Joanne Janzen
Gig Seeker Pro

Joanne Janzen

Leduc, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2005 | SELF

Leduc, Alberta, Canada | SELF
Established on Jan, 2005
Solo Country Folk

Calendar

Music

Press


"Local singer/songwriter gearing up for busy year, heading home for tour"

2012 was a whirlwind for musician and local resident Joanne Janzen.

But it was a welcome one.

“It was an awesome year. I had lots of opportunities to get out and play my stuff,” said Janzen.

The rest of this year looks to just as exciting, busy and opportunistic for the emerging artist. With 40 upcoming gigs already booked and dates for a homecoming tour in the works, Janzen couldn’t be happier where her career and life is at this point.

The tour is set for April where Janzen will return home to for the first time in four years.

“Oh, I’m so excited. I haven’t really let it sink in yet,” said Janzen.

Not only will she be able to catch up with family, she’ll also be able to showcase her music face-to-face for the first time in her life.

“I’ll have the opportunity to share my music with them live, which I haven’t been able to do. I can’t wait.”

Janzen’s tour will run down the Queensland coast, making stops in locations like Brisbane and her hometown, Ayre.

The singer/songwriter won’t be the only one who will have the chance to enjoy the sun, sand and music down under.

Janzen has teamed up with Maritime Travel to offer Canadians a chance to win a trip for two to Queensland, Australia. The contest opened on Feb. 1 asking all entrants to enter a video depicting their personal story and why they deserve to win the dream vacation and join Janzen on her portion of the Take Me Home Queensland Tour.

Each contest entry is uploaded on Janzen’s Facebook Fan Page or her website. A panel of judges will select the top 10 video entries and those top 10 will be posted on the contest Facebook page for Canada to vote on (one vote per Canadian). The contest ends on Mar. 1. The maximum length of the video is one minute, 30 seconds. Full contest rules and regulations can be viewed by visiting Janzen’s website joannejanzen.com

Janzen’s dream of becoming a musician started with the successful musical production of “Up With People” more than 12 years ago and today, that dream is slowly becoming her reality.

Around a year ago, Janzen released her first album, Sad Circus. Her first single, “Everybody Knows Better” has garnered airtime on 40 stations across Canada. “You take me home” is Janzen’s latest single to be released to Canadian radio stations.

With a great support group, learning about the industry, herself and the people around her on a daily basis, it’s been hard work trying to succeed as a musician, but a task she’s always up for.

“I don’t dwell on the negativity. I hear no numerous times a day, but that one yes leads to a lot of other places. I’ve learned I can take a lot more than I thought,” answered Janzen.

As for living in Alberta for the past 12 years, Janzen considers herself as a Canadian as much as she does an Australian.

“It’s been really great raising my family here, because there is just so much opportunity. If I could pair together Alberta and Australia and live in each for six months that would be great,” said Janzen with a laugh.
- Leduc Representative


"Local singer/songwriter gearing up for busy year, heading home for tour"

2012 was a whirlwind for musician and local resident Joanne Janzen.

But it was a welcome one.

“It was an awesome year. I had lots of opportunities to get out and play my stuff,” said Janzen.

The rest of this year looks to just as exciting, busy and opportunistic for the emerging artist. With 40 upcoming gigs already booked and dates for a homecoming tour in the works, Janzen couldn’t be happier where her career and life is at this point.

The tour is set for April where Janzen will return home to for the first time in four years.

“Oh, I’m so excited. I haven’t really let it sink in yet,” said Janzen.

Not only will she be able to catch up with family, she’ll also be able to showcase her music face-to-face for the first time in her life.

“I’ll have the opportunity to share my music with them live, which I haven’t been able to do. I can’t wait.”

Janzen’s tour will run down the Queensland coast, making stops in locations like Brisbane and her hometown, Ayre.

The singer/songwriter won’t be the only one who will have the chance to enjoy the sun, sand and music down under.

Janzen has teamed up with Maritime Travel to offer Canadians a chance to win a trip for two to Queensland, Australia. The contest opened on Feb. 1 asking all entrants to enter a video depicting their personal story and why they deserve to win the dream vacation and join Janzen on her portion of the Take Me Home Queensland Tour.

