Canadian Musician Radio: Recent Episodes
Canadian Musician Radio
The best insider information on the music industry.
Interviews with musicians, songwriters, producters, music experts and music industry professionals. Join Show Hosts Andrew King and Mike Raine for the hottest information on Canadian music.
Ria Mae has a brand new EP and is fresh off of a very special show during the 2017 Halifax Pop Explosion that saw her performing with Symphony Nova Scotia amidst her cross-country Scott Vs. Ria tour with our pal Scott Helman. The new EP, My Love, takes listeners on a journey from post-relationship heartache to healing. We chat with her about all of that and more.
With Faith Healer's recently-released sophomore LP Try;-), Jessica Jalbert has formally welcomed Renny Wilson to the fold as a full-time bandmate. She speaks with Mike about the album, its creation at Wilson's Montreal studio, the musical relationship the two share, straying from the "folk singer" label, and more.
Finally, Edmonton's The Royal Foundry is an art-pop quartet with the husband and wife team of Jared Salte and Bethany Schumacher at its core. The two tell us about how their personal relationship extends into the creative sphere, how their home city and its music scene has shaped their sound, and more.
Gord Bamford has plenty in store for early 2018, including his 29-date Neon Smoke Tour supporting the album of the same name. Gord joins us to talk about the record, including his collaboration with Blue Rodeo's Jim Cuddy for the single "Ain't It Grand," his current goals, and more.
The Karpinka Brothers - Aaron and Shawn - are about as well-known for their warm personalities as they are their music, performing everywhere from nursing homes to dive bars. The band joins us to talk about the lyrical weight of ther latest album, Talk Is Cheap, how their creative partnership grew out of their familial one, and more.
Finally, Lydia Persaud is a musician's musician with an impressive pedigree. She's a member of Dwayne Gretzky and The O'Pears and collaborator with the likes of Lee Fields, Jill Barber, Karl Wolf, Royal Wood, and many others. She talks about distilling all of her musical experiences into her debut solo EP, Low Light, and more.
Mike catches up with Great Lake Swimmers lead singer, songwriter, and guitarist Tony Dekker to see how they're progressing on their as-yet-untitled seventh album. As has become the norm for the band, they've once again selected a somewhat unusual place to record: a decommissioned church in London, ON. Tony talks about how the space has influenced the album and the unique approach he describes as "reverse engineering." He also discusses the life-changing experience he had onboard a ship sailing through the Canadian arctic as part of the Canada C3 Expedition.
The Elwins just released their third LP, Beauty Community, and as vocalist/guitarist Matthew Sweeney shares, the record is the band's most collective to date. He discusses the decision to re-tap producer Derek Hoffman this time around, pushing into the U.S. market, and more.
Finally, author Mark Kearney joins us to talk about his latest book with co-author Randy Ray, called As the Years Go By... Conversations with Canada's Folk, Pop & Rock Pioneers. He tells us about the process of revising dozens of interviews with Canadian artists from past decades to compile the unique collection.
It's been one hell of a year for Saskatchewan rockers One Bad Son. After seeing their single "Raging Bull" thrash its way up the rock charts earlier this year, the band is back with their latest single, "Scream for Me," which is proving to be just as potent. Mike chats with the guys about their brand new album, Made in the Name of Rock 'n Roll, always being on tour, and more.
Glorious Sons frontman Brett Emmons makes it clear that you don't have to sound like you're straight out of the '70s to make great rock music, and that's something the band strived for on its latest album, Young Beauties and Fools. He also delves into the lyrics of the album, which mark something of a turning point for the singer.
Finally, you may not be familiar with the name Donal Hodgson, though you're certainly familiar with his body of work. The longtime producer, recording engineer, and mixer was worked closely with the likes of Primal Scream, Tina Turner, and Sting, and speaks with Mike about the modern-day record business, some cool in-studio stories, and more.
Toronto's Legendary Horseshoe Tavern is celebrating its 70th birthday in 2017 with a string of special shows featuring the likes of Billy Bragg, 54-40, Hollerado, and D.O.A. We chat with Horseshoe owner Jeff Cohen about the venue's history, current relevance in Toronto's music scene, some of his favourite stories from over the years, and more.
Then, D.O.A. frontman Joe Keithley joins us first to talk about the band's history with the Horseshoe, but then also about punk rock in Canada, politics around the world, and a preview at what's coming up surrounding the band's 40th anniversary.
Lastly, Lindsay, ON's The Kents are set to drop just their second EP but have already landed on some pretty influential playlists and performed alongside the likes of The Trews, The Sheepdogs, The Strumbellas, and more. We hear about what's contributed to the band's trajectory thus far, the new direction of their upcoming EP, and more.
Acclaimed guitarist Jesse Cook joins us to talk about the writing and recording of his new album, Beyond Borders. He tells us about the evolution his style and why he is now incorporating more electronic elements into his music, his love of using a looper on stage and in the studio, and the evolution of digital sounds and tools in music making. He also talks about influences he's taken from musicians in different countries he recorded in, from Egypt to Columbia to Armenia.
Then, Mexican-Canadian musician Boogát discusses why he and his family moved to Mexico to record his latest album, San Cristobal Baile Inn, and how the musician and studio cultures and mentalities are different in Mexico compared to Canada. He also talks about addressing social issues and his growing up in Quebec as the son of Mexican and Paraguayan parents.
On Sept. 28th, we're bringing you interviews with a pair of special Canadian songwriters.
Hawksley Workman checks in to chat about honouring Bruce Cockburn at the recent 2017 Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame induction ceremony at Massey Hall. We also speak with the versatile musician and producer about how his jazz fusion musical foundation steered his songwriting, how failing to meet commercial expectations on his major label debut changed his career outlook, and more.
And in something of a reprise from one of our favourite artist interviews of 2017, John Cody joins us for a quick chat over a cigarette about triumphing over challenges this year, and how he's currently putting music ahead of pretty much everything else in his life.
We've got a pair of the country's most buzz worthy bands in quirky indie pop outfit The Nursery and new wave fem-rockers The Beaches. Both have brand new albums and both are carving out niches in a competitive and over saturated music market thanks to killer branding and, of course, great music.
Plus, Jessica Mitchell speaks ahead of her Massey Hall performance honouring Neil Young at the 2017 Canadian Songwriters' Hall of Fame induction ceremony.
Finally, we also catch up with writer (and frequent Canadian Musician contributor) David McPherson to chat about his new book, The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern: A Complete History. It's packed with legends and lore about the iconic Toronto music venue and David delves into his adventures authoring the book over the past several years.
