We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jeff Orson a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jeff, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today The first dollar you earn is always exciting – it’s like the start of a new chapter and so we’d love to hear about the first time you sold or generated revenue from your creative work?

I got into my music career later in my life and wasn’t sure where it would go. The first dollar I ever earned from music was from a royalty check back in 2018. It was a little over three dollars but you would have thought it was a fortune when I received notice in the mail. It was for some early radio play I received in the Maritimes from one of my first singles. It spurred me on to keep writing and confirmed that at least someone was listening and found value in my work.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m a Canadian country singer / songwriter based in Toronto and was born in Niagara Falls, Ontario. I received my first guitar as a Christmas gift at the age of six and my older cousin gave me some basic lessons and left me to it. I played throughout my growing up years, and then on and off as an adult.

When I was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2014, I turned back to music and began composing songs (some from my hospital bed) while undergoing treatment. A hospital custodian heard me playing from bed during my recovery and urged me to take my music to the world. One tune seemed to lead to another and before long I had a catalogue of over 100 songs.

After receiving a clean bill of health, my cancer story was covered extensively on national television and radio networks, as well as in major national newspapers as part of the Canadian Cancer Society’s annual drive to raise awareness of the need for regular screening and early detection in order to save lives. Playing at shows followed, where a loyal following began to emerge. I think that my listeners appreciate my music’s straightforward style and relatable, heart-felt lyrics which are inspired by real life experiences. An artist with broad appeal, I aspire to compose authentic anthems for our times, that reflect real life.

Since then, I’ve 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. My last eleven singles have received radio play across Canada, the US, Australia, the UK, Europe, and Middle East. My first release Won’t Let Me Let Go in 2018 received play in Canada, followed by Country Kids and Little White House.

I released my song Pray in March of 2020. This song was in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic and was a way of reaching out to people feeling isolated and uncertain. All proceeds of Bandcamp downloads have been donated to the UN/WHO COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.

I released my Ballads EP in November 2020, a collection of piano-driven songs including Pray and Drowning, followed up with my upbeat country singles Who We Are and Home’s the Only Place in 2021, and Growin’ Up Country and Country Goin’ On in 2022. I was honoured to be the recipient of a 2021 and 2023 country music Red Carpet Award, based out of the Netherlands. My contemporary country tunes Magic in this Moonshine and Bootlegger were released in 2024, both achieving play internationally, including the US, Australia and Europe.

My latest single Missing You Soon is a nod to the traditional country music I grew up with and was released to radio in early January 2025.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I believe this is a multi-faceted question. Sharing my music with listeners around the world has been incredible. Receiving feedback on what works and what doesn’t in terms of writing has helped me to improve my craft. Listeners telling me how they personally relate to the stories I tell, how they felt the same way that I did at one time – this is what keeps me writing and performing. I love the collaboration with other artists – both musicians and recording specialists – to bring a tune together for radio and then putting it out into the world, and then waiting to see if listeners like it as much as I do.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

I think that my cancer diagnosis has been instrumental in driving my journey. I promised myself after first being diagnosed back in 2014 that if I survived I would not waste another minute of the time I had left and would dedicate my time to creative pursuits, namely writing and recording music.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jefforsonmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jefforsonmusic/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jefforson1
• Twitter: https://x.com/JeffOrsonMusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXr5jz4PVxo9v7Mb4Colqew

Image Credits

Patty Menendez
Suzanne Gill