Jon Gant began his music career in Junior High, forming bands with friends and playing shows around southern Alberta.
By High School, he had formed the avant-garde production duo me.i.mam with his friend Shawn Everett (now a multiple Grammy-winning engineer/producer based in Los Angeles). me.i.mam recorded two albums before being sought out by popstar Scott Moffatt to create The Boston Post. Scott had just left his group The Moffatts and wanted to explore more experimental music.
The Boston Post recorded an EP and an unreleased album, toured relentlessly, and made multiple appearances on MTV and MuchMusic before dramatically breaking up during the filming of a documentary about them. Jon Gant then moved to Victoria and worked as a studio and touring musician while recording his early solo albums with appearances from West Coast musicians including Carolyn Mark, Leeroy Stagger, Diona Davies, Sarah Rhude, and Dan Weisenburger.
In 2009, Jon Gant moved to New York City, where he worked as a recording engineer at Shelter Island Sound and played a weekly residency at the legendary Lower East Side venue Arlene’s Grocery. After briefly living in Dublin, Gant returned to Calgary and put together a backing band of Calgary musicians including Scott Munro (Preoccupations), Chris Dadge (Chad VanGaalen, Bug Incision), John de Waal (Reverie Sound Revue), Chris Vail (The Dudes), and Ryan Sadler (Teledrome).
Between fatherhood and work as a sound tech and session musician, Jon Gant continues to record and tour under various pseudonyms.
Name:
Jon Gant
Genre:
Home-Made
Founded:
Made my first solo album when I was 14, it was called “The Story of the Good Turnip”. I used my sister’s ghetto-blaster to record it, and it was probably the best record I’ve ever made.
# of Albums:
15 currently available, but there’s been a lot more.
Latest Release:
I See It Now
Latest Single:
Seamus In Harlem
Latest Video:
Favourite musician as a teenager:
My friends. I was lucky to grow up around a bunch of incredibly talented and interesting people.
Favourite musician now:
Still my friends. They’re great.
Guilty Pleasure Song:
Took A Pill In Ibiza (Seeb Remix)
Live Show Ritual:
Wander around the town and find something good to eat, have some laughs.
Favourite local artist:
Jann Arden, “Ode To A Friend” is so good. And Cenek J. Vrba; my grandma had a SIGNED copy of his record, I don’t really remember the music but I thought he looked handsome.
EP or LP?
Singles.
Early bird or night owl?
Both.
Road or studio?
Both.
Any shows or albums coming up?
I put out two new albums this year, Soft Release and I See It Now. I’m thinking about doing a third one before the end of the year, but who knows.
Rapid Fire Calgary Qs
Favourite local Restaurant:
Take-out from Cinnamon.
Favourite Street?
My street. It’s never dull.
Favourite Park?
Lougheed Gardens.
Favourite Music Venue?
Haven’t seen live music in a LONG time, but I’m into dimly lit venues where you can move around and find different spots to watch the show, and something to lean on is always nice.
Where can we follow you?