This week on CM Radio, Mike catches up with acclaimed rapper Cadence Weapon. The Toronto-based, Edmonton native recently released a new track titled “Don’t Talk to Me,” which will be taken from his upcoming fourth album. He chats with Mike about what he’s been up to since the 2012 release of his last album, the Polaris Prize-shortlisted Hope in Dirt City. Mike also finds out how Cadence Weapon became one of the most skilled lyricists and rappers in Canadian hip-hop, and also how spending time working on other art forms has made him a better musical artist. They also discuss the difficulties for hip-hop artists touring Canada and more.
Mike also has a fun conversation with the Stacey Kay of the a-cappella sensations Eh440. Stacey talks about how they ended up on the bill for the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame concert at Massey Hall on Sept. 23, and her excitement for that star-packed concert. Stacey also reveals how Eh440 develop their parts and sounds in the studio and live in concert and talks about her transition from being a singer and rapper in a “traditional band” to an a-cappella group. They also discuss the lucrative university/college touring circuit, picking the right songs, songwriting, and more.
Alan Doyle joins us this week to talk about his brand new album, A Week at the Warehouse. As the name implies, Doyle and his band cut this album live-off-the-floor at the iconic Vancouver studio with mega-producer Bob Rock. We talk about why this was the best approach for these songs, his preference for co-writing, and a lot more.
Then, with Paul Shaver, head of Nielsen Music Canada, we dig into the numbers in Nielsen's 'Live Music & Brands' report. Paul pulls out some of the more interesting and surprising findings from the report and also looks at what various stakeholders in the music industry, from indie musicians to major labels, can learn and use to better monetize their live music events.
Finally, we catch up with Ty Baynton to talk about his latest single, "I'll Never Know," and the inspiration and writing process for others that will be on his next EP. As well, we learn a bit about Ty's musical upbringing in Waterdown, ON and what he has learned about performing from the likes of Blake Shelton, Gord Bamford, and Tim Hicks.
Our friends in Your Favorite Enemies are readying the release of their very cool boxset, A Journey Beyond Ourselves, featuring exclusive music, a book called chronicling the making of their latest album, and a lot more. We speak with guitarist Jeff Beaulieu about all that’s gone in to creating this very special package and its promotion, the band’s epitomizing of the term “DIY,” and more. (And stay tuned for an upcoming #CMPremiere with Your Favorite Enemies...)
The Federal Government has just announced its launch of a consultation process to reform the Copyright Board of Canada. The consultations will run until the end of September and seek feedback from the public and major stakeholders on ideas to make the Copyright Board’s processes more transparent and efficient. Music Canada’s Graham Henderson joins us to talk about what this could mean for the music industry.
Finally, rocker Luke Austin writes “real songs for real people,” drawing influence from the likes of Bruce Springsteen and Kings of Leon. He sits down with Mike to talk about the making of his latest record alongside Grammy-winner Vance Powell (Kings of Leon, Jack White), the success of his single “Long Road Home” on major streaming services, and more.
CD Baby's Kevin Breuner and musician Ari Herstand - who Forbes has called "the poster child of DIY music" join us to talk about Spotify, and more specifically, how artists can get their music onto Spotify playlists to boost their spins and exposure. They share tips on approaching influential curators, recognizing other opportunities on the platform, and more.
Then, long-running Canadian hardcore outfit Comeback Kid are set to drop their sixth studio album, Outsider, and the beginning of September. We speak with frontman Andrew Neufeld about the band's sonic exploration this time around, the health of the Canadian punk and hardcore scene from one of its prime ambassadors, and more.
Australian rock icons Midnight Oil are back on the road for The Great Circle 2017 World Tour, in part to celebrate the release of some new box sets. We connected with founding member Jim Moginie (guitars, keys & vocals) ahead of their Canadian dates about the band's special relationship with Canada, the process of digging up rarities for the box set, and a lot more.
The first two waves of bands have been announced for the 2017 Halifax Pop Explosion, and as usual, they offer an exciting and diverse mix of acts. Executive Director James Boyle tells us how they put together their lineups year after year, what goes into planning and staging an event of this scale, and more.
With its 22nd annual concert set for August 24th in Toronto, Honey Jam is continuing its longstanding mission of fostering female music talent and providing those artists with education and opportunities. PhemPhat CEO and Honey Jam founder Ebonnie Rowe joins us to talk about this year's edition of Honey Jam and how, even though they've made great strides over the years, there's still plenty of work to be done bringing equal opportunity to the music industry.
In addition to having a new album in the works, the awesome and outspoken Dan Mangan has also announced a venture with partner Laura Simpson called Side Door Access, aiming to connect creators with dedicated followers in intimate settings. The project is still coming together, and Dan speaks with Mike about that and a lot more.
The Man Who Carried Cash: Saul Holiff, Johnny Cash and the Making of an American Icon is a new book by Canadian author and journlist Julie Chadwick that explores the relationship between the oft-troubled country icon and his longtime Canadian manager, who ended their relationship at the pinnacle of Cash's success. The story is truly fascinating and unearths some unknown information about one of the most prominent musicians of all time with a few Canadian twists.
Finally, after a successful run with celebrated rock outfit Tupelo Honey, Dan Davidson has embarked on a solo career in the country world - and wasted little time in making a name for himself. After a pair of successful singles, we check in with Davidson to talk about the transition from rock to country, his plans for future releases, and more.
Allie X (aka Alexandra Hughes) sat down with Mike to discuss her journey from Ontario-based music student and songwriter to being one of the most interesting artists in the L.A. art-pop scene. She explains how she met Canadian producer Cirkut and how that led to a publishing deal and then her Allie X persona, which blends sophisticated pop songwriting and visual art. Drawing comparisons to stars like Lady Gaga, her debut LP, CollXtion II: Unsolved, which continues the story of Allie X that began on her EP CollXtion I, is receiving rave reviews.
Then, MUTEK Festival programmer Patti Schmidt gives Mike the lowdown on the most mind-bending and exciting Canadian and international artists that will be performing in Montreal next month from Aug. 22-27. She also gets into the nuts and bolts of how she does her job, explaining how the artist selection process works and what makes an ideal MUTEK program. Patti also gives her perspective on the health of the Canadian underground electronic music scene and why so many electronic artists leave North American for other markets, plus offers her perspective on gender equality in her scene.
