by people like Tom Waits, Wynonna Judd, Loretta Lynn and many other highly respected industry professionals and there are thousands of entries from all over the world. To say that I am honoured is a gross understatement!

Finalist in:

Pop/Top 40 category-"Falling Star" (J.Johnson/Link Tipton)
Country category-"Give Me a Ring" (J.Johnson/J.Keats/S.Keats/C.Burke-Gaffney)

Semi-finalist in:

Pop/Top 40 category-"Superhero" (J.Johnson/S.Wilcox)
Adult Contemporary category-"China Dolls" (J.Johnson/S.Wilcox)

Yay!

2010 Olympics in Vancouver!

I'm in Vancouver at the moment...Played keys for Eagle and Hawk...Four sets in one day! I've really had a fantastic time and even managed the long line-up into the official Olympic store downtown. :-) I've worked with the best crews/techs ever today...What an honour!

Canadian Music Week Showcase!

I've been chosen to showcase at Canadian Music Week this year in Toronto. The show is on Saturday, March 13th at the Library Bar (inside the Royal York Hotel on Front St) at 10PM. Tell your TO friends and family to come and check it out!

Festival du Voyageur

I'm playing the Festival du Voyageur with the band in February this year! This is very exciting! Please see my events for details, or visit www.festivalvoyageur.mb.ca.

Click here to read my latest update: Wrapping Up 2009

Collaborations!

I have had a very busy fall...I was nominated for an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Award, showcased at the Western Canadian Music Awards, and played some meaningful gigs for me, including Bluebird North with Alana Levandoski, Keri Latimer and Romi Mayes.

A huge thing for me has been some of the collaborations that I've had a chance to be a art of recently. "The Keats" are a country duo from Halifax who I was introduced to by my good friend, producer Chris Burke-Gaffney. They were in town earlier this month to do some writing and recording. I was honoured that they cut my song, "Take You Home" and look forward to sharing that with you. I also collaborated with Chris and Vincent Fontaine of Eagle and Hawk on a really cool cabaret-style song which is being included in a pitch for a musical theatre production. We had such a good time that Vincent and the band have asked me to play some keyboards for them, and I am now learning Eagle and Hawk tunes! My first gig with them is with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra...Crazy...And Amazing!

There's more to come, and some things I need to keep on the down low for now...But thanks for checking in...I'l definitely keep you posted as I'm allowed to share all of the good news!

xo JJ

My Winter Wish Comes True!

Winter Wish

I want to tell you about my Winter Wish? Yes! Read on...

I used to work as a flight attendant for Air Canada. I loved the job, but felt called to pursue a music career and finish my university degree. It just wasn't possible to keep my job and pursue these other goals. I still miss it sometimes, though.

I remember distinctly wishing that one day I would love to have one of my songs as part of Air Canada's InFlight playlist. In fact, I used to look at the lists of songs in EnRoute Magazine and wonder how an artist could land that opportunity. This was before I'd released my first record!

I'm thrilled to say that one of my songs, "Winter Wish", has been selected for Air Canada's playlist! I am really excited. It seems like a small thing when I look at the big picture of life, but it's proof that sometimes even the most casual wish can come true. I wrote the chorus on a subway in Toronto on my way to a co-write with JC Smith and Rebecca Everett (JC and Rebecca have co-writes on Shiloh's new project!) and we wrote it together. It was in May last year, and it was a hot day! Needless to say our publishers were amused that we wrote a Christmas song without the inspiration of actual snow.

Showcase

This weekend I'm showcasing at the Western Canadian Music Awards in Brandon, Manitoba. My set is Saturday night (the 19th) at 11PM at Double Decker and I'll be playing as a duo with Lee Charles Garinger. I'm also sitting on a panel for SOCAN which is an honour for me. I enjoy conferences very much, as they give me a chance to connect with my community and meet new people in the industry.

