Ross Neilsen is committed to succeed determined to succeed
Published Thursday September 3rd, 2009
N.B. artist is fully behind recording his new album
Ross Neilsen is a legend in the making. His drive and determination to succeed in the music business has led him over some of the most challenging hurdles life can dish out, and his uncanny ability to see the good in every situation has been a driving force behind his steady climb up the industry's slippery slope. At this point in time, he seems unstoppable.
In 2007, Neilsen released his second album Early Grave, a collection of songs heavily influenced by the recent passing of his father and the dark themes of life and death. The album received an East Coast Music Award nomination and was eventually supported by two national tours, helping to establish Neilsen's place among the hardest working men in Canadian blues music.
The theme of life and death continues to follow Neilsen closely and has already made its mark on his next recording project, still months away.
"I made a wish list of producers I wanted to work with and I've always been a big admirer of Jim Dickinson's work," said Neilsen. "I sent him an e-mail through his website and he wrote right back asking for some demos, so I got some shitty recordings together and mailed them off."
Dickinson is the man credited for shaping the famous Memphis sound. He has been recognized for his influential work with Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan, and was the production genius behind The Rolling Stones' timeless hit, Wild Horses. After hearing a collection of songs written by the young man from Centerville, New Brunswick, he happily signed-on to produce the next recording.
"I had narrowed my list down to three producers but when I got word that Jim was into it, it was really a no brainer," said Neilsen. "I mean, this guy lives a half-hour from the crossroads. I have them tattooed on my arm!" he said.
The crossroads Neilsen refers to are located in Rosedale, Mississippi, and the place where blues legend Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for becoming a famous musician. Hundreds of stories and legends involving the crossroads have led to the famous intersection being recognized as the birthplace of the blues and in 1986, the movie Crossroads helped further the legend and the blues' classic embodiment of good and evil.
"When I was 12, my Dad took me to see Crossroads. I remember being completely blown away. To me, the music was both terrifying and exciting. I don't even think I'd had my first at that point," said Neilsen.
For a few weeks, it seemed Dickinson would soon be adding Ross Neilsen to his list of musicians tamed, but things didn't quite turn out as planned. Shortly after agreeing to record and produce Neilsen's next CD, Dickinson suffered a massive heart attack and died weeks later.
"A few weeks ago I got a text from my buddy saying that Jim had passed away in his sleep that night," said Neilsen. "I was shocked and had been thinking that eventually he would make a full recovery and we'd be the first band he'd work with once he got well again but it was not to be. Too good to be true."
For a moment at least, it seemed like things had immediately moved back to square-one and he'd have to revisit that wish list of producers he and his band mates originally drew up. But after receiving encouragement from the late producer's wife, Neilsen decided to continue on as planned and will now be working with Jim's son Cody Dickinson, a Grammy-winning producer and member of the highly influential North Mississippi Allstars.
"(Cody's) music was a big influence on me for sure so I'm definitely still pumped to make the trip," said Neilsen who will travel with his band to the birthplace of the blues this coming January to make what may possibly be the most memorable recording of his young career.
"This gives me the opportunity to not only go to Mississippi and record in a facility full of people who I have great respect for musically, but it also puts me right in the heartland of where blues began. I'll definitely be out looking for ghosts," he said.
So, how does anyone living on a musician's salary afford such an expense, since choosing to do the project south of the boarder eliminates the possibility of provincial and federal grant funding? The answer lies in one of the oldest fundraising ideas around "" a good old-fashioned bottle drive.
"I actually stole the idea from a friend of my girlfriend," said Neilsen. "She's returning to school this year and mentioned doing a bottle drive to raise some money. When I heard that I was like yeah, that's brilliant."
The idea of a musician and his band collecting bottles in order to make a record has proven to be nothing short of pure gold for Neilsen. After posting the project on Facebook and circulating the good word to a few mailing lists, Neilsen has met with an overwhelming response that has grown to a national level.
"I think it's really cool that so many folks are calling asking me to come pick up their bottles," he said. "Just the other day I went to my mailbox and there was a cheque for $25 from a woman in Ontario that I don't even know. She took her bottles back and sent me the money for the album."
Ross Neilsen fans all across the country are starting to show their support by collecting bottles on his behalf. Friends, family, and fans in Moncton, Saint John, Fredericton, and as far away as Toronto and Edmonton have all joined in the drive.
"I think this has the potential to be a nation-wide infection of happiness," said Neilsen. "When I go to people's houses they're so happy to give me their bottles, not just to get rid of them and not just to get rid of us but I know that they're happy to contribute. It's like that old saying, giving makes you feel good. It's really true. I see it.
"When I go to my mailbox now, I basically prepare myself to cry because the support I'm getting is so overwhelming. I don't know if I've ever used the words heart warming as much as I have in the past few weeks."
The overwhelming support Neilsen's clever idea has garnered is definitely having a profound affect on the man himself.
"So many things you do in life make you stop and wonder if you're doing the right thing, but when people are telling you to go do what you want to the point that they're giving you their own money to do it, that just tells me that yeah, I am doing the right thing."
Even though the recording is still months away and the songs are still developing, for Neilsen, the project has come to represent a strong feeling of community and support like nothing he has ever been involved with, and for that alone, he is truly grateful.
"If all that ever happens is that we go to Mississippi, make a good record and come home, that will be enough for me because every time I'm going to look at that record I'll think of the four months of fundraising and how so many people really got behind us and helped us out.
"Every single person who contributes to this CD, whether they're in Vancouver or Newfoundland, are going to have the satisfaction of knowing that they helped make this project happen. They were a part of it and it wouldn't have gone down the way it has without their help."
Ross Neilsen will be playing several shows during the Harvest Jazz and Blues Festival before hitting the road for his third national tour starting in October. Check him out at www.rossneilsen.com
Disabled
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
