We recently connected with John Kaner and have shared our conversation below.

John, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Recently, I was fortunate enough to have an amazing opportunity to produce Culture Club featuring Sia, in collaboration with Roy Hay. Not only have I worked on approx. 20 projects for film and TV including most recently Confidential Informant starring Mel Gibson, I am also excited to collaborate with some exciting new singer/songwriters, for example, Beth Brandy from England, and Elizabeth Woolf from California.

My collaboration with Roy Hay dates back to 2018 when I became his Audio Engineer for multiple recording sessions with Boy George, including composing orchestral arrangement for Culture Club’s Las Vegas shows at the Wynn Hotel and their Hollywood Bowl Performance.

These experiences with Roy Hay have taught me that working with people who are their true authentic self and don’t hold back, are the real deal!

I think this translates to the “newer” more modern generation of singer/songwriters. For example, when I met Beth Brandy, we immediately hit it off. We have bonded over shared life and relationship experiences, which translates into killer songs. She’s always been authentically herself. The same goes for Elizabeth Woolf! Her energy and insight into creating songs are a true testament to her and her voice.

John, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I provide several specific services. I write, produce, compose and play multiple instruments. I’m equally comfortable writing and producing pop music as well as composing, arranging, and producing film scores. I have worked with seasoned veterans in the music industry and I love collaborating and developing new artists and songwriters.

For each project I’m involved in, I always try to help the artist to find their true authentic self through their writing and their voice. I think this is one of my strengths.

Also, most people expect me to have a specific genre that I focus on, but I like it all! I am an open book and I have the knowledge and understanding of songwriting, producing and composing all sorts of music. In the studio, I take the artist’s individual style, and place considerable attention to their own personal journey, while expressing my own ideas and vision so its relatable to them. This process allows artists to not only be their true authentic self through their voice, but it also helps uncover perhaps a new sound or vibe. I want the people I work with to make conscience decisions about their music.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I was taught to pick one field to focus on and master, and a lot of my contemporaries did just that. But I never accepted that limitation.

From a very young age I have studied and played all kinds of music. When I decided to got to college for music there were a lot of people telling me focus on one field of study. Almost all of my classmates had one concentration. However, I wanted to learn everything there was to learn. For me, music wasn’t a hobby or it didn’t have one specific path, it was something bigger and I wanted to absorb as much knowledge as I could – and still do!! Learning is fundamental to knowing the ins and outs of music and there is so much more to learn and to absorb. If I had just went out on my own playing and making music, without learning the fundamentals, then I would just be placing myself in a box. Instead I want to be a music maker without any restrictions, or boundaries. Having that background knowledge and opening myself up to learn makes me a versatile producer, songwriter, composer, musician and artist. Its all about learning how to speak the language so you can communicate what you do.

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I was fortunate because I built a considerable network early on through contacts made during my education, at my universities and in my community while living in Southern California. For those who are less fortunate, I would recommend that they look into networking events that are offered by music organizations like The Grammy Organization, Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, etc), Music Publishers and various songwriter organizations.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnkanermusic?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHjvG6RQWNAKvewaCLzi9Gg
• Other: Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/john-kaner/1728745646
  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wYQrJqGGE9njY8YwqTcnr?si=6as6EsP_SxOK3-VZiUfxsQ