As the point of retirement comes closer, so do thoughts of taking up a hobby – art, crafts, volunteering, or whatever seems to pass the time in an enjoyable way.
For Bragg Creek resident Robb Moss, who worked in the Canadian energy industry, he decided to follow his passion of making music.
“I decided a few years ago in 2012. I thought I am going to take a break and maybe go back into the oil patch, but I want to do this. I want to record and get an album out and see where it goes,” he said.
His 2012 debut album Sometimes We Win went international, gaining airplay on roots, NPR and country radio stations in the U.S. and abroad and earned Moss a spot as a finalist in the Calgary Folk Festival and South Country Fair songwriting competitions.
Moss decided to do another record in 2014 and headed down to Nashville to record.
“If you’re a bee looking for honey, it’s the sweet spot,” said Moss of the decision to head down to the Music City. “I just felt I had to go just to find out. In the course of making that decision, I’ve learned that you go down to learn and watch and enjoy the whole atmosphere of culture it presents.”
He found a studio that was targeted towards his style of roots music called Beaird Music Group that had some connections to amazing musicians who appeared on the album, including Kenny Chesney’s guitar player Kenny Greenberg, Faith Hill’s keyboardist Jimmy Nichols and backing vocalist Kim Parent.
The 2014 album is called Wish I Wrote that Song, a title inspired by a musician he once heard say the phrase, something he identified with.
“It became the theme of the entire album. There is a thread that runs through the album that says basically we have one life to live, let’s stop saying were going to go do something and just do it,” he explained.
The whole experience in Nashville, although only lasting a week, was something Moss said he enjoyed and wants to experience again.
“I would go back down in a heartbeat. I just need to write another 12 songs. I went back there to learn. I like producing, I like recording. The opportunity to learn with the best of the best took my production and recording skills to another level as well.”
Moss said he has a studio in his home where he has recorded a few local artists, something he really enjoys in the thriving artistic community of Bragg Creek.
For more information on Moss visit mosscreekstudio.com.
