Singer-songwriter JJ Voss returned to Art Concepts Custom Framing in Estevan for a special performance, marking his third time playing at the venue.
"Just a great independent business like this," Voss said. "It's such an artsy vibe—artists supporting other artists. Byron and Teresa are artists in their own right, and the amount of local artists they feature here is amazing. It’s just a good place."
As a Saskatchewan-based musician, Voss understands the challenges of making a living in the arts. However, he finds collaboration to be key in moving forward.
"It's tough, but when you find others to collaborate with and help each other, everybody gets a little further," he said.
During his performance, he played a mix of older material, a couple of covers and new music, including a recent single. He also shared that he has several songs in progress, despite working through a period of writer’s block.
"I probably have about eight or nine new songs on the go, but they’re coming together slowly," he said. "You always want to outperform your previous work, so I put a fair bit of pressure on myself, which can be counterintuitive to writing."
Reflecting on his last album, which was released at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Voss noted how the past five years have influenced his music.
"There’s been some great things that came out of that time, and some horrible things, too," he said. "There’s a lot to write about, but I’m trying to say something profound—concisely. Artists I respect have always dealt with the issues of their time, even the uncomfortable subjects."
However, he aims to strike a balance between addressing important topics without being too heavy-handed.
"It’s about writing in a way that isn't preachy," he explained. "I’m working on it."
While love songs dominate the music industry, Voss admitted they aren’t his forte.
"I determined a long time ago that I’m not great at writing love songs," he said with a laugh. "That’s just not my wheelhouse."
The evening’s performance was met with an engaged and attentive audience.
"You could hear a pin drop," he said. "When people are really listening, there’s no bigger compliment for a performer."
Voss’s return to Estevan reinforced the connection between artists and their communities, making for another memorable night of music at Art Concepts.