Artist Statement
"I’m a Canadian songwriter from Regina, known locally for my folk-rock tunes and as coordinator of a unique outdoor education program called Songs for Nature. I write and perform on piano and guitar, drawing on experiences I’ve had as a scientist, teacher, dad, and spouse. Apart from music, I’m a professional ecologist and museum curator who studies and tries to raise awareness about climate change, wildlife conservation, and other sustainability issues.
All aspects of my work and daily life feed into my music. I’ve written social justice and environmental songs, following trailblazers like Pete Seger, Bruce Cockburn, and more recently Jesse Welles, but most of my tunes are more intimate and introspective, with lyrics, melodies and rhythms that are ideal for radio play, As a performer, I am relaxed and comfortable on stage, with a dry sense of humour and a sound that includes hints of Greg Keelor, John Prine, and John Hiatt. Along with nice musical moments, my shows always include a lot of stories, laughter, and a few sing-alongs, partly to keep people engaged, but also to help them have a deeper, more fulfilling experience.
My work as a performing musician is inspired by humble, patient, and respectful teachers and communicators who are aware of how challenging life can be and are always trying to learn and lead by example. Through my songs and shows I try to give people opportunities to reflect on the world and how they relate to it, similar to the experiences that authors like Stan Rowe and Barbara Kingsolver provide through their books and essays. From a musical perspective, some ideas are best explored through a ballad or a quiet song that tells a story, while others call for straight-ahead rockers or boogie piano.
In a world facing so many problems, I want my music to draw people in, to the point where they set their worries aside for a while and think about some of the good things in life. This means writing songs that are relatable and playing shows where everyone feels welcome."
Bio
In a world full of beauty, mystery and uncertainty, Saskatchewan folk-rocker Glenn Sutter (sue-ter) offers up his reflective style of music to help people get away for a while and find common ground through shared humanity, joys and truths.
Whether playing solo or with his band, Glenn’s engaging stage shows and cozy house concerts feel equal parts intriguing and familiar, as though catching up with an old friend. His good-natured performances spark a gentle fire, warm and vibrant, that invites audiences to gather round.
Glenn has released five albums and numerous singles since his 2008 debut, including “Weight of the World,” which was selected as the Saskatchewan track for David Suzuki's Playlist for the Planet (CBC Radio Three and Universal Music). To promote each release, he has toured throughout western Canada and has played big stages across the prairies, including Regina’s Symphony Under the Sky, the Brandon Folk Festival and All Folk’d Up in Montmartre.
With a voice that is timeless and true, Glenn’s sound is a distinctive mix of his musical influences – Greg Keelor, John Lennon, John Prine, John Hiatt and Sheryl Crow, to name a few. His authentic musicality stems from a life-long passion for piano paired with an improvisational, finger-style fusion of folk and blues guitar.
The youngest of five children in a music-loving family, Glenn grew up in Souris, Manitoba, and spent a lot of time exploring the shifting dynamics of the Souris River. These early-life experiences influenced the trajectories of both his music and his career path.
He began classical piano at age four, violin soon after, and played trumpet and French horn in school band. As a teenager, he took music lessons through Brandon University, and he still loves diving into the classics – particularly Beethoven and Mozart. As a young adult, he played in rock and blues bands, trying his hand at drums, guitar and harmonica, and he started writing songs.
After earning a master’s in zoology at the University of Manitoba, Glenn worked on global change projects for the Royal Society of Canada in Ottawa. When his wife Joyce, also a biologist, landed a job in Regina, they moved back to the prairies, where they raised a family and Glenn completed a PhD on grassland songbirds. Currently, Glenn is curator of human ecology at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum and adjunct professor at the University of Regina. In 2016, as part of his museum work, he launched the Songs for Nature program, giving experienced and emerging songwriters a chance to pursue musical ideas while deepening their connections to nature.
As a singer-songwriter, Glenn’s lyrical themes are informed by his observations of human nature and the larger world. His latest album “Truth and Lies," recorded and co-produced with Juno-nominated, gold-record producer Orion Paradis at Soulsound Studio, is a compelling reflection on what it means to feel at home.
Looking ahead, as Glenn eases into retirement, he aims to pursue music full-time. Part of the plan is for he and Joyce to tour as much as possible -- Glenn creating and performing music and Joyce offering her True Nature Writing program along the way.
“My music is not meant to change the world,” he says. “I simply want to add something positive and memorable to my small part of it. Life can be stressful and full of worries, so let’s connect through a song and feel better for a while.”
