Interview: Ted Simmons

Congrats on your recent music release!

How did your musical journey begin? What initially sparked your interest in music?

I loved music my whole life, I don’t remember not being interested in it. As a child I would listen to music on the radio or on a stereo and sing along. I was especially interested in learning to sing and play the guitar. I don’t know why exactly; it could have been I saw people doing it on TV and thought that was what I wanted to do. I had an old guitar I found in my house as a kid that I would try and play and then when I was 11 my mom got me a new guitar and I started lessons. By that time, I had figured out that singer/songwriter was a thing and that was a thing I wanted to do. I was especially interested in Paul Simon at the time as I recall.

Can you describe some of the pivotal moments or turning points in your artistic development?

I guess the first one was as said above, that singer/songwriter was a thing a person could do, sing and play your own songs on guitar. The second was, around the same time or shortly after, my discovery of Bob Dylan. I found an old Jimi Hendrix 45 in my house, one side was All Along the Watchtower, I put that on, and my mind went to another place, I was amazed at the words. I looked and underneath the title it said B. Dylan. I still didn’t really have a specific musical direction until some years later I discovered the outlaw country singer/songwriters in my early 20’s, the poet songwriter as a concept became how I saw myself from that point on.

How have your musical tastes and influences evolved over time?

At first my influences were singer/songwriter types, Bob Dylan, Paul Simon etc, then I did a deep dive on the blues and discovered Muddy Waters, then the Rolling Stones, then I went through a Bruce Springsteen phase. I saw the Last Waltz for the first time in the early 2000’s and that really turned me on to a lot of great music. Lately I have been trying to incorporate more RandB sounds into my music. It’s a constant evolution for me, if I come across something I like I listen to as much as I can and try to find a way to bring it into my own sound.

Are there any specific experiences or challenges that have shaped your artistic identity?

My time as a busker was quite formative. I started my professional musical journey on the side of a road. You learn a lot when you do that. You learn how to play loud and project your voice, you learn how to get people’s attention, and you get to polish your playing. I would recommend anyone who wants to be a singer/songwriter to start out by busking.

What role does experimentation play in your creative process?

I am always experimenting, partially because I don’t know what I am doing sometimes or I am not capable of doing something the way it would normally be done, but mostly it is because I always like to try things and just see what happens. I am like that in my normal life too, I always trying out new flavours in my kitchen or trying to grow different things in my garden. I sometimes sit and write a song for the soul purpose of writing a different type of song, a style I wouldn’t normally do, for example, I typically write in a country or blues format, sometimes I try to write in a more contemporary way with less words more feel kind of thing. I find when I do that I end up with an interesting idea.

Can you share a particularly meaningful or memorable performance or recording session from your journey?

The first time I ever played at an open mic. It was at a coffee shop near where I was living at the time, and it took me a few weeks to build up the courage to play. I at that point had only played in front of friends and at house parties. This place was an actual music venue, where in my mind real pros played. I went to the open mic night a few times to scope out what the deal was, and I knew I had to play three songs, so I picked my three and practiced until I felt I could play them without thinking. So, I chose my week, walked down to the place with my guitar and everything, I remember it was fall, and the air was a bit cool, so you needed a coat but still. I nervously signed up and when they called my name, I walked up without saying anything and the host asked some technical questions and I just nodded pretending to understand, played my songs straight through, and after everyone the applause got louder, but I couldn’t really grasp what was going on until I had finished and the host asked if I played on ‘the circuit” whatever that was, as if I had been doing it my whole life.

Are there any recurring themes or concepts that you find yourself exploring in your music?

I write a lot about longing, longing for something that cannot be, that happens a lot. Losing something or someone, I have a lot of those types of songs, and then a lot of my songs are political, they talk about injustice or inequality. I also have a bunch of songs that are just funny situations, you need the laughs with the tears.

How do you stay inspired and motivated to create new music?

One thing is, I get a real sense of accomplishment when I write a song that I think an audience will enjoy. I am always sort of chasing an elusive level of perfection in my own mind, my next song has to be better than the last one I wrote. The other part is, I don’t feel like I have a choice. I decided as a child I wanted to spend my life making music and feel myself getting older not having gotten as far with it as I wanted so I always have an internal drive to keep going.

Looking back on your journey so far, what are some lessons or insights you’ve gained about yourself as an artist?

The main thing is not to be afraid to try and to fail. I have a habit of holding onto things for too long, I need to push myself to put more stuff out there. I also get stuck on an idea or a song to easily, I need to just move on when things are not going well and stop over complicating it.