Ross William Perry

Ross William Perry: Why I Sing the Blues

When Ross William Perry was a child, he listened to his dad’s record collection, bands like the Rolling Stones, Creedence Clearwater and Eric Clapton, the oldies radio station and really got into artists like Chuck Berry and some of the other rock and roll from the ‘50s and ‘60s. He didn’t know what the blues was.

Then Stevie Ray Vaughan’s “The Sky Is Crying” came out, and some of the local radio stations started playing the title tune from that album. “They’d play it maybe once or twice each day, and I’d sit around all day to wait to hear it on the radio. I suppose I was really drawn towards the passion in that tune.” As time went on the stations began playing other songs from his albums. Perry went back to the roots, listened to Freddie King, Muddy Waters, Slim Harpo and others. Now he could hear where Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones and other people from his dad’s record collection had gotten their main influences.

HPR: When you started playing guitar, what was the style of music that you were playing?

RWP: I think that without knowing it, the music I was drawn to was blues-influenced or -based. I also got into surf guitar as well as the Monkees, being that they had television reruns of their shows that I used to watch and mock playing guitar to.
I studied the musicians I liked. I received a great deal of inspiration from all of it. Through their examples, I could read about the possible difficulties and distractions that might lie ahead for a musician. Their dedication and focus with their music gave me a way to channel my attention in a positive way.

HPR: when did you know that the blues was what you were born to do?

RWP: I bought it the first time I played onstage at seven. I could feel that from that point forward I’d be living a life related to music in one way or another. I didn’t know that I would turn my focus into blues music, it just seemed to naturally steer in that direction through the years.

HPR: Do you prefer writing or playing?

RWP: I’d like to focus more on songwriting in the future. I tend to spend a lot of time playing around the house as more of a release than to consciously develop a style. I think I’d rather let that process happen in more of a natural way than forcing it in a direction it doesn’t want to bend.

I like performing covers but would like to eventually come to a point of playing all original material. The vulnerability of playing my own music opens up the possibility for a deeper and more personal exchange with the audience.

HPR: With touring and playing do you see yourself ever leaving the blues to try another style or incorporating another style into them or creating something else all together?

RWP: The years of building my foundation as a musician were based in blues roots and will always be a part of me…I don’t want to recycle something that has already been done. I worry that artists in this genre might miss the point by putting regulations and limitations on just how far they can stretch the rules and what will come out musically. Maybe that’s lowering the ceiling of a structure that shouldn’t have a roof in the first place.

HPR: What is your response to the recognition that you get for your guitar playing?

RWP: I don’t think it’s fair to compare musicians like material objects, because of music being one of the arts of expression. Everyone has their own thing to say and their own unique delivery. I think it’s more constructive to appreciate how another musician sources their inspiration and recognize their own unique voice, using this to inspire and stimulate your own musical path.

HPR: Since you graduated from high school you’ve been touring. How has the constant touring made your band and your music what it is today?

RWP: There’s putting on a show and then there’s playing music. There’s a relationship between the two and the ratio seems to change depending on the night. Playing a lot of shows gave me a deeper understanding of this. Most of time the crowd wants to see that you appreciate that they are there to appreciate you. This kind of exchange brings everyone closer together.

HPR: Are you working toward a release of another album?

RWP: I’ve been wanting to get my fourth album completed for several years now. I have most of the material in an almost-finished state and need to start rehearsing with the guys to get the project in motion. This time I want to work in more of a dedicated and full-sized professional studio. I’m excited at the possibility of a great studio adding its own flavor and influence to the process.

HPR: You mainly play around the Midwest…

RWP: It does seem to be harder to get people out to see bands in the greater Twin Cities area, maybe because entertainment has become so personalized in the past ten years. Seeing a live band is so different than hearing a track on earphones or watching footage on film or computer. Both are great for what they are, but the real live thing can’t be replaced and I hope that more and more people will continue to come out and support live music while we still have the venues to perform in.

HPR: Is there a stereotype about the blues?

RWP: Not all blue songs are “blue.” It’s also a celebration of life…

HPR: Any immediate career goals?

RWP: I enjoy playing all types of places but I do miss audience interaction when playing a club that might have sports on the television or other distractions. I would like to make a transition of playing more dedicated music venues, for crowds that come for the artists. I’d like to continue to develop my sound, style and songwriting into a recognizable signature.

HPR: How would you describe your live shows?

RWP: We play slightly different depending on the room and the people in the audience. There are strange things that we can’t control such as the quality of the electrical power, phases of the moon. The past few years I’ve tended to focus more on playing, so there’s not really any crazy leg splits or costumes during the show. In the end it’s really just about trying to have a good time with everyone.

HPR: what is your advice to up-and-coming artists?

RWP:Try to recall the inspirations that got you started in the first place and use those as fuel to continue forward. Try your best to avoid some of the common distractions in the business such as egos and addictions. Learn how to improvise in sticky situations to reach the best possible outcome and be aware that your decisions affect all of those around you.

HPR: You are coming up to Fargo to play the Winter Blues Fest, what are you looking forward to when you are up here playing the festival?

RWP: I’ve always enjoyed playing Fargo in the past, though it’s been probably five or six years since I played there. Though both the festival and I have been trying to get my band a time slot at one of their shows, this is the first year that things have finally aligned properly for everyone involved.