Arden was 12 or 13 when she first picked up the guitar. At that point in her life, she was the “class clown, the funny kid,” and wasn’t sure what she wanted to do. She took theatre arts at college and even considered being a teacher, but it wasn’t until turning 30 that her career began to take off.

In 1992 her debut album, Time for Mercy, was released to critical acclaim, and by 1994’s release, Living Under June, with the wildly successful single “Insensitive,” Arden was already a success both here in Canada and the States.

Over a decade later, she still loves life on the road, although she travels “well over 200 days a year.” She doesn’t mind hotel life, as she is constantly in contact with friends (she calls them her “peeps”).

“I do well on my own,” Arden tells me, “I like thinking.” She has thought about what’s important to her and made those things priorities.

Easy Being Green

She is environmentally proactive, for example, and the new house she is building is fitted with solar windows, geothermal heating and air conditioning, and higher-than-typical R-values (for insulation).

Although it’s been “complicated–and not cheap either,” Arden has built on property that she describes as a “123-year-old Douglas fir forest.” She is clearly happy to have a place she can call home that is not harming the earth.

“We have to get together as a planet,” she says, starting with the small things, such as recycling, as well as the big ones, including building an environmentally friendly house.

Boldly into the Future

The new house will also be a great place to write, an activity that clearly brings her joy.

Whether it’s writing, painting, acting, singing, or simply making us laugh–with a purse full of cheese sticks–Arden’s philosophies are ones that we can follow ourselves: tend to your relationships, do what makes you happy, and live peacefully and congruently with nature.
I can’t wait to see what she does next, but I have no doubt that it will be just as smart, funny, and thoughtful as she is. Arden isn’t afraid of change, and she certainly isn’t afraid to say what’s on her mind.

And here I was thinking that it might be hard to find new things to talk about.

Jann Arden on…

Friends “Friendships are my greatest accomplishments. Nurture your friendships.”

Family “I love going to Winners with my Mom.” Arden lives just a few miles from her parents, with whom she is extremely close. She writes about them and talks about them during her live concerts.

Pets Sweet Pea, Shrodie, and Maybelline, Arden’s three cats, play a big part in her life, and she writes about them in her web journals.

Uncover Me, Jann Arden’s ninth album, was released on February 6, 2007. Her cross-Canada Uncover Me Tour 2007 ends May 18. Check jannarden.com for dates and details.

Stephanie Dickison writes about health, nutrition, beauty, fashion, the arts, and fine food for international publications. For more information, visit stephaniedickison.ca.

Source: alive #295, May 2007