Jye Cannon

Until the moment he stepped on stage, the general public of Geelong had not heard Jye Cannon sing. The performance that followed was flawless and left the audience with goose bumps. Armed with just his electric piano and vocals, Cannon showed why he is one of Geelong’s hidden talents and will be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Casually chatting to me after another day at school, Cannon relates that although the experience of performing in the battle was a little nerve-racking at first, it was a very positive experience overall.
“At first, being backstage with all the other bands was a bit intimidating because I was the only solo artist on the bill. Playing on stage allowed me to express myself, and once I started singing, I was showing the audience who I truly was. It made me feel really relaxed on stage, but at the same time I was exposed to my audience. It was a very eye-opening experience. When the first band took to the stage, I thought that maybe with a bit of luck, I might be able to get to third place.
“I was not expecting to take out the crown by any means. Once again, this year we had a lot of talent around and winning gave me a lot of pride. I am not a very proud person, so to pull that off was quite a surprise.”
Ever since hearing ‘First Love’, a piano instrumental by Japanese artist Hikaru Utada, Cannon has been fascinated by the instrument. With sweeping dynamics throughout the four-minute track, it is the delicacy within the sound that sparked Cannon’s interest.
“What I love about First Love is that it is one of the only things that has made me think about the future. I took that into my stride and since then every time I have seen a piano I just want to burst out into song on it. I then got a lesson off my music teacher and then was left to my own devices. I think that has had a positive effect on my music because it developed my skills in improvising and composing.”
Influenced by the likes of modern piano greats such as Regina Spektor and Missy Higgins, Cannon is writing heartfelt songs with a strong message behind them. Honing in on a more acoustic sound these days, Cannon is following in the footsteps of his musical heroes in terms of composition. “One of the things that I have found with Regina Spektor’s music is that it is very abstract in terms of song structures and that is primarily because she is a classically-trained pianist.”
A new fresh face to the music industry, Cannon is building on his original repertoire as he looks to the near future and a CD release. Whether it’s a full-length disc or just an EP is undecided yet; however, he needs the support of the local Geelong scene. “I am new to the industry and I am looking to get my music out there. I don’t really know how to go about it but that is the next step within my music, getting something on tape.”
If you missed the chance to see Jye Cannon at the Battle of the Bands, don’t fret, because Geelong is hosting the regional final of the competition at Courthouse ARTS on November 7. Mark that one in your diaries, and see you there!
Written by Tex Miller, Photo by Half Shots