John Switzer
John Switzer
John Switzer | |
|---|---|
| File:John Switzer Photo | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Error: Need valid birth date: year, month, day Guelph, Ontario |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, Songwriter, Producer, Educator |
| Instruments | Bass Guitar |
| Website | https://johnswitzer.ca/ |
John Switzer (born November 18, 1955) is a Canadian music producer, bassist and educator. Switzer is best known for being a frequent collaborator and producing partner of singer/songwriter Jane Siberry, as well as his production work with other notable artists, such as Andrew Cash, The Grievous Angels, Rita Chiarelli, and Waltons. He also frequently works with his wife, filmmaker Ingrid Veninger.
Early Life
Switzer was born in Guelph, Ontario in 1955 to Dorothy and Clayton Switzer as the eldest of three siblings. His father was Dean of Agriculture at University of Guleph[1], and John spent summers working on the university farms. It was at the University of Guelph where he met frequent collaborator Jane Siberry.
Career and Collaboration with Jane Siberry
John Switzer and Jane Siberry met in Guelph, Ontario in the 1980’s and began performing together in the band Java Jive on the Ontario campus circuit.[2][3] After Siberry decided to pursue a solo career, she retained Switzer as her musical and personal partner.[2] Their partnership was marked by a deep musical synergy, with Switzer's production skills complementing Siberry's unique artistic vision. This collaboration led to the production of several of Siberry's notable albums, including No Borders Here, The Speckless Sky, and The Walking. Their partnership was marked by a mutual respect for each other's talents and a shared commitment to pushing the boundaries of what was possible in music production. Although their romantic relationship dissolved, their musical partnership sustained.
2010’s- present
John Switzer teaches audio production at Seneca Polytechnic and is the Program Co-ordinator of the Independent Music Production (IMP) and Independent Songwriting & Performance programs at Seneca College in Toronto.[4] He also performs as a session bassist, and as bassist for artists such as Collette Savard & The Savants.[5]
Film Work
Switzer was Music Consultant and Music Director for filmmaker Patricia Rozema's White Room (1990) and I've Heard the Mermaids Singing (1987).
Switzer produced the score for Zero Patience (1993) by filmmaker John Greyson.
Switzer worked as production sound recordist on a number of the films of Ingrid Veninger, including MODRA (2010), Porcupine Lake (2017), The World or Nothing (El Mundo O Nada) (2019), and Crocodile Eyes (2024).
Personal Life
Switzer is married to filmmaker Ingrid Veninger. They have two children, Hallie and Jacob. Jacob is a musician who goes by the name Jay Feelbender[6], and has been involved in several bands, including Goodbye Honolulu, Luna Li, Creep Creep Beach, and HeadSpace. Jacob's music spans various genres, and he has gained recognition for his work in the alternative pop and rock scenes.
Selected Production Discography
Jane Siberry
- The Speckless Sky (1985)
- The Walking (1987)
- Bound by the Beauty (1989)
The Waltons
- Lik My Trakter (1992)
Rita Chiarelli
- Road Rockets (1991)
- Just Gettin' Started (1994)
Anne Lederman
- Fiddlesong" (2002)
Leela Gilday
- Spirit World, Solid Wood (2002)
Nathan
- Jimson Weed (2004)
Awards
- Producer of the Year at the 1986 Casby Awards for Jane Siberry's The Speckless Sky
- Best Recording Producer in the 1996 NOW magazine Reader's Poll
- Producer of the Year at the 1996 Porcupine Awards
- Best Producer/Engineer trophy at the 2000 Aboriginal Music Awards
References
- https://www.johnswitzer.ca/switzdisc.html
- https://www.discogs.com/artist/334059-John-Switzer
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0842825/
This article "John Switzer" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:John Switzer. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
- ↑ "SWITZER, Clayton". GuelphToday.com. 2024-07-03. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Trimaximalist (2018-01-12). "Jane Siberry -". Retrieved 2025-01-29.
- ↑ "Jane Siberry - The Eccentric Charms of a Pop Poet". Nicholas Jennings. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ↑ "John Switzer - Seneca Polytechnic, Toronto, Canada". www.senecapolytechnic.ca. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ↑ "John Switzer". collette savard & the savants. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
- ↑ "Jay Feelbender". Jay Feelbender. Retrieved 2025-03-24.