Each contest entry is uploaded on Janzen’s Facebook Fan Page or her website. A panel of judges will select the top 10 video entries and those top 10 will be posted on the contest Facebook page for Canada to vote on (one vote per Canadian). The contest ends on Mar. 1. The maximum length of the video is one minute, 30 seconds. Full contest rules and regulations can be viewed by visiting Janzen’s website joannejanzen.com

Janzen’s dream of becoming a musician started with the successful musical production of “Up With People” more than 12 years ago and today, that dream is slowly becoming her reality.

Around a year ago, Janzen released her first album, Sad Circus. Her first single, “Everybody Knows Better” has garnered airtime on 40 stations across Canada. “You take me home” is Janzen’s latest single to be released to Canadian radio stations.

With a great support group, learning about the industry, herself and the people around her on a daily basis, it’s been hard work trying to succeed as a musician, but a task she’s always up for.

“I don’t dwell on the negativity. I hear no numerous times a day, but that one yes leads to a lot of other places. I’ve learned I can take a lot more than I thought,” answered Janzen.

As for living in Alberta for the past 12 years, Janzen considers herself as a Canadian as much as she does an Australian.

“It’s been really great raising my family here, because there is just so much opportunity. If I could pair together Alberta and Australia and live in each for six months that would be great,” said Janzen with a laugh.
- Leduc Representative


"Joanne Janzen & Maritime Travel are giving away a Trip for 2 to Australia"

Maritime Travel and Joanne Janzen Present an Opportunity for Canadians to Win a Trip for 2 to Queensland, Australia
"You Take Me Home" Ultimate Dream Vacation Contest
EDMONTON, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Feb. 1, 2013) -
Editors Note: There is one photo and one video associated with this press release.
How many Canadians have ever imagined being able to travel to a dream destination such as Queensland, Australia? Maritime Travel together with Joanne Janzen, singer/songwriter, is giving this opportunity to two well-deserving Canadians this winter.
How to Enter:
When the contest opens on February 1st, 2013, all entrants will be asked to enter a video no longer than 1min 30 seconds and answer the following question:
"What's your story and why do you deserve to win a Dream Vacation for 2 to Australia and have the opportunity to join Joanne Janzen on a portion of her You Take Me Home Queensland Tour!"
Contest Entries are uploaded at Joanne Janzen's Facebook Fan Page or website where entry information and video will be uploaded.
Top 10 video entries will be selected from a panel of judges and reference checked before being announced.
Top 10 videos will be posted on the contest Facebook Page for Canada to vote (one vote per Canadian) for their favorite story/video.
View full contest rules and regulations on the Contest's Facebook Page or website.
About Joanne Janzen:
Based in Western Canada, Joanne Janzen's life began in her homeland of Australia and was influenced by her Father's musical talent. She was "born to perform", which is apparent immediately upon experiencing her unique vocal qualities and song writing ability. Music industry professionals and fans instantly discover an honest and inspiring talent.
Janzen's world tour with the successful musical production "Up With People" was the true beginning of her belief in her calling, to make a musical career the focus of her being. The first single "Everybody Knows Better" has garnered airplay on 40 broadcast radio stations across Canada that she has supported with more than 70 concert performances in 2012.
"You Take Me Home" is the most recent single Janzen has released to Canadian radio whose lyrics speak about leaving her homeland of Australia and immigrating to Canada with her husband to start a new life and family. "It isn't always easy living so far away from my family and warm, sunny weather but I wanted to reassure my husband through this song that no matter where we live in the world, "You Take Me Home". Janzen is so thrilled about travelling back to Australia to tour in her homeland of Queensland - giving two lucky Canadians the opportunity to join her on tour is Joanne's dream come true.
Connect With Us:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joanne.janzen.music
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jojanzen
Website: www.joannejanzen.com
Sonicbids: http://www.sonicbids.com/2/EPK/?epk_id=138980
To view the photo associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/Banner800.jpg.
To view the video associated with this press release, please visit the following link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDlX4UQecWg. - Marketwire Canada


"Press Release"

STEP RIGHT UP, COUNTRY/POP FANS!
ALBERTA BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER
JOANNE JANZEN BRINGS HER WONDERFULLY PAINFUL,
INSIGHTFUL AND INFECTIOUS ‘SAD CIRCUS’
TO LIFE WITH A CROP OF NASHVILLE’S TOP
SESSION MUSICIANS


Talk about a juggling act! As an emerging singer/songwriter, performer and recording artist, wife and mother of two young girls, Joanne Janzen has her hands full, doing a high wire act at all times trying to balance her personal life and creative pursuits.

