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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday September 19, 2008 - 33 Artscene Oakville Beaver · FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2008 Oakville musician donating time, talent to promote local performers some of the people I know are still writing their songs, finally coming out with their CDs OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF and are only enjoying small successes and There are some people who are champi- finally getting airplay," Serré said. "We have a oning Canadian music, pushing for further lot of talent here that deserves exposure. I'm a exposure of our nation's own talented singers, giver and if I can inspire someone musically, bands and songwriters. that brings me amazing joy. I see it happen John Serré is one of them. around me all of the time. That is all I really As a singer-songwriter, Serré, 50, knows want out of this." the ins and outs of the business. Although the term singer-songwriter often He also served as the volunteer coordina- carries the connotation that the artist is a folk tor for the Halton Regional Writers Group for musician, Serré said the program breaks this the Songwriters Association of Canada from stereotype, featuring artists in different musi2003 to 2006, so he understands the frustra- cal genres, such as country, folk and pop. tion of his colleagues trying to make a career Serré estimates he put approximately 100 in the industry. volunteer hours into the show. Unhappy with the status quo, he recently "No one, including myself, got paid for started approaching local media about plug- this," he said. "But I think it is going to raise ging the talent right here in our own back- the profile in the region of local musicians. I yard. think it is important to give people some sort "You never hear most of the hit songs," he of return who are investing their souls into said. "They aren't on the radio because the their songs, and for them, it is nice to get musicians don't have the money behind behind the camera and them. It isn't because they share it with everyone. We "Music is a real problem in are not there." want people to hear what Local TVCogeco this country, especially getwe are doing." Channel 23 liked the idea. ting paid for it or getting to A major problem Serré Serré worked with the sta- the point where you can get sees with the Canadian tion this summer to develmusic industry is the lack some return in investment." op a series called In A of funding from federal, Song. Serving as the host, provincial and municipal John Serré the Oakville man volungovernments. He would Local singer-songwriter teered his time and talents like to see artists receive to record 10 30-minute grants, for example, so they can afford to episodes. The show debuts this week and runs record and release an album. on Thursday and Sunday nights at 9 p.m. He said he would also like to see more Serré said the process was gruelling, but business owners promoting live music. worth the effort. The station initially promised "We need to get live music happening four episodes, but saw the value of promoting again everywhere, like the cafés and coffee local talent, increasing the number of shops," he said. "They should open up to episodes to 10. Filming took place throughout musicians playing there because they have a the summer, wrapping up in late August. message and it is a universal communication. "The show was my idea, so it is very cool It brings joy to everybody." this worked out," Serré said. "What I pitched Serré said he is working to raise the profile to them was what I had basically been run- and get Canadian music out there through a ning through the Songwriters Association of website called Songwriters Source, at Canada. We would have monthly meetings www.theSongwritersSource.com, which he and I would meet all these people and it is the hopes to launch in 2009. classic example, especially here in Canada." "Music is a real problem in this country, In A Song starts off with Serré performing especially getting paid for it or getting to the one of his own songs. The program then fea- point where you can get some return in tures interviews and performances by two investment," he said. "This industry is hurting singer-songwriters. Many of the guests are and it is a sad thing in Canada. You would members of the songwriting group Serré think that people from Finger Eleven shouldoversaw in Halton. This means a large portion n't have to work anymore." of the 20 featured musicians are from the surThis web community for Canadian songrounding area. writers will connect them directly with con"I've been in this area for 15 years now and By Tina Depko LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER INSPIRED MUSICIAN: John Serré, an Oakville-based singer-songwriter, took his campaign to promote local talent to the media. His efforts were rewarded with a 10-episode show called In A Song, which debuts this week on TVCogeco Channel 23. sumers. CD, Welcome to the Swampland. His stage "One of the things I'm proposing is having name is Dirty John Wedgewood and he's them send me their wav file," he said. "If you known around this part of the province for his put every song on a website, you could choose musical elixir of blues, country, Southern 20 songs, the artwork for the jewel case and rock, folk and, what he said is, `a quart of CD, order it, pay for it and have it mailed out snake oil.' for around $15. That is what has to happen. When Serré isn't strumming his guitar, For Canadian songwriters, they can send me he's teaching others how to play the instrutheir original stuff and we've just eliminated ment. But like many performers working in record labels, distribution, publishing and all the Canadian music industry, it is impossible that other stuff. They're going to get 80 per to make a living from music alone. cent, then." "I was a shoebox songwriter for a long Serré said he has found the software to time, meaning you'd write a song, record it make this purchasing process possible. He and take that recording and put it in a shoealso has many other plans for the site, such as box under your bed or you'd send out songs featuring participating Canadian artists with and try to sell them," he said. Internet radio. "Now I'm more of a solo performer. I've "There will be an administrative fee and been playing for 36 years, I've made brochures things like mailing costs, but I don't plan on and business cards, but it is like pulling teeth making a lot of money off of this," he said. "It getting a gig. And people also think you'll play isn't about that for me." for nothing. Musicians shouldn't have to go Serré is currently working on his first solo through this. They deserve much better."