Finally, Katie Marie of high-energy country group Nice Horse joins us to chat about the band's quick rise to prominence, and announce that their single "Pony Up" will be an exclusive #CMPremiere from Thursday, Aug. 3rd at noon until it's serviced to radio on August 8th. Stream the track at http://canadianmusician.com/blog and listen here to learn how Nice Horse hooked up with mega producer Bob Rock (Bon Jovi, Aerosmith) and more.
In addition to performing as a solo artist and one half of Harrow Fair, recording with the likes of Great Lake Swimmers and Sarah Slean, playing on film and TV scores, owning a record label, and running a music festival (whew...), Miranda Mulholland has recently adopted the roll of artist activist. Following a much-discussed speech to the Economic Club of Canada, she's been featured in outlets like the Globe and Mail and Canadian Musician, talking about the struggles faced by artists in today's music industry. She joins us here to talk about just that.
Plus, we've got a pair of singer-songwriter interviews with Edmonton's Martin Kerr, an artist who's achieved some truly impressive feats like selling out a show at Edmonton's Winspear Centre and opening for Sarah McLachlan at Rogers Place as an entirely independent artist, and Justin Giles, a finalist from CBC Searchlight 2017 (as chosen by our own Andrew King) and currently has a lot cooking for her career.
Two weeks ago, we dedicated our show to the brand new 50th anniversary collection honouring the one and only Stompin' Tom Connors, featuring interviews with George Canyon, Corb Lund, and Whiskey Jack. This week, we're revisiting that collection in a chat with Andy Curran of Anthem Legacy and ole Label Group, one of the architects of this special collection. He talks about how the album came together, what went into selecting the track list, and more.
Mike recently sat down with one of the country's fastest-rising hip-hop artists, iLLvibe, and renowned artist and producer Myer Clarity. The two chat about their latest collaboration, We Are the Aliens, the state of hip-hop in Canada, and more.
And finally, R&B singer Patrick Lehman joins us to chat about current projects, including the follow up to his Juno-nominated release Butchy's Son and songwriting sessions in L.A., Nashville, and his home city of Montreal.
We're bringing you a trio of artist interviews in what could be our most diverse episode to date.
Kristian Montano, frontman of Toronto roots rock outfit Sun K, joins us to talk about the band's upcoming album that, like its predecessor, was produced by Sum 41's Cone McCaslin. Hear about the unique musical relationship between Kristian and Cone, how the band's sound has evolved from Kristian's early solo material, and more.
Melanie Brulee is a true musical chameleon, singing in both English and French and effortlessly flowing from cabaret to pop to Americana and much more. She tells us about whether certain songs lend themselves better to one language or the other, how her hybrid sound earns attention at music festivals - like the upcoming Sawdust City in Gravenhurst, ON - and more.
Finally, Vivek Shraya and a multi-disciplinary virtuoso whose body of work includes several albums, films, and books. Her work is critically adored and has done much to empower and advance the cause of several marginalized groups. She tells Mike about some of her major successes, unique struggles, and more.
In honour of Canada Day and the Canada 150 celebrations, this week's show is a special one dedicated to the quintessential Canadian troubadour, Stompin' Tom Connors.
Anthem Legacy, an imprint of ole Label Group, is celebrating the 50th anniversary of one of the country's most prolific and icon artists with a release featuring 14 of his best-known hits along with four covers by the likes of Corb Lund, The Cuddy/Polley Family band, Whiskey Jack, and George Canyon.
Join us as we chat with three of those artists - Corb Lund, Whiskey Jack, and George Canyon - about Stompin' Tom's legacy, his influence on so many Canadian songwriters, and the compilation's goal of sharing his iconic catalogue with a new generation of music fans.
We've got a rock-centric show featuring interviews with chart-toppers One Bad Son, the gritty & powerful Mise en Scene, and the boundary-pushing Pick Brothers.
One Bad Son's Kurt Dahl joins us to talk about the overwhelming success of their single "Raging Bull," and how it might inform their future release plans. On that note, we also get some exclusive details on the band's upcoming LP, the highly-anticipated follow-up to 2014's Black Buffalo.
Winnipeg duo-turned-trio Mise en Scene have just signed with Vancouver's Light Organ Records and are ready to drop their new LP, Still Life On Fire. We'll talk about how the partnership with Light Organ came to be, what informed the decision to bring on a third member, and a lot more.
Finally, The Pick Brothers Band have been building a name for themselves in and around Toronto with a very innovative and eclectic brand of engaging rock music. We'll talk about how the brotherly bond extends into music, the importance of a good live show, and more.
Platinum-selling JUNO nominee Tim Hicks has blown up since earning the CCMA's Rising Star award in 2014. He's fresh from the release of a brand new live EP, recorded during his Shake These Walls tour, supporting the album of the same name. We chat with the rising country star about the new collection and how it came together, plus get a preview of his busy summer festival season.
Speaking of summer festivals, Devin Cuddy has a few performances at the upcoming Sawdust City Music Festival, happening August 4-6 in Gravenhurst, ON. In addition to performing a solo set of his own material, he's joining his father and brother in The Jim Cuddy Family Band for the headlining slot. We chat with him about what he and his fam have in store for those performances, how far along he is with the follow-up to 2014's Kitchen Knife, and more.
And finally, we checked in with our friends in BC's The Long War while they were recording at Metalworks Studios in Mississauga. A couple of months ago, the band won the 2017 CBC Searchlight contest and have since been taking advantage of the prizes and opportunities that came with it. We'll hear about what they've done - including writing sessions with Royal Wood at the Banff Centre - and what's still to come.
John Cody just released Hard Won, the last album that will feature his singing voice. The acclaimed singer, songwriter, and producer, who has collaborated with the likes of Tom Cochrane and Joni Mitchell, was diagnosed with cancer of the larynx and was told much of it would be removed, drastically altering and limiting his speech. Cody held off on the surgery as long as he could to complete the album, a tour de force that showcases his breadth as an artist and features a host of cool collaborations. He joins us to talk about the experience and what's on the horizon for him, musically speaking, in light of his declining health.
Saskatchewan's Colter Wall sat down with Mike shortly after Steve Earle called him the best songwriter he's seen in 20 years. Wall opens up about how he developed his songwriting skills, why he wants to see "bro country" disappear, and trying to distance himself from the recognition that comes with being the son of Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall.
Finally, musician and artist manager Amir Epstein joins us to chat about how, even though many eyes in the hip-hop world are currently focused on Toronto as a hotbed of fresh talent, the lack of infrastructure supporting hip-hop music in Canada - specifically radio stations that champion the genre - is hurting artists and preventing us from capitalizing on a major opportunity.
