Sass Jordan

Bio

Sass Jordan is a Canadian, Juno Award winning, rock singer/songwriter who grew up in Montreal. In 2003, she took on duties as a judge on the TV show, Canadian Idol. Jordan has shared the stage with The Rolling Stones, AC/DC and others as part of the history-making SARS relief concert in Toronto.

Interview

AisB: What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?
 
SJ: Musically speaking, I am inspired by James Morrisson, Justin Jones and The Driving Rain, Prefab Sprout, Butch Walker, David Ford, Rob Dickinson, Nikka Costa, Angela McCluskey, Colin Hay, Deva Premal, Coyote Oldman, and countless others ... As far as Fine Arts .. Escher, Chiho Aoshima, Charles Vess, Rene Magritte, Rodney Matthews, Marc Chagall, and so many other's that I can't think of right now ..
 
AisB: Why should people, especially youth, vote?
 
SJ: It sends the message to the people running the country that it's citizens are paying attention, and they must answer to us, represent us, and work on our behalf. Youth are traditionally more interested in getting laid and partying than in investing any thought to their own future, and yet they are the ones who are going to have to live in it, therefore a certain amount of attention is advisable.
 
AISB: For you, is there a connection between art and democracy? What is it?
 
SJ: There is a connection between art and culture, and democracy is a product of culture. The essence of democracy is the ability to have an individual point of view in a safe environment .. Art, of course, is the same freedom of individual expression and the cultivation and nurturing of ideas through that freedom.
 
AISB: Why do you care about community, when it is so easy not to?
 
SJ: Community is the safety net below our individual high wire acts, to use a metaphor from the circus, which, indeed, is what I believe life to be. I thoroughly believe in being allowed the freedom and joy of being able to walk the high wire, but knowing your boundaries is what makes the walk successful or not. If you fall, isn't it lovely to know there is a safety net ? Because I love my freedom, it is necessary for me to care about my community, and the World Community. It all starts in our own families and homes, and the extension of those families to the world in general. It is a Global Village.
 
What do you look for in a politician? What do you expect from your MP?
 
This is extremely tricky. I look for someone who has a degree of experience and a certain charisma. Knowing that your MP has been through the bollocks of politics before and that it is not a new game lends them a certain edge, as politics are never about the real issues, but more about how they appear. I do not expect much from a politician, as I realize the game is far greater than they are, as individuals - and when you are in the public eye there is no way to make everyone happy. I feel the responsibility is rather my own. I look for someone who I feel would be understanding of the issues that I am interested in, and who has the charisma necessary to garner attention in the public arena.