Singer-Songwriter Todd Green Channels Loss Into Melodic Reflection With Debut Single “Five Years Later”
Music serves as the timeless conduit that unites us all. For Todd Green, executive director of Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation and dedicated music enthusiast, his love for music transcends mere admiration.
With an extensive collection of records and countless concert experiences under his belt, Todd now embarks on a new venture as a singer-songwriter, adding another dimension to his musical journey.
At the core of Todd Green’s musical journey is Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation, a charitable children’s choir he established in 2017. With a passion for nurturing young talent, Todd founded the organization to provide aspiring singers across Canada with a platform to showcase their voices. Today, the foundation operates in six cities and three provinces, impacting the lives of over 200 children.
Surrounded by so many young talents, the Niagara-on-the-Lake native found inspiration in their vibrant energy to start his own path. Fuelled by his diverse musical influences and bolstered by his extensive experience, Todd’s journey into songwriting began with a profound desire to share his own stories and experiences. To kick-start, the singer just released his first single “Fiver Years Later,” a heartfelt reflection on loss and the journey towards acceptance.
“It’s also about thinking of what you would say to people you have lost if you had a second chance to do so,” explains the singer and songwriter. Inspired by his own experience of loss, particularly the passing of his former stepson, Todd delicately navigates the delicate balance between sorrow and healing.
‘I don’t think there’s a heaven,
I don’t believe we get a second chance.
And even though I’d love it to happen,
I don’t think we’ll get to talk again.
So I’ll say now, what I should have before,
The memories I cherish, just wish we had more.
[Chorus:]
And when I heard
That you went away
It took me several days
To believe it
To believe it’
With sincerity and grace, Todd shares his heartfelt reflections, offering a glimpse into the profound impact of loss while honoring the memories that continue to shape his journey.
“The song was part of the process I have been going through since he [his stepson] passed away, and I was finally able to put into words what I have been thinking since I found out he had passed,” continues.
Through gentle melodies and introspective lyrics, Todd invites listeners to join him on a journey of remembrance and reconciliation. The song serves as a tribute to his stepson and a testament to the enduring power of love and resilience in the face of tragedy.
As Todd embarks on this new chapter in his musical journey, he remains grounded by his family, including his wife and young son, Liam, who stands as his steadfast supporter and greatest inspiration. Looking ahead, Todd anticipates the release of a 5-song EP, featuring collaborations with the talented young members of Tomorrow’s Voices Foundation.
Beyond his musical endeavors, Todd’s academic pursuits as a marketing professor at Brock University intersect seamlessly with his passion for music. His ongoing research projects delve into music consumption and the intricacies of the music industry, offering invaluable insights into the cultural landscape of Canada.
“Five Years Later” is more than a song; it’s a testament to the power of music to heal, console, and connect us across time and space.
Care to introduce yourself?
I am Todd Green and I live in Niagara-on-the-lake, Ontario. I am firstly a huge fan of music and now secondly, at the age of 46, a singer-songwriter who has finally released my own music. My first release is a song called Five Years Later that came out in January this year. I also created synth music under the artist name t.d.g. that I started releasing in late 2023. It’s been a year of gaining experience and the comfort to put my music out to the world.
Tell us about the process of recording “5 Years Later”?
The song was recorded at the Niagara Rock Academy in Chippawa. The way it came together is my 8-year-old son takes guitar and drum lessons there. I decided to start taking piano lessons with his teacher to improve my playing and make it easier to write my own songs. I have had 35 (or more) years away from piano lessons so the main focus for me was not messing up my part on the piano. It also made it easier for me to not get too emotional while singing the song because I didn’t want to play the wrong notes during my recording takes. My piano teacher is also a great guitarist and he played the acoustic alongside me and took the lead from what I did on the piano. We did a few off-the-floor recordings, one of which became the demo version of the song that I released, and then after a few takes, we had a song! I sent the song to Murray Foster (Great Big Sea and Toronto Songwriting School) for production, and he added some beautiful synths and drums to really bring it to life. It was all pretty organic and really fun too. There is a sense of accomplishment to be able to say “hey, check out my song” now. And my son is my biggest fan, which is very sweet of him and so heartwarming when he adds my songs to his playlists.
What’s it like being an artist in Niagara On The Lake?
It’s still early to say but my experience of being around musicians and artists in Niagara has been related to the charitable children’s choir I run called Tomorrow’s Voices. We were fortunate to have amazing singers and choir directors including Sarah Jerrom and Katey Gatta (Sleepy Jean) play and sing with the kids here in Niagara. I have also been fortunate to get to attend the Cicada Festival in St Catharines and loved hearing local Niagara artists play there. If I one day get to be considered part of the music scene here, that would be really great. So far, my involvement in music has been via my charity and attending shows/festivals.
Who was the first and most recent Canadian artist to blow you away?
The first was The Hip and I saw them at Copps Coliseum in Hamilton in 1994 for the Day For Night tour. Even being pretty far away in the stands, it was a special night and the energy from the band and Gord specifically was unmatched. They are the band I have seen the most times (11 total) including some small shows in New Jersey and New York when I lived in the US for my undergraduate degree.
For the most recent Canadian artist, I am going to cheat a bit and say a few – Dan Mangan and the Beaches. They both have done events with the kids choir I run and they were all so kind and amazing with our kids. It made a huge impact on the kids and their parents. They all have wonderful memories of meeting and singing with/for these artists. They are also incredible talents and while they make very different music, they have great live shows too.
For bands that I have seen play live outside of my charity work, Metric, Born Ruffians, Wintersleep, Hayden, Dear Rouge, Hollerado (and many more) have put out great albums and I loved seeing them play live too.
You’ve been making music for a short bit of time now, what’s one piece of advice you can offer to those starting out?
Probably not to wait as long as I have! I have been attending concerts since the early 90’s and have over 800 albums at home and just love music so much that I think I made it too precious to try my own hand at it. I remember trying to learn the acoustic guitar in my 20’s and I didn’t want to ruin music for myself by not being good at it and for the record, I was not good at it! I eventually started to learn the drums during my PhD in Vancouver in 2009 and it was then I shared some of my lyrics with my teacher but I still didn’t know what to do with them.
The lyrics were handwritten from my undergrad that I wrote between 1996-2000 and they just sat there in a folder. I didn’t really know what to do with them and I lacked formal music training so songwriting became this impossible thing to me. After being around the kids in the choir and meeting artists who lead the kid’s choirs, I decided I needed to move past my nerves and worries about how I might sound to others.
The other big step was enrolling in courses at the Toronto Songwriting School and being pushed to perform both a cover and original over the 8 weeks that the courses run. It forced me to get comfortable with putting myself out there and singing/playing for others. Now I like to just sit down, play some chords on my piano, and piece things together.