She is a true Canadian icon. An author, an actress, an activist and of course, a multi-award winning singer-songwriter. The winner of eight Junos and an inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, why would Jann Arden decide to dip into the 90s songbook for Mixtape, her latest album?
She explains: “The nineties were an unbelievably complex and unique decade for the music business globally. The artists – the songs – they were some of the most interesting and groundbreaking moments anyone had ever seen or heard. Being able to tip my hat to this innovative group of music makers was inspiring and magical. MIXTAPE will take you on a nostalgic trip you won’t forget.”
I'm all for that, especially when she kicks off the journey with Des'ree's "You Gotta Be", a long-time staple on The Wave. Soaring background voices set the symphonic tone and Arden's ardent vocals tell the old story in a fresh and vibrant musical narrative. Seal's "Crazy" bursts the 90s beat wide open while offering new relevance in today's world. Arden explores 90s folk with the Simon & Garfunkel classic, "The Boxer", sung with raw emotion and gentle grit. And then there is Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" - softly sensual with that gunslinger sexuality still intact. No matter what she sings or how she sings it, Jann Arden makes every song on MIXTAPE her very own.
I remember the good old days of making mixtapes like crazy. And then mix-CDs. And now, of course, with the advent of streaming services, we can all play DJ as often as we like, creating playlists just like the mixtapes of yore. If you're a fan of 90s pop, Ms. Arden has done the work for you. Her unique musical spin is as current as these songs are classic. And that combination makes for a most melodiously memorable 16th studio album!
Vickie van Dyke
Midday Host