MARCH/APRIL 2011 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM INDIE SCENE Natasha Bardin RON SEXSMITH Getting his career back with the help of an unlikely collaborator

RON SEXSMITH DOESN’T COME where my head was,” Sexsmith says. “The release of 1995’s Ron Sexsmith—praise across as your typical rock star. Cherubic album is not all doom and gloom, because that he says only adds to his anxiety. and looking perhaps half of his 47 years, the songs are up-tempo. I like when that “I put a lot of pressure on myself,” he he’s notoriously shy and insecure. So happens—when the lyrics are at odds with admits. “When the fi rst album came out, what is this sensitive soul doing hanging the music and it creates that tension. Most I didn’t know what to think. Because around with Bob Rock, a guy best known of this record is very disillusioned, and yet the label hated it at the time, I expected for producing the hard-and-heavy likes it was cathartic. I felt that my career had everyone would hate it—so when the of Metallica and Mötley Crüe? “When gotten away from me, and I didn’t know how critics got on board with that fi rst one, Bob came on board, I started to get to get it back.” it put pressure on me. I’ve tried to stay excited again,” Sexsmith recalls. “I told my Sexsmith knew what he was getting ahead of myself ever since, so when it manager, ‘We have to make this happen.’ I with Rock—and it’s precisely what he comes time to make a record I’m not just wanted to do it Bob’s way—whatever wanted. “Producers at that level tend scrambling trying to write. Because I musicians, whatever studio.” Rock came to make records that are slicker than haven’t had a real successful album, I feel to produce Sexsmith’s 11th and latest some would like, almost airbrushed or each album is my fi rst all over again. I’m a album, Long Player Late Bloomer, after something,” he observes, “but that’s exactly work in progress.” a chance meeting at the Canadian Juno what I wanted. I felt the songs would In fact, the release of Long Player Late awards. “Know any good producers?” benefi t from that powerful production and Bloomer was delayed by more than a year Sexsmith asked Rock, and the two were bigger approach.” Still, Sexsmith didn’t due to prospective record labels’ hesitation. off and running. exactly hand over full control of his music Sexsmith eventually elected to release it Still, few expected a singer and to his new collaborator. He remained through his own Ronboy Rhymes imprint. songwriter with a love of pop music who scrupulously dedicated to making certain “When we were shopping the album, we embraces crooners like Bing Crosby, Harry his songs would stand up well no matter were told it was too mainstream,” he says. “I Nilsson and Charlie Rich to fi nd common what production was applied to them. “I’m was thinking it isn’t mainstream compared to ground with a producer whose résumé obsessed with it,” he says. “I don’t want to what’s considered mainstream these days. is heavy on the metal. But this seemingly go into the studio unless I know I have good But I come from a more melodic time. The odd couple bonded over their mutual songs. I try to keep up the quality control.” music I liked had nice melodies, and that’s admiration for the Kinks, Deep Purple and Sexsmith has been hailed for the what I’m trying to do.” other icons of ’60s British rock. “That’s quality of his songwriting ever since the –Lee Zimmerman

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