We are delighted to announce the official release of our first tea book, part of a new, multi-genre series of shorter books that focus on the North. And You Can’t Help But Listen is a collection of poetry and song lyrics by Jamie Jackman. Jamie is best known as the main songwriter and vocalist for the award-winning Silver Wolf Band, who are rapidly becoming icons of contemporary Labrador culture.
And You Can’t Help But Listen contains 60 poems. As acclaimed singer-songwriter Amelia Curran writes in her foreword to the collection, in some poems “Jamie transforms his living lyrics into equally compelling poetry.” In others he offers brand new pieces conceived without music, specifically for the form.
Maggie McLean of The East has called Jamie’s lyrics “profoundly stunning,” and James Melanson of Canadian Beats finds them “honest and sincere.” At the official book launch on June 17 in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, hosted by the Words of Warmth Literary Festival, Jamie himself said that his words are rooted in his deep connection with Labrador. Drawing inspiration from places like Adlatok Bay, Butter and Snow, and Trap Cove, he reaches out with universal themes that will connect with readers and listeners from all over the world.
You can hear Jamie speak about the book and read one of his poems on a CBC Labrador Morning podcast, recorded live on radio the morning of the launch.
