Erin Ross

This Thursday, March 24 the Piapot Guesthouse and Saloon will be hosting a dinner and performance night. The Saloon's chosen performer is Alberta singer songwriter Erin Ross. The Advance recently spoke to Erin Ross about her style of music, her influences, her perceptions of the Canadian independant music scene today, and of her hopes for her audience.

Ross is a very traditional roots and blues performer who draws her main influences not from the pop music industry of today, but rather from the vibrant blues and roots music scene of the 1920's- 1940's. Included in Ross's influences are the the delta blues style and the east piedmont style. Musical performers that influence her most directly are country blues musicians like Elizabeth Cotten, Mississippi John Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis, all of whom were phenomenal blues guitarists in the old style. The Advance asked Ross why she felt so connected to that era of music.

"I love that era because I think it's good to know where you music is coming from, I guess."said Ross "It's a way to look back and give people something familliar with out being redundant or repetative; that's part of the appeal of my music."

Ross also sees her own guitar playing aspirations in these calssic blues artisits, and admits that she has always seen herself as a guitarist first.

"I am defintiely a guitar player; guitar is my first love and my first instrument... but I am also a singer and a songwriter. It's about being true to myself."

Ross like many Canadian musicians, singers and songwriters today, finds there are greater audiences for more eclectic types of music in the market now than in the past. Part of this, according to Ross, is due to the breakdown of the whole corporate music and lable system in the youtube era. Ross explains the risks and
opportunities of being an independant artisit on the Canadaian music scene today.

"I think we are at a spot in the music bussiness where the large structure of corporate music is not what most musicians are doing artistically now, and I think it's a liberating time to be a musician in Canada. In the sense that you can take your own chances or try out your own approach, and see some sucess in that regard...
Of course one of the risks is that I am financing my own music: So I record when I have the money and I travel when I have the money; that's kind of the tradeoff in all this."

In the end Ross hopes that those coming to see her perform will go away feeling good and having had a positive listening experience.

"I hope first an foremost that they will be entertained and enjoy themselves, and I hope that they will find something appealing in the songs that I present, and in the stories that I share, that resonates with their own experience. My greatest hope is that they find something that touches them in a personal way."

by Tim Kalinowski

- Gull Lake Advance

This Thursday, March 24 the Piapot Guesthouse and Saloon will be hosting a dinner and performance night. The Saloon's chosen performer is Alberta singer songwriter Erin Ross. The Advance recently spoke to Erin Ross about her style of music, her influences, her perceptions of the Canadian independant music scene today, and of her hopes for her audience.

Ross is a very traditional roots and blues performer who draws her main influences not from the pop music industry of today, but rather from the vibrant blues and roots music scene of the 1920's- 1940's. Included in Ross's influences are the the delta blues style and the east piedmont style. Musical performers that influence her most directly are country blues musicians like Elizabeth Cotten, Mississippi John Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis, all of whom were phenomenal blues guitarists in the old style. The Advance asked Ross why she felt so connected to that era of music.

"I love that era because I think it's good to know where you music is coming from, I guess."said Ross "It's a way to look back and give people something familliar with out being redundant or repetative; that's part of the appeal of my music."

Ross also sees her own guitar playing aspirations in these calssic blues artisits, and admits that she has always seen herself as a guitarist first.

"I am defintiely a guitar player; guitar is my first love and my first instrument... but I am also a singer and a songwriter. It's about being true to myself."

Ross like many Canadian musicians, singers and songwriters today, finds there are greater audiences for more eclectic types of music in the market now than in the past. Part of this, according to Ross, is due to the breakdown of the whole corporate music and lable system in the youtube era. Ross explains the risks and
opportunities of being an independant artisit on the Canadaian music scene today.

"I think we are at a spot in the music bussiness where the large structure of corporate music is not what most musicians are doing artistically now, and I think it's a liberating time to be a musician in Canada. In the sense that you can take your own chances or try out your own approach, and see some sucess in that regard...
Of course one of the risks is that I am financing my own music: So I record when I have the money and I travel when I have the money; that's kind of the tradeoff in all this."

In the end Ross hopes that those coming to see her perform will go away feeling good and having had a positive listening experience.

