Given a guitar by his grandmother when he was 15 years old, John quickly put his background in music from playing the piano and trombone to good use. After playing in a few different bands, John began to delve into songwriting at the age of 19. Now 24, he has already played all over Wisconsin, as well as in 20 other states and the Canadian province of New Brunswick. Along the way John has opened for and shared the stage with the likes of Ben Kweller, Ari Hest, Jeffrey Foucault, OM Trio and Steve Poltz.
A well-known performer in his home town of Madison, WI (John recently won a MAMA award for "Folk/Americana Album of the Year" for his first album, Dusk Came Slow), he is now touring the greater United States. Along the way he has played cities from Kansas City to New York City, Cleveland to Austin, TX, and was even invited to the 2007 Wakarusa Festival in Lawrence, KS. In July of 2007, John released his 2nd album in just two years, entitled Our Love Was Made For Canada, and is currently performing the brand new songs at acoustic venues... everywhere.
Dane101 Storytellers: John Statz w/ Justin Jahnke from dane101 on Vimeo .
PRESS
WNUR - Airplay Show
"Statz's substantial acoustic tracks make Our Love... an album for the outdoors if there ever was one, a profound piece of Americana."
WNUR 89.3 - Northwestern University campus radio
Evanston, IL
"Our Love Was Made For Canada" The Onion Review
"Madison songwriter John Statz's patient grasp of acoustic folk should soon put him alongside state favorites like Jeffrey Foucault"
The Onion
June 28, 2007 | Volume 43 Issue 26
theonion.com
The Capital Times - "Our Love..." Review
"His voice, slightly nasal but bravely forthright, is the most unassuming one in this survey. He sounds as if he picked up a guitar from his bed and said, "Hey, wanna hear somethin'?" Yet his music is as affecting as any of them. Statz's take on "Can the Circle Be Unbroken?" is quirky, funky and fresh, without any pretense. But his own songs pack a quiet punch. His concise storytelling in the offhandedly chilling "Every Other Time" manages to telescope complex socio-political dynamics. Like Foucault, Statz, 23, is an artful protester, deftly spinning acrid, metaphoric variations on the song's loaded title word."
March 19, 2008
Ten For the Road - Capital Times article
Upstage Magazine - New Jersey
"His music contains beautiful guitar playing and a voice that harkens back to the golden age of folk artists when they honed their craft performing whenever and wherever they could. The raspy vocals add a certain honesty to his words. When he covers the classic "Can The Circle Be Unbroken" he shows an ability to tap into the gospel heritage of folk that many ignore."
September 12, 2007 | Special Online Article
Upstage Article
Omaha Reader press
"Anyone who likes Bob Dylan — which should be everyone — can groove along with John Statz's soothing, soulful and skillful scores delivered with his Dylanesque soft voice. His passionate songwriting, cool guitar and harmonica also evoke Dylan."
Omaha Reader
January 17, 2008 | by Sally Deskins
Crow and Wolf Music review of OLWMFC
"Stark, harrowing, serious, John Statz gives you every reason to take him seriously as he sings of rage and despair."
Crow and Wolf Music!
John Statz's ideal significant other would be a very polite outdoorsy type with a passion for hockey, beer and quality, affordable health care. At least that's the impression I get from the title of his sophomore release "Our Love Was Made For Canada."
Wisconsin State Journal - Rhythm 7/5/07
