What have been your musical epiphany moments? When I realized that I could write songs and develop the melody at the same time. My voice became my instrument.
Talk to us about the song-writing process for you. What comes first, the idea? A riff? The lyrics? How does it all fall into place?The idea and concept of the song comes first for me. I have a 15 minute speed drill that I use when I'm writing songs which helps be to stay sharp and be creative but it has also produced several songs for me. The lyrics are an ongoing process for me as I continue to edit and fine tune each song until I'm satisfied with the outcome.
Who has influenced you the most?Moe Berg is a very successful musician and producer in Canada and I have learned so much from him over the past few years. I am also influenced by great songwriters like Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen and the process they have for writing songs.
Where do you look for continuing inspiration? New ideas, new motivation?I am gravitating towards the Blues genre and I look for new artists that are breaking through into main-stream. Samantha Fish is a great young talent with a unique style.
We're all a product of our environment. Tell us about your hometown and how that reflects in the music?I grew up in Barrie, Ontario which was a blue collar town north of Toronto. We had some great Canadian bands back then including Rush, Max Webster and April Wine that we would listen to and then go to their concerts whenever we could.
You have one chance, what movie are you going to write the soundtrack for? The Hustler. I like to write edgy Blues songs about characters that are in this type of movie. My Friend Jimmy is a Memphis Blue style of song and my new song Dead a Long Time is more of a Texas Blues song but once again about a hard living character and full of imagery for the listener.
You now write for a music publication (The Ripple Effect?).You're going to write a 1,000 word essay on one song. Which would it be and why?Hurricane by Bob Dylan. The imagery in that song is incredible and makes you feel that you are right there in Patterson on a hot New Jersey night. It was a protest song that helped get Rubin Hurricane Carter out of prison. He was wrongly accused of a triple murder and was proven innocent years later.
Come on, share with us a couple of your great, Spinal Tap, rock and roll moments?Seeing the Tragically Hip play in a small venue where there were only 400 people in attendance. I was also invited to a private concert in Toronto and it wasn't shared with anyone who the performing artist would be. I will never forget that night when Prince came on stage and played for the next 3 hours. He was going on tour and chose Guvernment as the venue to prepare his band for their next tour.
What makes a great song?Imagery with the lyrics and then a sound that gets you into the song early and builds momentum for the listener. I like a good story and want to know what happens in the end. I like a memorable riff you just can't forget.
Tell us about the first song you ever wrote?It was Silver Lake and I wrote it for my Mom. We've had a family cottage at Silver Lake since 1939.
What piece of your music are you particularly proud of?
I'm proud that my songs are my own style and voice. I intentionally stop listening to other artist's music when I'm writing or preparing for the studio. This helps me to focus on what I'm doing and my own style.
Who today, writes great songs? Who just kicks your ass? Why?I'm a big fan of Sue Foley who is a great Blues singer-songwriter and recently nominated for a Grammy. Samantha Fish is another one that hooks you in with her guitar and a raspy Blues voice that is unique and fun. They both tell stories through their music that are memorable. Steve Earle is also one of my favorites.
Vinyl, CD, or digital? What's your format of choice?Vinyl. I wish we could all go back in time but I'm not sure there would be many people that know what a record player is.
Whiskey or beer?And defend your choice.Beer.... you can have more of them than Whiskey!
We, at the Ripple Effect, are constantly looking for new music. What's your hometown, and when we get there, what's the best record store to lose ourselves in?Ottawa, Canada. The Record Centre on Wellington Street.
