Ross Freedman needed to write a song "on deadline" for a songwriting class. He saw Elizabeth's post and was immediately inspired by it. Initially, the song was an off-the-cuff, stream-of-consciousness word salad. But upon reflection, Ross Freedman realized the song was really about him trying to find his footing — his horizon — after his mom passed away in 2019 and while he was working through the paperwork of being the last remaining member of his nuclear family. 'Horizon' was recorded, mixed, produced and mastered by Steve Dawson at Kernel Sound Emporium, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
By Kamil Bobin
Discovered via Musosoup
Hey Ross Freedman, super nice to have the chance to chat with you. What first got you into music?
Hey, Kamil. Thanks so much for having me!
I have a fond and clear memory of singing with my mom in our kitchen when I was very young—probably three or four years old. In this memory, she would sing "Give A Little Whistle" from the Disney "Pinocchio" movie and I would join in when I could. I think that kick-started it for me.
How do you balance your time in the studio with other commitments such as a part-time job, family, admin?
This is a really good question. I don't do a lot of recording, but when I do, it's in two or three hour increments. That's a function of my collaborator's (Steve Dawson, who is an excellent musician in his own right) availability and also a function of whether or not I feel like I have material worth recording. Because studio time is limited and precious, I have an easier time balancing my other responsibilities to my "real" job, and my wife and dogs.
Your latest song is 'Horizon'. Can you tell us more about the making of it and if there were any unusual things happening during the process?
Sure thing. The song comes out of the convergence of three different inspirations, I guess: I take a weekly songwriting class at Chicago's Old Town School of Folk Music (if you haven't heard of the Old Town School, it's a seminal institution in American music and I recommend checking it out.) So, I was "on deadline" for a song for class. A college friend, Elizabeth Crane Swartz (@elizabethcraneswartz), who is a visual artist, posted a work in progress to Instagram at roughly the same time I sat down to write. She added a caption that said, "My horizon line is shit. The water isn't done. I love the sky." This was the perfect inspiration in that moment. I texted to ask if it was ok to use it. She immediately responded that it would be fine. And then I was off. I wrote the song in about two hours, in time to present it in class.
As far as recording goes, I love working with Steve. We've worked on two full albums together ("Hold Fast" 2010 and "Fall" 2015), and we've developed a "let's try it and see..." approach. For example, on "Horizon," we were listening back to the piano track and I picked up a pair of drum sticks. There was a pile of lead sheets on the floor tom, and I started hitting the head of the drum with one stick and the stack of paper with the other. Those are the "bass drum" and "snare drum" that sounds like a drum machine.
What is one message you would give to your fans?
I'm deeply appreciative that you listen, and I hope you like what you're hearing!
What would you be doing right now, if it wasn’t for your music career?
I'd be doing what my day-to-day looks like when I'm not making music. I've had a long career in marketing as a copywriter and creative director.
How do you know when a work is finished?
This is the age-old question! I don't think it's possible to be absolutely sure something is done. There's that adage, "Art is never finished; it's abandoned." I feel like that's true. At a certain point, the thing will tell you it's done and it's time to share it or put it away.
Can you write what was your best performance in your career? How do you remember it?
I have such a fond memory of the release show for "Hold Fast." The band was on fire. The venue had real chairs! And my family was there. It was a special night, for sure.
Do you have a mentor or coach?
I refer to Steve as my "friendtor," a combination friend/mentor. I've learned so much from watching him work in the studio, watching him perform and seeing how he interacts with people. His openness and curiosity is a wonderful thing to experience, and he's an extremely supportive guide.
Who is your favourite musician?
Tough call. I love the way Aimee Mann writes. Neil Finn, too. I joke that I'm always trying to write a song like one of theirs.
What are your plans for the future?
I'm going to be releasing a few more singles over the next year or so, and we'll see how that goes. The reaction to "Horizon" has been wonderful and I'm really excited about it.