Jenn Grant

A born in the bones artist, Jenn Grant’s performance career began modestly and like many others: singing karaoke style into a hairbrush at the age of four.
Performance aspirations kindled, Jenn would fall infinitely in love with the world of art, and become thoroughly immersed in it. Over the years, her strong artistic flare would manifest itself in all kinds of creative outlets, including painting, pottery, music, and poetry. At the age of twelve, Jenn would rent her first guitar from the folklore center in Halifax and teach herself to play and write music. At the age of fourteen, Jenn began quietly playing for small gatherings at coffee houses.
In 1999, Jenn bought a ticket to Heathrow and, for ten months, lived mainly in London. Returning with a fresh perspective, Jenn put together her art portfolio and applied to the Nova Scotia School of Art and Design. Now in her final year, Jenn excels with a focus on the painting and drawing mediums.
Meanwhile, Jenn still dreamed of sharing her music at a venue. In January 2004 she summoned the courage and an entourage and played with an acoustic ensemble of brothers Andy and Robert Mac Isaac at the Salvation. Intoxicated by the rush of stage performance, Jenn cinched a love for singing, playing and writing music, and with the support of the MacIsaacs, joined them in navi. In less than a year, navi would create over 20 songs and play some 50 shows across the Maritimes, until a band member moved and the music was temporarily put on hold. Undiscouraged, Jenn spearheaded a solo career and eventually, formed a new band, Jenn Grant and Goodbye 20th Century. Nevertheless, Grant says she’ll forever remain faithful to her navi roots, and looks forward to future collaborations with her musical mentors.
With Grant on guitar and lead vocals, Goodbye 20th Century has a refreshingly upbeat folk sound packed with intelligent and original contemporary arrangements. The rest of this talented lot include Jonah Bernstein on slide guitar, Andrew Sisk on drums, Sean MacGillivray on bass and Rob Corrigan on keys.
Since going solo and forming Goodbye 20th Century, Jenn has organized several philanthropic fundraisers, playing music, auctioning her art and essentially giving her time gratis to tsunami relief concerts, art benefits, and the like. In the meantime, she’s working on improving her music theory and technique with acoustic guitar lessons from Roger Stone at Halifax’s Folklore Centre and vocal lessons from professional vocal trainer Antonio Pigot.
While inspired by a love of art and life in general, Jenn says she’s very much motivated by the enthusiasm and support of Halifax’s’ arts community. In particular, Jenn credits the kindness and encouragement of her fellow musicians, and the rewards of working alongside the likes of Rose Cousins, Amy Campbell, Jill Barber, Robert and Andy Mac Isaac, and the boys of Goodbye 20th Century … to name a few.
Meanwhile, Jenn Grant and Goodbye 20th Century are in the stages of booking festivals, fundraisers and other venues across the Maritimes, with plans to record with the band and tour solo later this summer. So keep your eyes open and your ears to the ground. Given her contagious enthusiasm, excellent karma and natural talent, there’s bound to be plenty more of Grant’s art and music for years to come.
- Robin A. Grant