Age hasn’t slowed down a Bragg Creek singer/songwriter who’s become known in the Foothills for his unique folk-country sound.
Sixty-five-year-old Robb Moss released his third album That Other World this past summer just one year after his second CD Wish I Wrote That Song.
“By the time I finished my second album I had quite a few song ideas,” he said. “It came together pretty quickly.”
Moss put the songs in his inventory, saving them for his next album.
“I’ll sit with a cup of coffee and a guitar and all of a sudden I have a song,” he said. “I’ll record a few seconds of a song idea. It’s an ongoing process.”
Moss said it’s not unusual to come up with dozens of song ideas while working on another project.
“I call it inventory,” he said. “I make scratch copies of the song ideas and store them until I’m ready to make songs out of them.”
Moss, who owns and operates Moss Creek Studio south of Bragg Creek where he supports beginner and amateur musicians and songwriters, said having the studio is an added bonus.
“When I get a good song idea I can put on a drum track,” he said. “There is all kinds of software programs that simulate drum loops. You’ve got all the tools at your disposal to experiment with.”
When putting this most recent album together, Moss tried to be more experimental.
“That Other World has something to do with the fact that as I’m getting a big older in life I’m starting to distance myself from the digital world, even though when it comes to recording it’s quick to do,” he said. “My idea is to keep it as real as possible with no fancy bells and whistles and try to maintain my country roots. I wanted to let my feelings be my guiding light.”
A little out of the ordinary for Moss, two of his songs have more of a rock and roll feel – deviating from his folk and country sound.
“They are good grooving rock tunes,” he said. “Then there’s my typical romantic ballads about human relationships that people like to listen to. It’s a little bit more diverse.”
Moss’ new album is all about maintaining his unique style.
“I’m not trying to sound like the second coming of Johnny Cash,” he said. “Being yourself is really important as an artist. Very few people tell me that I sound like someone else, which is something I strive for.”
When it comes to recording an album, Moss said the entire process is like an experiment each time.
“What I learned from the third album is just write what you want and be free,” he said. “Freedom of expression is the best way to put it.”
He revels in opportunities to work with other musicians whether it’s in his studio or songwriting camps.
Just last spring Moss attended a six-day songwriting camp in British Columbia, rubbing elbows with 30 other singer/songwriters from across Canada and the United States, including two from Nashville who wrote lyrics for country music star Carrie Underwood.
“What was really special about that for me is you go there, just a songwriter from Bragg Creek, and you meet other songwriters,” he said. “It was about connecting with other songwriters and collaborating with other people’s artistic talent. It gets me right into the living room of these guys. This is as great opportunity for any songwriter.”
Moss is constantly tuned into radio stations to learn what is playing in a variety of genres from jazz to blue grass.
“You’re constantly being reinforced as to what makes you feel good,” he said. “I even play a little bit of jazz and am collaborating with another jazz guitarist and singer in Vancouver on a jazz song.”
Some musicians often spend weeks on the road to increase their exposure, but Moss said that’s the one area where he’s slowed down.
He is pretty low key, spending more time writing than performing.
“I play about 10 times a year,” he said. “I’m finding it’s such a grind to pack up and go unless it’s a local gig. I’m more focused on songwriting.”
Tracks from Moss’ album That Other World are available for purchase on iTunes.
To learn more about Moss go to mosscreekstudio.com
