THUNDER BAY – Thunder Bay musician Jean-Paul De Roover’s career has always been defined by evolution. His discography has seen him shift from pop to alternative rock to folk, with sidesteps including an a capella project. His latest iteration is likely to upend expectations even for long-time fans.
De Roover's calling card is his one-man live show, which makes sophisticated use of looping to build rich soundscapes. In February and March, he toured with a live band for the first time in 13 years. That was a practical necessity reflecting the dramatic musical shift on his newest album, LOSS, which sees the songwriter delving into heavier rock.
The theme of the album, which explores stories of how loss has hit him and close friends and family, demanded a harsher and more aggressive sound, he said.
Lead single Wreck explores personal breakdown, while the latest one, Clench, is about the breakdown of a close friendship, the loss of intimacy without explanation. The deepest dive into loss comes on There’s Been an Accident, inspired by a cousin who lost a spouse and child. De Roover describes the song as the album's centrepiece.
“Once that song was written, I knew that the album was called Loss,” he said. “It’s a very different writing process when you want to write something and when you have to write something. I knew it was a song that had to be written.”
He was initially intimidated to show the song to his cousin, he said, but she embraced it, sharing it with grief support groups.
“I was terrified about what she might think about the fact the song even exists,” he said. “I was so relieved it was a song that was actually doing something for the person it was written about, which I think is uncommon. Nothing can compare to that.”
It wasn’t the only way the singer confronted vulnerability with the new album. The abrupt tonal shift from his recent work – 2019’s companion album, LOVE, featured sparse arrangements centred around his voice and acoustic guitar – left him apprehensive about how the deviation would be received.
“The vulnerability is real, because what if everybody hates it?” he said. “What if I spent 13 years doing this one-man looping show, which I for the time being am a little bored with, and I wanted to do something a little different – and what if it’s a failed experiment, an expensive one at that?”
De Roover was reassured by the reception the new material and full-band arrangements received on his recent tour, which featured stops in Guelph, Hamilton, Toronto, Montreal, and Ottawa. He relished playing with a group that included local musicians Jared Schaaf and Scott Edwards of Action Cat, and Mack Davis of Don’t You(,) Mean People.
“There’s definitely that kind of an intensity and an energy that I never really got to explore since I’ve been doing the one-man show for so long,” De Roover said.
That energy is captured in his latest music video for the song Clench. It was filmed at the band’s tour stop in Ottawa, Cinqhole, a DIY art space and concert venue.
“It’s like a punk rock garage almost,” De Roover enthused. “I was like, that’s the exact atmosphere I want for this band. I want that kind of chaotic energy.”
It’s a collaboration that didn’t get the chance to fully bloom, as the tour was cut short with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. The band managed to play 11 of 13 dates, but missed the culminating stops in Sault Ste. Marie and Sudbury. While venues had not yet been ordered to close, the band decided to cancel the shows, not wanting to cause any increased risk of spreading the virus.
“We were kind of spooked,” said De Roover. “We played the [last] show in North Bay, which was just me solo, and as soon as I was done the set, I walked off the stage and I said to the guys, ‘let’s just go home.’”
Since returning, De Roover has been reflecting on how to continue the momentum built on tour. He’s eager to explore creative ways to connect with an audience through livestreaming that go beyond a straightforward live performance.
“It will start to get old quickly if it’s not done well,” he said of livestreamed concerts. “What I’d like to do is something a little bit different – not just, I’m going to jam on my guitar for a little bit while you watch.”
De Roover recently announced a three-part concert series that will be livestreamed on his Facebook page. For the first, on May 14, he’ll play LOVE front to back in an intimate acoustic setting, sharing stories about the songs and answering questions live. The second, on May 21, will see him switch to an electric guitar for a run-through of LOSS while sharing anecdotes from the recent tour. And on June 4, De Roover will dig his looping gear back out for a journey through his career.
