Peirson Ross is a man with questions.  He finds the answers in his music.  He takes apart the everyday and reassembles it in a song so that we too may find our own answers.  As a writer in fear of forgetting, he's motivated by things that move us and documents real moments to help remind us of who we are.   As Peirson says, “If we've done a good job, then we've disturbed the comfortable and comforted the disturbed". 

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With six solo albums under his belt, regular rotation on national radio (CBC, BBC, + his last three singles on US and European airwaves) his songs licensed to both TV and feature films (MGM, Netflix, Universal, Discovery, NatGeo+) and working as a music director on many collaborations, Peirson attributes his achievements to the good health of his loved ones and friends / patrons who curate his writing retreats with long-time bandmates and collaborations with a rotating cast of new players. 

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When he's not writing his next album or being commissioned to write songs for others, Peirson is constantly thinking outside of the box. He's toured by canoe across Canada's rugged Northern boreal forest and from Georgian Bay to Montreal with Frank Wolf (one of Canadian Geographic's greatest explorers of all time).  He's been a musical director with artists as diverse as Inuit throat-singers (Nunavik), Cumbia Percussion Troop (Buenos Aires), Joyce Dance Theatre curators, Mariners Gospel Choir in New York City and the Tibetan Music Association of Canada.

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Peirson has shared stages with Sub Pop's folk duo Luluc, Mary Margaret O'Hara, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd),  Paul Dempsey (Australia), Les Stroud (Survivorman), Jason Mercer (Ani Defranco), Morgan Doctor (The Clics), Stew Crookes (Hawksley Workman, Doug Paisley) and Bobby McFerrin as an improv. guest at Roy Thompson Hall. Peirson's work has also been featured on popular TV series, feature films and international events including; DJ Son Down's avant garde Neukolln Musiker Folktronica Fest in Berlin, Paris's Rue Oberkampf players / Les Lilas underground jazz scene, Toronto's Kensington Market Acid Salon, Montreal's LFest and made TV1 appearances in Warsaw, Munich, Milan as well as performing his original songs with Hans Schiller Quintet in Vienna and Salzburg.  

 

In an effort to address the environmental crisis, Peirson has also toured with outdoor clothing giant Patagonia and their ambassadors; Kimi Werner, Daniel Ross, Timmy O'Neill, Jill O’Brien ++ to promote local enviro org.'s in North America, who continue to raise awareness of issues using Peirson's "Wild Ones" enviro designs, highlighting endangered species and their natural habitats at risk.   

 

As a volunteer, Peirson continues to work with music therapy friends at Sick Kids Hospital, Seaton House, correctional service facilities, CAMH, St. Christopher House and countless homeless communities in the far North of Canada.    He credits his days as a wilderness guide to some of the most formative years of his life and the reason he continues to lend his voice and time to environmental and social justice issues.  Peirson is not your garden variety artist.  

 

Everything he does - every single day - has purpose.  

 

Written by Lana Slezic - Photojournalist / Documentary Filmmaker

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Photo by Frank Wolf