To the delight of country/pop fans everywhere, the Australia born and raised, Alberta, Canada based multi-tasker is perfectly in tune with the three rings of melodic chaos that defines our lives. Her clever phrase for this is also the name of her full length debut album: Sad Circus. Featuring three Janzen originals and seven tunes penned by top Nashville songwriters, it’s a wonderfully painful, emotionally compelling collection that offers a soulful examination of how music can truly fuel all moods--helping us soar when we’re happy and wallow (but not for long!) when we’re down.

With the circus motif running through many of the lyrics, the singer makes the personal universal as she embraces the unique contradictions that real life presents. In her musical world, we are sometimes the clowns and other days the lion tamers, but always the star of our own show with a soundtrack that sums up where we are and our role for the day. One of the best ways to cope with the ichotomy is to give back, and Janzen will be donating a percentage of her royalties from Sad Circus for the next six months to the local cancer charity Relay For Life; she plans to both run and perform at their annual event next spring.

Though Janzen writes and sings as much about the pains and struggles in life (“Hanging By A Thread”) as the joys, her musical career definitely finds her in “A Good Place” as she launches the digital and hard copy release of Sad Circus. Even as her kids proclaimed her the “world’s greatest mom,” they and her husband (whom she met years earlier when she was touring the world with Up With People) encouraged her musical dreams, which began coming true when she won Northlands “Country Vocal Spotlight” and earned a spot in the Global Rising Star program. In one of her first excursions to Tennessee in 2006, she won Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year awards at the North American Country Music International competition in Pigeon Forge. In 2008, working with top Canadian producer (Bart McKay), she recorded her first official country singles, which received significant airplay on Canadian radio stations.

A few years after earning a Music Business certificate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Janzen was back in Nashville, working with veteran producer Eddie Gore on choosing songs and recording tracks for the project that evolved into Sad Circus. The self taught singer and guitarist was at first awed, but then held her own, as she worked with some of Music City’s most acclaimed sidemen, including guitarist Tony Obrohta (Wynonna, Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, The Wreckers), bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson) and drummers Keio Stroud(Rodney Crowell) and William Ellis (Montgomery Gentry). Another key component in developing Janzen’s unique circus of country-pop sounds was young keyboardist K.S. Rhoads, whose whimsical performance on keys, melodica, accordion and ukulele (tuned to sound like a mandolin) added dynamic sonic textures that perfectly complemented the singer’s array of raw emotions.

While it’s hard for Janzen to choose any favorite songs on Sad Circus, a few written by other tunesmiths tap into her own wealth of life experiences. Chief among those is Americana artist Lori McKenna’s “Hanging By A Thread,” about the ups and downs and huge challenges of being married in today’s world. It begins with the brilliant line: “We’ve got four walls holding us together and two dreams cutting us in half.” “Me Without You” is a breezy, poppy love song that uses the imagery of an empty ferris wheel and a sad clown to convey a person’s incompleteness without their significant other. Janzen’s own R&B influenced tune “Everybody Knows Better” is about everyone offering their opinions about how we should live our lives—but then there’s that one person who knows us better than anyone. And that’s the one that matters most.

“I think Sad Circus is an extremely accurate representation of where I am at in my life,” Janzen says. “As a 35 year old mother and wife, I am singing about topics that are coming from what I’ve learned over the years. The three songs I wrote—“Everybody Knows Better,” “Hollow” and “You Take Me Home”—are the most direct representations, and my philosophy when choosing outside material was, if I cannot have said every lyric, I won’t sing it. I think listeners will learn that I am more about substance than the money note. It was important to deliver a performance in the studio that came from my h - The Rainmaker Media Group


"Press Release"

STEP RIGHT UP, COUNTRY/POP FANS!
ALBERTA BASED SINGER/SONGWRITER
JOANNE JANZEN BRINGS HER WONDERFULLY PAINFUL,
INSIGHTFUL AND INFECTIOUS ‘SAD CIRCUS’
TO LIFE WITH A CROP OF NASHVILLE’S TOP
SESSION MUSICIANS


Talk about a juggling act! As an emerging singer/songwriter, performer and recording artist, wife and mother of two young girls, Joanne Janzen has her hands full, doing a high wire act at all times trying to balance her personal life and creative pursuits.