The CBC recently held a "preview day" for its upcoming season, and one of the big topics of discussion was the recently-announced return of The JUNO Awards to the national broadcaster. It seems there are big plans to develop more content in collaboration with CARAS the whole year round. At the event, Mike caught up with CARAS President & CEO Allan Reid and Mark Steinmetz, Senior Director of CBC Music, to chat about those plans and what they could mean for Canadian artists, insiders, and fans.
An "apocalyptic-psychedelic afro-folk epic." That's how Nathan Lawr, the man behind the uber-cool project Minotaurs, describes his latest album, Aum. The project features a diverse and impressive list of collaborators, and Mike speaks with Nathan about how they landed at such a unique hybrid of influences.
After years of keeping things intentionally cryptic, Vancouver's Cary Pratt is fully embracing his creative moniker of Prairie Cat with the aptly-titled new album, Prairie Cat Is Cary Pratt. He tells Andrew about how his newfound comfort in the spotlight and behind the mic influenced the composition of this latest album, and some of the other projects that keep him busy - including playing drums with supergroup Mounties.
Bishop Brigante is a veteran of Canadian hip-hop and legend in the battle rap world. Throughout his career, he's collaborated with the likes of Drake, Nate Dogg, MC Lyte, and Sticky Fingaz, and his new anthology collection Legacy revisits those singles and more from his nearly 15-year career. He joins us to chat about this latest compilation, his work with Canada's top battle league, King of the Dot, the current state of Canadian hip-hop - and reveals the title of his upcoming new LP for the first time!
After taking the Toronto club scene by storm on the back of their debut EP in 2015, indie electronic duo Honey Beard are back with an LP that combines the dark, synth-based Brit pop of the early 80s with the modern stylings of acts like MGMT. We chat with the band about the evolution of their sound, where they fit into the Canadian music landscape, and more.
Finally, Music BC has introduced a new initiative called Phoenix, an extensive training and professional development program to help music industry pros navigate the ever-changing landscape of the business. The program is for time-poor, mid-career music professionals looking to optimize their business models for growth, and we speak with Music BC Executive Director Alex Grigg about how it's come together.
Brenley MacEachern and Lisa MacIsaac of Madison Violet have had a string of bad luck that’s tested them as individuals and creative partners. Their latest album, The Knight Sessions, is a response to those hardships and finds the duo stripping down their sound to its barest bones. Hear about how they overcame their challenges through music, how Sam Smith influenced the composition of their single “We Are Famous,” and more.
Montreal’s Matt Holubowski has earned some considerable success in the Quebec market on the back of his debut album, Ogen, Old Man, which boasted a raw, lo-fi sound that put strong focus on his storytelling. With his new album, Solitudes, he’s incorporated more colour and depth but maintained the same candour. He speaks with Mike about his relatively quick rise, the evolution of his art, and more.
And CD Baby’s VP of Marketing, Kevin Breuner, joins us to talk about why this is the best time for artists to be releasing new music, and the tools they can take advantage of to get it heard and monetized.
Fred Penner is one of Canada’s most beloved entertainers, and he’s back with a new album called Hear the Music, which has earned rave reviews from Andrew's two-year-old son. It features quite the cast of guest collaborators, including Ron Sexsmith, Basia Bulat, Alex Cuba, Bahamas, Terra Lightfoot, The Good Lovelies, and more. Mike had a chance to speak with him about the new record and how it came together, the unique makeup of his audience these days, and more.
Singer and socialite Eleanor McCain has covered some of Canada’s best-known songs on her sixth studio album, True North: The Canadian Songbook. It features the work of 14 arrangers, 28 guest artists, and 10 symphony orchestras from across the country. Mike finds out about what informed some of the interesting song choices, why she decided to take on such an ambitious project at this point in time, and more.
Rahul Telang is a professor at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon University and the co-author of the book Streaming, Sharing, Stealing. He weighs in on the ongoing debate of music streaming and its compensation model, and how that’s affecting artists and the music industry.
At CMW 2017, well-known music journalist Karen Bliss of Samaritanmag.com moderated a panel called "Musicians & Charity - Finding a Way to Give Back." She and her panel of high-profile musicians and charitable partners talked about the synergy that can exist between artists and their causes, with mutual benefits abound. Karen and Plus 1 CEO and Arcade Fire violinist Marika Anthony-Shaw join us this week to chat about the topic and offer some advice on how musicians can make a difference while simultaneously promoting their work.
We also chat with country-tinged singer/songwriter Kayla Howran about her latest album, produced by Colin Cripps of Blue Rodeo, and how her move out of Toronto and into the sticks is treating her muse these days.
And finally, Brampton rock outfit The Sole Pursuit have overcome some significant challenges to get their music recorded and released. With their new album, Flower City After Dusk, they're ready to put their best foot forward and capitalize on some long-standing industry attention.
Paul Shaffer was one of the stars out for CMW 2017 and Mike had the chance to get some insight into life post-Letterman and his latest album, Paul Shaffer & the World's Most Dangerous Band. The album features guests like Bill Murray, Darius Rucker, and Shaggy, and of course, his longtime bandmates from The Late Show.
Mike also had a chance to speak with Alan Cross, one of Canada's best-known broadcasters, on the ground at CMW. Hear discussion of some of the industry's latest trends from the man often at the source of identifying them.
Young singer-songwriter Nolan Hubbard had the chance to travel to Nashville to work on his debut full-length, Luminosity, with some of Nashville's most seasoned studio vets and Canadian producer Doug Romanow. Hear about his experience in the studio and the discoveries it led to.
And finally, Dylan Bell fills us in on details for SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival's 2017 run, which includes a couple of Guinness World Record attemps, extensive educational programming, and more.
Ascot Royals have been carving out their niche in Canadian music for some time, supporting the likes of Big Wreck and Finger Eleven with their dancy brand of upbeat rock and earning some serious industry attention. The band was out for CMW 2017, working with live music producer and perennial festival favourite Tom Jackson to fine-tune their performance. We talk about their experience in the session, what's on the horizon, and more.
Steph Cameron seemingly came out of nowhere with her debut collection, Sad-Eyed Lonesome Lady, to score rave reviews and a coveted slot on the Polaris Music Prize long list. Her brand new follow-up, Daybreak Over Jackson Street, carries the same brand of careful, compelling songwriting with bare-bones but powerful arrangements but with a fresh perspective. She tells us if there was any temptation to expand her sound the second time around and more.
And finally, Mike had the chance to speak with LyricFind CEO Darryl Ballantyne at CMW 2017 about some improtant incoming trends in the music industry.
