For some artists, the city provides everything they need, but for others, escaping the grind of urban living for the wilds of the country is often more conducive to getting the most out of their creative impulses. That’s been the case for singer/songwriter Chris Gostling who a few years ago left his Toronto home base for eastern Ontario where he has found the freedom and space he had long been seeking.
Gostling is preparing to release Forest City Town Country, the long-overdue follow-up to 2016’s Breath, Blood & Tempo, made with an accomplished team based on Wolfe Island, near Kingston, that includes veteran CanRock keyboardist Hugh Christopher Brown, bassist Jason Mercer (Ani Difranco, Ron Sexsmith), drummer Liam Cole (Kate Fenner, Stephen Stanley), and the album’s co-producer/engineer Jake Bury.
Along with feeling a sense of satisfaction in recording near his new home, Gostling says that playing shows in the area motivated him to embrace new songwriting approaches. “I took a break from music during the pandemic, but by 2021 I was happy to be playing regularly in some informal song circles in the sleepy towns near where I live. This period of quiet, removed from the city, was a great time of creativity and songwriting. By this past January, I knew I had eight strong tracks ready to record. I wanted to work with Chris and Jake because I really loved the sound they pulled off with Stephen Stanley, and other artists on their Wolfe Island label.”
Roots Music Canada is proud to premiere Gostling’s new single, “Bleed,” which is available now on all digital platforms. Forest City Town Country will be released October 4, and for more info go to chrisgostlingmusic.com.
