John Carroll
"John Carroll's the consummate professional musician lying under a laid-back look and sound, but you know whatever he puts out is going to be gold. Everybody Smokes in Hell is one of the city's most anticipated releases of 2012 and should be one of Canada's too!" – Amanda Putz CBC Radio (Canada Live)
From roots as a hardcore busker, to national touring and a 7-years-running weekly residency at Ottawa’s oldest tavern the Chateau Lafayette, John Carroll is one of the hardest working, most appreciatively celebrated, and gracefully understated songwriters in Canada's National Capital. His brand new record Everybody Smokes in Hell (2012) is arguably his finest effort to date, continuing John’s legacy of creating original and authentic songs that combine influences in country blues, folk roots and rock n’ roll.
“For me John Carroll epitomizes everything roots music should be… He’s cliche- free, and the way he’s not afraid of looking the abyss in the eye isn’t depressing, it’s invigorating.” - Canadian Songwriting great Geoff Berner
Influenced by musicians Rev. Gary Davis, Mississippi John Hurt, Tom Waits, Fred McDowell, John Prine and Lyle Lovette, John’s mixture of country blues, folk, roots and rock n’ roll provide an intricate landscape for his mindfully crafted lyrics.
Everybody Smokes in Hell (Hard Pressed Records, January 2012)
Created with the peer-juried support of the Ontario Arts Council Popular Music Program, Everybody Smokes in Hell was recorded live off the floor at Ottawa’s Little Bullhorn Studios. Performing alongside the aptly named Epic Proportions (Olivier Fairfield - Drums, , and using Dave Draves’ meticulous old-school process of recording to tape before converting tracks to digital, the resulting artistic interplay and dynamic progression has paid off with cohesively rendered and engaging songs that speak from a raw and honest musical feeling.
A testament to the authenticity of his work, John’s earlier records The True Confessions of an Infamous Liar (2003) and Lost Radio (2008) have combined sales of over 5,000 copies, direct from artist to fan.
Stream the album Everybody Smokes in Hell at www.johncarrollmusic.bandcamp.com