Well known for his successful television series, books, and as a much sought-after keynote speaker, Huntsville native Les Stroud has embarked on another adventure in his career as a recording artist, specifically a songwriter intent on expounding the mysteries of nature, human interdependence, and our interconnectedness to the planet we all live on.
With the release this spring of two extraordinary songs, Ancients Call and Arctic Mistress, remastered from the earlier album Mother Earth, Stroud is undertaking a bold path toward firmly establishing himself in the music industry. He plans to release songs every six weeks after completing two ambitious projects with renowned producers Colin Linden in Nashville and legendary rock producer Mike Clink in Los Angeles.
Launching with the rerelease of Mother Earth in vinyl, Les Stroud will begin a new chapter.
“It kicks off my focus on music, at about 80%, maybe 85 %, of what I do professionally will be music now going forward for the next 10, 15 years. And that will be, essentially, I have a new song to release every six weeks for the next three years running, and Mother Earth is kicking all of that off,” Stroud explained.
Mother Earth – Les Stroud – YouTube
Stroud has been a musician and songwriter for most of his life and now plans to pursue that talent in a strategic and focused approach. Unlike many artists who interweave nature as intrinsic themes in their songwriting, Stroud has a unique ability to not only write folk-styled paeans but also explore huge, anthemic productions with rock guitar heroes like Slash and Steve Vai, making powerful and broadly appealing statements.
First introduced to audiences through his groundbreaking television series Survivorman, Stroud has made several television programs and documentaries, including the wildly successful foraging and cooking series Wild Harvest. He has been nominated for several prestigious awards over his career and has won Best Writer (twice) and Best Photography.
He has authored several books and numerous magazine articles. His books Survive! Essential Skills and Tactics to Get You Out of Anywhere–Alive! (Harper Collins) and Will to Live (Harper Collins) have made the Globe and Mail bestseller list. Stroud hosts a successful podcast, ‘Surviving Life,’ available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
With a natural-born storyteller’s ease and appeal, Stroud built a career from his daunting forays in rugged, often hostile terrains, where he captivated audiences with his documented survival of man against nature. Ultimately, he celebrated human survival in coordination and cooperation with a natural habitat. While filming the series Beyond Survival, Stroud was introduced and immersed into numerous earth ceremonies, from Ayahuasca and San Pedro rituals to ceremonies honouring the elements and Incan high priests. He reflects on this journey in his new song ‘Ancients Call.’
Surrounding Stroud’s African chant-inspired melody, drawing from his famed work with Guns N’ Roses, producer Mike Clink elevates the intensity of the ethereal soundscape with heavy guitars while haunted by the ghostly cries of Kelly Adams’ plaintive background vocals. ‘Ancients Call’ is a tribute to the wisdom and connection to higher powers and teachings that aboriginal peoples found and nurtured within remote cultures.
‘In everything I do, my music, my films, my books, … I celebrate nature, or I want to do a call to action, or I want to do a, you know, pointing something out that is an atrocity or that is beautiful.
I authentically live that life over and over again every day, my obsession with nature and my connection to it is what drives me. Certainly, I write love songs, but even now, my love songs utilize nature as a metaphor,” Stroud points out. https://www.lesstroud.ca/
Mother Earth is Stroud’s seventh album release. His previous albums have earned him acclaim and award nominations. His songwriting covers a broad range of styles, often featuring his riveting harmonica playing. He has written all the theme songs for his TV series and scored several independent films. Along with his prolific film production and musical recordings, Stroud is well-prepared to take on his new role as a musician and recording artist.
Stroud brings boundless energy and enthusiasm to the design of any project he is working on, and his music is certainly an extension of his love of outdoor athleticism. He has been an avid world explorer throughout most of his artistic and professional life. Living and interacting with humans and natural forces most of us are unlikely to directly experience, Stroud has accumulated a life full of resources – almost like hidden pearls. In doing so, he has collected a myriad of impressions and stories that will continue to inform his songwriting, storytelling, and personal performances.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
Join the discussion: