Park life is where Canada’s gifted hip-hop folk star Roz Bell finds his creativity

Welcome to 52 Songs Of Happiness, a collection of unique music from around the world brought to you by Coca-Cola. Each of these amazing new acts has crafted a one-off song for Coca-Cola based around a treasured location, as well as a Placelist with the music that makes that place so special.

Next up is singer/songwriter Roz Bell, ready with the perfect soundtrack for the latter stages of summer. He was raised in a rural Canadian farming community before moving to Toronto to follow his dreams, and has shared the stage with Robin Thicke among others. And it’s not just music where his talents lie, for he’s also finished a novel, with a second one on the way.

We talked to him about his Placelist and song for 52 Songs Of Happiness.

Hi Roz, good to meet you – how would you describe your music?

Hey! I’m a pop singer/ songwriter from Toronto, Canada, and my music’s a mélange of my loves and influences. I was raised on 80's pop radio then fell in love with hip-hop only to give it all up for an acoustic guitar. My roots are strong and they shine through in everything I do, but I ‘m always passionate about inventive new artists and would love to collaborate with the likes of Skrillex, Bon Iver or James Blake. I really admire what they do with production, and they’re incredibly talented and unique, creating new sounds and ideas.

Tell us where you wrote your song  ‘Back In Bellwoods Park’ for 52 Songs of Happiness?

I wrote the song in the kitchen of my apartment, in the cold Toronto winter, thinking about warmer days ahead.

We don’t need to ask where you’ve chosen for your Placelist do we?!

No, not really! Bellwoods Park is such a special park in downtown Toronto. It’s typical of an urban park in that there are baseball diamonds, park benches, an off-leash area, and of course being in Canada, there’s a hockey rink. There are picnics and bicycle rides. Dogs and tight ropes. It's a beautiful place to take in the short Canadian summer in the city.

Where would you love to play a live show at?

It would be special to play the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. That building has so much history. There’re ghosts in there! Musical ghosts. I think of everyone who has been on that stage. It inspires me.