Jason Collett is a Canadian singer-songwriter. A member of Broken Social Sc… Read Full Bio ↴Jason Collett is a Canadian singer-songwriter. A member of Broken Social Scene, he also tours and records on his own.
The best songs don’t just tell a story set to music – they capture a moment, encapsulate a feeling and draw in the listener, in a way that’s at once singularly personal and completely universal. When Toronto singer-songwriter Jason Collett was mulling over titles for his new album, the by-turns effervescent and elegiac Here’s To Being Here, he stumbled across a line in an anthology of poetry by his friend Emily Haines’ (Metric) late father Paul, a well-known avant-garde jazz poet.
“I really love the simple sentiment of the title. I think of it as a toast, a raising of the glass to the notion of being present to the moment. Recording this record was all about that for me. Capturing the bits of spontaneous magic in the studio that are just the happy accidents of the day. For me there's a kind of unadorned celebratory ring to the phrase ‘here’s to being here’. There's no irony in it, and lord knows we’ve all had enough of that for a while. I really like Haines’ playful writing. It’s like Dylan, almost Dada-esque; it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I really relate to that era of writing… Ginsberg, that pre-’60s movement.”
Fittingly, Collett’s own work draws upon such classic cultural touchstones while continuing to push the boundaries of the great singer-songwriter tradition. After over a decade of honing his sound and style, in the process becoming a key figure in Toronto’s burgeoning indie scene, Collett returns with the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s critically acclaimed Idols of Exile.
But where Exile was one big house party featuring Collett’s Broken Social Scene brethren, the guestlist was scaled back a bit for Here’s To Being Here, which was built largely around Collett’s former touring band Paso Mino, with producer Howie Beck, New York guitar great Tony Scherr, The Stills’ Liam O’Neil, BSS’ Kevin Drew, and members of Apostle of Hustle and the 6ixty8ights all lending a hand in the studio.
When it came time to get off the road and begin to record some of the 40-plus tunes the prolific Collett had written over the past several years (the father of three children, the busy musician notes he’s able to find sanctuary and perspective to write while on tour), the recording process took place in two quick but productive sessions in winter 2007: four days in a barn an hour outside of Toronto with engineer Marty Kinack in February, and two days at Toronto’s Hallamusic studio in March.
“For me, the studio is a very different beast from playing live. What you’re trying to do is capture a bit of magic in an environment that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to that. Howie and I have a really dynamic thing going on,” Collett says of working with Beck, who also produced his last album. “He’s the Woody Allen of rock and roll: he’s neurotic, funny, he’s got crazy ears – he can hear things that other people can’t, which drives *ME* crazy. He works fast, and I like working fast.”
Here’s To Being Here is the sound of a seasoned songsmith fully coming into his own signature sound – from the ’70s AM-radio vibe of road-tested favourites like the rollicking relationship reflections “Not Over You” and “Out of Time” to sparse countrified ballads like Canadiana ode “No Redemption Song” and album closer "Waiting For the World" (partially inspired by Collett's friend James Loney, who was taken hostage in Iraq in 2005), the album redefines the contemporary guitar-based singer-songwriter framework for the current genre-blurring musical landscape. As tuneful as they are poetic, these masterful songs of hope in an age of disillusionment stick in your head as firmly as they capture your heart.
“I feel this is a rock-and-roll music record. Not rock, not rock and roll, but Rock ’n Roll music. I don’t care much for the roots-rock tag or the singer-songwriter one and all the banality those genres conjure up. Rock ’n Roll music encompasses all sorts of influences – country, blues, gospel... all those things, and I’m just part of that tradition,” Collett points out. “We decided midway through the record to avoid embellishing it with horns and strings – which I really love, but I think it sort of helps make the record more cohesive with the absence of that indulgence. There’s not a lot of trickery to it. It’s not like we really stripped things down, it’s just that we never gussied them up.”
Collett, who began writing to try to escape the boredom of the suburb of Bramalea where he grew up, and logged time in Toronto bands before going on to craft two full-length albums (1999’s Chrome Reflections and 2001’s Bitter Beauty) prior to joining the Arts & Crafts family in 2003, has always penned songs with a poet’s knack for reflection and a journalist’s eye for detail. That timeless quality permeates Here’s To Being Here, which not only allows listeners a peek into the songwriter’s thoughts, but also a glimpse into the everyday human emotions that bind us.