"I hope first an foremost that they will be entertained and enjoy themselves, and I hope that they will find something appealing in the songs that I present, and in the stories that I share, that resonates with their own experience. My greatest hope is that they find something that touches them in a personal way."

by Tim Kalinowski

- Gull Lake Advance

Local guitar arist Erin Ross will be releasing another 45 on October 2. Side A is an original named "Another Empty Day," a swampy relaxed piece featuring slide guitar and some wonderful lyrics: Ross' voice is at an absolute premium in this song, strong mature and really focused. This single ought to establish Ross as one of Alberta's foremost female singer songwriters today. There are nice changes in the song, smooth arrangement and it was recorded really well. It's also a very intimate recording. BeatRoute had a chance to sit down with Ross and ask her a few questions about her writing and recording process.

BeatRoute: Okay, so I have to ask: why a 445 and where di you record this baby?
Erin Ross: I like 45s, that's why. I collect records and therefore wanted to make some of my own! The record was recorded at Sak's Music in McKenzie Towne, by Shea Bonney. It was recorded digitally and we all sat in the same room and played together, vocals too.

BR: Having jammed with you before, I know you can play all the instruments on these tracks. How come you hired the parts out? What's the benfit (to you) of working with the other people and what's your relationship with these folks?
ER: Firstly hiring parts out allows the record to be recorded live from the floor, which you can't do if you are playing all the parts yourself. Secondly, working with other people allows you to develop a song in a way that brings different elements out. I feel that music is a dynamic and ever changing medium. As such, old songs can become new when people put themselves into the music... the process of collaboration is a huge part of what keeps music unique and also what makes the process of playing interesting. In short it's fun. Thirdly, my relationship to Spider (Mike BIshop) and Tim (Williams)... well, Spider and I have played together on and off for a lot of years in a few different configurations. I have always enjoyed his upright playing. Tim has also been a friend, influence and support for a number of years and they both seemed a natural fit given the scope and style of the project.

BR: I noticed in the credits you list guitar first and vocals second. Is this on purpose? Do you consider yourself more of a guitar player who sings rather than a singer songwriter?
ER: I view guitar as my first instrumnet for sure, I have put alot more time and energy into playing guitar than I have most other things in my life. (However) I like to sing, and for me it's part of the creative process of writing. I am gaining more confidence vocally and feel like I have more control now then ever.

BR: It certainly shows. I've always heard a lot of Townes Van Zandt in your sound. Somehow even as a kid you managed to tap into that pained, honest and raw vibe that should only come from... well to be honest, years of self- abuse, drugs and being disconnected from society. Not once has your sound ever comne across as fake, though. How did you discover this side to you and where do your lyrics come from? What's your inspiration? What music has influenced you over the years?
ER: I can only claim the lyrics for the title trac, side B of the 45 is a traditional tune called "Stack O Lee." I suppose my lyrics are inspired by the stories I see around me or stories that strike a chord. As a writer I aim to either tell a story or get to the core of a feeling or experience whether that is bittersweet or funny or sad or dramatic and convey some element of that to my audience. As for influence, well I simply love music and listen to a huge diversity. But for the styles that I play, I am greatly influenced by a lot of the early country blues pickers. To name a few we'd be looking at Mississippi John Hurt- I learned "Stack O Lee" from his version- Rev. Gary Davis, Elizabeth Cotten, Skip James, Etta Baker- the list goes on. Other influences would include Gillian Welch and David Rwlings, Patsy (Cline), Jorma Kaukonen and some local players like Tim Williams and Dave Hamilton. As you know I also love rock n' roll and recenly have been exploring some elements of that again in my writing andI am looking forward to taking that further. - BeatRoute

Local guitar arist Erin Ross will be releasing another 45 on October 2. Side A is an original named "Another Empty Day," a swampy relaxed piece featuring slide guitar and some wonderful lyrics: Ross' voice is at an absolute premium in this song, strong mature and really focused. This single ought to establish Ross as one of Alberta's foremost female singer songwriters today. There are nice changes in the song, smooth arrangement and it was recorded really well. It's also a very intimate recording. BeatRoute had a chance to sit down with Ross and ask her a few questions about her writing and recording process.

BeatRoute: Okay, so I have to ask: why a 445 and where di you record this baby?
Erin Ross: I like 45s, that's why. I collect records and therefore wanted to make some of my own! The record was recorded at Sak's Music in McKenzie Towne, by Shea Bonney. It was recorded digitally and we all sat in the same room and played together, vocals too.

