Your music is very much a modern twist on the jazz sound. What made you gravitate towards a jazz sound growing up?
I listened to absolutely anything and everything growing up! Although, one day I ended up buying this Great Ladies and Great Gents of Jazz compilation CD from Costco, of all places, and just fell in love with it. I ended up going through a pretty heavy jazz phase, listening to lots of Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong…and that led to me wanting to sing jazz music.

Well, that shows that music really was your calling if you can go into Costco and find a great jazz CD. I just buy big boxes of candy.
Dude, Costco has amazing compilation CDs! I’ve found so much great music at Costco, and at good prices of course. You just gotta keep your eyes open for ‘em!

We are increasingly seeing jazz influences turning up in the mainstream with artists like Norah Jones, and Canadians Michael Buble and Diana Krall. Being a similar young artist, does it make you excited that these artists are finding mainstream success with jazz-influenced music or are you feeling any pressure to make your sound more pop/top 40?
I don’t feel any pressure to make pop music because I’m a young artist… I think any artist might feel some sort of pressure to pen a hit, but I feel like you just can’t think of that. That’s just no fun, so I’m just doing what I’m doing, just being me and that’s what I’m going to stick to. Otherwise it becomes a “real” job!

You recorded your first album at age 14, and you released your new album I Dare You at age 19. How did you develop your song writing skills at such a young age?
That’s a tough question to answer.  I’m often asked how I’ve ended up doing the things I’ve done so far at this age, but I don’t know anything otherwise.  I’m just doing what I love to do and it’s taking me to some pretty cool places.

“Cool places” like Tokyo and London where you’ve performed.  How does this international experience enhance/develop your sound?
The international experiences have been spectacular and they’ve really added to who I am.  I think that traveling the world is important for any human being.  It’s expanded me as a person, and, in turn, has expanded my sound.  It’s given me more experiences which will give me more to write about. Therefore, hopefully, letting me grow as a songwriter.

In the list of strange experiences, performing on stage right after Jackie Chan in China has got to be pretty high up there. Can we expect a duet with him on the next album?
[Laughs] Yes, that was pretty weird! I find out I’m going to play a show in China and Jackie Chan ends up going right before me! Crazy times! Alas, I don’t think there will be any duets in the future…but I shouldn’t give up hope!

We spoke to Dan Mangan, also from BC, earlier this week about his Olympic experience…what was your experience of performing and seeing the transformation of Whistler during the Olympics?
Well, the Olympics were amazing!  I had an incredible time. I’ve certainly seen Whistler and Vancouver change over the past few years in preparation for the Olympics, Whistler in particular. Lots of building and construction. During the Olympics, the energy in Whistler was so positive.  Playing in my hometown for the Olympics was wonderful! There was such a warm reception from everyone. You’d think with the big crowds there would be some hostility between countries, but everyone was so happy to be there and so willing to co-exist with smiles. I’m sad that it’s over!

I had the chance to check out the peak to peak gondola when I was in Whistler a few weeks ago, but I never thought to perform a song with a band in it like you did. What brought that on? Can we expect a “Songs From The Gondola” album coming soon?
[Laughs] That’s a pretty neat idea…”Songs from the Gondola” album has a really nice ring to it. I wish I’d thought of doing the gondola thing, but what happened was that I got a call from a friend of mine asking me to do it as part of a 2010 Initiative [a youth based media project filmed during the Olympics to promote the province] and I said yes (of course).  They put together a number of videos that they shot around town.  For instance, They staged a musical during peak times in the Old Spaghetti Factory.

You’ve received a lot of praise already for your down-to-earth personality in the ego-driven music business. How do you stay grounded throughout your career?
Well, I have some pretty terrific people around me.  My Mom would never let my ego go anywhere but the ground (down-to-earth). I have to say though, it’s not tough to keep it there.  I live a really normal life with some interesting experiences thrown in here and there.

Why be part of Canadian Music Week?
Being a part of Canadian Music Week is a really cool opportunity to showcase your music and what you’ve been doing with the Canadian music industry. It’s great to see familiar faces and make new connections.

For someone who hasn’t heard your music yet, what’s your best sales pitch to get them to check you out?
I don’t know how to answer that, to be honest. I’m not much of a sales person! I’ll just leave it with the hope that my music and my performance speak for themselves and that people enjoy what I do.

Ali Milner, a promising young pop singer/writer based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, has won the March SingerUniverse “Best Vocalist Of The Month” Competition, for her performance of her song “I Dare You” (co-written by Don McLeod & Shawn Verreault). "I Dare You" is the title track of her latest album, which she released independently in October (2009).

“I Dare You” is a new song which recalls the classic '60s-style sound of hit ballads such as "Unchained Melody." This song has an understated arrangement (mainly acoustic guitar and strings) which is presented very well, and it provides an ideal setting to showcase Milner's clear, powerful vocals. Her vocals come in right as the song begins, and her singing remains compelling throughout the song. "I Dare You" was expertly produced by Don McLeod, who also plays guitar on this recording.

Milner (who is 19) was born in Toronto, and she moved with her family to Whistler, BC (a mountain resort north of Vancouver) at a young age. She learned to play piano at age 13, and started writing songs a year later. Interestingly, Milner grew up listening to and being inspired by such classic artists as Ray Charles, Sam Cooke and Dolly Parton. "My parents always played the older songs, and I connected with these classic songs more easily," recalled Milner.

When she was 14, Milner released her first album (self-titled Ali Milner), which was a collection of jazz songs that she recorded with a jazz trio in Toronto. It was also during this period that Milner performed in several music theater productions, and she had a regular gig performing at the Four Seasons Hotel. Milner has also performed shows live in Tokyo and London, which were set up by the Canadian embassy.

In March 2009, Milner began recording her album I Dare You, which consists of 13 songs mostly written by her (with Don McLeod). The album was recorded in a more traditional and organic way. "It was recorded live off the studio floor--it was recorded organically, onto tape," she explained.

Now with the release of I Dare You, Milner is continuing to gain exposure and land more gigs. She performed in Whistler when the Olympic torch passed through the city, and she recently opened a show for popular rock band Barenaked Ladies. "I just want to keep working hard promoting my album, do more shows, and build a strong online presence," she said. "I also want to continue to develop relations with record labels, managers and the music industry."

"I Dare You." Performed by Ali Milner of Vancouver, BC, Canada. Written by Ali Milner, Don McLeod & Shaun Verreault.

Just to give you a sense,  I'll tell you about Feb 5th and Feb 6th.  Feb 5th of course is the day the Olympic Torch comes to Whistler and the cauldron is lit.  We have watched it cross Canada, excitement mounting all the way.  So you can imagine how our little town is lining up to welcome  it.  We expect up to 9000 people at Skiers' Plaza.  And guess who will be playing with her band when it gets here.  How exciting is that?!

As soon as the Torch Ceremonies are over,   Ali has to grab her keyboard and race over to the Whistler Canada Centre (formerly known as the Whistler Library)  for a post Torch VIP reception hosted by the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation.  Now it's actually difficult to race when you are hauling a keyboard, so this should be something to behold.

Next morning, she is up for another reception at the Whistler Canada Centre which takes her to mid-afternoon.  And then, she may just have time for lunch before a special Olympic car picks her up to take her to Athlete's Village where she will perform for the world's best.  How cool is that!

So 4 gigs in 48 hours...and the Olympics don't even start for a week after that.

FUN!!!