Jeff Orson is a traditional Canadian country singer / songwriter based in Toronto. First diagnosed with cancer in 2014, Jeff began composing songs (some from his hospital bed) while undergoing treatment. Since then, Jeff has played in venues around the world including Singapore, France, Sweden, Mexico City, Dublin, London, Rome, as well as major cities in the US and Canada.
An artist with broad appeal, Jeff humbly aspires to compose authentic anthems for our times. His last thirteen singles have received radio play across Canada, the US, Australia, the UK, Europe, and Middle East. Jeff’s first release Won’t Let Me Let Go in 2018 received extensive play in Canada, followed by other upbeat country songs like Country Kids, Little White House, Who We Are, and Country Goin’ On. He released his Ballads EP in November 2020, a collection of piano-driven songs including Pray and Drowning. His contemporary country tunes Magic in this Moonshine and Bootlegger were released in 2024, followed in January 2025 by Missing You Soon, a nod to the traditional country music Jeff grew up with. In November 2025, Jeff released his emotion-driven ballad style No Getting Over You. He was the recipient of several country music Red Carpet Awards (2021, 2023, 2025), based out of the Netherlands.
Jeff began a new cancer journey in early 2025 but continues to write and record new music. His latest single Flames Are All Gone is another upbeat country tune and was released in May 2026.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi, my name is Jeff Orson, and I have been singing and playing some kind of music on and off since I was a kid growing up in Niagara Falls. I really got serious about writing my own material about 12 years ago when I was diagnosed with cancer and needed something to take my mind off it while I was undergoing treatment. That led to a number of strange twists of fate which got me co-writing, down to Nashville, onto radio and playing gigs in such far-flung places as Singapore.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
My latest release Flames Are All Gone once again captures the essence of infatuation and the loss of love. The song takes listeners through the highs and lows of why some love sadly fades and eventually dies. There is hope of reconciliation in the bridge, reigniting that spark, contrasted with the reality that once a relationship is damaged it can be difficult to repair. I have endeavoured to write a very up-tempo tune with the classic theme of love gone wrong.
Walk us through your creative process when creating music.
It’s a very old school approach I take to writing I am afraid to admit. I always have to have a pad and paper at the ready to jot down ideas or lines throughout the day as well as recording some of them on my phone for later reference. A lot of my ideas come to me early in the morning, or last thing at night as opposed to me sitting down and saying it is time to write a song now. It is usually very spontaneous and when the creative juices are flowing, doesn’t take very long to get the bones of the song laid out.
Now that the music is out, what does the ‘road ahead’ look like? Beyond tours and videos, what’s one ‘bucket list’ goal you hope to achieve with this release?
I would love to do more on air interviews, print and maybe TV to talk about not just my work but the country music scene in general, and what direction the business is heading in.
Every artist has a ‘lightbulb moment’ where things just clicked. Looking back, what’s the one performance or milestone that made you realize, ‘Okay, this is what I was meant to do’?
When I heard my first tune playing on the radio when I was in my Jeep. I couldn’t believe that I had written something that others might enjoy listening to. I was hooked.
We love championing Canadian talent. If you were curated a ‘Must-Listen’ playlist of emerging artists right now, who is the first person you’d add?
There are so many GREAT Canadian emerging artists. That is a tough question to answer. Off the top of my head, I would say Charissa or The Red Hill Valleys, two great talents from my neck of the woods.
There’s nothing like the energy of a live room. Where can fans catch you on stage next, and for someone seeing you for the first time, what should they expect from a Jeff Orson live experience?
Unfortunately, my cancer has returned, and I am undergoing a very long treatment at the moment which has pre-empted me from touring over the last while. I am hoping to get back to the stage once again when my treatment has ended. If someone were to see me for the first time performing live, I think they could expect to hear genuine, heartfelt, perhaps more traditional country music, and some good stories that the audience could identify with.