Written by Ian Blechschmidt

Ottawa wunderkind (that’s german for “cool-ass guitar guy”) is busy making things happen at Berklee — but not too busy to tell Indiesoundz what it means to be a professional, and why Soundgarden is so damn cool.



What's the first encounter you had with music (that you can remember)?

The first encounter with music that I can remember is becoming completely enthralled with Jesus Christ Superstar around the age of six. I'm sure there was something before that, but that's my first memory.

Who are your musical influences?

I have tons of influences, but here are a few that spring to mind: Terry Tufts — he's really the whole package. From playing to singing to lyricism, there are really no weaknesses in his songs. Something to aspire to.

Nirvana — their Unplugged album was what really got me to start messing around with an acoustic guitar. I basically learned to play at first by getting their TAB books and learning them note for note, progressing from their easier stuff to some more complex stuff.

Soundgarden — The way they play in odd meters and still make it groove is really cool. I hate it when music is written in odd meters just as a technical exercise, and sounds really awkward. With Soundgarden, you don't even notice unless you stop to count it. Also, Chris Cornell is one of the best singers ever, and his tunes continue to give me alot to work on as a vocalist.

Buddy Guy — I love his frantic way of playing lead. I tried to play like that for a while. It didn't really work, but I think trying left some kind of imprint on my style.

Jeff Buckley — his voice is incredible. When I started learning some of his tunes, I began using areas of my voice that I hadn't been that comfortable with before, and that really helped me become a more versatile singer. Also, his chord progressions are really cool and unusual for rock music.

Alice in Chains — I love how they could be so heavy, yet stack pristine vocal harmonies on top of that. I learned alot about vocal arrangement from listening to Layne Staley. Also, I love Jerry Cantrell's guitar playing.

The Tragically Hip — Gord Downie's lyrics are really interesting. Lyric writing seems to be a dying art, and he's one of the few rock musicians who could still be considered a poet.
So there's a few. There are tons more, of course.

Did the meaning of music change for you when you became a pro?

Probably, yeah. I could sit all day and talk about the way your average listener perceives music, versus the person who creates it. There are so many variables that go into a recording or performance that people don't know about, and I wish I could sit people down and explain it to them sometimes. But that would take all the mystery out of things, and I guess the mystery is what keeps people coming back.

How do you make sure you stay inspired?

I live in a city where everyone seems angry all the time in a country that's perpetually at war with somebody. Seriously, though, I just watch people all the time. If you pay attention and don't tune out like people try to do in city life, you'll find there's no end of things to write.

Describe the feeling you get when you're on stage.

If everything's going well on stage, I'll just zone out and go with what happens, and that's the best place to be. I love playing with musicians that I don't need to worry about, because it lets me forget about the possibility of anything going wrong, and just put everything I have into a song.

What about when you hear a finished recording for the first time?

When I hear a finished recording for the first time, I expect it to affect me the same way any of my favourite albums would, or I don't consider it a success. I love hearing how the smallest sound or effect that we conceived in the production process has settled into the mix in a way that most people wouldn't notice. I like listening to my recordings, or I wouldn't have made them, and I question artists who say they hate listening to their work.

What would you be doing now if not music? What do you do when you’re not making music?

I have no idea. I need to be doing something with music. When I'm not making music, I like to get together with friends, or just stay at home with my fiancee and relax. We both love to cook, so there's always that. I like to read or mess around on the computer. Nothing too exciting.

Obligatory music journalism question — what are your 5 all-time favourite albums?

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa! I don't know. Here's a few:

Nirvana — Unplugged In New York
Jeff Buckley — Grace
Terry Tufts — Live at Rasputin's
Chris Cornell — Euphoria Morning
The Tragically Hip — Phantom Power
What's in your CD player right now?
The Tragically Hip — In Between Evolution
Dave Grohl — Probot
Velvet Revolver — Contraband
Jeff Buckley — Grace (Legacy Edition)
Holly Cole — Shade

What's next for you?

Who knows? I'm in the middle of a degree in Music Production and Engineering, so that's the backup plan. Above all, I'd like to be able to play my music for a living, so we'll see . . .