“I’m beginning to recognize that I have a body of work. I’ve always tried to make records with a classic sensibility, so that they’re records you can listen to 20 years from now,” Collett says. “I feel like I connect when I’m just being candid. I want to take the audience on a journey with me – by being as present in the moment as I can.”
With the release of Here’s to Being Here, Collett looks back at the ghosts of his past while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the future. The title says it all: it’s a line of poetry, an affirmation, a toast to where we’ve come from, and where we’re going.
The best songs don’t just tell a story set to music – they capture a moment, encapsulate a feeling and draw in the listener, in a way that’s at once singularly personal and completely universal. When Toronto singer-songwriter Jason Collett was mulling over titles for his new album, the by-turns effervescent and elegiac Here’s To Being Here, he stumbled across a line in an anthology of poetry by his friend Emily Haines’ (Metric) late father Paul, a well-known avant-garde jazz poet.
“I really love the simple sentiment of the title. I think of it as a toast, a raising of the glass to the notion of being present to the moment. Recording this record was all about that for me. Capturing the bits of spontaneous magic in the studio that are just the happy accidents of the day. For me there's a kind of unadorned celebratory ring to the phrase ‘here’s to being here’. There's no irony in it, and lord knows we’ve all had enough of that for a while. I really like Haines’ playful writing. It’s like Dylan, almost Dada-esque; it doesn’t take itself too seriously. I really relate to that era of writing… Ginsberg, that pre-’60s movement.”
Fittingly, Collett’s own work draws upon such classic cultural touchstones while continuing to push the boundaries of the great singer-songwriter tradition. After over a decade of honing his sound and style, in the process becoming a key figure in Toronto’s burgeoning indie scene, Collett returns with the long-awaited follow-up to 2005’s critically acclaimed Idols of Exile.
But where Exile was one big house party featuring Collett’s Broken Social Scene brethren, the guestlist was scaled back a bit for Here’s To Being Here, which was built largely around Collett’s former touring band Paso Mino, with producer Howie Beck, New York guitar great Tony Scherr, The Stills’ Liam O’Neil, BSS’ Kevin Drew, and members of Apostle of Hustle and the 6ixty8ights all lending a hand in the studio.
When it came time to get off the road and begin to record some of the 40-plus tunes the prolific Collett had written over the past several years (the father of three children, the busy musician notes he’s able to find sanctuary and perspective to write while on tour), the recording process took place in two quick but productive sessions in winter 2007: four days in a barn an hour outside of Toronto with engineer Marty Kinack in February, and two days at Toronto’s Hallamusic studio in March.
“For me, the studio is a very different beast from playing live. What you’re trying to do is capture a bit of magic in an environment that doesn’t necessarily lend itself to that. Howie and I have a really dynamic thing going on,” Collett says of working with Beck, who also produced his last album. “He’s the Woody Allen of rock and roll: he’s neurotic, funny, he’s got crazy ears – he can hear things that other people can’t, which drives *ME* crazy. He works fast, and I like working fast.”
Here’s To Being Here is the sound of a seasoned songsmith fully coming into his own signature sound – from the ’70s AM-radio vibe of road-tested favourites like the rollicking relationship reflections “Not Over You” and “Out of Time” to sparse countrified ballads like Canadiana ode “No Redemption Song” and album closer "Waiting For the World" (partially inspired by Collett's friend James Loney, who was taken hostage in Iraq in 2005), the album redefines the contemporary guitar-based singer-songwriter framework for the current genre-blurring musical landscape. As tuneful as they are poetic, these masterful songs of hope in an age of disillusionment stick in your head as firmly as they capture your heart.
“I feel this is a rock-and-roll music record. Not rock, not rock and roll, but Rock ’n Roll music. I don’t care much for the roots-rock tag or the singer-songwriter one and all the banality those genres conjure up. Rock ’n Roll music encompasses all sorts of influences – country, blues, gospel... all those things, and I’m just part of that tradition,” Collett points out. “We decided midway through the record to avoid embellishing it with horns and strings – which I really love, but I think it sort of helps make the record more cohesive with the absence of that indulgence. There’s not a lot of trickery to it. It’s not like we really stripped things down, it’s just that we never gussied them up.”