Did you know there's a program where guitarists and other musicians can gather to get first-hand instruction from the likes of Steve Vai, Robben Ford, Alex Lifeson, and many other of the world's top musicians? It's called Guitar Workshop Plus and it was founded right here in Canada. Walter Tavares joins us to talk about the program and how the 2017 guest artist lineup is coming together.
Since winning the 2016 CCMA Discovery Program, Eric Ethridge's name has been on a lot of people's tongues. His single "Liquor's Calling the Shots" is garnering plenty of attention, and he's had the chance to perform it in some pretty high-profile settings. He talks with Mike about his contemplative and calculated approach to his career - including how he's been handling the incoming interest from record labels and other industry pros.
And finally, congratulations to The Long War, who were recently named the winners of CBC's 2017 Searchlight competition. We catch up with the band en route to the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity to talk about their experience in the competition and what's on the horizon - considering they've been together for less than a year.
Mike chats with The Wooden Sky's Gavin Gardiner about the recording of their latest album, Swimming in Strange Waters, which sees the band exploring new, more psychedelic sounds. They also talk about beating a case of "demoitis" and whether he feels there is really a "Toronto scene" anymore.
We also check in with Alejandra Ribera, who's currently overseas supporting her latest, This Island. She tells us about how moving to new cities - notably Montreal and Paris - and getting lost (literally) inspired her songwriting for this collection. She also talks about being too busy in her professional and person life to feel any pressure after winning the 2014 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
And finally, Marina Adam, the manager of the Ontario Music Office, fills us in on the Ontario Music Fund, whether it's having its desired effect, and why such government and industry financial support in the arts makes sense as an economic driver.
Mike chats with The Wooden Sky's Gavin Gardiner about the recording of their latest album, Swimming in Strange Waters, which sees the band exploring new, more psychedelic sounds. They also talk about beating a case of "demoitis" and whether he feels there is really a "Toronto scene" anymore.
We also check in with Alejandra Ribera, who's currently overseas supporting her latest, This Island. She tells us about how moving to new cities - notably Montreal and Paris - and getting lost (literally) inspired her songwriting for this collection. She also talks about being too busy in her professional and person life to feel any pressure after winning the 2014 SOCAN Songwriting Prize.
And finally, Marina Adam, the manager of the Ontario Music Office, fills us in on the Ontario Music Fund, whether it's having its desired effect, and why such government and industry financial support in the arts makes sense as an economic driver.
Joel Plaskett is one of Canada's most treasured songwriters, and for his latest project, he's teamed up with someone who's had a very impactful influence on him: his father. Bill & Joel Plaskett's Solidarity is, as Bill puts it, "a touch of the traditional mixed in with the new, and a lot of the unexpected, arrived at through experimentation." We hear about how the album came together, what these two musicians learned from one another during the process, and more.
For her latest album, Natural Conclusion, Rose Cousins took a deliberate break from her active touring schedule and travelled to create, writing and recording in places like Toronto, L.A., Boston, Nashville, and Ireland. The goal, she says, was to connect with artists, writers, and producers to find new sounds with new people and create songs in new ways. She joins us to talk about those travels.
And finally, author and musician Antonio Ponce joins us with some tips taken from his book, Don't Forget the Business in the Music Business.
Hey CM Radio listeners,
Thanks for checking in for this week's show. Unfortunately we've had to postpone it this week, though it is for the happiest of reasons. Andrew and wife welcomed their second child into world on Tuesday! As such, a couple of the interviews we had planned needed to be rescheduled at the last minute. We'll be bringing you those conversations with Joel Plaskett, Rose Counsins, and Antonio Ponce in the near future. Until then, check back next Wednesday when we'll return to our regular schedule.
Thank you for your understanding & congrats Andrew and Brit!
Cheers,
Mike Raine
Producer Kevin Dietz has once again offered his services to the winner of CBC Searchlight 2017, as part of our Canadian Musician Career Booster Prize Pack. Dietz is the head engineer at Mississauga's famed Metalworks Studios and worked with artists from Tom Cochrane and Randy Bachman to Alexisonfire and Silverchair. We'll talk about his work with last year's winner, Desiree Dawson, how artists can best prepare for a studio session, and more.
Jerry Leger’s new album, Nonsense And Heartache, showcases a combination of primal rock and roll and raw, confessional balladry. The separation between the two is evident by the album’s title, and it is in fact two distinct collections of songs presented on two slabs of vinyl. In many ways, Leger’s artistic path has been leading up to this ambitious display of both sides of his musical personality, fueled by countless nights playing in Toronto bars with a loyal band equally committed to keeping rock and roll’s original flame burning.
Apocalipstick is the follow up to The Harpoonist & The Axe Murderer's 2014 release A Real Fine Mess, which received considerable recognition, including a Blues Album of the Year JUNO nod and win for the Blues Album of the Year and Alternative Album of the Year at the WCMAs. As the band explains, the new album came together "from the desire for companionship, the endless pursuit of tone, the strength and glue of family, and above all, the love and admiration for each other's skills." We'll unpack exactly what that means and what's to come for the duo.
It's been a big year for the members of Bleeker, who dropped their latest album, Erase You, at the end of 2016. It was their first since changing their name from Bleeker Ridge, first with Five Seven Music, and earned them a nod for Breakthrough Group of the Year at the 2017 JUNO Awards. CM correspondent Kim Pardy met with the band ahead of a recent tour stop to talk about how they're feeling about the ride.
Plus, radio tracking and promotions company SpinCount is back as a Canadian Musician Career Booster prize partner for CBC Searchlight 2017. Company co-founder Kim Sinclair joins us to chat about a good radio campaign, how artists can maximize their changes at airplay, and more.
Lastly, Kevin Ker of Epidemic Music Group joins us to talk about the community of Stoufville, ON's upcoming attempt to break the Guinness World Record for longest continual concert. Starting this Friday, March 17th and running for 16 continues days, the initiative is a massive undertaking with all kinds of moving parts. Hear about what's already gone into producing this feat, how the lineup came together, some of the surprises they have in store, and more.
The WayHome Music & Arts Festival recently announced its lineup for 2017 - its third-ever edition - and it's pretty massive, with headliners including Imagine Dragons, Frank Ocean, and Flume plus Canadian acts like Tegan & Sara, Death From Above 1979, Tanya Tagaq, and PUP. Ryan Howes, the creative director of WayHome promoter Republic Live, joins us to talk about the various marketing and promotional initiatives that go into staging a festival of this size. Consider it a great opportunity to get into summer festival mode a bit early and beat the winter blues.
