"Madison songwriter John Statz's patient grasp of acoustic folk should soon put him alongside state favorites like Jeffrey Foucault" - The Onion

9 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk-Rock, COUNTRY: Americana



Details:
Given a guitar by his grandmother when he was 15 years old, John quickly put his background in music from playing the piano and trombone to good use. After playing in a few different bands, John began to delve into songwriting at the age of 19. Now 23, he has already played all over Wisconsin, as well as in 12 other states and the Canadian province of New Brunswick.

John has played several festivals in the Midwest including the first annual "Midwest Acoustic Music Festival" in Elkhart Lake, WI, as well as the first annual "Local Music Festival" in Oshkosh, WI, the "World's Largest Brat Fest" and the "Taste of Madison" in Madison, WI. He also performed at the Wakarusa Festival in Lawrence, KS in June of 2007. Statz was featured on the Wisconsin Public Radio show "Higher Ground with Jonothan Overby" in February of 2004, and has performed live on radio stations from Fayetteville, AR to Cleveland, OH. For John, 2006 saw the release of his debut album, "Dusk Came Slow", taking 1st place in UW-Oshkosh's first annual "Acoustic Battle", winning the Madison Songwriters Group's September "Song Showdown", and launching his first tour out east.

Since 2007 began, John has already embarked on his first Spring Tour, visiting Dallas, Kansas City, and many more cities along the way, and recently won a MAMA award for "Folk/Americana Album of the Year" for his first album, "Dusk Came Slow".



"Our Love Was Made For Canada" in the Wisconsin State Journal

John Statz's ideal significant other would be a very polite outdoorsy type with a passion for hockey, beer and quality, affordable health care. At least that's the impression I get from the title of his sophomore release "Our Love Was Made For Canada."

Wisconsin State Journal - Rhythm 7/5/07



"I'm Just Sayin is All" blog review

John Statz will introduce his lovely new folk album "Our Love Was Made For Canada" to a small group of friends and you tonight at Cafe Montmartre (9pm). Though the album's lyrics speak of plenty of heart-bursting country anecdotes, the words tend less to talk towards a conclusion and more to chew on their own meanings. The result is a tone that pairs exploration with reservation, which perfectly compliments John's raspy vocal hesitance. Despite gracefully-rolling acoustic phrasing, his worn voice sometimes gives up just a bit sooner than it technically should - joining all of us a half step down from proud. And we enjoy the company. This self-effacing humility bows deep in "Song and Dance Man", but is kept upbeat by an adventurous violin and soft by a gentle harmony. On the dusty "Can a Circle Be Unbroken" John grasps onto the collar of the note instead of hitting it and always manages to release it one second before holding it too close to his chest. He reacts similarly in the powerfully honest "Absentee" and just touches angry with the harshest guitar on "Useless". But on "Every Other Time", he makes the case that straightforward confrontation can be even more intimate than sultry persuasion or emotional exertion. Fittingly, the title track backpedals with a statement that seems to end in a slight question mark. Our Love Was Made For Canada? I can speak with less hesitance, this is a beautiful album.

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