Dark side of the Ron

Singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith's music can be broody but never scary.

There's another side to Ron Sexsmith. The mild-mannered, sweet-melodied Canadian singer-songwriter might be known to his fans for his melancholy songs about love and the years rolling on by - and there's a fair few on Sexsmith's latest album Time Being.

But he has a dry sense of humour, and a dark streak, too.

Take Jazz at the Bookstore, a prod at making muzak out of the jazz or blues greats ("Leadbelly's in the background/ being drowned out by the grind") in franchises selling bestsellers or coffee alongside music.

Though they are probably just the sort of establishments where Sexsmith fans have grabbed his seven studio albums ...

Sexsmith chuckles from Toronto. "I guess you would think those kind of people who would be into my stuff would be the kind who read books - and drink coffee. Some thought I was doing a harsh critique.

"But it's just a sort of humorous song. There's a Starbucks on the corner from where I live and I am there almost every day."

Then there's Grim Trucker, a musically upbeat (think the Beatles' A Day In the Life) but lyrically gruesome tale contemplating reincarnation and where bacon comes from.

"I always loved the dark kind of narratives. Even on my first album I had a song called From A Few Streets Over about the evil icecream man ... I had a song called Parable about a guy contemplating murder.

"I am always happy when I find myself in a tale like that. I guess in my dreams I would love to be able to write a scary story like Edgar Allan Poe. "

Not that Nick Cave should be worried about losing market share.

Some of Sexsmith's songs might be deceptively dark but his singing is never going to scare anyone.

Actually, he can sound a lot like Paul McCartney - one of his many famous fans, the list also including Elvis Costello, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Coldplay - on Time Being.

And Sexsmith has a theory why.

"I think a lot of it has to do with the shape of my face and everything. Like any instrument, the shape of the instrument is what creates the tone - I have kind of a round face like him."

So you guys are like the woodwinds of pop vocalists?

"Yeah basically the oboe or something."

It's not a bad instrument for all those love songs. And no, Sexsmith's wife Colleen isn't sick of the many declarations of his affections over a career which got into gear at the age of 31 in 1995 with his self-titled debut album. That included his much-covered ballad Secret Heart.

"That's probably the song I will be remembered for I guess. But I hope people will start to look that I have other songs apart from Secret Heart that they can cover."

At home in Toronto before heading to Auckland, Sexsmith is writing for his next album, drawing some inspiration from the pronounced change in seasons of his homeland.

"I think that plays a big part in a lot of Canadian writers. The fall is intense and right now we are having a really beautiful fall. Every season is very defined and it has an impact on your mood and your spirit. It's inspirational.

I always love going to New Zealand and Australia but I don't think I could live anywhere where the seasons don't change like that."

Lowdown

Who: Ron Sexsmith, Canadian singer-songwriter

Latest album: Time Being

Playing: Transmission Room, Sunday September 24. Tickets from Ticketek

Trivia: As his songwriting credit on his album says, his full name his Ronald Eldon Sexsmith. His older brother is Donald Edwin and his younger John Kevin. Yep, Donny, Ronny and Johnny.

"There was a time when I was going to drop my first name and go with Eldon Sexsmith because I thought it sounded more like Elvis Presley and I regret not doing that sometimes."