DECA: JJ Wilde’s Top Ten Albums

KITCHENER-NASHVILLE — Ahead of a busy summer of festival appearances, the Canadian alt-rocker reflects on the albums that keep her moving while on the road

Originally hailing from Kitchener and now based in Nashville, JJ Wilde─the stage moniker of Jillian Dowding─is embracing the serial EP model with Best Of Me (Part 1). With this five-song EP, the alt-rock artist sets her sights on a summer of back-to-back concerts and festivals, featuring appearances on both sides of the 49th parallel. Highlight festival appearances in Canada this summer include Quebec City’s Festival D’Été, Tall Pines Music & Arts Festival in Gravenhurst, Minnedosa’s Back To The Farm Festival, and Ottawa’s Bluesfest. Amidst the bustle of taking to the road for a busy summer, Wilde joins Cannopy for a list of the ten albums that inspires the best of her.

JJ Wilde on the cover of Best of Me Part 1

1. Del Water Gap — His self-titled album and I Miss You Already + I Haven’t Left Yet are up there with my all-time favourite albums. The writing hits me right in the feels with the self-deprecating tendencies and honesty that somehow feels sad but also kind of badass. I relate to that style of writing a lot where it’s almost an admission and self-awareness of one’s flaws and using that to either work through those things or just to get it out. I find myself writing in a very similar style using my life experiences and shortcomings to make something beautiful out of it.