DJ Kav is in a unique position. In addition to being a music director and on-air talent with Calgary's 90.3 AMP FM, he also creates his own music, remixes popular tracks from all kinds of artists, and performs both solo and as part of the popular Drum N DJ duo. He offers insight into how his various industry roles intersect and a lot more.
Sunrise Records President Doug Putnam speaks with Mike about the company's takeover of 70 former HMV locations in malls across the country.
Canadian folk icon Murray McLauchlan is set to release his 19th studio album, Love Can't Tell Time, on March 3rd. Murray speaks candidly with Andrew about how a trip to Italy rekindled his love of guitar, how the current political climate is creeping into his creative output, plus an update on the awesome Lunch at Allen's.
From one of Canada's best-known singer-songwriters to one of its most promising, we chat with Montreal's Leif Vollebekk about his upcoming record, Twin Solitude, his jam-packed touring schedule for the first half of 2017, and more.
And finally, Edwards PC Creative Law is back as a Canadian Musician Career Booster prize partner for the 2017 edition of CBC Searchlight. Lawyer Byron Pascoe joins us with some legal red flags to watch for.
Danko Jones hit several new highs with 2015's Fire Music and adopted the adage of "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" with their upcoming release, Wild Cat. Once again recorded with Eric Ratz and a seemingly cemented lineup, the album is a tour de force of straight-up hard rock. Danko talks about the appetite for rock in Canada vs. other markets, some Canadian bands that could carry the torch forward, and more.
Fast Romantics are readying the release of American Love, their new LP, and have dropped the first single called "Why We Fight." Main songwriter and frontman Matthew Angus talks about the album's political stance, how Canadians have a unique perspective on what's happening south of the border, and more.
And finally, What's the Story Publicity Services is one of our Career Booster prize partners for CBC Searchlight 2017. Company founder Beth Cavanagh joins us to talk about the newly-formed company, the makings of a good PR campaign, and more.
Canadian pop star Shawn Desman has been relatively quiet on the musical front of late, but he's headed to Alberta for a few shows mid-February and checks in with us to share some hints of what fans can expect. We also get the scoop on upcoming new music, the Move dance competition and convention, and more.
Nova Scotia's Dylan Guthro, Breagh Mackinnon, and Carleton Stone each set aside on-the-rise solo projects to focus on their new folk-pop project, Port Cities. In the months since, the band's popularity has skyrocketed and now they're ready to release their debut LP. We speak with Guthro and Stone about their formation, musical chemistry, huge success on Spotify, and what lies ahead.
And finally, Toronto City Councilor Josh Colle checks in to talk about the string of recent small- to mid-sized venue closures and how the city is looking to address concerns from the music community.
Kid Koala’s Music To Draw To: Satellite is an uncharted musical journey for the iconic scratch DJ, producer, and composer - an expansive work of ambient electronic soundscapes and chilling ballads sung by Icelandic artist Emilíana Torrini. Mike chats with the long-running artist about the album's composition during the gelid Montreal winter, some of its lyrical content, and more.
Plus, Kaneshii Vinyl Press is one of our Canadian Musician Career Booster partners for the 2017 edition of CBC Searchlight. Ghislaine Cormier tells us all about the new company's launch, their carefully considered business plan, why they set up shop in Prince Edward Island, and more.
In what's become something of an annual tradition, we catch up with Tommy Mac of Hedley to chat about what 2017 has in store for the band, as well as his studio production work and a lot more. The band's latest album is 2015's Hello, which means there's probably plenty in the works to whet people's appetite for album number seven...
Plus, Canadian ex-pat Cory Churko has played violin and guitar alongside the likes of Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, and Elton John, but now, he's joined forces with two other influential Canadian musicians to pay homage to classic Canadian songs as Toque. Churko tells us about his union with drummer Brent Fitz (Slash, Alice Cooper) and Todd Kerns (Slash, Age of Electric), how they choose their sets, and some of the high-profile gigs they've already played. Sounds pretty cool, eh?
First up, Andrew chats with Stephane Chamberland, who is one of Canada's busiest and best-known drummers. In addition to playing live and in the studio with a myriad of well-known artists, he's also an educator, clinician, and author with a number of well-known titles to his name. He joins us to talk about the importance of an ongoing education as a musician, the value of networking for freelance musicians, and more.
For second, Mike chats up with CCS Rights Management’s Creative Manager, Jordan Howard. CCS is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year and in that short time, CCS has evolved from the music publishing company into a full-service team that includes Dale Speaking (radio promotions), Indoor Recess (national publicity), Sinclair Creative Solutions (Marketing), Paquin Entertainment (booking), Rocksteady (film/TV placements), and Apollo Music (ad placements), as well as launching their management division with key artists such as The Balconies, Kayleigh O’Conner, and CAIRO. Mike and Jordan talk about the changing nature of music publishing in the streaming age, why CCS doesn’t want to be seen only as a Canadian company, and Jordan also weighs in on the music industry ongoing battle with YouTube over fair royalty payments, and much more.
Perhaps best known as a founding member of Blackie and The Rodeo Kings, multi-JUNO winner Stephen Fearing will release his ninth studio album, Every Soul's a Sailor, on January 10th. From the anti-Trump anthem "Blowhard Nation" to the haunting and ethereal "Gone but Not Forgotten" featuring Rose Cousins, these songs span a range of styles from folk to pop to boot-stomping roots. Mike will speak with him about finding a new sound thanks to some old friends, the reception of his first protest song in years, and more.
Plus, we've got some intersting stats and figures about music sales in2016 from Nielsen Music Canada. Hear about Drake's golden year, how catalog music sales surpassed new music sales for the first time, and a lot more.
Denise Donlon is, simply put, a trailblazer and icon within Canada's music and broadcast industries. Her success spans decades and includes high-profile stints with MuchMusic during the station's heyday, captaining Sony Music Canada through the Napster Disruption, and leading the charge for the CBC's English services. She's also a champion for a number of important charitable causes, and discuss all of this and much more in her new book, Fearless As Possible (Under the Circumstances), available now.
Join us as we talk about MuchMusic being the original social media, Ed the Sock's unpredictablility, the learning opportunities that came from facing the music industry's biggest crisis in history head-on as a label rep, and much more.
Fittingly, our final episode of 2016 is our What's Hot for 2017 special. Join us as we revisit interviews from our 2016 season of Canadian Musician Radio with some artists we think you'll be hearing a lot from in the new year, including BANNERS, Dilly Dally, Tasha the Amazon, Attica Riots, Jess Moskaluke, The Lytics, Neon Dreams & Youngblood.
