It’s official! The uber talented Dan Kanter, who we all know and love as Justin Bieber’s lead guitarist and musical director, has signed on as a new judge for season 7 of YTV’s hit Canadian talent show, THE NEXT STAR. Dan’s impressive resume includes co-producing two of Justin Bieber’s albums and co-writing his song “Be Alright” on the album ‘Believe.’ He joins Tara Oram and Mark Spicoluk at the judges’ table and together, they will soon embark on a cross-Canada tour searching for Canada’s next star – it could be YOU!
THE MAGAZINE exclusively sat down with Dan to talk about his new role with the show, what he will be looking for during the auditions, crazy moments with the Biebs and Musicology.
You are the new judge on THE NEXT STAR this season! How excited are you?
I am very excited to be a judge on THE NEXT STAR! I got to perform with Justin on the finale of the second season, and on the fourth season I was a producer for an amazing singer named Shania Fillmore who is also in THE NEXT STAR: SUPERGROUP. Now, I’m even more excited to be involved in a bigger capacity as a judge.
What are you looking for in The Next Star?
Someone who has a magnetic enthusiasm, amazing charisma and you can just tell is so passionate about music that everyone around them can’t help but be in awe of them singing.
You play multiple instruments, you sing and you are a songwriter, so all of these talents together make you super qualified for this job as a judge. What can people expect from your critiques on the show?
I’m going to be very honest but also encouraging. I’ve been really fortunate to work with a lot of younger singers who have amazing natural talent. I really enjoy taking that natural talent and honing in on strengths and weaknesses and really improving it.
Everyone knows that you are Justin Bieber’s killer lead guitarist and musical director. What is something Justin’s fans would be surprised to know about him?
He really likes hard rock music because his dad Jeremy loves hard rock music. Justin actually knows the words to a whole bunch of Metallica and Ozzy Osbourne songs and you would never expect that because he always sings Boyz II Men, Usher and Michael Jackson, but he also has this very serious hard rock influence. If you see him live he rocks the stage even though he is a pop artist.
Justin is also a great cook. One weekend we were renting a house up in Bali and we had a beautiful house and we had an incredible dinner. In the morning I woke up and I was just watching TV and Justin came down and he said, “Dan, are you hungry? I’ll make you some breakfast!” He went and he made me a whole breakfast and it was actually amazing! I couldn’t believe it!
What do you say to non-Beliebers to make them see what you see?
Justin plays many instruments. He plays guitar, drums, piano, he sings, he write songs, and he’s an incredible dancer. A lot of my friends who weren’t Beliebers came to see the concerts when we played in Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal and they were blown away by seeing him live and they became Beliebers just seeing him in concert and seeing that he’s the real deal.
What has been the craziest moment you have experienced while touring with the numerous acts you have worked with?
There’s two. When I was playing with Fefe Dobson, we got to open for Justin Timberlake’s UK tour and that was the first time I ever played in front of an arena and that was so exciting. When I was in my high school band, I treated every show like we were playing the Air Canada Centre so to finally be on that arena stage was such a dream come true. I encourage any singer that I work with to treat an audition, a performance or whatever it is like they’re playing the Air Canada Centre.
Then, of course with Bieber we had many crazy things happen on tour because Beliebers are incredibly dedicated and sometimes borderline crazy. One time we were in Oslo, Norway. There are always lots of Beliebers outside the hotel, but in Oslo there were just thousands and thousands. Justin and I played at a radio station across town and the Beliebers moving from the hotel to the radio station on foot registered on the Richter scale, so that’s the craziest. Like, they caused a shift in the platonic plates of the earth!
What is it like coming back to your hometown, Toronto, while on tour with Justin?
Toronto is really exciting because I’m from here, so to see Beliebers in my hometown camped outside hotels in areas that I frequent is really exciting for me and sort of more special because this is where I live.
You’re working on your Masters in Musicology. How important is education in the life of a musician?
It’s extremely important. For me, it’s not only important learning to play music and learning to analyze music. You see, York University’s program is very interdisciplinary and I got to work with a lot of dancers, film students and all sorts of arts and that really prepared me for the type of work that I do which is very collaborative. When we’re conceptualizing these big pop shows, often it is working with wardrobe and choreographers, so studying music really has prepared me for the profession that I do.
The Canadian auditions for season 7 of THE NEXT STAR start April 26. Do you have any advice for kids who are currently preparing to audition?
I think it’s very important to be very rehearsed, and to play how you practice. I would give 100% in rehearsal and then at the audition not give 120% percent, not give 80% percent – do what you practice and practice how you plan to play. I also would encourage everyone auditioning to really be brave to be different and to really stand out. I would encourage the kids auditioning to not just try to pick something safe but to choose a song that really stands out.
Thank you, Dan! We can’t wait to see you as a judge during season 7 of THE NEXT STAR.