Our interview with the amazing Torontonian Pop/Folk singer: Jesse Labelle.

Courtesy of Jesse Labelle.com

With the launch of his first album, Perfect Accident just around the corner, Jesse Labelle is over the moon. His music has already been compared to legendary artists such as John Mayer and Coldplay (his lyrics melting the hearts of everyone who hears them), but Jesse sets himself apart with a humble personality and personal devotion to his fan base. Together, the Cowgirls chatted with him about his inspiration, his favourite spots in Toronto, and yes – his past girlfriends.

Pony: You’ve been writing songs since you were twelve, what sparked your interest in music?

Labelle: As a child, I always had music surrounding me. My grandmother was a recording artist as well, a jazz singer in the 40’s, and my parents tell me she’d always sing to me as a baby. So in some ways it feels like it was genetically programmed in me to do this. I was always the kid who would wait for summer to come around, not even so much for the weather, but for the chance to try out for the annual summer camp musical. When I was about 8, my parents let me start taking piano lessons and one day my teacher brought a guitar with her. From that day forward, the guitar and I were inseparable. In junior high, I started writing songs and it came fairly naturally; I became known as the guy who would sing and play for everyone in the cafeteria at lunch time.

Pony: At what point did you realize you wanted to do this professionally?

Labelle: I remember in high school, sitting down with my guidance counselor and realizing that she wasn’t presenting me with very many options that seemed feasible or particularly exciting. I believe it was that coupled with the fact that right around that time, I’d started becoming synonymous amongst my friends, and even those who didn’t know me, as the guy who wrote his own songs, sang and played guitar. It seemed to come so naturally and was always such a pleasure, that immediately following high school, I decided to take a year off and see where music could take me. That year, I wrote a few songs that were picked up by a local pop group and became minor radio hits. It didn’t yet give me too much of a chance to perform professionally, but I was sure that if i stuck to my guns, it would come in time. It always felt like the right thing to do, just a matter of finding the right time for the stars to align.

Courtesy of Jesse Labelle.com

Pony: You said you play both guitar and piano, are you more comfortable with one vs. the other?

Labelle: I started out on the piano but quickly switched to the guitar when my piano teacher brought that acoustic to a lesson one day; and I couldn’t stop staring at it. I’m definitely more comfortable on the guitar. I’ve only recently started using the piano to write [songs such as] “Australia”, and I’ve grown quite fond of the process. That said, I’ll always be a guitar player first and foremost.

Pony: Where do you draw inspiration from for your lyrics?

Labelle: Lyrically, the music has always been about the honesty. All of the songs on the record come from a very real place. They’re stories from my life and the words are what happened and how it felt. The songs are all relationship based, so you could say that I draw my inspiration from human connection, hope, loss, but above all love, and trust.

Pony: So have any past girlfriends come crawling back after hearing one of your songs?

Labelle: Absolutely! I’ve written one or two with that exact idea in mind. Then again, I’ve written some that haven’t had the exact effect I’d hoped for. You can’t win ‘em all.

Pony: How about the effect on your fans?

Labelle: The response from the fans has been incredible. Everyone has been so receptive, especially on the tour I just came back from. After one of the shows, during the meet and greet, there was a group of about seven girls who were singing every song, word for word, from the E.P. like a little choir. It was both shocking and amazing.

Pony: How do you feel about the comparisons between you and John Mayer?

Labelle: Its both inevitable and flattering. I’m a guy who writes love lorn music and plays the guitar, so I can see where it comes from immediately. John is also an incredible artist, songwriter and musician, so to even be compared to the likes of him is a giant compliment in itself.

Courtesy of Jesse Labelle.com

Pony: As a Torontonian, where are some of your favourite places to hang when you’re in town?

Labelle: Toronto has always been my home, it’s a great city and it’s hard to narrow down my choices. I have so many places here where I love to be, but if I had to choose a few, I’d have to say College Street is a favorite area; it’s got that European vibe going on in the summertime with patios everywhere, or Trinity Bellwoods park (in the summer of course as well). Wintertime I like to head up to Earl Bales park.

Pony: What are your thoughts on Toronto’s music scene?

Labelle: Toronto has an unbelievable music scene and sense of musical community. There are so many amazingly talented people out there that I’ve met along the way. I spent the better part of the last 7 years playing at open mics and jams around the city, and never once did I feel like I wasn’t being welcomed into the amazing network of creativity and community that this city has.

Pony: When does your album come out? What’s happening next for you?

Labelle: The album is just being finished, almost as we speak ( I’m heading back to the studio to put some of those finishing touches on it soon as I’m done here ). It will be coming out in late March. I’m really excited for everyone to hear it. The E.P. is just a teaser. There’s an amazing compilation called “From the Heart : coffee house edition” with some great artists like Coldplay, John Mayer, Jason Mraz, Rob Thomas, and now myself thats coming out for Valentines Day; a big tour in the works that were just about ready to announce and another music video on the way. It’s a busy life these days but I love every moment of it.

Courtesy of Jesse Labelle.com

Keep your eyes peeled for Perfect Accident in stores this March. Also, check out his Facebook Fan Page for concert deets and to chat with Jesse himself!

XoXo
– The Cowgirls