We're back on Jan. 3rd with our first episode of Canadian Musician Radio for 2017, featuring an interview with Canadian broadcast icon Denise Donlon. We hear about her time at MuchMusic in the station's heyday, her time at Sony Music Canada amidst the Napster disruption, leading CBC's English Language Services, and more.
We've had a great year on Canadian Musician Radio. We've featured interviews with some of Canada's biggest artists and delved into some compelling and hot-button issues with a number of top industry professionals.
This week, in our Best of 2016 episode, we revisit some of our highlight interviews from the past 12 months. Join us for snippets with Hedley, The Strumbellas, Sam Roberts Band, Shad, Sum 41, David Clayton-Thomas, Dean Brody & Divine Brown.
And come back next week for our What's Hot for 2017 special, featuring chats with Neon Dreams, The Lytics, Jess Moskaluke, Attica Riots & others.
JUNO nominees and CCMA winners Chad Brownlee and Tim Hicks are teaming up for eight co-headlining dates across Western Canada in 2017. The run of dates mixes Brownlee’s Hearts On Fire Tour with Hicks’ Shake These Walls Tour. Mike has a chance to sit down with the two of them about the trek and any surprises they have in store for fans, along with their thoughts on the growing Canadian country music scene and their parts in it.
And Toronto pop outfit Liteyears talk about their latest EP, American Towns, and some of the cool creative initiatives they've designed around it. They also talk about finding the balance of virtual and personal connections in their lyrics and in how they engage with their ever-growing fanbase.
First up this week, Mike catches up with Hamilton, ON singer, songwriter, and guitarist Terra Lightfoot about what’s been keeping her busy since her breakout second solo album, Every Time My Mind Runs Wild, was released last year and what she has planned for a follow-up. As well, Terra and Mike chat their experiences at South by Southwest 2016, playing showcase shows in the middle of the night, and more.
Our feature interview is a lengthy conversation Mike had with Music Canada President Graham Henderson about the disappearing middle class of creators and how musicians and other copyright holders got squeezed out of the economic equation in the digital revolution. Why did tech companies get subsidized and become extremely rich on the backs of creators and what can now be done about it. The conversation is based on a speech Graham gave at the Economic Club of Canada last month entitled “The Broken Promise of a Golden Age,” and also follows the formation of the coalition Focus on Creators, which sees Canadian musicians, authors, songwriters, composers, music producers, poets, playwrights, film composers, actors, directors, and other members of the creative class have signed a joint letter addressed to the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, urging the government to put Canada’s creators at the heart of our cultural policy.
Chris Murphy is a busy guy. After a string of shows celebrating the anniversary of Sloan's One Chord to Another, he's back out performing with a pair of new projects, each full of recognizable faces. There's easy-to-love indie trio TUNS and the TransCanada Highway Men, a unique project where he, ex-Barenaked Lady Steven Page, Mo Berg of The Pursuit of Happiness, and Odds lead man Craig Northey trade off songs from their well-known catalogues. He touches on all of this and lets us in on the secrets of how he does it all.
Plus, A Fat Wreck is a documentary about iconic punk label Fat Wreck Chords. While the label isn't Canadian, their catalogue contains releases from some important Canadian punk bands. We speak with lead writer Greg Pratt, based in BC, about the film and its Canadian ties - including the infamous NOFX/Propagandhi feud.
And finally, with their unique mix of Inuktitut alt-country, throat singing, and reggae, the Jerry Cans are a distinctly northern, one-of-a-kind group. We speak with the band about their isolated surroundings, unique blend of influences, and their place on the map of contemporary Canadian music.
With a sound described as "what the '60s thought the future would sound like," Youngblood - aka Alexis Young - has been turning heads of late, including those of the judges who chose her as a participant of the 2016 JUNO Master Class. Her debut EP, Feel Alright, was created with Parker Bossley (of Gay Nineties, Mounties, and Fur Trade) and produced and engineered by Juno-nominated DJ, producer and Diplo collaborator Sleepy Tom. She talks about delivering a unique live experience, putting together her own supergroup, and more.
Toronto-based MC Leondro has been carving out a name for himself in Canadian hip-hop while also lending his talents and efforts to causes close to him. He tells us how his unique background and upbringing contribute to his creative output, finding collaborators in and around the city, and more.
And finally, Halifax's Dub Kartel aim to "raise up the standard of the dance floor" with their concoction of dancehall, reggae, pop, hip-hop, and all kinds of other influences. We speak with frontman Kyle McCracken about how their home city contributed to their sonic collage, their aspirations to push westward, and more.
JUNO winner Divine Brown is dropping a new EP in early 2017, and has given fans a taste of what's in store with "Love Alibi," a collaboration with Toronto electro duo Empire 80. She talks about adding new sonic elements to her established soulful sound, how her experience in musical theatre informs her career as a songwriting and performer, and more.
Plus, they were cohorts for this year's edition of the JUNO Master Class program. Nova Scotia's pop/EDM hybrid Neon Dreams and Manitoba hip-hop outfit The Lytics join us to talk about their experiences, potential upcoming collaborations, and more.
While many know him best for fronting Moist and his successful solo career, David Usher does much more than music. He’s a best-selling author, speaker, entrepreneur, and currently runs Concordia University’s Human Impact Lab (http://humanimpactlab.com). His latest project, though, is a solo album called Let It Play that finds him not only covering some of his favourite Francophone artists; he actually reworks the songs in English while also offering a fresh take of his hit “Black Black Heart” en Francais. He talks about what first initiated the unique project, how his work in other creative streams affects his songwriting, and more.
And keeping with the Francophone theme, we speak with bilingual troubadour Alexis Normand. In addition to being one quarter of quirky and quaint throwback act Rosie & the Riveters, she’s about to drop her second French language solo album. We speak with the Regina-based artist about her quest to break into the French Canadian market with the latest release and more.
Steve Berlin of Los Lobos tells Mike how the lack of a career plan has kept them together for over 40 years, how the success of "La Bamba" spawned some bad advice from those around them, and opens up about his experiences producing albums with The Tragically Hip and his ongoing friendship with Gord Downie.
Plus, despite plenty of awards and accolades coming her way in recent years, blues-tinged country singer Crystal Shawanda says her career left her feeling like a "fish out of water." That's now the name of her new album, where the artist breaks free of other people's expectations and follows her mom's advice to make the music she wants to make.
