Ritchie Caron

Small Town Sound Man moving on to bigger and better things..

Living in Timmins has its challenges and charms, we are not quite big enough to sustain a meaningful creative industry but that doesn't stop the numerous talented young musicians from joining bands making great music and keeping an original scene healthy. Most of my work involves providing a live sound rig for Touring and Local Original Bands in partnership with local promoters and small bars and venues. Although we get by and cover our expenses Timmins is very much a pure scene built on passion and the love of music.. I learned most of what I know about live sound and recording while living in Vancouver during the 90's while playing working and collaborating with bands and musicians until 2000 when I moved back to my home town with my family.. Having this practice experience and drive was both a blessing and a curse. I was the only legit sound tech and was busy with the younger punk and metal crowd who had no problem getting involved and learning how we did it out West. For me it was like a do over avoiding mistakes and destructive personalities that harm a scene and maintained a positive helpful attitude that influenced a decent scene that would never quite break out due to old style political attitudes and small town ideas that often conflicted with the natural growth and development that I always expected would eventually emerge. Instead of having municipal support and encouragement for the creative arts.. Timmins and it's elected council created a plan that limits opportunity tremendously and actually assumes cultural events as their own municipal responsibility... The current political situation is so far down the rabbit hole of reason that moving to Sudbury is the only real option to succeed in a business I've always been involved with. This experience was not all bad. It thought me to be more resourceful and efficient like pulling every watt out of the available outlets, using gear that is reliable and sounds good maximizing its use and staying on top of the essential technical needs ensures problem free shows that when left alone always manages to grow on its own.. There is a lot of work yet to do including finishing my own original compositions, remixing and organizing an effective portfolio of completed songs and recordings that need to be more accessible. Streamlining a more efficient workflow with what I have now.. Looking for opportunities that leads to meaningful work Film and TV, Be open for more collaborations with similarly interested musicians including producing original bands along the same styles as the bands I've worked with in Timmins.. Expanding my live sound experience into a national and international clientele. Design and maintain creative midi music and video workstations including a curriculums for high schools students, and aboriginal youth in northern communities. And maybe a couple of DJ gigs for friends and family. All of these services I describe now have been asked of me over the last 20 years without having to advertise since another project or gig comes up regularly enough to continue... Living in a small town with such a dramatic generational divide keeps me busy with the 35 and under crowd while the older folks my age still believe that music is a distraction who seamed more concerned with preventing cultural development fearing it's a corrupting influence on their sons and daughters. That's been the unfortunate constant over the last 17 years from our community leaders in City Hall and the Police... The truth was always the overwhelming majority of the young musicians that participated the Timmins punk and metal scene from 02 in its peak in 07 have grown into successful responsible adults that most have moved away after I was forced to shut down the live live music venue I leased between 06 and 07 that supported dozens of local bands who were eager to participate in the regular well known touring bands that sold out the GV hotel regularly while respecting all the rules including making sure the weekday events ended by 11pm and weekends by midnight to comply with the then current noise bylaw.. Unfortunately The City amended the noise bylaw to a 24 hour one and worded it to include any level of perceptible noise without the use of sound pressure meters because as I was told the rights of one or two persistent complainers trumped en entire generations right to assemble and play live music and my right to operate a business in a venue that has hosted bands since the 1920's.. That action killed all the momentum that was finally paying off and lead to most of our best and brightest to leave town in the dozens over the next couple of years.. After 6 back to back noise infractions I shut down the bar and moved on doing live sound for agencies out of Sudbury traveling to small towns in the region for various yearly municipal events and weddings as part of the entertainment package. For the following few years I would get offers to produce larger concerts in Timmins that were never going to happen anyway. At the time it was foolish to think this effort was personal and against city policy. It was and thats another story. At this moment There is a small positive and sustainable scene at the Working Class Bar in Down Town Timmins with local bands like the Payoff and Joe Jitsu that are as good as any I've heard. This town deserves to break open and be noticed. However the awkward generational gap has also deepened in Aug 2016 as our own elected Mayor suddenly decided to become a Music promoter along with his predictable group of 6 supporting councillors who with one vote secured all the expenses (5.9 million) for an 8 day fireworks competition and large format nightly concert complete micromanaged and promoted by the Mayor himself.. No Joke! With all the free news releases and non stop controversy that continues to this day. This private state run political 8 day political rally nearly sold out. Not surprisingly The city still managed to lose money!? They Call is Stars and Thunder... An event so badly conceived that has split the community into political supporters and Naysayers that the Mayor himself labelled those of us who for good reason oppose the use of taxpayer funds to be used like a private event.. there is a lot of people who are against this who feel mocked for simply using their right to oppose elected politicians over this abuse of power and blatant conflict of interest. The local media is in on it since Stars and Thunder will be heavily advertised in local news papers that should be calling this out for the scam that it is. There is even a second more expensive event with the same councillors and. mayor voting to use even more money before the final tally is official... The Mayor says it's a cup of coffee per house loss for the taxpayer... That's ripe for parody and the reason I bring this up. The volume of material for songs and screenplays is deep.. The drama and absurdity is worth tapping into as I hope to collaborate and release over the next few months a CD Release of Ten sings I started and abandoned after completing 5 a couple of years ago called Tazed and Confused. For anyone into film or screenplays this story is at least 4 seasons of Netflix if you include the Shania Twain Centre fiasco that has the same cast of characters involved. a simple google search for Timmins Stars and Thunder will confirm what I'm talking about.. it's only fair that these rogue politicians should be satirized.. Thats how I'd like to move forward with this issue. I hope this sounds interesting enough to inspire a couple of collaborators to help out and be part of the independent production with the hope it will get enough attention to be properly produced and added to Canadian history.. if anyone wants to get involved I'm for suggestions.. I look forward to branching out with others online and meeting new people after I move next month and get some of these projects off the ground.. Of course I'm available to do live sound and travel with a 500 cap indoor sound system.. I'm getting into expert level midi rendering able to recreate Classical and Jazz with the hope of getting into Film and TV midi rendering and composition as this skills improve.. I'm always open for mixing, mastering, editing tracks as I've always done since 05. I'll be enhancing mr profile and uploading music over the next couple of days.. Drooble is totally new to me. Look forward to hearing from other small town techs with their own horror stories. Lol Cheers Ritchie Caron