To the delight of country/pop fans everywhere, the Australia born and raised, Alberta, Canada based multi-tasker is perfectly in tune with the three rings of melodic chaos that defines our lives. Her clever phrase for this is also the name of her full length debut album: Sad Circus. Featuring three Janzen originals and seven tunes penned by top Nashville songwriters, it’s a wonderfully painful, emotionally compelling collection that offers a soulful examination of how music can truly fuel all moods--helping us soar when we’re happy and wallow (but not for long!) when we’re down.

With the circus motif running through many of the lyrics, the singer makes the personal universal as she embraces the unique contradictions that real life presents. In her musical world, we are sometimes the clowns and other days the lion tamers, but always the star of our own show with a soundtrack that sums up where we are and our role for the day. One of the best ways to cope with the ichotomy is to give back, and Janzen will be donating a percentage of her royalties from Sad Circus for the next six months to the local cancer charity Relay For Life; she plans to both run and perform at their annual event next spring.

Though Janzen writes and sings as much about the pains and struggles in life (“Hanging By A Thread”) as the joys, her musical career definitely finds her in “A Good Place” as she launches the digital and hard copy release of Sad Circus. Even as her kids proclaimed her the “world’s greatest mom,” they and her husband (whom she met years earlier when she was touring the world with Up With People) encouraged her musical dreams, which began coming true when she won Northlands “Country Vocal Spotlight” and earned a spot in the Global Rising Star program. In one of her first excursions to Tennessee in 2006, she won Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the Year awards at the North American Country Music International competition in Pigeon Forge. In 2008, working with top Canadian producer (Bart McKay), she recorded her first official country singles, which received significant airplay on Canadian radio stations.

A few years after earning a Music Business certificate from Berklee College of Music in Boston, Janzen was back in Nashville, working with veteran producer Eddie Gore on choosing songs and recording tracks for the project that evolved into Sad Circus. The self taught singer and guitarist was at first awed, but then held her own, as she worked with some of Music City’s most acclaimed sidemen, including guitarist Tony Obrohta (Wynonna, Gretchen Wilson, Big and Rich, The Wreckers), bassist Dave Roe (Johnny Cash, Kris Kristofferson) and drummers Keio Stroud(Rodney Crowell) and William Ellis (Montgomery Gentry). Another key component in developing Janzen’s unique circus of country-pop sounds was young keyboardist K.S. Rhoads, whose whimsical performance on keys, melodica, accordion and ukulele (tuned to sound like a mandolin) added dynamic sonic textures that perfectly complemented the singer’s array of raw emotions.

While it’s hard for Janzen to choose any favorite songs on Sad Circus, a few written by other tunesmiths tap into her own wealth of life experiences. Chief among those is Americana artist Lori McKenna’s “Hanging By A Thread,” about the ups and downs and huge challenges of being married in today’s world. It begins with the brilliant line: “We’ve got four walls holding us together and two dreams cutting us in half.” “Me Without You” is a breezy, poppy love song that uses the imagery of an empty ferris wheel and a sad clown to convey a person’s incompleteness without their significant other. Janzen’s own R&B influenced tune “Everybody Knows Better” is about everyone offering their opinions about how we should live our lives—but then there’s that one person who knows us better than anyone. And that’s the one that matters most.

“I think Sad Circus is an extremely accurate representation of where I am at in my life,” Janzen says. “As a 35 year old mother and wife, I am singing about topics that are coming from what I’ve learned over the years. The three songs I wrote—“Everybody Knows Better,” “Hollow” and “You Take Me Home”—are the most direct representations, and my philosophy when choosing outside material was, if I cannot have said every lyric, I won’t sing it. I think listeners will learn that I am more about substance than the money note. It was important to deliver a performance in the studio that came from my h - The Rainmaker Media Group


"Joanne Janzen – Sad Circus (CD) / 2011 Self / 10 Tracks / http://www.joannejanzen.com"

