Rick Moss

Ever have those moments where you just feel like zoning out from the rest of the world and soaking in some good tunes? Toronto-native Rick Moss is a multi-instrumental musician, singer, and songwriter, who's been making music for over a decade. Elephant Philosophy is his debut EP, and it features his work on all instruments and vocals.

There's no doubt that Moss has got talent – you can already tell by the fact that he produces his music entirely himself. Elephant Philosophy is a blend of alternative rock with influences of classic alternative, punk, metal, jazz, and blues. It's not the kind of music I'd typically listen to, but I definitely found it enjoyable. Moss' lyrics allude to the abstract and rhetorical ways in which we think about everyday things like love, fear, life, and death, making it an ideal EP for chilling out and thinking about life. - Jessica Lam

The Boss, Rick Moss is a true DIYer. The Toronto indie rocker is not only a solo artist, but handles everything about it – songwriting, production (in part), booking, graphics, press, etc. June-released debut EP Elephant Philosophy (which is an EP with the initials “EP” whoa!) is the culmination of two years of work, sadly given a motivational push by the tragic death of a friend and getting fired just nine months apart.


Elephant Philosophy starts with “God of All Things”, a slower number that features great use of feedback and sustained guitar chords. “Lifted” is next, sounding very similar to the opener but with some heavier guitars. Lyrically the songs are almost together, with “God of All Things” cloaked in despair and “Lifted” being the aftermath where you rise above it. Was that the idea? Who knows!

We continue our journey on the EP with “Hour Glass”, which gets the groovy guitars going and features a bridge with Ross busting out some Cobain-esque vocals. Penultimate track “Monsters” is the first time the EP really kicks the tempo up, bringing a welcome melodic hardcore vibe. It’s definitely my favourite of the five offerings on Elephant Philosophy. Finally, “Smiley Osiris” (wordplay points forever 10/10) wraps things up by bringing some more groove both musically and presumably in the bedroom, to decipher the subject matter. I’d say – musically and lyrically, in fact – it’s the EP’s most playful track.

Rick Moss draws his musical influence from jazz, blues, punk, metal and beyond to create music that’s subtle yet eclectic. Besides aforementioned genres, Elephant Philosophy has elements of alt-rock and shoegaze. With five songs that clock in at under 15 minutes, it’s a quick listen that packs in the jam. Near-future plans include an Ontario tour, but beyond that we’ll have to see when we get the Elephant in the room near you. - Kevin Bottaro