Interview: Mike Janzen
Juno-nominated and multiple GMA Covenant Awards-winner Mike Janzen talks to Louder Than The Music about his eighth solo album, The End of Myself, and how he has learned to share his struggles through his music.
Hi Mike, tell us about your latest album, The End of Myself, and what inspired this set of songs?
A number of years ago I suffered a really serious concussion injury that lasted for years. I wrote a song called Noah that talked about my injury and the hopelessness that I felt when waiting for my head to heal. I had literally come to the end of myself where all that I had worked for in my career was vanishing. That first song Noah had a folky, aching vibe to it and I wondered what it might be like to write some more music in that vein. I thought I might be able to eke out a six song EP but as I started writing the songs just kept coming. The title for the album only came right at the end but it really summarizes what so many of these songs have in common...that faith is found when we reach the end of our self being the center.
If you had to play just one of the songs to someone to sum up the album, which track would it be?
There's a lot of stylistic variety on this record and so one song wouldn't necessarily sum up the album. However, if I had to pick one , it would be Unless a Kernel of Wheat. Mixed by Phil Schawel (Jon Guerra) the song explores the idea that the character of God's self-donating love is seen most clearly in the cross...and that in our own dying to self we too are able to reorient ourselves to display the love of God to those around us.
Who did you work with on this album?
The album is self-produced but I worked with a long list of musicians and mixers that I really admire. From the deft guitar wizardry of Joey Landreth (The Landreth Bros.) to the high-flying dobro of Kevin Breit (Norah Jones) there's a lot of beautiful playing on this record. The band of Davide Direnzo (Cassandra Wilson), Mark McIntyre, and Joel Schwartz brought such a great feel to the music and the triple mix threat of Josh Bowman, Timothy Abraham and Phil Schwael (Jon Guerra) allowed the music to really come to life.
You've mentioned previously that some of your song writing comes from "hard places in life" - has it been difficult to lay yourself open like that?
When I was just starting out I would have been more careful with sharing those hard places. However, these days it really feels like a tremendous privilege to share the struggles I've been through. I think some of the most powerful songwriting comes out of our fragmented lives and when we're honest as songwriters others find hope in the resonance.
As this is your eighth solo album, how do you keep finding ways to come up with original ideas?
Ha ha - good question! I love learning and creating and so I guess I always have a few albums on the backburner. Music keeps changing and I enjoy the challenge of reinventing how I sing or how I write songs...and it only helps that my 15 year old is my DJ whenever we jump in the car.
Away from your own music, what have you been enjoying listening to lately?
One of my favourite albums of the year is Jon Guerra's Jesus. I think in this world it's increasingly important to be anchored to the One we claim to be named after. The music has a profound simplicity to it and I think it allows the words to really hit hard.
Can we expect some more from your Psalms Project soon?
I don't have any direct plans to release another Psalms record this year; however, I'll be on tour with the Psalms Project this fall with a bunch of concerts featuring a string orchestra and choir. These days I've been hunkering down in the Gospels trying to absorb Jesus's words and so hopefully some new music will rise out of that in the months that follow.
What else do you have planned for the second half of this year?
This summer I've started orchestrating a symphony show for an artist out of LA called Faouzia. In fall I'll also be releasing a new jazz album called World Clock Ticking as well as getting ready for A Gospel Jazz Christmas (collaboration with Toronto Mass Choir) and Reimagining Broadway (symphony show in Vancouver).
