SONGWRITER & COACH
Jaylene is a songwriter and artist/songwriting coach with over two decades of experience in the Canadian music industry. A rare neurological condition has disabled her singing voice, and inhibited her speaking, meaning recording and touring just isn't possible anymore. She continues to write songs, to co-write with others, and is also leveraging her creative skills and experience, combined with a background in education, as a coach, helping artists and songwriters to hone their skills, get unstuck, and find positive ways forward with their songs and their careers. Here's some feedback on what it's like to work with her:
"Jaylene is a wealth of knowledge and inspiration for any one growing in the music industry. She has a way of recognizing the gifts of others and helping to refine their vision. I am honoured to call her a friend and mentor on my journey." (Don Amero - Recording Artist and Songwriter)
"Jaylene is a polished songwriter and well-versed in the music industry. Through our years of phone calls, coffee dates, & songwriting sessions, Jaylene has been instrumental in helping me develop my career strategy, while honing my craft as a songwriter; I owe much of my artistic progression solely to Jaylene's mentorship." (Noah Derksen - Recording Artist and Songwriter)
"I hold Jaylene in high esteem as a songwriter - a person who has deep understanding of the layers of the craft." (Brian Doerksen - Recording artist and Songwriter)
Jaylene is a gifted, veteran singer/songwriter whose tenacious diligence has yielded meaningful and beautiful works. My recent experience with Jaylene in the studio revealed a rare depth of artful intuition and skill, which is the reward of those few souls committed to a 'long obedience in the same direction'." (Steve Bell - Recording Artist and Songwriter)
"Jaylene is a remarkable talent who has a way with words. Her years of experience and proven ability would be an invaluable resource to anyone looking to write great songs." (Jordan St.Cyr - Recording Artist and Songwriter)
"Jaylene is full of spirit and talent. A true observer of life and her songs make you want to hear them again. A pleasure to work with!" (Kris Bergsnes - Songwriter and Publisher)
"Jaylene is a fantastic artist and wonderfully deep songwriter! Her melodies are infectious and lyrically, she takes you on a three-minute journey that feels like a cross-country trip. I love writing with Jaylene, and we've had solid success with our songs being placed on artists' albums and licensing uses. Don't hesitate to experience this artist/writer!" (David Browning - Producer and Songwriter)
To book a songwriting or coaching session with Jaylene, click HERE.
ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Juno-nominated and Covenant Award-winning artist, Jaylene Johnson, creates music that makes you "listen more closely" (CD Baby), putting her own quirky-yet-insightful slant on life, love and matters of faith. Her songs have been heard on shows like Pretty Little Liars, Degrassi: The Next Generation and So You Think You Can Dance, and have been recorded by artists locally and internationally. Several LPs of her original songs showcase her own “angelic pipes” (Wpg Sun) and soul-nourishing songs. These include the critically acclaimed and Juno-nominated album, Potter & Clay (2016); Happiness (2010); Finding Beautiful (2004); Not Forgotten (2000), and several singles. In addition to the Juno Award nomination, Jaylene has received three Western Canadian Music Award nominations, and 17 Covenant Award nominations. Her songs "Rest in Me" and "Pray, Pray Again" were given songwriting awards by the Gospel Music Association of Canada in 2018, and she was named a winner for her songs "Fallin'" and "This Little Light" by the International Songwriting Competition.
A head-on collision in late 2004 took Jaylene off the road and stage for a number of years. During this time, she signed a co-publishing deal with Casablanca Media Publishing and fell in love with co-writing. An avid collaborator, she has co-penned songs recorded by artists including celebrated Canadian singer/songwriters, Brian Doerksen, Amy Sky and Luke McMaster, American Christian indy artist, JJ Heller, and New
Zealand's Country darling Jody Direen. Her co-penned song, "Mine", released by Direen, debuted in the Top Ten for iTunes in New Zealand. Jaylene has worked with songwriters, artists and producers in Nashville, Los Angeles, Vancouver and Toronto. Her song "Rescue Me", written
with producer Justin Gray, was produced by David Foster for singer Leah Danielle.
One of Jaylene's singles, a song called "Hope" (cowritten with Nashville's Jim Kimball), won a songwriting competition through the National Anglican Church of Canada. The prize included a video and a recording of the song, giving her the opportunity to work with heavy-hitters, Randall Stoll (Tom Cochrane, k.d.Lang) David Sinclair (Sarah McLachlan) Arun Chaturvedi (Luke McMaster, Don Amero) and Randy Murray (producer and former guitarist for BTO). In late 2012, however, a rare intubation injury during a routine surgery caused damage to one of Jaylene's vocal folds. After a year and a half of struggling to sing, a Toronto specialist discovered a hairline scar on her left cord, and performed reparative surgery. The experience caused Jaylene to reflect on her artistry moving forward, leading her right back to her spiritual roots.
“As a songwriter, I love to cowrite across genres, but had been feeling the internal pull as an artist, to go deeper with my own work and record music that makes room for longing, questions and doubts, as well as declarations of what my faith means to me.”
This led her into conversation with long-time colleague and acclaimed artist Steve Bell, who offered his studio at Signpost Music in Winnipeg, and encouraged her to explore devotional music further. Jaylene spent considerable time during the summer of 2015 writing songs for Potter and Clay, released at retail in late 2016. Steve Bell was at the helm as Executive Producer, along with award-winning producer Murray Pulver. Her first two singles from the album made the Top Ten for Christian radio in Canada. It is her best project to date, and has earned accolades from top Christian artists, songwriters and publications.
