John Wort Hannam
Love Lives On
Release Date: October 2, 2015
Produced By: John Wort Hannam
Recorded In: Calgary, AB
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Something has changed in John Wort Hannam.
It’s apparent that John Wort Hannam is no longer modeling his songs after those written by his song-writing heroes but instead is at a place where he is crafting songs on his own terms. After 5 albums, a Juno nomination and taking
the trophy home at the Canadian Folk Music Awards for Contemporary Album of the Year, John Wort Hannam has less to prove. “I’m at a point where I’m comfortable writing about whatever the hell I fancy.”
Wort Hannam continues, “I didn’t want Volume 2 of any of my earlier recordings. I hope I‘ve grown as a songwriter and a person. I wanted a record that reflected that”, Produced by Canadian roots rocker, Leeroy Stagger, it looks like John Wort Hannam got what he asked for. LOVE LIVES ON has less of a traditional folk sound and more of a contemporary songwriter, Americana and alt-country feel.
The project, consisting of eleven new songs, was recorded over 12 months. A first for Wort Hannam, used to tracking an entire record in four or five days. Giving the mixes time to sit and breathe between sessions granted the freedom of sober second thought,something not allowed in earlier studio outings. With LOVE LIVES ON, time was part of the maturation process and not a constraint. The somewhat leisurely pace also allowed Stagger the luxury of hand selecting the many guests appearing on the record. They include Kurt Ciesla and Brady Valgardson (Corb Lund Band), John MacArthur Ellis (Doc Walker), Adrian Dolan (The Bills/Ruth Moody), Bob Hamilton (Undertakin’ Daddies), Tyson Maiko (Gob), Geoff Hillhorst (Deep Dark Woods) and many others including west coast fiddler and horn player extraordinaire Daniel Lapp.
LOVE LIVES ON shows a depth and breadth not seen in Wort Hannam’s previous records. It is a record that only comes when the songwriter is finally comfortable in his own skin as an artist and is creating work that doesn’t come from following self-prescribed constraints but instead comes from following ones own heart.
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