Interview with Pop Rock Artist John Dorsch on New Album

MuzicNotez: What motivated you to start creating music? What age did you begin?

John Dorsch: I was always musical. At about 8 to 12 years old I was taking accordion lessons at the behest of my parents. My dear uncle Brian always took me places and exposed me to new great experiences. He knew I liked guitar driven music like the Beatles and Kiss. He bought me Kiss Alive 1 and brought me to see his brother’s band rehearsal. This very special gift from him changed my life. His brother Larry was a great drummer in a Kingston Ontario Canada touring rock band. It was a full staged rehearsal like a concert and they played Boston, Toto, Journey, Aerosmith and I was riveted. They even let me try to play a few chords on a real Les Paul guitar with them. I was so inspired after that, all I wanted to do was be a great guitarist in a touring band. I remember seeing a photo of Jimmy Page with the Les Paul slung low down holding the violin bow and I wanted to be like him. My first professional guitar was a 1979 Cherry Sunburst Les Paul Standard. I was always intrigued about the writing and creating of music, wondering what the artist knew, what they were thinking, and what their influences were. I really wanted to understand it all so I could write my own music as well. This has been a lifelong pursuit of mine.

MuzicNotez: Who were your musical influences, idols, or bands growing up that have helped mold you into the musician you are today? Or helped mold the music that you create?

John Dorsch: Early musical influences were the Beatles and the great guitar bands of the 70s. Joe Perry of Aerosmith, Tom Sholtz of Boston, Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin, Edward Van Halen, Randy Rhoads with Ozzy Osbourne, Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple and Michael Schenker with UFO. I was learning their music by ear note for note, slowing down vinyl records with pennies for weights to figure out the guitar parts. I was so inspired by the innovators of rock music, the ones blazing a new fresh trail of music. They were pushing the boundaries of guitar and redefining music.
As time rolled on I became very interested in the acoustic side of rock music and fingerstyle songs like Dust in the Wind and Going to California and Ramble On were amazing to me with the blend of electric and acoustic guitars. There was no tablature or YouTube lessons in those days, you learned by ear.
In 2009 a friend showed me a YouTube of the great Tommy Emmanuel playing Classical Gas and I was again blown away and had to absorb what he was doing. I set on a course to learn fingerstyle guitar. This lead me to meeting Tommy Emmanuel at concerts and attending two of his guitar camps. His influence has again changed my life.

Website: JohnDorschMusic.com
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MuzicNotez: What’s the ultimate goal you want your music to achieve, or for you to achieve in your career as a musician? Any particular message you wish to send?

John Dorsch: I want to move people and put smiles on faces. My vision for my music is to uplift the listener, to inspire positivity and hope in their lives. I would like my music to reach people and inspire them, as music inspired me. I am very grateful that I now can finally have a career as a musician. My earlier life was filled with family, children and career commitments. I am able to give my music my full attention. I intend to keep writing, recording and creating music. We have one life to live, live it to the fullest, now! Everything that happens can be turned into a learning and positive experience.

MuzicNotez: What’s the latest release of yours? Tell us about it.

John Dorsch: My new album called ELEVATiON. It took two years to make and it was a labour of love. I am very proud of this achievement, and pushed my own boundaries to create it. I am very proud to announce ELEVATiON is my debut and first commercial album release. It is a collection of 15 original songs that are inspirational and moving. The songs range in style, mood and intensity. The listener will enjoy lush acoustic and electric guitars, captivating rhythms and harmonies. Songs on ELEVATiON feature my fingerstyle, pop, rock and folk influences, which are many. There is an abundance of positive messages in my music. I hope my music will have wide appeal and resonate with listeners who can relate their personal thoughts and experience to the themes I sing about.