Jason Collett - Sampler (streams)

Jason Collett is a Toronto based singer-songwriter. He is a member of Broken Social Scene but also tours on his own, having released four solo CDs. His latest album, Rat a Tat Tat, was released in March, 2010. He recently joined forces with fellow Canadians in an independently produced film project the Iodine movie where he accomplished his acting debut as Deputy Peel.



Born in Bramalea, Ontario, a Greater Toronto Area suburb, Collett began writing songs at a young age to escape the boredom of his suburban life. He lists Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson and Nick Lowe as influences. Eventually Collett moved to downtown Toronto where he worked as a woodworker and carpenter, doing renovations and custom home building, while he pursued his music. He was a part of the short-lived alt-country group Bird, of which Andrew Cash and Hawksley Workman were also members. Bird released one album, 2000’s Chrome Reflection. Collett also took part in Toronto’s popular indie music gathering, Radio Mondays. Collett, along with others such as The Weakerthans and artists on the record label Arts & Crafts, would perform and write songs together. Collett has mentioned how Radio Mondays were great community-building events, with five or six artists on stage at a time.

Collett now focuses on his solo work, having completed four solo albums. In 2001 he released Bitter Beauty; in 2002 it was Motor Motel Love Songs. In 2005, he released Idols of Exile, his first on his current record label, Arts & Crafts; it was the same label to sign Broken Social Scene. Jason's Here's to Being Here was released in February 2008 and is different from Idols of Exile. Instead of a group effort, with many collaborating artists, Collett decided to focus on making an album that was meant to be played live. Collett tours under his own name with backing band The Dark Horse. In February 2008, Collett added Gregory McDonald, who plays keyboards with Sloan, and Jeremy Little, a bass player, to his touring band. Formerly touring with backing band Paso Mino, made up of members Robbie Drake, Afie Jurvanen, Mike O'Brien and Michael P. Clive, Collett’s band has undergone many changes in recent years. For Collett's Wood Wires and Whiskey tour in Autumn 2008, the band consisted of Robbie Drake and Mike O'Brien, as well as newcomers Carlin Nicholson (also a member of Toronto acts Zeus and the 68's) and Neil Quin (also a member of Toronto acts Zeus, Major Grange and The Sexy Moving Parts).

In 2009, Jason Collett took part in an interactive documentary series called City Sonic. The series, which featured 20 Toronto artists, had him reflecting on his long time relationship with Kensington Market.

Collett's fifth solo album, Rat a Tat Tat (produced by O'Brien and Nicholson), was released in March 2010.

Jason will head to Europe for a run of dates in late May and early June. The tour includes stops throughout the U.K., and festival dates in Spain, Germany and Norway. Be sure to check him out if you are in the Union.

5/24 / Helsinki, FI / Bar Loose
5/25 / Stockholm, SE / Debaser Open Air
5/26 / Copenhagen, DK / Loppen
5/27 / Barcelona, ES / Primavera Sound Festival
5/28 / Neustrelitz, DE / Immergut Festival
5/29 / Ghent, BE / Video
5/30 / Amsterdam, NL / Paradiso
5/31 / Glasgow, UK / Captain's Rest
6/01 / Sheffield, UK / Harley
6/02 / Antwerp, BE / TBD
6/03 / Utrecht, NL / Ekko
6/04 / Olso, NO / Kampenbistro (Musikkfest Olso)
6/05 / London, UK / Borderline
6/06 / Cork, IE / Cyprus Avenue
6/08 / Dublin, IE / The Workmans Club

http://www.arts-crafts.ca/jasoncollett/
http://www.last.fm/music/Jason+Collett
http://www.myspace.com/jasoncollettofficial