John Dorsch Scales New Heights with His New Album Elevation
Ontario-based singer, songwriter and guitarist John Dorsch unveiled his new album Elevation on July 14, 2023, via MTS Records.
The album showcases Dorsch’s unique style of folk rock/Americana and is full of vibrant melodies that bring the listener on a journey of music. Dorsch draws on influences from Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Rush, The Beatles, Jerry Reed and Merle Travis to create his own blend of traditional and modern music.
The musical journey features 15 original songs all composed and recorded by Dorsch himself. The album was produced and recorded at JDM Studios and mixed and mastered by Dave Draves at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa, Ontario.
Accompanying Dorsch on African Djembe drum and percussion is his wife, Dani Baribeau, who also contributes harmony vocals. The track “Save Just One More Life” also features Paul Johnson on mandolin and bouzouki, and Bonny Skiffington provides harmony vocals.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Thank you, my name is John Dorsch. I am a guitarist singer and songwriter from Rideau Ferry Ontario Canada.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
On July 14th 2023, I released my new album titled, “ELEVATiON” on Spotify, Apple Music and deezer streaming platforms through MTS Records. It is my debut full length album that is a collection of 15 original songs. The album took two years to make. I recorded the entire album myself at my home built studio and it was mastered at Little Bullhorn Studios in Ottawa. The title, “ELEVATiON” was chosen because when listening to the music and reading the lyrics, positivity and elevating the human spirit, were the themes running all through the songs. I performed all electric and acoustic guitars, bass guitar, drum tracks, lead and harmony vocals. My wife Dani sings harmony and performs djembe and percussion on the album. On the song, “Save Just One More Life” friend Paul Johnson performs mandolin and bouzouki and his wife Bonny Skiffington sings harmony as well. The songs include 3 moving fingerstyle instrumentals, and the rest are a blend of fingerstyle, pop and rock songs with melody and harmonies that are produced in a full band format.
Do you have any upcoming shows you’d like to tell us about?
October 28th, 2023 Bastard Coffeehouse, Delta Ontario
My wife and musical partner Dani assists in producing my music and performing live with me in a duet. These upcoming shows will be in our acoustic duet format. I sing and perform on acoustic guitar with Dani adding harmony vocals, djembe and percussion. The listeners will hear acoustic versions of the songs on the new ELEVATiON album and select cover songs.
If given the chance, which Canadian artist would you love to work with in the future?
If given the chance, I would love to work with Jim Cuddy from Blue Rodeo. He is a great guitarist and pianist on top of being arguably one of the best Canadian singer and songwriter. I have seen him perform many times. I would like to get to know him and delve deeply into his songwriting process. I would love to write music and perform with him, it would be life changing for me.
What’s your goal for 2024?
My goal for 2024 is to finish writing and working out new material for my next album while traveling to South East Asia and the Philippines over this winter. I expect to be greatly inspired by the travel and cultural experience and I will have a guitar with me to capture the new ideas. When I return in the spring of 2024 I will start recording again.