Michael Kanne of Northern National Does 5.5

Nov 27, 2014 by Randy Combs

Keyboard player Michael Kanne of Northern National dropped by the JWS chat to talk about the band and their recent release, Young & In Love.

He says of the band, “The band came together randomly. I found the lead singer’s music online actually and Facebook messaged him about writing together about 3 years ago. We met up for a writing session and started just writing songs.”

Kanne continues, “We released a very interesting and weird album under a different band title about 2 years ago and the other Michael, Michael Wilson helped produce that album with us. We loved working with him and about a year ago brought him on the project and changed our name to Northern National.”

When you’re onstage, what’s different about you from the every day you?

Dallas band Northern National

Oh that’s a great question. Not a lot actually. Personally I’m a pretty outgoing person to start out with so onstage I am pretty much the same. However if I had to say one thing… I dance pretty much non-stop while playing keys so pretty much more dancing on-stage!

What or who inspires you to write/perform music?

It depends all the time. Sometimes other’s music, nature, people I love or care about, or just funny and different circumstances. Our album we released in September was based heavily on “love” but we have written lots of other songs about different circumstances and situations.

Tell us about the first time you heard yourself on radio.

It was a pretty cool experience. We have had heard some of our songs on different online radio stations here and there and every time its such a cool and exciting thing. We are still waiting to be driving around and here our song though… that would be unreal.

What’s been your most memorable performance ever?

We’d have a few I think. Our CD release show at House of Blues in Dallas was memorable because we had all our family and friends there and it was one of our first full band shows. Our very first sorority show was also memorable because we didn’t know what to expect but we got to walk in and sing for 300 screaming college girls – a very weird experience. But for me personally we recently opened up for a band named Green River Ordinance that has inspired a lot of how I write songs personally. So that was a very cool time.

What’s your favorite kind of sandwich and what would you wash it down with?

Easy one! Wheat bread, 3 levels of pepperoni, and pepper jack cheese with quite a bit of spicy mustard. – Wash it down with a seasonal beer of sorts. That just depends on the time of year.

What one song never ever leaves your music player’s playlist?

Hmm.. I’d say probably Human by Jon Mclaughlin or 5:19 by Matt Wertz. Both songs I grew up on and two of my favorite tunes of all time. However, the album that never leaves my playlist is Daylight by Ron Pope.

Thank you Michael! Here’s where you can find more about Northern National on Facebook and Twitter.

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnaQmMas8bQ[/youtube]