Currently, Jaylene lives in Winnipeg with her husband and two young daughters.
For more information, email info@jaylenejohnson.com
JAYLENE JOHNSON EVENT LIST
Recordings by other artists:
- Brian Doerksen: Face of God; Micah Six Eight; Just Before the Silent Night; Hallelujah Immanuel
- JJ Heller: Grow and Keep You Safe
- Jordan St.Cyr: I Look to Jesus, Lay it Down
- Luke McMaster: various songs including the title track "Trending" (released in 2016)
- Jody Direen: Mine (released as a single in New Zealand)
- Taylor Watson: Mine (EP)
- Hill KourKourtis and the Sky Heroes: Love Isn’t Safe
- Amy Sky: Alive, Ready to be Changed and Love Knows
- Noah Derksen: Man That I Am, Tennessee Lines, Wondering If I'm Gonna Last, Hoping You Would Stay
- Hannah Georgas: Stranger to Me
- Brant Pethick : A Million Stars (Top 10 Christian radio in Canada); Hope; Worth It; Christmas Time
- James Struthers: Baby Blues, Forever Girl, Lovers for the Night
- Rex Goudie: Undone (released as a single in Atlantic Canada)
- The Keats: Give Me a Ring (Single), Handsome (Single), Wildcard
- Leah Danielle: Rescue Me (produced by David Foster)
- Sierra Noble: I Love You More
- Kimberly Dawn: Nothin’ to Lose and Marryin’ Kind
- Darrelyne Bickel: I’m Gone and I’ve Had Enough
- Arun Chaturvedi: Borrowed Time, Man I Am, Anything For You
- Amelia Varni: I Want You to Go
- Janelle: Was It Worth It and Beautiful Scars
- Janelle Nadeau: Leavin’, Where I’m From, Caught in Between, Grant Us Pardon, Pour a Glass
- Ngoni Reid "Redemption" and "How Quickly Lights Can Fade"
- Keith and Renee "Gotta Surrender" and "Moonshine"
- Eagle & Hawk "The Great Unknown"
- Kimberly Dawn "The Marryin' Kind" and "Nothin' to Lose"
- Jade Turner "Maybe It's You"
- Tara Macri: Home
- Sara Petite: Blackbird
- Rosemary Siemens: You and Me
- Bobby Bowen Family Band: I Won't be Frightened Anymore
Awards and Nominations
- 2020 Winner of Folk, Children's, and Seasonal songs of the Year (GMA Canada Covenant Awards)
- 2019 Winner of Gospel Song of the Year (GMA Canada Covenant Awards)
- 2018 Winner of Country Song of the Year, and Gospel Song of the Year (GMA Canada - Covenant Awards)
- 2018 Winner for "This Little Light" in the International Songwriting Competition
- 2017 JUNO Award nomination for "Potter & Clay"
- "Potter & Clay" nominated for 6 Covenant Awards (2018); 6 Covenant Awards (2017) and 5 Covenant Awards (2004)
- 2017 Winner in the International Songwriting Competition for "Fallin'"
- Finalist in the Unsigned Only Competition for "When It All Goes South"
- Finalist in the ISC with song "When It All Goes South"
- 2011 Western Canadian Music Award nominee
- 2011 Juno Award nomination for "The Great Unknown" with Eagle and Hawk
- Single of the Year, ECMA nomination for “Give Me a Ring” with The Keats
- 2010 International Songwriting Competition (ISC) finalist for "Handsome"
- 2010 ISC semi-finalist for "Joy"
- 2009 ISC Finalist and semi-finalist
- 2004 WCMA nomination for Finding Beautiful
- 2003 Communities in Bloom songwriting contest winner for “Prairie Girl”
- 2002 Contemporary Pop Song of the Year winner (Gospel Music Association)
Licenses (TV/Film)
- "This Is Christmas" (sung by The Willows) for three Hallmark Christmas movies
- "Angels" for So You Think You Can Dance Season 11 Episode 5 (danced to by contestant Bridget Whitman)
- MTV's Keeping Up With the Kardashians (various cowrites)
- "Happiness" for Degrassi: The Next Generation
- "No Matter How Hard We Try" for Pretty Little Liars
- "Closer to You" for Pretty Little Liars
- "Everything Under the Sun" (sing by Cadence Grace) for Degrassi: The Next Generation
- "Stranger to Me" (sung by Hannah Georgas) for Degrassi: The Next Generation
- Grow licensed for "Degrassi: The Next Generation", Being Ericka and Unstable
- Song Winter Wish selected for Air Canada's InFlight playlist (2009)
- “Boomerang” on NBC's Lipstick Jungle
- “Only Have my Love” on The Black Donnellys for iTunes (NBC Universal)
- “Do Anything” on Beautiful People (ABC Family Network)
- “Butterfly Girl” for Dawson's Creek (replacement music for DVD release)
- “Not Forgotten”, “Sit Awhile” and “Wonder” for Joan of Arcadia
- “Butterfly Girl” lyrics and song for a book called Celebrate Changes : Girls Voices Matter, released in October, 2007