Toronto native Kiefer Sutherland has recorded a country music album, and yes, he knows that lots of people won’t take him seriously as a musician. But he doesn’t care. This summer, the former 24 star is headlining the TD Toronto Jazz Festival. We caught up with him to talk about his album and where he loves to hang out while in Toronto.
What made you decide to put together a music album?
The irony is that I had no intention of making an album. I’m acutely aware of the stigma of an actor doing music, but I had written a bunch of songs that I liked, and I wanted to record a few of them. I was going to send them out as demos in the hopes that maybe another artist would record them. A friend of mine suggested that I keep doing them. I said, “No way,” but he took me out, and we got drunk, and all of a sudden it sounded like a better idea.
How personal are the songs?
It’s probably the closest thing I’ve got to a journal, and it chronicles everything from walking in the wrong direction — which is walking toward a bar — when I should be walking home, to the loss of friends to falling in love.
What’s it like performing these songs and revisiting moments?
That’s been the greatest surprise. I thought all of my years working as an actor would prepare me, but I wasn’t prepared for being as open or vulnerable as I ended up feeling when I was playing these songs.… I’ve had an incredibly fortunate life, but I’ve still gone through crap.
What appealed to you about the country music genre?
I’m a huge fan of writers like Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Merle Haggard, Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson, all of those guys. Not only do they write about the difficulties of life, but they also write in a first-person narrative, which really appeals to me. I do not believe Johnny Cash shot a man in Reno and watched him die, but he put himself in that role, and that, in many ways, is like playing a character.
Now you were an actual cowboy at one point, right?
Yeah, I roped in the rodeo circuit. I did that for about 10 years competitively. I had a ranch with about 500 head of cattle, and I started roping that way. I had a natural affinity for it.
What can people in Toronto expect from your show?
There’s going to be a dialogue. I will actually take the time to say where I was when I wrote the songs, and why. And nine times out of 10, you’ve probably had a very similar experience.… And I have a really, really good band.
If Trump becomes president, will we see you move back here?
Well I’m already shooting [the TV series] Designated Survivor here, so as far as I’m concerned, I’m already home. I’m coming back in July, and I’m here for at least four years.
What are your favourite hangouts?
It’s funny — I’m playing the Horseshoe [on June 27], and that place has always been one of my favourite bars. Playing the Horseshoe is going to be like coming home and playing in my living room.
