20 Questions for Ron Sexsmith
Canadian singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith has released recordings of his own material since 1985 and his new studio album release ‘Carousel One’ marks twenty years in the business. Ron will be embarking on a large UK and Irish tour this year and we sat down with Ron to ask him one of Pete’s (customised) 20 Questions: 
  • Neil Young or Fred  Neil?  
Fred Neil. I love Neil Young too but Fred has the song called ‘Dolphins’ that has always moved me. I love the timbre of his voice as well.
  • When you write songs do you head for the guitar or the  keyboard?  
Whichever is closer. I’m better on guitar but piano has always been my favourite instrument.
  • Name an instrumental recording that makes you relax  

‘The Lonely Bull’ by Herb Alpert. My dad had this record when I was a kid and I always found it kind of sad and thought provoking.

  • Do you have a favourite venue, in your  homeland? If so, why?  
Massey Hall in Toronto. All my heroes have played there.
  • Do you feel you have much in common with Elvis  Costello?  

Yes, I think we have a lot of common influences and we both appreciate melody and word play. We’re both fans of subtle phrasing as well.

  • Please name your favourite recordings by Joni Mitchell, Guess Who and Amanda Marshall 

‘Borderlines’ by Joni; ‘No Time’ by Guess Who. I don’t really know Amanda Marshall’s music.

  • What is your preferred mode of  transport?  Does it inspire any  song writing?  

Tour bus, though it doesn’t inspire songwriting. I hate flying and airports, and I hope to do much less of that in the future.

  • Can you tell me the story behind your new song, ‘St Bernard’?
 My favourite kind of dog has always been the Saint Bernard. My wife bought me a portrait of one at an old curiosity shop and so I was just playing this chord progression while looking at it one day and the song just came.
 
  • What duets have you recorded or performed and what led to these  happening?

I sang with Michael Buble on his cover of my song ‘Whatever It Takes’. He just called one night and asked me. I’ve also dueted with Chris Martin on my song ‘Gold In Them Hills.’

  • What is your all-time favourite record label and why?  

I’ve always wanted to be on Nonesuch but they’re not interested in me – I don’t know why. I also love Columbia Records too.

  • Sometimes, your voice evokes  Emitt  Rhodes  (of  The Merry-Go- Round)  – is he in your universe at  all?

I don’t really know his stuff but I’ve met him a couple of times.

  • Which act in musical history had the best  B-sides?  

The Kinks. I always liked their B-Sides as much as their hits – All very much worth owning.

  • Name a record that ends too soon, for you  

Black Messiah by D’Angelo. It’s a double album but each side seems so short. Brilliant Record.

  • Has your music been used in  films?  

A couple of times… Most recently in the Richard Curtis film ‘About Time’.

  •  Is there a ‘Snake  Road’?  

It’s a metaphoric road, which leads to temptation.

  •  You dream that Neil Diamond and Suzanne Vega have recorded one of your songs.  But which one?  

‘Former Glory’, or perhaps ‘Deepens With Time.’ That’s a hard question.

  •  Can you  dance?  

Not at all. I’m too self conscious.

  •  Tell us please  about ‘Cobblestone Railway’  

It’s the name of one of my records. It was a joke title I came up with after a rough landing at Heathrow.

  • Who is in your current touring band?  

Don Kerr (Drums), Kevin Lacroix (guitar), Dave Matheson (Keyboards),  and Jason Mercer (bass).

  • Favoured stage  guitars and  why?      

My Taylor Guitar. I’ve had it since 1995. It has never let me down. It stays in tune amazingly well.

Pete Sargeant

 

Ron Sexsmith’s new album ‘Carousel One’ is out now on Cooking Vinyl. To coincide with the release, Ron Sexsmith will be touring the UK and Ireland extensively in 2015 at the following venues:

Monday 22nd June – Empire Music Hall, Belfast, Ireland http://www.thebelfastempire.com/event/ron-sexsmith/614/ 

Tuesday 23rd June- Whelan’s, Dublin, Ireland http://www.whelanslive.com/index.php/ron-sexsmith/ 

Thursday 25th June- The Art School, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom http://www.theartschool.co.uk/events/events/25-jun-15-ron-sexsmith-the-art-school/ 

Friday 26th June- Mill Volvo Tyne Theatre, Newcastle, United Kingdom http://www.tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk/events/ron-sexsmith/

Saturday 27th June- RNCM (Studio Theatre), Manchester, United Kingdom http://www.rncm.ac.uk/production/ron-sexsmith/ 

Sunday 28th June- Acoustic Tent at Glastonbury Festival 2015 (15:25 – 16:05), Worthy Farm, Glastonbury, United Kingdom

Monday 29th June- St George’s, Bristol, United Kingdom http://www.stgeorgesbristol.co.uk/event/ron-sexsmith/ 

Tuesday 30th June- Royal Festival Hall, London, United Kingdom http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/ron-sexsmith-live-in-concert-90828 

Sunday 11th October- Glee Club, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom https://www.glee.co.uk/live-music/

Monday 12th October- Glee Club, Nottingham, United Kingdom https://www.glee.co.uk/live-music/

Tuesday 13th October- The Memorial Hall, Sheffield, United Kingdom http://www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk/events/Ron-Sexsmith

Thursday 15th October- Pleasance Theatre, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/ron-sexsmith-edinburgh-15-10-2015/event/36004EC5C8DB8E98 

Friday 16th October- Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, United Kingdom 

Saturday 17th October- Pocklington Arts Centre, Pocklington, United Kingdom http://www.pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk/shows+on/17-10-2015 

Sunday 18th October- The Trades Club, Hebden Bridge, United Kingdom http://thetradesclub.com/events/ron-sexsmith 

Tuesday 20th October- Epstein Theatre, Liverpool, United Kingdom http://www.epsteinliverpool.co.uk/whats-on/ron-sexsmith.aspx 

Wednesday 21st October- Glee Club, Birmingham, United Kingdom https://www.glee.co.uk/live-music/ 

Thursday 22nd October- Junction 2, Cambridge, United Kingdom http://www.junction.co.uk/ron-sexsmith 

Monday 26th October- Komedia, Brighton, United Kingdom http://www.komedia.co.uk/brighton/all-events/ 

Tuesday 27th October- St Mary’s Church, Ashford,United Kingdom http://revelationstmarys.co.uk/whats-on/ron-sexsmith-support/ 

For more information visit: www.ronsexsmith.com