“I think songs can be a clear line of ideas and feelings to social issues, cultural differences and happenings. Like a perfect poem. They can make people think about human nature. The good and the bad. I'd like my music to reach people in a positive way. Tell a story. Make them move and groove.”

Geoff Arsenault: Rootsy and Organic Music

Drummer, percussionist, singer/songwriter Geoff Arsenault is a veteran touring and recording artist. His style and skill behind the kit has taken him right across North America, and throughout Europe & the UK, and is considered to be one of the most sought after drummers both in studio, and on stage. Geoff has two solo recordings to his name; This Ain’t No Fictionand Voodoo Baby Rattle. Hired Hand (2025) features Colin Linden, Matt Andersen, Amy Helm, Kevin Breit and more is Arsenault's third, and most ambitious release. His music is described as somewhere between Tony Joe White, Willie P. Bennett and J.J. Cale, with a real swampy, roots music style, tinged with Tex-Mex and a dash of New Orleans blues.

(Geoff Arsenault / Photo by GR & AG Studio)

Geoff says: “This new recording, Hired Hand, was a long time coming. My last recording was Voodoo Baby Rattle, released in 2006, so I've been sitting on and honing these songs for awhile, waiting for the right time and opportunity to come my way. My drumming and groove in general is deeply rooted in the blues and New Orleans music. My voice, I'm not sure where it comes from. Maybe my dad. I write from the experiences I've had living and traveling along with my beliefs”.

Interview by Michael Limnios                      Special Thanks: Sarah French Publicity 

How has the music influenced your views of the world? What is the driving force behind your continuous support for your music?

Music has, I believe, widened my views of the world in a good way. Educated me on various cultures by delving into the music from around the globe. I'm drivin by the natural forward motion of creating music.

How do you describe your sound, music philosophy and songbook? Where does your lyrics creative drive come from?

My sound is definitely rootsy and organic. It has, a swampyness about it. A New Orleans, blues and country base. My philosophy is that it should be as honest as possible. It's an art form that can be very personal. My songbook is a totality of influences of all the music I've been listening to since I was a kid, all the players I've played with and so many travels and life experiences I've had. Lyrically, I try to write from a cool place. I tend to write lyrics in a blues form. It can be somewhat ambiguous or straightly stated. Also on the light side and humorous at times. I do like to write in metaphors.

”believe what I've learned the most on my musical path is how to get along with folks, empathy and how wonderfuly different we all are. This comes from traveling, playing music for so many people from different walks of life and collaborating with so many diverse musicians.” (Photo: Geoff Arsenault)

What moment changed your music life the most? What´s been the highlights in your life and career so far?

A great musician, Bill Stevenson, moved next door to me when I was 13/14. I was playing in a band with my brother up in our barn. Fantasizing, of course, about being on a stage. Bill would invite me over to listen to albums, from Ray Charles, Taj Mahal to Tom Waits and much in between, and we'd talk them over. That influence, listening to so many diverse and great records, was the impetis to becoming a full time musician. Man, I've had so many highlights. Playing at festivals around the world with so many great players. Recording on so many great records. Playing drums on a gig for Dr. Lonnie Smith was a major highlight. This recent record of mine is definitely one. It's big forward motion for me.

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

I don't really miss anything from the music of the past. I can still listen to it, the stuff I like, and people are still making it in the present. Mind you, I do miss the amount of gigs it was possible to have then. You could play one joint all week long. I hope what's going on continues as far as people going out to see and hear live shows and searching for new music. Seems to be happening with many young people. It could be better of course. I do fear the plethora of crappie music that is so prevalent on popular radio. That being said, there are so many great stations around the world playing a variety of fantastic music across the airwaves.  

There is an over abundance of YouTube videos of players, in a variety of genres, that many young aspiring players are watching, that are basically BS. Showing how fast they can play and having nothing to do with music. I hope that goes away and young players play with other musicians as opposed to by themselves.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

I think songs can be a clear line of ideas and feelings to social issues, cultural differences and happenings. Like a perfect poem. They can make people think about human nature. The good and the bad. I'd like my music to reach people in a positive way. Tell a story. Make them move and groove.

”Music has, I believe, widened my views of the world in a good way. Educated me on various cultures by delving into the music from around the globe. I'm drivin by the natural forward motion of creating music.” (Geoff Arsenault, a veteran touring and recording artist / Photo by GR & AG Studio)

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

I believe what I've learned the most on my musical path is how to get along with folks, empathy and how wonderfuly different we all are. This comes from traveling, playing music for so many people from different walks of life and collaborating with so many diverse musicians.

Why do you think that the American Roots music continues to generate such a devoted following in Canada?

I think it's to do with the close proximity of our neighbors and their music. As American Roots music was evolving on the air waves and vinyl, we across the border had access to so much of it. American culture influenced us to such a degree we couldn't  help but soak up it's music. And still do. Natural thing.

What are you doing to keep your music relevant today, to develop it and present it to the new generation?

As far as creating  music, I think I'm not consciously trying to make it relative to today, other than continually writing new songs and putting down, in song, recent personal experiences. Sonically of course I can't help but be influenced by the ever evolving sounds on recordings and how to achieve them. Interesting though, in Roots music, a lot of new stuff is trying to achieve the old sounds. Getting my music to a new generation is a tough one to think about. Ultimately, I just hope my stuff is hip enough to reach a wide populace. I always dig playing to younger folks. I like that energy.

Geoff Arsenault - Home

(Photo: Geoff Arsenault)