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What is music to you? What does it give you?

Inner peace and sence of self on one level. Some of the songs I perform are tear inducing especially in times stess and other times I get into a zone where the next parts are just waiting to be recorded as the composition takes on a life of its own. There also a strong personal motivation to enhance music through mixing and carefull attention to get that magical quality that I always go for.. It's rewarding to be part of a successful show in the background. I consider not being noticed a job well done behind a mixing console..

What is your music dream?

My own song are very personal that i often neglect out of fear and embarassment. One dream would be to finish these songs as they continue evolving into a form of expression that is more universal and enjoyable by a range of different people.. Most of these songs have devolloped musical parts that ate solid its the lyrics that sometimes has me rewriting them to be less personal. That seams to be hard to do.. Right now finishing and performimg my first full lenght set of 10 or more songs that are almost done without the urge to rewrite and then to release and perform it to an engaged audience with some measure of success has always been a bream.. The other more lucrative one is to be in demand for larger concerts in major markets to do FOH or Monitors.

If you could change the world - what would you start with?

Raising awareness on the evils of narcissism to the point that its easier for everyone to recognize the same ol games and hearlessness that the diagnosable ones universally share. Maybe it can be eliminated when most people can recognize the behavior and stop tolerating it like racism is no longer tolerated.. If there was less willing victims available most of these jerks can take some responsibility and finally grow up.

Which is the most memorable song from your childhood?

The Beatles Obla Di Obla Da ( Sp?) was an early memory of someone showing me how to play the melody before was even tall enough to see the black notes.. I then remember entertaining adults with that melodie and teaching myself other similar Cmaj standards like twinkle twinkle little star..

Who are your favorite musical artists or bands?

I have lots of favorites in different genres..RadioHead is probably the all time fave after seeing them perform the best encore I've ever seen in 97 or 98 Vancouver during an unadvertized private party at the Rage. I worked for the sound company and was on the crew that night not expecting to hear Paranoid Android followed by Just with its incredible high pitched guitar effect that screamed through for what seamed like forever until Greenwood violently jerked away with the guitar still plugged in until the cable disconnected as he ran away... When the lights came on seconds later the look on peoples faces was unforgettable. We were all just stunned into silence with eyes wide open and slack jawed for a few minutes from that incredible experience.. No other band that I've seen came close to sounding like RadioHead did that night... Pink Floyd held the honors previously for most amaizing live show experienced in 87 during thier Momentary Lapse of Reason Concert in Toronto. That night was trully special as the sun set over lake Ontario at the CNE Stadium as the wind picks up and Echos silently blends into the environment starting the greatest show imaginable. Everyone in attendences was fixated the entire time.. I can remember every seat filled and no one person walking in the isles. it was almost like an animated scene from The Wall. Kate Bush is another favorite with her Hounds of Love album that never sounds dated.. Other favorites include bands like Moneen, A Wilhelm Scream, Comeback Kid, Cancer Bats

What inspires you to make music?

Exploring and learning new styles the challenges and surprises when it turns out better then expected..

What is the message you want to send with your music?

Never gave that any thought.. Just be yourself and let it happen..

How do you feel when you perform in front of an audience?

Nervous and every other type of mixed emotions. There are times when performaces dont go so well because of my chronic asthma that effect my ability to sing consistantly. Asthma was the main reason for getting into audio production over performance.. There are no regrets I enjoy mixing bands and contributing in that way..

How do you see the musicians’ reality nowadays? What could be improved?

Ill be honest and tell you the current generation of early 20's players has never been better.. Most of the young players are very good, have generally positive and creative attitudes.. In my youth the players where often hacks always bragging and barely able to manage consistant rehearsal schedules.. It's been improving.

What do you think of Drooble?

I'm new to Drooble.. From the brief glance that got me interested in making a portfolio for a working in a new market its got lots to offer.. but I've also never fully express myself to this extent before. Hopefully when im done with this self endulgent profile I'll find other simillar profiles and fit in...

What frustrates you most as a musician?

Wannabee posers, self described experts and coat tail riders who getting a thrill from someone else's hard work suck

Do you support your local scene as a fan? How?

Yes that the bulk of my work and it never gets boring. Support your local music scene.

What qualities should a musician nowadays have in order to get their music heard by a larger audience?

Networking, persistance and following up on connections are things i need to do more of.

Share some awesome artists that we’ve never heard of.

Some of our Locals like Headdown, The Payoff, Featherlight. would do well if given a chance.