Scott Merritt has been played on NTS in shows including Freedom To Spend, featured first on 8 April 2020. Songs played include Power Of Invention.

Scott Merritt is a Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and producer. Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, he now resides in nearby Guelph.

While still a kid in the 70s, Merritt began playing with various garage bands around town. In the late 70s he set out on his own, playing acoustic folk numbers in local coffeehouses. In 1979 he released his first indie album, Desperate Cosmetics, produced on a budget of $8,000 by the then-unknown Daniel Lanois. This was followed in 1983 by a second indie album: Serious Interference. In 1986 he signed with Duke Street Records, who re-released Serious Interference, as well as the subsequent, Juno-nominated, Gravity is Mutual.

In 1990 Merritt moved to the American label IRS, and released Violet and Black. Corporate politics and the closing down of the IRS label meant that for many years following, Merritt was legally unable to record or release anything. This happened at the same time as he was becoming tired of being a 'career' musician. So he stepped back, spent time with his family and friends, and started working on friends' projects in his home studio.

For the next decade Merritt produced records for others, including Fred Eaglesmith, The Grievous Angels, Ian Tamblyn, Kim Deschamps, Ruth Sutherland, and Meg Lunny. At the same time he continued to write songs, make home recordings, and would play the occasional local gig. Then he got a phone call out of the blue, from an old friend who had just become president of MCA records, asking him if he wanted to make another record.

The Detour Home was released by MCA in 2002. Thanks to iTunes, Serious Interference and Gravity is Mutual are also once again available (although they got one of the album titles wrong).

Albums:

Desperate Cosmetics (1979 - indie) Serious Interference (1983 - indie, 1986 - Duke Street/MCA) Gravity is Mutual (1986 - Duke Street/MCA) Violet and Black (1990 - IRS) The Detour Home (2002 - MCA)

Official website: www.scottmerritt.net