Interview with Jace Martin

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I started noticing I loved music very early around 5 years old, when I started recording solos and outtros of songs from the radio on cassette tapes and then writing my own lyrics to the songs. My mom also noticed and began to encourage me to sing. When I was 11 she took me to audition for a theatre production called “Rainboworld” in Toronto, written and directed by Salome Bey, who is known as Canada’s Queen of Jazz. The production launched the careers of Deborah Cox, Sate and myself along with many others. I lived with her in the summers for four years and she was my greatest mentor in music. I have been singing professionally ever since. If it wasn’t music I would be playing lacrosse professionally. My grandfather is Ross Powless and known as the Wayne Gretzky of Lacrosse. Also my Uncle Gaylord along with my grandpa are only a few Father Son’s inducted into Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame. I actually picked up lacrosse again and won 2 Ontario Senior C Lacrosse Championships with The Six Nations Tomahawks in 2019 and again this year in 2023.

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I play sports. I love lacrosse, baseball & golf. But also try really hard to enjoy the outdoors, spend time with friends and travel to new cities and try new restaurants. I also really love going to the movies and comedy shows, concerts and sporting events. MY favourite being the Toronto Maple Leafs, Blue Jays and Raptors.

How long have you been making music?

I started writing my own music professionally in 2002 for my all family band The Wolfpack who were well known in the southern ontario blues circuit. But started writing for my own solo career in 2008 for my first solo album released in 2009.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I am based out of Toronto, ON because that is where I started my career and have been received so well throughout my career. I regularly tour their and just always say it is my second home. It inspires me to dream big and continue to grow and evolve as an artist because of the level of talent in the city that is continually putting out world class music to the world.

Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

I have several memorable shows throughout my career but one that stands out is performing for my hero Robbie Robertson at his Lifetime Achievement Award Ceremony on Six Nations, ON where we are both from. He gave me a standing ovation and signed my guitar. But another one is when I got to perform with Soul Legend Sam Moore, Jeff Healey and performed at the NAMA Hall of Fame for Ritchie Valens who I grew up idolizing.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

My favourite venue I have performed was Tim Horton’s Field for 15,000 people at the OHL Outdoor Game. It was incredible. I also loved the Queen Theatre in Vancouver BC where I performed for the Indspire Awards aired on Global TV & at Scotiabank arena for the Good Downie Foundation. I really want to perform on the big stages like The JUNO and Grammy Award Stages.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

I would perform at The Grammy’s with Jonny Lang, John Legend, John Mayer & Eminem. Those are my favourite artists in the world right now and are all spectacular artists, performers and song writers.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

I always tell young artists when I get the chance to share at workshops that your talent will make room for you in this business but your character will keep you there. It is important to treat every event with honour and respect, also the people you meet from the sound guys, staff and fans. I have seen so many emerging artists start out, gets lots of attention then disappear. Something I would share with my younger self, is not to put so much pressure on yourself and enjoy the journey. It really is not about the money or fame, it’s about the journey and the moments, and the people. It makes it all worth it in the end, the impact you can make on the world.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

Would have to be my newest single “Honour Song’ which I just finished shooting my music video for and will be releasing Sep 30 2023 on Truth & Reconciliation Day. I wrote the song for the Residential School Children. My Grandpa Ross Powless attended and a lot of children didn’t make it out of the school and were buried in mass graves without their families. It is so hard to think that if my grandfather didn’t make it out the generations of family he had wouldn’t be here including me. So it is important to me to honour that and to bring awareness and unity to the generations that are still here.

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

For sure my hit songs “Free to Fly” & “Ghost” are the ones I get requested most and people love when I perform them. They are what put me on the map as far as a headliner and had me touring music festivals since 2017 on a major scale since I released Free to Fly.

What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

My creative process is quite unique in the sense that I don’t really try to write my songs. They are truly inspired by life. All of a sudden a phrase or a melody will hit me out of the blue and it won’t leave me until I record it. Honestly, it will literally play over and over and I won’t be able to stop thinking about it until I record it. That’s how I know it is an important song. I then start to work out the melody until it is a full song and then the lyrics will come to fill in the timing and phrasing of the song. Then I can get an idea of what the song is all about and trying to say. Once I understand what it is saying, it can literally write itself. But once that’s done it is about getting the perfect arrangement, timing, key, lyrics, tones, instrumentation. It is a very thought out process. But is so beautiful and rewarding to hear it mixed and mastered and then you get to perform it live. Truly a blessing.

Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

I have always thought that life is very chaotic and can be filled with negativity and darkness. So I have always wanted to not add to that and wanted to make sure that my music brought light, inspiration, love and hope into the world. So my songs always talk about believe in yourself, Love yourself, make the world a better place. Have Faith & Hope. My new album is the most vulnerable I have ever been and am so excited about it. The album is called “Beautiful Broken Pieces” and will be released Sep 30 2023. It has many of my life experiences written about on the album & it means the most to me. I have released two of the songs from the album “Open Doors” & “My Last Breathe” which are available worldwide on all streaming platforms.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

I am in the process of releasing my new album and new music video sep 30 2023, so we are doing a lot of publicity, online promotion, magazine, print & radio interviews, online blogs. But I am also a producer so I am going into the studio to produce the new album from soul artist James N Wilson and just released a new song I produced from Country Artist Leah Belle which is available now. I am also working on a side project with my guitarist Greg Keyes on a new album to be called “Martin & Keyes”. We are writing together some great songs and have recorded a few down in Nashville, TN. We are excited to release some of that music to the world in 2024.

How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

My online presence is @jacemartinmusic so I can be found on Spotify, Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook, Youtube by using that handle. I am very accessible and love to hear from my fans, supporters and new fans. So reach out to me anytime and come check out a show near you.