Canadian singer-songwriter JP Saxe believes that it can be loving to let someone go. Photo: Azman Ghani/The Star
When Canadian singer JP Saxe touched down in Malaysia, he vowed to make the most of his visit.
As a first-timer here, Saxe – whose full name is Jonathan Percy Starker Saxe – was eager to indulge in various local food and sights.
In just a day, the singer- songwriter tried nasi lemak, durian, and even stopped by Batu Caves.
While Saxe loved the “delicious” food and “mesmerising” sights, the real adventure, he said, was meeting the people here.
“I’m only able to come here because they have listened to my music and let my songs be a part of their lives,” the 30-year-old told StarLifestyle in an exclusive interview.
Saxe sat with StarLifestyle for an exclusive interview earlier in May. Photo: Azman Ghani/The StarSaxe was in Kuala Lumpur last month for his A Grey Area World Tour, which kicked off in Canada on Jan 27.
The Los Angeles-based singer has played in various places across Asia – including South Korea, Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Before he hit big time, Saxe was performing at a piano bar in Toronto, Canada. He was only 14 then.
To Saxe, music was an art that allowed him to discover himself in a way nothing else could, even until today.
He would continue performing at every possible open mic he could find for the next few years before finally moving to LA after turning 19 to “chase the dream”.
In 2017, Saxe released his first single Changed, followed by tracks like Anybody Else, The Few Things, The Same Room and more.
He finally made his big break in 2019 when his love duet, If The World Was Ending, with his ex-girlfriend, singer Julia Michaels, topped airplay charts globally.
Apart from receiving over a billion streams on Spotify, If The World Was Ending scored Saxe a Song Of The Year nomination at the 2021 Grammy Awards.
While the singer acknowledged the nomination had opened more doors for him, he cares more about the impact of his music.
“I’d rather 10 people be deeply moved by a song than a million people who don’t care.
“The awards are cool, but the most rewarding thing is knowing my music can have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.
“That it can help them feel closer to themselves and and articulate their own emotions in a healthy way,” he said.
Indeed, Saxe has managed to connect with millions of fans on a personal level.
The 1.3 billion streams on his debut album Dangerous Levels Of Introspection, released in 2021, is testament to that.
Saxe's debut album, 'Dangerous Levels Of Introspection', has amassed over 1.3 billion streams on Spotify. Photo: HandoutThe success of his songs, he said, can be credited to his ability to talk about love, loss and heartbreak without limiting himself.
“If you don’t allow yourself to be seen or known, it’s very hard to feel close to other people,” he said.
It’s not surprising then that Saxe had chosen to bare it all once again in his sophomore release, A Grey Area.
The 13-track project revolves around the theme that love can be beautiful, meaningful and important without having to last forever.
“I think it’s a sad idea that if a love doesn’t last, then it was a waste. I really don’t believe in that at all.
“I think it can be really loving to let someone go, and I wanted to use some songs to explore the validity that love doesn’t have to be endless,” he explained.
The story behind this album is interesting, given that it comes hot on the heels of Saxe’s breakup with Michaels.
According to US magazine People, multiple sources close to the pair confirmed that they had called it quits after three years of dating.
The breakup rumours heated up when both musicians posted snippets of songs with lyrical references to a romantic turbulence.
Despite speculations surrounding his private life, Saxe accepts it as an occupational hazard.
“I think every job comes with its professional hazards. If you’re an athlete, you risk concussions or a broken arm.
“If you’re a singer-songwriter, you risk people knowing a little bit more about your life and being more exposed,” he said.
1. What do you enjoy most about being a singer?
Doing tours that bring me to fans from various places.
If I weren’t making music, I’d want to travel the world anyway.
The fact that I get to make music while travelling at the same time feels like a huge blessing.
When you make music that’s rooted in sincerity, those who resonate with that music are often people who would turn out to be your friends.
So this tour really feels like an opportunity for me to meet a roomful of friends in various cities.
2. You’re very open when discussing topics like love and loss. Was it difficult for you to open up to the world at first?
Yes, definitely.
I think for a long time, especially when I was younger, I associated strength with keeping it all together... always projecting this stoicism and concealing my feelings, you know?
Saxe used to struggle with embracing vulnerability. Photo: Handout
Now, I think of strength as having the courage and ability to be honest about emotions.
I believe it’s more powerful to be open about yourself than hiding behind a mask.
It’s in that vulnerability that we build intimate connections in our friendships, family relationships and romantic relationships.
I often find that our most “human” or “alive” moments are when many feelings co-exist.
3. What’s the most painful experience you had to go through and what did you learn from it?
The hardest thing I had to go through was losing my mum. She passed away in early 2020.
But as painful as that was, my efforts to feel closer to her since her passing have led to some of the most beautiful moments of my life.
My mum lived in Peru for a very long time and was a fluent Spanish speaker.
I didn’t speak Spanish before she died, so learning the language became my way to feeling close to a part of her which I didn’t have a relationship with when she was still alive.
I truly believe that we can still have and build relationships with people who aren’t with us.
That was something I didn’t realise before my mum died... that my relationship with her would keep growing.
I also wrote two songs about her – Anywhere and Sing Myself To Sleep. It was the hardest thing to write about, but it’s also the most meaningful.
4. What message do you have for those struggling to embrace vulnerability?
Strength doesn’t come from your ability to hide your emotions. Instead, it comes from your ability to share it with the people you love, even when it’s scary.
5. What can fans expect in your upcoming album?
My next album is on a completely different subject matter because it’s going to be about my relationship with myself.
I’ve written a lot about what it means to be myself in the context of relationships, but this one is going to be a different sort of introduction.
JP Saxe recently released a special album titled Live On Stage, featuring performances from his recent tour.
