There’s a strong chance that when you hear the name Shjanne Glover, you picture a gradient of deep blues penetrating the mist of a horizon as a wave breaks towards shore; maybe you picture the on-stage energy, captured during the wee hours of the night as a five-piece pushes the decibel level higher; or maybe you see a stylistic portrait of a trendy songwriter, well-dressed, in front of lush green woods.
What you might not picture, or hear rather, is the music Shjanne makes.
A successful photographer, recognized especially for his work within the live music scene, Shjanne is an accomplished musician with a growling, soulful, rock-songwriter disposition.
Since his debut single, Child Knight in 2018, Shjanne has released an eight track EP, Man In A Cage and has toured his way around the Ontario venue circuit, sharing his songs with festival audiences and in small rooms on Friday evenings.
In his latest effort, Conjure This, Shjanne challenges the softer, more spacious approach of his earlier songs, replacing atmospheric tonality with tighter, more structured pop-rock production. Replacing tunes that once felt more reserved with a punchier sense of confidence.
On Conjure This, I’m struck by the clear influences of alternative radio, polished rock and belted ballads that Shjanne leans into, and it feels natural.
In the title track, Glover’s low, growling vocal performance and melodic choices are reminiscent of Canadian rock singer-songwriter Billy Raffoul, while the production transports me to a mid-career Kings of Leon. Glover’s chorus “somebody conjure this, why’s it so complicated?” gives me the sense that he is finding his footing in a genre that’s closer to his heart than his previous efforts let on.
In his single Effervescence, he sings reflectively “is there still innocence?” as he looks inward. He avoids the cliches that often come when holding a mirror to oneself and in this track it feels like Glover is growing and questioning rather than ruminating.
Things get hymnal in Entertaining Wolves as it celebrates the gospel of love. While the smoothness of this track has a lulling affect that feels strangely calming, the message cuts through.
Having teamed up with Collingwood producer and founder of Four Winds Music Festival, Craig Smith, there are clear Simcoe roots in this EP. It’s evident that the two have a sonic chemistry, and you can hear the fun they’re having on the record. Springsteen and Chet Faker-esque beats weave their way throughout the textured songs in a unique expression of personal preference and producer influences.
At times, I can feel the energy of the studio and picture session players like the inimitable Nelson Beattie laying down a smooth sax part on Effervescence.
I’m Dire begins with a heavy rhythm section that carries on throughout the performance like a beating heart. As Glover sings “Oh baby just touch my hair and I’ll buy another drink cause this dive is selling a half-price dream,” I can feel the desire and desperation.
A well-placed guitar solo punctuates these feelings and gives the listener room for Glover’s lyrics to saturate, while drifting into the familiarity of radio-ready pop-rock.
While the tunes feel individual, the project feels like something that has been rounded into a spherical object so that it can be rolled back and forth between conversations of childhood and longing; between difficult seasons and peaceful awakenings; and between what once was and what has yet to be.
Listen to Conjure This by Shjanne Glover anywhere you stream music.
Written by Marshall Veroni
