Writing a biography for Ross Alexander is no mean feat. Ross freely admits that he doesn't care much for the whole "lets write a biography to big this guy up" mentality that seems to be the current trend in today's "everyone's famous and everyone's a songwriter" society. So, sticking to the facts and calling it like it is will be imperative to this artist who is as brutally honest and as genuinely passionate as the music he seems to write so effortlessly.

A guitarist, a musician, a singer, and a songwriter, in no particular order, (although the guitar playing seemed to precede everything else) Ross has slowly but surely built a reputation as a songwriter worth paying attention to. His songwriting is often beautiful, while sometimes it is as raw and subtle as a "kick in the head" which funny enough is the title of one of Ross's most recently penned and most emotionally charged songs to date.

' "Kick In The Head" is a song I had to write, and it's a song I suppose I never wanted to have to write. It comes from a very dark place and anyone who has been through separation, divorce, or even just a bad break up will be able to connect with the song and will be able to feel every emotion in it.' Says Ross.

Another song from this "dark place" is a song called "Me" which has currently just been recorded and will feature as the b-side to Ross's forthcoming single "The Other Side". Laid bare, vulnerable, lost, and dangerously honest doesn't even begin to describe "Me" which is heartfelt to the core while having a real beauty and poetic feel to the lyrics, which are complimented well with a beautiful, ethereal, and dreamy arrangement. The song is about losing yourself and staring into the abyss, wondering if you're ever going to find yourself again. Ross describes it best with a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche – "If you stare into the abyss long enough the abyss stares back at you".

This songwriting that veers very dangerously to the dark side of the road is juxtaposed with a knack for writing beautiful love songs that are the very opposite of everything "Me" and "Kick In The Head" are about. 'Yeah, I'll be reading Stephen King's "the Dark Half" one minute and reading Shakespeare's Sonnets the next so my inspiration bounces all over the show and lands where it wants to' laughs Ross. He continues 'I don't purposely set out to write sad songs or love songs or any songs really if I'm being honest. It just sort of happens and you roll with whatever presents itself to you and you do your best to write it in a way that's true and real, yet in a way that displays a poetic and artistic side. You have to craft the songs as well as write them.'

Real life, real experiences, and a true gift for tapping into emotions and situations, and an unnatural ability to evoke emotion in his listeners in both his recordings and his performances have led to a real and talented songwriter who is constantly writing and constantly honing his craft.

"The Other Side" is looking like the single that is going to Ross's "breakthrough" song and it's a song that has a life, and a biography all of it's own. 'Yeah, that is one song that nobody ever wants to have to write but again it presented itself and it was an honour and a privilege for me to be able to do it. Musically I would've counted it as a "throwaway" track that would've been an album filler at best. Lyrically it came from the heart yet it felt like I didn't even write it. It was simple, effortless, and it seemed to come from somewhere or someone else. I still get amazed at everyone's reaction to the song but that's the way it goes. You never know what reaction you're going to get from a song until it's out there.'  When asked if he thinks the song will be a breakthrough for him he replies 'It already is a breakthrough for me. The song has touched a lot of people and has comforted a lot of people and that means more to me than any accolade or recognition that the song could possibly bring.'

Definitely a songwriter worth watching and one worth listening to. Keep an eye out for the release of the single "The Other Side" coming very very soon…….

April 2011

"All I got is a red guitar, 3 chords, and the truth...."