Who are you?
My name is Stan Simon

Why are you involved in music?
Because I keep writing songs somehow! More seem to arrive when I least suspect them and I’m happy to share them and play them live. Lately, there is a broader message to share and as an artist I feel I should be using whatever platform to connect with people and music can be a very powerful tool for healing.

What are some of your childhood memories of music?
Sitting in my dad’s truck listening to 1050 chum and listening to his records in our basement. Probably the most significant memory is him putting an old classical acoustic in my hand and learning the chords for House of the Rising Sun. I think I was a songwriter from that moment.

What influences most when writing music?
I think just living a life and letting stories come to you. There is an endless amount to inspire and influence and there is also an endless amount to discover about people and the world. There’s usually something in between that makes good songs.

What you most enjoy about being a musician/in a band?
I really enjoy singing and making people feel something, if possible. It’s a whole other kind of connection and I’m pretty lucky that I can play a part in that. Something else I enjoy is waiting for the songs to come. Any given moment one can appear from out of nowhere and it’s exciting. Not even to question it but to watch it unfold and then craft something from nothing.

List and briefly explain your top five (5) albums.
Oh, god… I can’t answer this in any order. I’ll give you 5 but in no order.
All Things Must Pass (George Harrison), Self-Titled (Townes Van Zandt), Mule Variations (Tom Waits), White Album (The Beatles), I’m Gonna Be A Country Girl Again (Buffy Sainte-Marie)

What were you doing in the 90s?
Probably hanging out in parking lots and plazas, smoking and drinking. Lots of jamming too. This would be late 90’s of course.

Is fashion important to you? Explain why or why not?
Not to sell myself as a musician in any way but I like to feel good in clothes that I like. I guess it’s an extension of how you want to express yourself as well. Seems plaid is an expression of soul.

Describe your creative process.
A song appears and I craft from there. Usually this means finishing the music first, which includes a melody. I almost always write lyrics last to fit the melody I’ve already written. While I’m crafting the music from an idea I write a melody along the way that often sets up my next sections of the tune. Once it feels like it’s done, I trim it down if parts feel too long, etc. Then I reflect on what the song reminds me of for lyrics. I think about if I’m feeling a certain way or have something on my mind I want to talk about and start writing those words down.

How do you record your music? Any secret gear used?
Not really. I’ve worked with Dennis Patterson for about 10 years as my engineer/producer. If anything he is my “secret gear” that I use to better myself. I’m quite fond of the pairing of a condenser and ribbon mic for a preferred vocal sound.

What challenges do you experience in your creative process?
I often give myself a hard time lyrically and constantly question if it could be written better, question the choices of certain words, if the message is clear, if it’s honest, if it’s too plain, if it needs more creativity. I would say that lyrics slow down my competition of songs more than anything else. I get lucky sometimes though and finish lyrics in a single sitting. Those are golden moments.

Do you recall a specific time in your life when you confirmed a closer relationship to writing/making music?
Yes, when I decided to stop pursuing a career as a songwriter and took a couple years off. I did some good living, traveled, met new people, suffered some troubled times and wrote, “Songs From Strange Places” in 2020 as my own personal resurgence as a songwriter with a renewed focus.

How has writing music changed for you over the years?
I still enjoy and need to sing personal songs but my activism with the climate has bled into my songwriter on my newer stuff. This goes back to using this artistic platform at a time when our planet is really suffering. I want to advocate for that change and let people know that it’s ok to feel powerless in what appears to be a hopeless situation. But there are things we can do and we can put pressure on those who can make the most impactful and positive change, which also happens to be those who are making things much worse. So we have a voice and we need to use it as best we can if not for us but for future generations.

What creative work are you most proud of? Why?
I’m proud of it all. Songwriting is hard work and I’m proud of my journey and I’m still traveling. I always feel like I’m writing my best stuff and I think that’s an important feeling to have. So stayed tuned for the next album, my fourth. Likely to be called, “Narrow Bridge”.

Why do you think live music performance events are important in your life/city?
We have to keep art alive in this city. It seems that every year a layer gets stripped away so it’s so important to keep that culture striving and have people come out and play a part in it. Especially after 2 years of the pandemic. Artist need to keep working and we need to keep the venues around that give us a stage to engage with people and build community.

What is your favourite concert that you attended? Explain why.
Gotta say Converge at The Reverb in 2002, I want to say. It was a display of raw intensity and I was blown away by it and fed of its energy. I remember at one point Jacob Bannon was running circles in the audience and knelt down for a moment. The crowd circled him and there was a cloud of steam coming off his back. It was a wild night.

What do you most enjoy about performing?
Getting over my fear of playing live. I don’t think that will ever go away but I love the moment of hitting that first note and feeling the anxiety go away. There’s something about that I can’t fully explain but it’s like I’m breaking the ice with myself every time I play for a crowd. Other than that, it’s the connection I get from the crowd itself, the people I’m playing with, or the connection I’m able to realize within myself while I’m playing and having moments of deep reflection. Whether it’s a barbershop, a big venue or someone's backyard, playing live is an exceptional and unique feeling.

What would you like people to take away from your music/live performance?
I suppose that they connect with me as an artist and find substance and meaning in the music they are hearing. I think it’s one of the intentions of the artist to leave an impact on their audience and have them come back for more. I try to do that by being honest and playing from my heart.


What was the best feedback you’ve ever received about your music?
Not really about my music in particular but I remember doing a residency at the Cameron House and I performed a cover of “Goodnight, Irene”, which I often do. Someone from the crowd came up to me and said that they loved both my sets and really loved my cover. She told me that she used to perform that song and sung it with Townes Van Zandt years ago in Toronto. She said that not only would Townes have liked my set but he would have really liked my cover of “Goodnight, Irene” as well.

Do you enjoy organizing music events? Explain why or why not.
It’s never been a focus of mine. I spend so much time writing and trying to become a better performer that I think getting into the world or organizing an event would take away from some of that, at least for me. It might stress me out too much as well! I’ve had the pleasure of organizing a charitable part to many of shows where I donate a portion of my earnings to various organizations.

Why do you think a local music scene is important?
It builds the culture of your community and brings it together. It’s important to have places to place whether it be traditional venues or small businesses declaring that art has value and it’s something that should be encouraged and supported so we can keep artists thriving generation over generation.

List and briefly explain the value and importance of touring/playing shows outside of your city.If you build a local community, that is great. But, you also want to make an impact and bring your music on the road. It’s a wide world and a vast country and there are lots of places to play and leave long lasting impressions. Artists have an affinity for the road and traveling and playing shows is a great joy of life and plays an important role in demonstrating why the arts should be made to thrive.