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Q) Hi Jason, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
A) Things have been great! Busy times, but blessed to be part of the adventure!
Q) So your new single “We Are One” was inspired by your trip to Zimbabwe with World Vision Canada. What was it about meeting the children and families there and seeing the work firsthand that stayed with you most after you returned home?
A) The main thing I took away from the trip was the amount of joy that filled the lives of the children and families there…when you ask parents in Zimbabwe what they want for their children’s future, it’s the same as any parent around the globe…happiness, health, opportunity…it really drove home the lyric that We Are One indeed!
Q) How difficult was it to take an experience as personal and complex as that trip and translate it into a song that could communicate those emotions to people who weren’t there with you?
A) It is hard to truly convey the spirit of the people, but I think it can be seen in the smiles and the love that comes across on camera. The best way to communicate the impact World Vision is having is through correspondence with our sponsored children. Seeing the work being done in those remote communities, and knowing that someone from across the globe cares, is absolutely electric. It’s life-changing for everyone involved.
Q) Bringing Michelle Wright, the Harlem Gospel Choir, and an all-star group of Canadian artists into the project gives “We Are One” a truly collective feeling. How did the collaboration come together, and when did you realize this needed to be bigger than just your own song?
A) The song actually started years ago as a project during COVID, but it’s finally found its home with this World Vision initiative. The song wrote itself, and it has truly come to life through this trip. Every artist involved has been so enthusiastic, and gracious with their time. We couldn’t do it without them.
Q) The song carries themes of unity, hope, and action. Was there a particular message you wanted listeners to walk away with after hearing it?
A) I think the main point would be to remember that no matter where we go on the planet, we are all the same. It really hits home when speaking with the families who, although they are on the other side of the world, are the exact same as you and me.
Q) The music video also connects the song to your experiences in Zimbabwe. How important was it for you to visually show the people and stories that inspired “We Are One” rather than simply talking about the experience?
A) This was very important… reminding everyone that each handprint represents a person, a journey and a life. We’re all connected through love and music, and this trip really brought it full circle for me.
Q) You and Michelle Wright have already shared a lot of history through your music careers. What was it like reconnecting creatively for a project that carries such a different kind of emotional and social significance?
A) Michelle is a true icon of our industry, magnetic and unifying; she brings the music community together in a way that only she can. We’ve been travelling pretty much nonstop for the past 3 years with the Great Canadian Road Trip, and it was an honour to have her on this project.
Q) There’s something particularly powerful about artists coming together around a cause rather than simply collaborating for the sake of making a record. What did you learn from working with such a large group of Canadian musicians on this project?
A) Every time I have the chance to collaborate with fellow musicians, I’m reminded that it’s the most generous community on the planet… the answer is always ‘yes, whatever you need!’ That’s certainly a point of pride as a Canadian; it’s in our nature!
Q) You’re also heading back on the road with Michelle Wright and Doc Walker for The Great Canadian Roadtrip this fall. After three years of touring together, what has that experience taught you about the chemistry between the four artists?
A) I’ve learned that what makes a true superstar is not what you see on stage, but the grace that they carry themselves with while offstage. Michelle and Doc Walker are the best of the best, and it’s an honour to call them friends!
Q) You wrote “The Great Canadian Roadtrip Rides Again” specifically for the audiences who have followed you throughout those three years. How different is it writing a song for a community of fans who have essentially become part of the journey?
A) It’s a lot of fun actually, because we’re telling our collective story…we’re not just making up a story…we get to love it with the audience, and put it to song….it’s an amazing feeling hearing the audience sing it back to you…truly a full circle thing!
Q) Between “We Are One” and The Great Canadian Roadtrip, community seems to be a major theme in what you’re doing right now. What does bringing people together through music mean to you at this stage of your career?
A) I’ve been fortunate enough to sell some records and win some awards, but I’ve never been so honoured as to be part of an initiative like this. Being able to make a difference with your music is truly the highest honour there is. I’m honoured and humbled to be part of this community, and so happy we get to share the great work that World Vision is doing with our audiences!
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