JANETTE KING | Alternative R&B/pop artist and producerÂ
City: Montreal
Instagram: @janette.king
Previous work: “Ooh Yeah”, What We Lost
Alternative R&B artist and producer, Janette King, is making a name for herself with the her soulful vocals and playing major events and venues across Canada, including the Montreal Jazz Festival, Ottawa Bluesfest, and the National Arts Centre. For the Montreal native, her love affair with music started at a young age.
“I fell in love with music through dance and poetry. I was a dancer from the age of 13 unil about 18 and I really loved it. I would write poems when I was 11 and somehow they just morphed into songs eventually.”
She’s been a part of different bands as a professional musician and singer for 14 years, but decided to launch out as a solo act three years ago.
She release her debut album What We Lost on June 25, 2021, tackling the complexities of loss. The project was highly acclaimed, charting on North American radio and being placed on leading Spotify and Apple playlists. It also received nods from international media outlets Complex UK, Bandcamp Daily, Hypebeast, KEXP, and Consequence of Sound.
More about Janette King
What is your biggest professional achievement?
“I think my biggest professional achievements has been playing one of the main stages at Ottawa Blues Fest as well as Montreal Jazz Festival this summer and releasing my first album What We Lost.”
What obstacles/challenges have you had to face to get to where you are today?
“I’ve had a lot of rejection whether that be having grants decline to fund my projects or being turned down from big festivals. There are always blockages but you just have to persevere in the face of adversity.”
What’s something people should know about you?
“I don’t like chocolate and I love the ocean. haha”
If there are other Canadian comedians and artists we should know about, especially women of colour, let us know!
Innovators & Icons is a presented by the National Arts Centre in partnership with SHIFTER