BR: Having jammed with you before, I know you can play all the instruments on these tracks. How come you hired the parts out? What's the benfit (to you) of working with the other people and what's your relationship with these folks?
ER: Firstly hiring parts out allows the record to be recorded live from the floor, which you can't do if you are playing all the parts yourself. Secondly, working with other people allows you to develop a song in a way that brings different elements out. I feel that music is a dynamic and ever changing medium. As such, old songs can become new when people put themselves into the music... the process of collaboration is a huge part of what keeps music unique and also what makes the process of playing interesting. In short it's fun. Thirdly, my relationship to Spider (Mike BIshop) and Tim (Williams)... well, Spider and I have played together on and off for a lot of years in a few different configurations. I have always enjoyed his upright playing. Tim has also been a friend, influence and support for a number of years and they both seemed a natural fit given the scope and style of the project.

BR: I noticed in the credits you list guitar first and vocals second. Is this on purpose? Do you consider yourself more of a guitar player who sings rather than a singer songwriter?
ER: I view guitar as my first instrumnet for sure, I have put alot more time and energy into playing guitar than I have most other things in my life. (However) I like to sing, and for me it's part of the creative process of writing. I am gaining more confidence vocally and feel like I have more control now then ever.

BR: It certainly shows. I've always heard a lot of Townes Van Zandt in your sound. Somehow even as a kid you managed to tap into that pained, honest and raw vibe that should only come from... well to be honest, years of self- abuse, drugs and being disconnected from society. Not once has your sound ever comne across as fake, though. How did you discover this side to you and where do your lyrics come from? What's your inspiration? What music has influenced you over the years?
ER: I can only claim the lyrics for the title trac, side B of the 45 is a traditional tune called "Stack O Lee." I suppose my lyrics are inspired by the stories I see around me or stories that strike a chord. As a writer I aim to either tell a story or get to the core of a feeling or experience whether that is bittersweet or funny or sad or dramatic and convey some element of that to my audience. As for influence, well I simply love music and listen to a huge diversity. But for the styles that I play, I am greatly influenced by a lot of the early country blues pickers. To name a few we'd be looking at Mississippi John Hurt- I learned "Stack O Lee" from his version- Rev. Gary Davis, Elizabeth Cotten, Skip James, Etta Baker- the list goes on. Other influences would include Gillian Welch and David Rwlings, Patsy (Cline), Jorma Kaukonen and some local players like Tim Williams and Dave Hamilton. As you know I also love rock n' roll and recenly have been exploring some elements of that again in my writing andI am looking forward to taking that further. - BeatRoute

Quality before quantity. That is the principal local blues singer/guitarist Erin Ross is operating on when she releases her two song vinyl single 'Sweet Thing' at Mikey's Juke Joint tonight. You can't blame her. Teaching guitar by day and playing gigs at night isn't exactly a formula for wealth. It does however hone your musical skills which becomes apparent when you listen to Ross' honey vocals on the reworked public domain tune 'Sweet Thing,' not to mention her deft country blues finger picking on the instrumental 'Red Carpet Rag.'

It all started for Ross at age nine when she first picked up a guitar. By high school she was into blues based guitarists such as Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page. "Then I started looking for the guys who inspired the guys I liked," says Ross. "Blues guys like Mississippi John Hurt, he's a definite influence on my playing."

The set list at Ross' gigs pays homage to a lots of roots music greats from Patsy Cline to Lightning Hopkins. And true to Ross' own writing style there's not a lot of weepy introspection in the tunes she plays. "I try and tell a story with my songs" says Ross. "I am far less concerned about my own emotions and feelings about things."

by Rick Overwater - The Calgary Sun

Quality before quantity. That is the principal local blues singer/guitarist Erin Ross is operating on when she releases her two song vinyl single 'Sweet Thing' at Mikey's Juke Joint tonight. You can't blame her. Teaching guitar by day and playing gigs at night isn't exactly a formula for wealth. It does however hone your musical skills which becomes apparent when you listen to Ross' honey vocals on the reworked public domain tune 'Sweet Thing,' not to mention her deft country blues finger picking on the instrumental 'Red Carpet Rag.'

It all started for Ross at age nine when she first picked up a guitar. By high school she was into blues based guitarists such as Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page. "Then I started looking for the guys who inspired the guys I liked," says Ross. "Blues guys like Mississippi John Hurt, he's a definite influence on my playing."

The set list at Ross' gigs pays homage to a lots of roots music greats from Patsy Cline to Lightning Hopkins. And true to Ross' own writing style there's not a lot of weepy introspection in the tunes she plays. "I try and tell a story with my songs" says Ross. "I am far less concerned about my own emotions and feelings about things."

by Rick Overwater - The Calgary Sun