Do It All Over Again is a flipping of the traditional guy and girl song that will have listeners ecstatic. By reversing these gender roles, Janzen is able to provide a voice to all of womankind. In terms of instrumentation, there is a layered approach taken that stashes a fuller sound in the background. Everybody Knows Better moves Janzen into a more pop sound; hints of Sheryl Crow and Alanis Morrissette can be heard. As Janzen moves into the chorus, there is a confidence and strength to her vocals that lifts the resulting track that much higher.
Fear of Flying slows things done and allows for Janzen to put forth some heady and emotional lyrics. By letting her guard down for this song, listeners will be able to hear bare humanity. Hanging By A Thread puts the instrumental side of things up front to challenge Janzen’s vocal dominance. What results from this interaction is a spry and flittery effort that will have listeners singing along. All sides of Sad Circus are strong, as Janzen puts the same sort of all-in attitude into the beginning, middle, and end. Ice Cream, for example, showcases Janzen’s inimitable allure. As the guitars that begin the track rapidly lead in to the next section, Janzen’s vocals will remind listeners of the 1920s nightclub scene. There are other instruments playing through the track, but they add to the compelling qualities of these vocals.
I believe that Joanne Janzen is able to shake up a genre that most thought was set in its ways; by inserting every section of herself into the recordings, there remains a vibrancy on Sad Circus that never dissipates. I feel that this is one of the strongest recordings that we have received for review in NeuFutur; here’s to hoping that she has a long and productive career.
Top Tracks: Do It All Over Again, Hanging By A Thread
Rating: 8.7/10 - -James McQuiston Editor, NeuFutur (print magazine)


Discography

2nd Single released to Canadian radio January 14th, 2013
"You Take Me Home" (Album: Sad Circus)

Debut Single released to Canadian radio October 8th, 2012
"Everybody Knows Better" (Album: Sad Circus)

Full Length Album

"Sad Circus" - Digitial release - January 14 2012
Physical Release - January 14, 2012

Debut Single released to Canadian radio March 3rd, 2008
"Chasin' The Sun"

2nd Single released to Canadian radio June, 2008
"Dust to Diamonds"

Photos

Bio

Based in Western Canada, Joanne Janzen’s life began in her homeland of Australia and was influenced by her Father's musical talent. She was "born to perform", which is apparent immediately upon experiencing her unique vocal qualities and song writing ability. Her country roots and small town heritage, lend their personality to her lyrical creativity that touches on a multitude of human emotions including: love, adventure, life's challenges & joys and relationships that are universal themes that everyone can relate to. Her smooth and natural vocal delivery of heartfelt melodies, capture the essence of everything that is – what we all feel within. Music industry professionals and fans instantly discover an honest and inspiring talent.
Janzen's world tour with the successful musical production "Up With People”, was the true beginning of her belief in her calling, to make a musical career the focus of her being. This truly global musical experience continues with the release of her debut album titled "Sad Circus", that definitively summarizes the soundtrack of her life, as inspired by her children and close-knit family. "Sad Circus" describes life in Joanne's terms that "life is a balancing act - sometimes a walk on a high wire, sometimes a dazzling array of glitz and showmanship and nearly always three rings of melodic chaos". The first single "Everybody Knows Better" has garnered airplay on 40 broadcast radio stations across Canada that she has supported with more than 70 concert performances.
Her relentless ambition and love of live performance have led to winning the Northlands “Country Vocal Spotlight”, "North American Country Music International Competition" Female Entertainer and Female Vocalist of the year awards in Tennessee and a coveted spot in the "Global Rising Star" program. She was selected to perform at the "Summer Send Off" and "Mountain Radio Music" festivals, where audiences boisterously embraced her dynamic live performances.
Joanne earned a Music Business certificate from Berklee College of Music in Boston and is currently nominated for the ACMA (Alberta Country Music Association) Female Artist of the Year and Fan's Choice Award that will occur on January 27th 2013. Her upcoming Australian tour and the release of the second single from "Sad Circus" called "You Take Me Home", which was named in the Top 25 songs in the 2012 "Australian Songwriting Awards", will bring her back home to her roots along with two lucky fans, via her current promotion "You Take Me Home Ultimate Dream Vacation” to Australia contest.
Janzen also enjoys contributing to worthy causes in her community, as a musician and public speaker. Her song “Good Place” was selected as the official theme song for the "Alberta Community Cooperative Association Youth Camp", in Nordegg, Alberta, Canada. Joanne's live performance and motivational conversation with the teens had a lasting and memorable impact. In their own words, the experience will remain with them throughout their lives.
2013 will also see Joanne Janzen touring Canada and the U.S.A. and showcasing at music industry events across North America. There is no doubt that she is here to stay, as she continues her prolific song writing, preparing to follow up the "Sad Circus" release with her best and brightest work ever.

Band Members