Arts and Culture

Q&A with JJ Wilde ahead of Denim on the Diamond

The Lizard caught up with the Canadian-born rocker ahead of her show

Denim on the Diamond will be rocking King’s Stadium over the Labour Day long weekend. Ahead of the show, Sarah Nick from 104.7 The Lizard, caught up with one of the biggest names in Canadian rock music right now, JJ Wilde.

Below is a Q&A where the two talked about life back on the road, Wilde’s favourite venue, a legendary Kelowna cocktail that is no longer around – but might make a return at Wilde’s show!

The questions and answers have been edited for clarity.

Sarah: After two years of cancelled shows, what has it been like to be back on tour?

JJ Wilde: It’s been amazing. I’ve been on the road basically since April. And the first couple shows were a little funny, because we were so used to being isolated. It was my first time back and they were some of the biggest shows I’ve played. It’s not like we just sort of eased into it. It was exciting and a great way to start, but I noticed my capacity for large crowds was different. I’m not saying it was a bad thing, it was just a moment of reflection where you realize what the past two years have been. There was also the second feeling of, ‘omg this is so exciting, and I can’t wait to be back.’ I don’t know if we ever took it for granted, but there was also the feeling of, ‘we are never to take this for granted ever again.’

Sarah: Your debut 2020 album, Ruthless, has been a huge success. The album won Rock Album of the Year at the 2021 Juno Awards, which makes you the first woman to win the award in 25 years, since Alanis Morissette in 1996. What was that like?

JJ Wilde: I was very excited and grateful and taken back by it. But then there was also a feeling of, ‘wait a second. Why is this taking so long? It’s not like there is a lack of talented female musicians.’ I was so thankful and grateful. If having put out that album opened the door for other women, that makes me so happy. But seeing this year’s Junos and The Beaches, another full female band winning. This feels like a change, and it feels like a really good one.

Sarah: You are going to be playing Denim on the Diamond, which is in a baseball field, which is very, very unique. I want to know, what’s the coolest venue you’ve ever played?

JJ Wilde: Once we were finished the Canadian leg of the past tour, we went over to France and one of the venues we played is this coliseum. That is like thousands and thousands of years old. It was a coliseum that real gladiators used to fight at. You can tell. We walked there and were like, ‘what is this? How is this a venue?’ We were opening for KISS. It just looked like a movie set. None of it looked real. It was surreal. That, I would say, is the top venue I’ve played. The venue I want to play the most is Red Rock Amphitheatre.

JJ Wilde: Okay – I actually have a question for you? I’ve only been to Kelowna a couple times. But when I was there, quite a few years ago, there was a bar called Fernando’s, that had an avocado margarita. Do they still have that?

Sarah: No, Fernando’s closed down! It was the first drink I ever had when I arrived in Kelowna, and it was the most delicious thing I ever had in my entire life. It was so heartbreaking.

JJ Wilde: It’s been five years since I’ve been there, and I still think about that margarita!

Sarah: It was the best thing ever. Another restaurant needs to pick up on that recipe.

JJ Wilde: I am going to bring avocados and margarita mix and I am going to make avocado margaritas backstage at Denim on the Diamond! That is my promise!

JJ Wilde will take the stage Saturday, Sept. 3. Tickets are available online.

Published 2022-08-24 by Kelowna10 Staff

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