The summer of 2020 will forever be remembered as, well, the summer that never was. But that hasn’t stopped Roxanne Potvin from releasing the perfect summer jam that can invigorate us now and for years to come.
“Jump In” continues the JUNO-nominated Potvin’s run of acclaimed self-produced releases starting with the 2016 album For Dreaming. Two years later she added elements of psychedelia and neo-soul for the EP All It Was, which Exclaim! described as, “Lovely stuff… There is not a false move here, with each track standing alone as a subtly-crafted gem.”
Having honed her home recording skills on these projects, the pandemic didn’t really hinder Ottawa-based Roxanne’s musical vision. Working remotely with her trusted crew consisting of drummer Olivier Fairfield, bassist Mark McIntyre, keyboardist Jesse O’Brien and guitarist Nick Zubeck, Potvin created “Jump In” as an anthem for anyone pondering making a fresh start.
She says, “I wrote this song originally thinking about the uncertainty at the start of some romantic relationships, when both people are just getting to know each other and getting close. Sometimes one person is moving a little slower than the other. But it can also be a call to go ahead and do whatever it is you’re scared of doing!”
Accompanying the single is a video showing Roxanne enjoying the outdoors, a reminder to all cooped up city dwellers of how rejuvenating that can be. The visuals underscore the song’s message as well, as she explains, “When I was writing ‘Jump In,’ I kept going back to the water metaphor and I imagined someone standing on the edge of a lake, hesitant to go in. So for the video I thought I’d just capture some of what I was seeing in my head as I was writing the song. The concept was really simple; just a walk through nature up to a dock, ending with the question of whether I’ll jump or not.”
Roxanne has done plenty of “jumping in” over the course of her career. Having established a reputation early on as a gutsy blues singer and guitarist, the itch to develop as a writer led to her to begin experimenting with different sounds and styles. In 2013 she put her career on hold to get formal training in audio engineering, a move that subsequently brought out untapped creative resources. From there, Potvin returned to a busy live performance schedule, and a large portion of 2019 found her on the road with Canadian Music Hall of Famer Colin James.
Described by the Globe & Mail as “smartly timeless,” and praised by the Ottawa Citizen for her “bracing voice and nimble melodies,” Roxanne Potvin continues to carve her own path forward with memorable songs like “Jump In” that connect with the soul.
So what’s holding you back?
Cover photo by Jen Squires
Live Photo by Orest Dorosh
