Celebrity Travel: Go away with Diana Panton

On her latest album “soft winds and roses,” two-time Juno winner Diana Panton offers her interpretation of classic songs like the Beatles’ “Here, There and Everywhere,” Elton John’s “Your Song” and Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.” Showcasing her beautiful, evocative vocals, the artist said her Scottish father’s record collection introduced her to jazz. “Growing up, I largely heard classical music played in our family home,” the Canadian vocalist said. “When I was a teenager, my dad put on a record by Ella Fitzgerald and I was immediately hooked. From this point on, we listened almost exclusively to jazz in the house. He had been quite the jazz aficionado during his younger years and enjoyed introducing me to all this wonderful music, which included Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra and the Modern Jazz Quartet.” To learn more about Panton, visit her website ( https://www.dianapanton.com/) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DianaPantonFanpage/). Her album may be ordered at https://srgjazz.lnk.to/DianaPanton.

Q: How did growing up in Hamilton, Ontario, influence you as an artist?

A: My father was an avid music listener. Once I had exhausted his record collection, I would go to [two] local Hamilton libraries and take out the maximum amount for each location, which was 10 cassettes and 10 CDs [weekly]. At this point, I had no intention of becoming a singer. But all this listening prepared me when auditions were held at my local high school to participate in a 24-piece big band. I eventually ended up singing with this group for almost a decade before I began recording as a solo artist. My time growing up in Hamilton was foundational to my artistic development.

Q: You had mentioned in the past that you’d like to go to Denmark. Have you been there yet?

A: Unfortunately, not yet, as COVID got in the way. I did manage to get to Paris. I had a wonderful time in Montmartre. I've stayed in this area before and it's starting to have a familiarity that I appreciate. For example, I spent an afternoon watching a local Easter egg hunt in the gardens of the Montmartre Museum. It was a treat for me to observe a slice of Parisian life.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?

A: Well, besides Denmark – which is still on the list – I would love to see Ireland. I have visited nearby Scotland and loved it, but I think I would enjoy Ireland, too. I gravitate toward greenery and cooler temperatures.

Q: How has travel influenced you as an artist?

A: Travel gives you a greater scope and understanding of the world, such as different ways of seeing and doing things, as well as universality. It has also given me a greater appreciation of home, in particular, the nature and expansiveness of the Canadian landscape. I bring all of these observations into my music, since my music is a reflection of my life.

Q: Do you have any upcoming trips planned?

A: One of my dream trips would be to return to Scotland and take a train that starts in my father's birthplace, Glasgow, and weaves through coastal towns, Highland forest and onto Fort William, with a final stop at the picturesque port town of Mallaig. I had hoped to make this trip with my father, but he passed away last year. I don't see myself making this trip in the near future, but it's now on my bucket list in memory of my dad.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: I've done a lot of long- distance traveling with my singing career. I've enjoyed trips to [places in] Asia and Russia. But lately, I've been happy to stay closer to home. Northern Ontario has some beautiful scenery, especially in fall when the leaves change color. I enjoy the quietude, sense of space and interaction with nature.

Q: Do you get to sightsee while on tour?

A: There is not always a lot of free time during a tour, but I always try to eat some of the local cuisine and visit at least one famous spot. Sometimes the performance venue is a destination in and of itself, such as a ride in a steam train up to a mountaintop terrace on the beautiful Brienzer Rothorn Mountain in Switzerland.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?

A: It's been years since I was there, but I was impressed with the affordability and old world charm of Portugal.

Q: What was a trip you took as a child that stands out?

A: As a baby and then again at the age of three, my parents took me to the Loire Valley in France. I don't remember much about these trips, but when I look back at the pictures, I can see that my parents were very happy to picnic, tent and backpack with me in tow. Who would have guessed this would have been the start of my lifelong love affair with France?

Q: Do you speak French?

A: I grew up learning French at school. My parents enrolled me in French Immersion and I later completed a master's degree in French literature. I taught in Paris for a year and returned to my hometown of Hamilton, where I also teach in French.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?

A: Paris, Taipei, Tokyo, Glasgow, Geneva.

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: Comfortable walking shoes, music and a camera.

Q: What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?

A: I will usually check out one or two tourist sites and recommended restaurants online. Since I travel to Paris regularly, I like to read a new book about the city before or during each trip. I'll try to visit one new spot each time. Otherwise, I like to revisit my favorite haunts.

Q: What is your best vacation memory?

A: One of my best vacation memories was visiting a Glasgow museum, which happened to be hosting a special exhibit of works by an artist named Cicely Barker. My father had given me a little book of fairies that I treasured as a child. It was an epiphany for me to discover the artist was Scottish. That was a really special day. During this first trip to Scotland, I realized how much of my aesthetic choices were intertwined with my Scottish DNA.

========

(Jae-Ha Kim is a New York Times bestselling author and journalist. You can reach her at www.jaehakim.com, follow her on Instagram and X @goawaywithjae, or read more from her on Substack (jaehakim.substack.com).)