Name: Geoff Hicks

Birthplace: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Currently residing: Vancouver, BC

Musical past and present in one rambling run-on sentence: Failed academic drops out of SFU to pursue non-stop Canadian touring and drinking of domestic beer in the early 90’s then band signed to MCA and tours some more then breaks up only to send me into a career of freelance studio, live and touring drumming with artists from all genres ranging from Colin James to Harry Manx to The Paperboys to Barney Bentall to Jim Byrnes, to Craig Northey to Steve Dawson to The Sojourners and various sundry folk, jazz, country, blues, and rock artists.

Website 

1. Who are some of your favourite composers, musicians and bands from the past and present?

I grew up listening to my Dad’s eclectic record collection.  He was a disc jockey on the Pirate Radio boats off the UK coast in the 60’s and he returned with albums ranging from the Rolling Stones to Roland Kirk to Stephen Stills to John Coltrane. I adore Miles Davis, Coltrane, and their Be-Bop ilk. I also like funk and soul music like The Meters, James Brown, Sam Cooke… I listen to lots of melody-heavy new music and especially dig Grizzly Bear, Bill Calahan, Beck, Tortoise, Calexico, Animal Collective….

My Mother passed on a love of classical music to me as well, mostly romantic stuff from Hayden and Mozart, Dvorak…

2. Is there a particular song or musical passage that never fails to move you emotionally?

The aria Nessun dorma from Puccini’s Turandot as sung by Pavarotti always did it for me. It’s so rich and manipulative – I’ll always tear up like a sucker. A close second would be Coltrane’s Naima, written for his daughter.  Heartbreaking.

3. How would you describe your perfect day?

A late sleep-in followed by a hot shower with sports radio blaring. A full pot of dark roast coffee from a french press, a walk with my favorite podcast, a noodle lunch over a newspaper, then hours in front of the computer with great music playing. A glass of crisp white wine with the evening news, a great home cooked meal with my gal followed by some great local music at a bar. Then, catch the red-eye to San Fran or NYC….

4. What would your friends say they appreciate the most about you?

A good listener, generous, kind, damn funny. slightly off.

5. What is your most valued material possession?

My Grandma’s necklace. Or my Juno Award.

6. Who were you, or would you be nervous to meet?

I clammed up when I met Russell Crowe. But I would have loved to have met Oscar Peterson.

7. If you could blink your eyes and be in a favourite place right now, where would that place be?

Helliwell Park on Hornby Island, BC

8. Is there something you would like to do more of in the future?

Practice my instrument. Listen to music. Travel. Be kind to people I love.

9. Where would you like to find yourself in ten years?

In good health, travelling with music and doing tons of recording work.  And also a successful voice actor. That’s a damn hard business to crack.