Awards

A few of you have mentioned that you've voted for me in the second round for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards...Thank-you! It's one of those things that comes down to numbers, and every vote counts. I'm nominated in the Best International Artist category, and would appreciate it if you logged on to their website at www.aboriginalpeopleschoice.com, registered (if you haven't yet) and voted for me! It takes a bit of time but it's easy. If you want to cast votes in other categories, don't forget my friends Eagle and Hawk who are up for FOUR awards. I like Don Amero and Sierra Noble too...Check them out!

Wanna Date?

I have several dates coming up this fall, and invite you to keeping visiting my website for details. I'm excited to be part of the Babes for Breasts (B4B) tour this year in October, and also the Bluebird North event in Winnipeg on October 6th! I'll be sharing the stage with some of Manitoba's most compelling female songwriters; Alana Levandoski, Keri Latimer and Romi Mayes. The B4B event takes place in Saskatoon on October 16th, and in Winnipeg on October 18th. If you'd like to catch me play this month and can't make it out to Brandon for the showcase, check out the FemFest Cabaret on September 25th (U of W, 400 Colony St at 7PM). It will be a night full of talent, and I'll be playing a rare guitar-only mini set.

I hope this finds you well.

Love,

Jaylene

PS-Thanks for continuing to pass my website along to others. It really helps me when you spread the word about my music. xo


Sault Star Article
Happiness to Jaylene Johnson is joining heads with others to pen tunes — ON THE TOWN
By BRIAN KELLY

If report cards were handed out for musicians, Jaylene Johnson's may read like this: The Winnipeg-based musician, and teacher, works extremely well with others.
A two-year deal with Casablanca Music Publishing, starting in 2006, saw Johnson write "dozens and dozens and dozens" of songs with other writers in Nashville, Toronto and Vancouver.
"I love that creative process because once somebody gets started then that brings more ideas," she said during a recent telephone interview from her home.
"If you're working with people who know a little bit about writing and the process of collaboration, everyone just kind of runs with where the song wants to go. I know that sounds ethereal, but it's almost like there's a song every day that needs to be expressed."
Johnson brought that collaborative approach to her new album, Happiness.Most of the disc's songs are co-writes with talent such as Simon Wilcox and JJ and David Heller. The album also has two producers.
"I decided for this album I wanted to try (a lot of partnerships) as my process," she said. "I'm really pleased with how that turned out. . . . I still feel like the songs on this record are mine."
Count American Idol judge DioGuardi, Carole King and John Mayer as three artists with whom Johnson would like to someday pen a tune. Johnson plays Loplops Tuesday. Sheena Grobb and Johnee Rae Whalen are also on the bill.

Winnipeg Sun Review- (by Darryl Sterdan) Singer-songwriter Johnson seems to have plenty to be happy about these days. The former flight attendant's latest CD is easily her poppiest and most upbeat outing, with 10 tracks (and a trio of bonus MP3s on the enhanced portion of the disc) that showcase both her girlishly sunny voice and rapidly evolving compositional skill set, which now includes everything from upbeat radio-ready fare, bouncy folk-pop and heartfelt ballads. And if all that isn't good enough, David Foster just recorded one of her songs. Like we said, no wonder she's happy.

Winnipeg Free Press Review of Happiness-Local songstress Jaylene Johnson has moved on from the overt Christian music of her past and fully embraced her pop side. Fans of her spiritual material shouldn't worry though -- they can still find plenty to like in these 10 tracks which are filled with uplifting energy and good vibrations.

Just Be is a positive affirmation of being yourself and not sweating the small stuff. The title track is an inspirational piano ballad. Grow is a bouncy finger-snapping ditty. Superhero ebbs and flows beautifully, building slowly to a giant chorus.

Johnson's voice sounds almost childlike and is an instrument in of itself, adding melodic flavour as it floats above the sharp arrangements.

The album ends with four ballads in a row, which halts the disc's upbeat momentum, but still, there is plenty of happiness to find here.

Download "Just Be" for free here.

David Foster! Huh?! (May News)

Winnipeg Sun Article

Uptown Magazine Article