The Jarek Hardy Band

Within every artist there is an unquenchable desire to want to grow, evolve and challenge oneself – to push their own
boundaries. In the case of singer/songwriter Jarek Hardy there is an abundance of such a trait, but also a compulsion
to make music that is deeply personal and unfettered by the fickle whims of everchanging trends.

It has led the talented longtime member of ska/poppunk band The Johnstones to write a collection of songs to be
released on his forthcoming LP entitled ‘As Green As I’ll Ever Be’, embodying a true statement of a writer who is
confidently developing his own voice and his own sound.

His music reflects Hardy’s songwriting that is imbued with a youthful spirit but coupled with a sound that is grounded
and sometimes gritty but always honest and, dare we say it – mature.

“It’s a new facet of my creative life and I am very excited to be making this new music. It’s something I’ve wanted to do
for quite a while and now I feel the time is right. Lately I’ve been around a lot of different types of music; playing with a
lot of friends and colleagues, and I just decided it was time to strike out on my own and start creating my own material,”
said Hardy.

Roots music was an integral part of Hardy’s musical upbringing. As a youngster spending summers with his
grandparents in the Maritimes, he was attracted to the different strains of classic country music that were played
around the house, with the incomparable Johnny Cash looming large in his imagination and is still a large influence to
this day.

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“My dad was a big Johnny Cash fan - and Bob Dylan too, so we listened a lot growing up. I was really into that stuff. I
would go to school and everyone else would be listening to modern rock, etc. and I kind of had this secret little musical
skeleton in my closet. It may be a cool thing to say now, but when you’re 12 or 13, going to school proclaiming your
passion for country, folk and old school rock and roll wasn’t really the coolest,” he laughed.

“But my dad saw how much I appreciated it so he bought me my first guitar and I learned to play along.”

Sitting in on kitchen parties and many impromptu jams that are a huge part of the East Coast cultural fabric, music was
simply an everyday part of life where lots of different styles and genres intermingled – a philosophy that he carried
through to today.

Hardy has spent more than a decade with The Johnstones, a group that attained a significant degree of acclaim and
popularity for their fun, upbeat songs on albums such as Word is Bond (2006) and 2009s Can’t Be Trusted, as well as
their innovative use of video and social media. In 2008, the video for Gone For A Long Time charted and received
regular airplay on MuchMusic for a number of weeks.

The band was also fortunate enough to have been able to tour extensively, sharing the stage with some top Canadian
pop luminaries including Hedley, illScarlett and Gob.

These experiences helped Hardy develop a level of discipline and professionalism as an artist and performer that is
the envy of many other young artists. And he has taken those lessons to heart. Jarek’s music is well crafted and
features solid musicianship and edgy evocative vocals. Lyrically, Hardy often deals with the competing pulls of career
and family, with the desire to still want to have some fun, excitement and adventure in life.

With the onset of his solo effort, Hardy has charted a creative course that is boldly independent and adventurous. And
the music he is creating out of this new journey is sure to captivate listeners looking to think, feel and have fun.