Fusing elements of folk, bluegrass and hip hop, Corwin Fox has created his own evolving style of folk music that seems best classified as ‘neo-folk’ A quick look at his music collection reveals some obvious reference points like Bob Dylan, Ron Sexsmith, the Beach Boys and Bob Marley, but if you look a little closer, you’ll find more obscure artists such as Jim O’Rourke, Dead Prez, XTC, and John Zorn. No matter where it comes from, Fox’s unique style of highly contagious personal and political folk songs will have you singing along before you even realise it.

Over a decade ago this eco-activist (and father of two) was playing in what was likely the most banned punk band to come from Ottawa’s Canterbury School for the Arts. From there, Corwin Fox went on to play in countless bands, tour the country numerous times with Ottawa prog-popsters Big Fish Eat Little Fish, write several scores for the Counternotes theatre group and compose an original score for the CBC documentary Don’t Pass Me By.

The years 2000 to 2002 saw Corwin marry and head back to school, studying recording engineering at Fanshawe College. There, he met Christiaan Anderson and Dean Watson with whom he soon formed the art-rock band, Balls Falls and the label Coqi Records. In 2001 he won EMI Music Publishing Canada’s award for best song for “Doctor God” from the Balls Falls album. Corwin’s debut solo album, Can You Sleep? was Coqi’s first release and was followed up in 2002 by Compassionate Relay which contained the classic tracks “Bring Me Back”, “We Love the Beehive Burners” (theme song for an air-quality activist group) and “Fantastic Mr. Fox” (named after Roald Dahl’s children’s book).

A move to Victoria allowed Fox time to regroup and have a second child, though not slowing for a minute. While touring up and down the west coast, Fox found time to record and produce albums for The Overlanders (teachers who put Canadian history into song) and David Roy Parsons; write and record with at least three bands (including the Colorado-based bluegrass band Raised on Rhubarb); collaborate with long-time friend Jordy Walker (Big Fish Eat Little Fish), and even fly back to Ottawa to shoot his first music video for “Face the Sun” on a brisk -30C day. After two months of rotation on MuchMusic, that video ranked in the Indie Music Video Festival’s Top Ten and went on to be showcased across North America and Europe.

If that wasn’t enough, “Fantastic Mr. Fox” decided to take on three (and counting) simultaneous recording projects. The first of these, Dream Water Rain Music-a deeply personal and highly political album-is a direct extension of 2002’s Compassionate Relay. Initially released in conjunction with an extensive Australian tour, Dream Water Rain Music sold out of its first pressing in late 2004.
Dream Water Rain Music marks Fox’s third and most ambitious solo album in four years, highlighting yet another extensive cast of characters such as Richard Parry (Arcard Fire), Daniel Lapp (Lappelectro), Tobin Frank (Spirit of the West) and Wynn Gogol (Harry Manx), as well as countless other musical guests and MCs.

With his distinctive knack for ironic juxtaposition and his playful sense of humour, Fox takes another deep cut at Big Business, government practices and environmental politics, all while warming us with his deeply concerned and heart-felt words of compassion and wisdom.

Live, Fox’s performances can range from extremely intimate acoustic shows with occasional guests to full band onslaught. But whereever he travels, Corwin keeps his crafty songwriting and distinct pop sensibility tucked neatly away with his guitar and baritone uke.