Collett, who began writing to try to escape the boredom of the suburb of Bramalea where he grew up, and logged time in Toronto bands before going on to craft two full-length albums (1999’s Chrome Reflections and 2001’s Bitter Beauty) prior to joining the Arts & Crafts family in 2003, has always penned songs with a poet’s knack for reflection and a journalist’s eye for detail. That timeless quality permeates Here’s To Being Here, which not only allows listeners a peek into the songwriter’s thoughts, but also a glimpse into the everyday human emotions that bind us.
“I’m beginning to recognize that I have a body of work. I’ve always tried to make records with a classic sensibility, so that they’re records you can listen to 20 years from now,” Collett says. “I feel like I connect when I’m just being candid. I want to take the audience on a journey with me – by being as present in the moment as I can.”
With the release of Here’s to Being Here, Collett looks back at the ghosts of his past while keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the future. The title says it all: it’s a line of poetry, an affirmation, a toast to where we’ve come from, and where we’re going.
Airport
Jason Collett Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Airport' by these artists:
A Place For Owls I drove her to the airport We sat out in the…
Afroman We gonna get high baby, we gonna get real high. Wam,…
Alev Lenz I met you at the airport When my hair was still…
Ari Scott I cleaned the apartment before he came I vacuumed up…
Armani & Ghost GHOSTFACE KILLAH Miscellaneous Ghost Deini"(feat. Superb "In…
Armin van Buuren A little bit just a little bit... (x4) World's on turn…
Boundzound You want touch me Touch my airport If you wanna touch me …
Charlie Winston Well, a man from the west once told to me "Just…
Daljit Mattu ਹੋ ਤੱਕ ਲੱਕ ਦਾ ਹੁਲਾਰਾ ਨੀ ਸੋਹਣੀਏ ਬਿੱਲੀ ਅੱਖ ਦਾ ਇਸ਼ਾਰਾ ਨੀ ਕੁੜੀਏ ਤ…
dZihan & Kamien [Instrumental]…
Hammill Peter I stand on the tallest building and stare down at the…
Hayes Warner I′ve been drinkin' on the plane Mixed tequila and champagne …
Henree Feat. Nikka It's 4 AM dark and cold I didn't think I'd be…
Horse Jumper of Love Who came down with this fever and spread it to…
J. Futuristic [Phone Rings x4] [Answering machine picks up] [Ray J:] Hey …
Karate Today the grass is like another green, Straight from heaven…
Kitoko I was sitting at the airport as my phone died And…
Kurdo Business über Handys schwarze Visa, Geld fließt Helle Jeans,…
Lowhi I'll see you off at the airport Hope you know…
Marc Harris Airport! Airport! Airport! Yeah, I fly away - I fly away…
MC L.E. (Elmentem, akkor most tessék: ez lenne kb. Ez már…
Milipede I just smoked a dry hit That shit tastes so bad Tastes…
Motors So many destination faces going to so many places Where the…
muashall Kiss me at the airport Take me where I haven't been…
Nate Traveller I know you said Its the end A sea of tears to…
P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family Attention please Flight 411 from Harlem, New York to Memphis…
Peter Hammill I stand on the tallest building and stare down at the…
Photographer A little bit just a little bit... (x4) World's on turn…
Profex & E-rased (Elmentem, akkor most tessék: ez lenne kb. Ez már…
Rome Hero Foxes I fiddle with the thought of being constant in your…
Scott & Charlene's Wedding I cleaned the apartment before he came I vacuumed up…
Si-o Picking up Margellica from the airport Picking up Margellica…
Small Sins I'll give you anything you need, I'll give you anything you…
The Attic Sleepers Starring at the ceiling but I never hear a sound Standing…
The Motors So many destination faces going to so many places Where the…
The Real Booty Babes Are You Ready? R-E-A-D-Y Ready Are You Ready? R-E-A-D-Y Rea…
Udo Lindenberg Ich bin wieder zu Hause und ich auch mach' ich denk' imm…
Van A little bit just a little bit... (x4) World's on turn…
W/O/M/B I always told you I'm a nervous flier Now I'm in…
Warm Thoughts I'm living by the airport now And dining at the bowling…
Wet Willie My baby came in a a plane last night I went…
АДЛИН Ты далеко Опять не со мной Хочу услышать твой голос В жизни,…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Jason Collett:
