A plain-spoken folksinger with songs that console and celebrate the rawness within.

11 MP3 Songs in this album (31:45) !
Related styles: FOLK: Modern Folk, FOLK: Political

People who are interested in Bob Dylan Leonard Cohen Arlo Guthrie should consider this download.


Details:
Every artist needs a day job, but how many musicians are also morticians? Jack Harlan, who is no stranger to the âreality therapyâ of the funeral industry, spends nights creating his own reality with his own brand of plain-spoken folk, singing songs that console and celebrate the rawness within.

While numerous artists have been tagged as âthe next Dylanâ, Splendid Magazine out of Chicago writes, âHarlan not only has the talent to wear such a mantle well, but the potential to exceed the labels.â

When asked how life as a Funeral Director and Embalmer affects his songwriting Jack says, âMy experiences in the funeral industry have inspired me to be in control of what I want out of life and go for it. The love you make is all you can take to your burying ground.â The Edmonton Sun says âHarlan sounds more like Leonard Cohen, than Marilyn Manson, who is far scarier than Manson will ever be."

Jack has played a wide range of gigs from folk festivals, steam engine train tours, singing for poor farmers and missionaries in Mexico, to opening for the pop singer Dido and Ron Sexsmith. Hailed as one of "Vancouverâs most commanding songwriters" (Vancouver Province), it was here that he helped found a genre called âFolk Noirâ, headlining a series of shows with other talented artists. It was also during this time that Jack signed a recording contract with Nettwerk Records (Sarah McLachlan).

Hundreds of shows later, various film soundtracks and a song on the final episode of the popular Warner Bros. television show Everwood, Harlan continues to write, record and play his brand of music undaunted by the hard roads. Now working part-time in the funeral industry he admits âI have learned that working at your passion, whatever that may be, requires complete dedication and perseverance. I try to balance my work schedule so that I always have time to write songs, play live locally and go on tour.â

Want to know some of Jack's favorite recordings, what he thinks about, where likes to write, plus more? Pease read below in simple point form...got to love point form, it's so easy to read!


More of Jack

- Has shared the stage with John Mann (Spirit of the West), Ron Sexsmith, Fred Eaglesmith, Tom Wilson, Colin James and Dido.

- Latest release Love Come Around (2008) is Jackâs most political themed album to date

- Favorite creative writing place is a basement filled with thrifty furniture

- Jack is a licensed Embalmer and Funeral Director.

- At 14 years-old a vast collection of records was given to Jack from a missionary friend. This opened up his world to the old folk sounds of chain gangs, traveling folkies and howling blues singers. A big contrast to the heavy metal stadium rock and synthesized music of the Eighties.

- Believes that the popular TV. show American Idol is the death as to how we consume and find out about musicians.

- First live music experience was listening to his Father, Uncles and Aunts play country music for people at barn dances in central Alberta.

- Favorite band of all time is U2. Though he does wish Bono would not wear the sunglasses for the last 20 years.

- Does not pay attention to any other sport other than Hockey. Favorite team is the Calgary Flames.

- Has toured the USA six times and Canada four times.

- Used to play concerts on old steam engine trains. âI think it was an experiment for the organizers...it was a sad, awful and funny at that time in my life. I was shoved in the tiny back corner of a cart. All they had for sound was a cheap 12-inch transistor speaker that I played through. Drowned out by the noise of the train rocking and rolling, swinging back and forth with my guitar in hand trying to keep my balance, I would hold myself up with the microphone stand. I remember playing This Train is bound for Glory, by Woody Guthrie.

- Currently lives in Niagara Falls, ON.

- Is a huge fan of 80âs TV. His favorite is Magnum P.I.

- First song he learned to play was Shake, Rattle & Roll by Bill Haley and the Comets.

- Has released four independent albums; Hymns of Sorrow 1999, Scintilla 2001, Resolutions 2006 and Love Come Around 2008.

- First job was a movie theatre attendant. âThere was only one theatre and I saw Dances with Wolves 26 times. One day, while cleaning the theatre, I found blue silk panties on the floorâ¦I remember thinking to myself, Dances with Wolves? When did you get turned on lady, during the buffalo hunt?â

- First band was called The Trainmen formed at puberty and disbanded one year later.

- One of his greatest musical inspirations is Bruce Springsteen

- Has had two different documentaries filmed about his life by students at the Vancouver film school. The Director who spent countless days following Jackâs every move is currently nowhere to be found.

- Greatest inspiration for writing songs is to find commonality among people.

- Use to write most of his material with a rye and diet coke in hand, a bag of potato chips with dip, watching ice hockey on TV.

- If able to work with any producer, it would be Daniel Lanois.

- First concert was Iron Maiden when he was twelve.

- Born Calgary, Canada, March 28th 1974.

- First learned he was a sap and had a knack for writing depressing songs at ten years old when he would catch himself crying to the opening and closing music of the popular television soap opera Young and the Restless. âI was ten would sit looking out my bedroom window on a rainy day just thinking.â

- Some favorite recordings:

The River Man (Nick Drake)
The National Anthem (Radiohead)
On The Way Home (Buffalo Springfield)
True Love Ways (Buddy Holly)
Everybodyâs Talking (Harry Nilsson)
Be Not So Fearful (Bill Fay)
It Seems So Long Ago, Nancy (Leonard Cohen)
Iâm on Fire (Bruce Springsteen)
Man In The Long Back Coat (Bob Dylan)
In Dreams (Roy Orbison)
One Of These Nights (The Eagles)
I Want To Take You Higher (Sly And The Family Stone)