Toronto might be the last place you'd expect to hear good country music. But that's where we're rolling for today's global hit. The World's Andrea Crossan introduces us to a Canadian country song-smith.

Rutledge: "my name is Justin Rutledge. I'm from Toronto Ontario. We're sitting at the Cadillac Lounge right now, at Queen and Dufferin. and I grew up not too far from here in an area west of here called the Junction."

The Junction is where four railway lines used to intersect. It's a working class neighbourhood in Toronto. Justin Rutledge was raised there in an Irish catholic family. His ambition when he was growing up was to be writer.

Rutledge: "I spent three years at the university of Toronto. I studied English lit. I was working towards a major in modern poetry - primarily modern American poetry but then music got in the way - unfortunately, or fortunately I should say."

One could argue that Rutledge is writing poetry. His latest album, called The Devil on a Bench in Stanley Park, is a collection of vividly poetic vignettes.

There are certain ingredients that make up the country music cocktail, the heartache, the booze..and Rutledge includes them in his music. But he does manage to steer clear of cliches... there are no odes to pick-up trucks, and no exes living in Texas.

Rutledge: "I'm just a kid from the inner city in Toronto - I didn't grow up in Texas. I've been there. I've been to Nashville but I mean I'm not going to go around and write about any sunset over there. I just know these skylines, right. So I feel as though I'd be lying to my audience and lying to myself if I did try to incorporate or incorporate that imagery that sentiment."

Rutledge writes about those Canadian skylines, Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa...His songs also take listeners to the bars of Barcelona and the streets of Vienna.

Rutledge: "See, I work in what certain people call "americana" or "alt country" whatever that means. So I'm trying to infuse a different kind of geography into that. I don't know many country songs that are talking about mass suicide in Eastern europe but I don't think it will ever catch on but (laughs)."

Rutledge doesn't hold any illusions about the path he's chosen. Writing and singing the thinking man's country music isn't likely to bring him mainstream radio-play. And the Canadian geography that Rutledge immortalises so romantically in his lyrics has its drawbacks.

Rutledge: "making a living in Canada, as a musician, as a songwriter is extremely difficult because there's such a broad expanse. It's not like the states where you can drive to a city in three hours, the next town is four hours away - tops. In Canada, you its, driving from Toronto to the next major city if you are heading west is 27 hours - from Toronto to Winnipeg. But some people do it, most people do it... somehow."

Justin Rutledge is doing it. He's got a number of Canadian concert dates this summer.