Artist of the Week - Dallas Green

"There are lots of things I sing about where people wonder if I'm being a too little 'open book'. But I've always written that way and I think people who know me and are in my life know that and they've come to appreciate it's the way I sing and the way I make music. To me it's an unbelievable feeling to have someone tell you that a song has helped them through their tragedies. But at the end of the day I'm still left with this sense of hopelessness in myself. Are the next songs I write about going to help somebody and should it matter if they do or not?" Dallas Green is the type of artist who lets no one listen to his music without being affected. His songs have the ability to haunt and linger in the thoughts of those who listen.

Commonly known as City and Colour, Dallas Green is one of the greatest musicians of all time, in my opinion. He has been a singer-songwriter since the age of 14. His earlier fans may know him as the ex lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Alexisonfire.

Although Dallas has not formally expressed the struggles in his personal life, his music suggests that there have been many. His song, "Little Hell" suggests forms of addiction, "Save Your Scissors" suggests depression and mental illness. Every single one of his songs has a different story to tell, whether they be directly about him, someone he loves, or someone he wants to help simply by creating it. His music creates a portal from the real world, to a world where people learn to recognize, and solve struggle through song. Every note, every melody has the ability to heal and mend. His music has become an outlet for not only myself, but countless others all over the world.

City and Colour's latest album, The Hurry and The Harm was released on June 4th, 2013. It debuted as the number one album on the Canadian Albums Chart, a second number on debut for City and Colour. The album also reached international recognition when it reached number 16 on Billboard's top 200 chart.

City and Colour's diversity, musical storytelling, and international success has earned The Riff List's first Artist of The Week Title.

Photo courtesy of http://www.alancross.ca