Colin Munroe: Two Sides to a One Man Band

By Melanie Chung

He is not at all what I expected. He's slim and easygoing. He has a shy smile and is soft spoken. But at the same time he is entirely casual, entirely at ease, almost unassuming. He's quick to make you feel welcome. And there is an air about him that makes him seem, dare I say, normal.

He's friendly - he actually asks about me. It is such a minute detail, but nonetheless, highly unusual in my line of work. It leaves a small impression on me. The lines between us are blurred, interviewer and interviewee are non-existent as we talk about the simple things - like the signature JXM playing cards (that we give as gifts to interviewees).

But with a simple "what's up?" we slip into interviewee and interviewer mode.

The multi-talented Colin Munroe from small town North Goer has grown up listening to old Chicago and Ry Cooder records. Falling asleep with headphones on at the age of five he names as one of his earliest musical memories. Music has been a part of his life for as long as he can remember. Music is so ingrained in him he makes musical connections between his life and musical history. Munroe was born on Paul McCartney's birthday and the year John Lennon died. His parents use to compete in choir competitions in high school and one year in the finals, Munroe's mother beat his father. As a result the trophy was destined to remain in his grandparents' home. The self-taught musician began his career producing for the underground Toronto urban scene. Something he calls an accident - answering an ad in the back of Eye Weekly. That fateful ad led to producing and co-writing 10 songs on the Juno nominated album What It Is by Ray Robinson. To add to Munroe's growing hip hop/R&B repertoire, he's also produced for other locals, Saukarates, Brassmunk, and Divine Brown, among many others.

Though Munroe started his career in the Canadian underground hip hop scene, he's clear when he says that the hip hop style will never make it onto his own records. "It's just not me. I discovered that music later in life, fell in love with it, and it's been a huge influence on me, but it's not me. It wouldn't come across as honest and I think my gift in that area is helping other artists in that genre better realize themselves or help them look at things in a different way or to be creative. My role in that world is much more in the shadows." Although simultaneously, it's difficult to imagine a smalltown white boy in a pop art coloured tee rapping about bling, booty, or breaking. Munroe, instead is intent on remaining honest to himself. With the countless number of musicians who know the "right" thing to say, Munroe somehow feels genuine.

He's the first to admit his social shortcomings, making him easily relatable. There is no rock star bravado, or that holier than thou attitude. "I've always been that kid that people weren't quite sure was going to happen to him. I was never the football player in high school, I was never the popular kid. And it's always kind of stuck with me. And then coming to Toronto and ending up very strangely in the urban music scene where I was very much embraced but still very much the outsider - this little white kid from the country in the studio with all these West Indians - so I was always a bit of the misfit. But I figured at the end of the day I might as well embrace that and turn it into who I am, another bit of my identity."

I ask about those songs he wrote for girls that didn't really notice him. He gives me a sheepish smile. "I always stuck to myself as a kid, and I guess that's just how music started to show itself. It was a kind of way of reaching out to people."

It's clear the sentiment hasn't left him. With his debut album named after the first single Don't Think Less of Me, his lyrics are slightly despondent, one would even say jaded. Yet ironically, his music is fairly upbeat and melodic. "It's actually not pessimistic at all. It's almost ridiculously optimistic. And what it's saying is, there is a lot of bad stuff going on, there is a lot of pain in life but where would you be without that? And didn't that add something so interesting to your character that you couldn't possibly see yourself without it? That, at the end of the day, is what it's about."

"The overall aesthetic of the album has a very sort of happy, upbeat veneer. But underneath that, the lyrical level, is where the context and the questions are. Are we saying anything really worth listening to? In our music - is there really something else we should be focusing on? Do we want to be happy? Do we want to embrace the scars?"

Going beyond his album, he shows a passion for social justice, yet simultaneously he is grounded in the reality of the world. Without the overly idealistic and cookie cutter answers, the aviators that sit atop his head are a far stretch from the rose coloured pair that most in the public eye wear. Rather than trying to win the beauty pageant crown with the typical world peace response, Munroe seems more inclined to live his life like most people. He's very aware of his surroundings but does what he can.

"I cannot realistically justify the amount of money I spend. When you consider where the money could have gone towards otherwise, someone who needs it or someone who could use it for a better purpose. But that doesn't mean we should give up everything we have. We're always going to live with a bit of conflict. I deal with it day to day, almost every decision I make. 'Do I really need this? I want this. Can I go without it? Would I be happier with it?' And in the entertainment industry, it is what it is. I think it'll be a constant battle."

"I think at the end of the day people need to take more responsibility for their place, and for their place in their community and society. I think we'd all like to have organizations that take care of that for us. We would all like to be able to give money to Oxfam and I think those organizations are great. But they're no match for the collective force of human nature. If people are not going to be responsible for themselves on an individual level, you can give all the money you want, but no amount of money is going to make a difference."

The conversation is much more than I expected. His honesty is rather refreshing. I suppose I'm guilty of the same prejudices that he's faced and he is indeed one not to think less of. The lines in the song express both the dark and light of being thought of less than what you are. Maybe if I was a little bit bigger, stronger, wiser and taller, but then the world would prolly only hit my shoulders harder and so much longer.

As I wrap up my last question we slip back into ourselves and no longer do we feel like we are performing for our job.

As we head out of Starbucks he asks for my last name. He says my full name as if he's trying to remember it. Maybe he's just trying to savour the ride. Remember the moment.

Though his music has a certain amount of chrip and jubilance, there's no denying the lyrics are grounded. Nothing is sugar coated nor is the world made into a world of evil. Instead his lyrics illustrate the world as it just is. It's not perfect, it's not easy, but you can feel his love for life, for challenge, and the excitement for growth in his music. Munroe is full of ideas and ambition. Now that his album has been complete he is still aware that life won't be easy from here on in, but all he can do is remain true to himself. Guess whatever way you go is gonna be hard, try hard and what else can they ask of you?