02 Sorry Lori Your smoking gun was lying in my arms When you told…
Almost Summer Lemon gin, corn fields plowed under Cigarettes, Southern Com…
Bitch City Jukebox in the corner scratches, sputters and toils Sputters…
Bitter Beauty All the flowers fade And all the stars pale As this bitter…
Black Oak Savanna Goodnight Irene or Susana don't cry for me I'm going…
Blue Sky You tried to make good Hiding out in the neighborhood Gettin…
Brownie Hawkeye You took your Brownie Hawkeye And pointed it up at the…
Charlyn Angel Of Kensington From St.Christopher's house Into the streets you set out Wit…
Don't Let The Truth Get To You Does your conscience keep you up at night? Did your bleeding…
Every Night Every night I just wanna go out Get out of my…
Fire Dance, locust, dance The prophets shrug their shoulders as …
Forever Young Is Getting Old Someone's written in stones On your bathroom wall In your co…
Gabe Gabe What's your hurry to get laid? Are you still worried…
Hangover Days It was in your basement apartment With all of its earth…
Henry's Song He laughed at everything but the joke Smoking that last ciga…
Honey I Don't Know Honey, I don't know why I get so mean Honey, I…
I'll Bring the Sun You took hold of my affections With your Bible and your…
If She Don't Love Me Now Shoot the moon, pull down the stars If she don't love…
It Won't Be Long When you close your eyes And kiss my mouth I know I'm…
Little Clown You betray your heart When all your charm has faded You say…
Little Sparrow Broken hearts string strong The broken arrow bangs a drum C…
Long May You Love Here's to the long-suffering paramour To bloody fists still …
Love Is a Chain You're a tree with burning branches Little birds have no wa…
Love Is a Dirty Word In the golden age Of Love's architecture Shakespeare was lyi…
Love Song To Canada Motel ice, breath gum kisses Bedroom eyes, lampshade vision …
Love You Babe Smelling roses, taste the wine Try not to drink too much…
Madame Pompadour she flies right into the bedroom wall she's blinded hersel…
Motor Motel Love Song Motel ice, breath gum kisses Bedroom eyes, lampshade vision …
My Daddy was a Rock'n'Roller T Shirt rolled up to his shoulders 6 inch side burns…
No Redemption Song Staying stoned on Highway 401 In a band of southern Ontario…
Nobody's Fool Laying on the couch with all your books stacked on…
Not Over You So you whisper to the wind That you won't be back…
Out Of Time Well, I got your invitation But it never crossed my mind You…
Papercut Hearts Papercut hearts leave no scars Bullet-point teardrops like …
Parry Sound Lamps of kerosene Up in the north country Air is cool, and…
Pavement Puddle Stars Sunny sunny sunny sunny Californian wine Promise of a futur…
Pink Night Drunk again, six p.m. Beautiful, ugly weekend Stayin' out an…
Provincial Blues I came to the city When the city was cheap Now that…
Rave On Sad Songs Last night I dreamt I died as I slept on…
Roll On Oblivion Roll on oblivion We live in outer space Roll on southern gen…
SAMPLE Bitter Beauty All the flowers fade And all the stars pale As this bitter…
Somehow It hurts, love hurts Words, there are no words I was sorry…
Song And Dance Man I was a paperboy back when there was paperboys Bookstores an…
Sorry Lori Your smoking gun was lying in my arms When you told…
Super Model Down at the pawn shop They're scraping the varnish off Lit…
These Are the Days How can you leave me at a time like this You…
Through The Night These Days Roll on over you clouds of doom The silver lining is…
Tinsel & Sawdust We're the fugitives of American portions Caught on the sleev…
Tiny Ocean of Tears I've been stunned by the clarity Of your peripheral vision N…
Vanderpool Vanderpool Vanderpool, Vanderpool Professor of the piano Got himself a …
Waiting for the World Waiting for the world to come home Everybody's gone, I'm her…
We All Loose Another So this is the day of the dead Of St. Jude…
We All Lose One So this is the day of the dead Of St. Jude…
We All Lose One Another So this is the day of the dead Of St. Jude…
Where Does Your Love Go? We can't take it anymore We say it all the time We…
Where Things Go Wrong You belong, you belong when things go wrong This is the…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found