From Childhood Busker to Award-Winning Artist
Yves Jarvis, born Jean-Sebastian Yves Audet in Calgary, has always followed his own creative path. The musician, who began busking on Calgary streets at just 10 years old, recently achieved one of Canadian music's highest honors: winning the prestigious Polaris Prize for his sixth album, All Cylinders.
The DIY Recording Process Behind the Winning Album
What makes Jarvis's achievement particularly remarkable is his fiercely independent approach to music production. Recorded during a period between record deals, the tracks that would become All Cylinders were initially intended as demos to attract label attention. This represented a departure for Jarvis, who typically doesn't create demos and prefers to capture musical ideas as they emerge.
The album came together in various Montreal locations, including his apartment, his parents' condo, and a friend's in-house studio that provided access to drums. Using free Audacity software on a half-broken laptop, Jarvis produced all tracks himself and played every instrument. He had planned to re-record the material professionally once securing a new label, but his new partners at Los Angeles-based In Real Life Records surprised him by wanting to release the original recordings.
They were really keen on putting that bunch of tracks out, and they didn't think that I needed to re-record it, Jarvis recalls. I didn't think it was half-baked or anything. It maybe brought a different kind of whimsy to the performances.
Musical Influences and Deluxe Edition Release
The original 11-track version of All Cylinders showcases Jarvis's eclectic musical range, spanning from indie R&B to warped takes on AM-radio easy listening. Tracks like I've Been Mean channel Beck-playing-funk vibes, while the title track features sunny Burt Bacharach-inspired grooves.
While promoting the album earlier this year, Jarvis mentioned listening exclusively to Frank Sinatra records for preparation, though he clarifies this was somewhat exaggerated. I was probably listening to George Strait as much and for the same reasons, he admits. His constant musical inspirations include David Bowie, Sly Stone, Stevie Wonder, King Crimson, and Guided by Voices.
The newly released deluxe edition of All Cylinders, available since November 2025, features five additional tracks including the new single Silver KG, a road song with country radio appeal. This expansion comes after the label convinced Jarvis to pare down the original track list for the initial release.
That part of the process hasn't changed at all since I was young, Jarvis says about his creative influences. I'm just completely animated by other music and film and theatre and whatever and just life in any aspect. I'll try and listen to at least a new album every day.
From his beginnings as a young Calgary busker to his current status as a Polaris Prize-winning artist, Yves Jarvis continues to demonstrate that taking the road less traveled can lead to extraordinary artistic achievements.
