Paul Cann, a versatile artist and composer, has released his debut album What Does It Mean To You. Blending country, jazz, and rock, this ambitious project serves as a musical business card showcasing Cann’s eclectic tastes. The title track and lead single, What Does It Mean To You, draws inspiration from the murky political climate and the barrage of misleading media claims. It evolves into a broader philosophical reflection on deception in everyday life, from harmful alcohol marketing to societal half-truths. The accompanying video portrays a young man seeking answers from an elder, only to find that even the experienced are perplexed by life’s contradictions.
Cann wrote all tracks and performed guitar, bass, and keyboards, weaving humor and introspection across themes like politics, loneliness, and climate change. Songs like BS tackle the white lies told to navigate work and personal life, while Momentum’s outro playfully jabs at bass players, ironic given Cann’s own jazz bass work. The experimental Charlie’s Carthorse, an anagram of “orchestra,” uses diminished chords in a 1-4-5 rock format for a deliberately jumbled, offbeat sound.
Recorded at AB Recording Studios in Calgary, Alberta, from December 2023 to January 2024, the album was helmed by veteran engineer Anthony Blaine, known for work with Cheech and Chong and Canadian bands. Cann, self-financing the project, learned extensively from Blaine’s expertise and is already composing for a follow-up album, aiming to refine his craft further.
Hailing from the UK, Paul Cann began playing guitar at 10, later studying classical guitar to Grade 5. After earning a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science with honours in 1997, he balanced software development with performing in local bands. Relocating to Canada, he immersed himself in Calgary’s jazz scene, studying double bass and music theory at Ambrose and Mount Royal universities. This diverse background informs his songwriting, culminating in What Does It Mean To You. Now back in the UK as of July 2024, Cann is budgeting to gig and promote the album, ready to bring his unique sound to new audiences.
Influences
John Coltrane, Queen, Billie Eilish, Yes, Sting, Paul Simon
Support Paul Cann on Social Media
Listen to more of Paul Cann
Paul Cann – What Does It Mean To You
For music submission click here