And lastly, pop artist Mirian weaves a world of eclectic sounds into an accessible and radio-ready pop sound. She talks about how her Syrian and Jordanian heritage coupled with life in Toronto has influenced her music over the years, and what fans can expect from her current Canadian tour.
Following a very successful summer festival season, Dean Brody is set to release his sixth studio album, Beautiful Freakshow. The album features his trademark vocal style and unique instrumentation that expands on previous explorations. Mike had the chance to sit down and talk about his approach to the album, its unusual title, the work that goes into maintaining and growing a career in Canadian country, and more.
And about a month after his last album's release, Tomi Swick left his label. Now, after several years, he's back with Yukon Motel, which reaffirms the fact that he has one of the most powerful and soulful voices in Canadian music. He talks about channeling the likes of Sam Cooke and Otis Redding on the record, kickstarting his career once again, and more.
Slaves on Dope frontman and radio DJ Jason Rockman joins us to talk about the band's new album, Horse. He'll tell us about collaborations with guests likes of D.M.C., HR from Bad Brains, and Bill Kelliher from Mastodon, plus his thoughts on the heavy music scene in Quebec, how he and his bandmates balance the band with their jobs and lives, and share some helpful advice with those looking to make a career in music.
Plus, Andrew is back from BreakOut West 2016 in Regina with a recap of the event, some advice from the conference, plus a chat with WCMA winners Northern Beauties. The band has only been at it a year, but already racked up plenty of acclaim and awards. Hear how industry events like BreakOut West have contributed to that success...
Best known for his work with Blood Sweat and Tears, Grammy-winning Canadian singer David Clayton-Thomas is about to release his latest solo recording.
Called Canadiana, it's a collection of covers by an interesting array of Canadian artists including Rush, Gordon Lightfoot, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, and others. We'll hear about the process of reimagining these classics to fit David's one-of-a-kind pop, jazz, and blues stylings and why he decided to take on this unique initiative at this stage in his career.
Plus, Desiree is a young artist with a border-defying sound that blends her Caribbean background with her British Columbian upbringing. She's currently at work on some new material at Mississauga, ON's Metalworks Studio as part of the Canadian Musician Career Booster package she won in this year's CBC Searchlight competition, so we'll check in on how the material is coming together and all the things she's been up to during her stay in Toronto.
Version:1.0 StartHTML:0000000149 EndHTML:0000001242 StartFragment:0000000199 EndFragment:0000001208 StartSelection:0000000199 EndSelection:0000001208 Sum 41 is back with 13 Voices, their sixth full-length album and first since 2011's Screaming Bloody Murder. It marks many new looks for the long-running Canadian band, being the first album without original drummer Steve Jocz but also the first with original guitarist Dave Baksh in 10 years. Fans have already been receptive to the first singles and frontman Deryck Whibley chats with Mike about this exciting time in the band’s impressive career.
Plus, PEI indie-pop quartet Paper Lions are fresh from the release of their latest album, Full Colour, and have celebrated that release with a hometown “Super Show” - reportedly the largest show ever headlined by a PEI band in the province’s history. We’ll chat with the guys about what it took to stage this monstrous spectacle and about taking Full Colour on the road across Canada as a self-managed, entirely independent band.
This week on CM Radio, Mike catches up Patrick Krief, who was a member of renowned Montreal indie band The Dears for over a decade. He is about release his solo double album, Automanic: Red & Blue. Krief says the project was inspired by the heartbreak, grief, despair, and fear that followed a devastating string of deaths in his life. He likens the vibes of the two records as Thursday night and Sunday morning: Automanic Red is Thursday night, the reckless kick-off to the weekend, while Automanic Blue is Sunday morning, filled with moments of sober reflection.
After that, Mike shares a fascinating conversation he had with prominent entertainment lawyer and author Paul Sanderson while working on his latest feature article for Canadian Musician magazine, which investigates where revenues from on-demand streaming services, such as Spotify and Apple Music, are going in Canada. Mike digs deep into this topic, drawing on Paul's extensive experience negotiating record contracts with record labels and the two of them discuss whether the system is fair for musicians, who are the winners and losers, and what the future could hold for this important new medium that has completely disrupted the recorded music industry.
TUNS is a something of an "east coast indie rock super group," comprised of Sloan's Chris Murphy, Mike O'Neill of The Inbreds, and Matt Murphy of The Super Friendz. They certainly aren't being celebrated for pedigree alone, though, as their self-titled debut is a tour de force of straightforward indie rock. Mike chats with Mike O'Neill about what brought them together, what they were seeking from this new outlet, and more.
Also, while at the Toronto Urban Roots Festival (TURF) on Sunday, Mike got the chance to head backstage and catch up with Canadian alt-rock icon Matthew Good. It's exactly a year since his latest album, Chaotic Neatrual, came out. Matthew reflects on that project with the benefit of hindsight, and also speaks about what it's like to play live when you know people want to hear the old hits, finding peace with his bandmates, social activism, and why he loved Gord Downie's politically-charged statements during the Tragically Hip's final show.
Dan Mangan came out of nowhere this summer with a surprise EP called Unmake, featuring some stripped-back and solitary songs in contrast of his full-band material on Dan Mangan + Blacksmith's 2015 release, Club Meds. We'll check to see if that's an indication of what's to come, teaming up with Tegan Quin of Tegan and Sara on "Forgetery (Redux)," and more.
Plus, country music is booming and we're starting to see that on a whole new level here in Canada. Mike Denney, the head of MDM Recordings with a roster including Chad Brownlee, Jess Moskaluke, and Bobby Wills, weighs in on the current state of the industry, breaking into new markets, and more.
One of Canada's most respected MCs, Shad seemingly came out of nowhere to drop a new album under the moniker Your Boy Tony Braxton. Called Adult Contempt, Shad describes the record as a soft-rock homage to pop and rock from the '80s and '90s, ditching his stylish flow and clever wordplay for honest, straightforward musings about love, insecurity, and a lot more. We'll hear more about the project, plus what's coming up for Shad at the CBC and more.
Plus, Irish singer-songwriter James Vincent McMorrow is fresh from the release of his latest LP, We Move. The album was recorded in Dublin, London, and Toronto, with a trio of well-known hip-hop and pop producers, including Canadians nineteen85 and Frank Dukes. He fills us in on how the project came together and we he tapped those particular Canuck collaborators.
Heralded songsmith Donovan Woods joins us this week to talk about the business of songwriting, whether that pertains to songs released under his own name - like those on his 2016 Polaris long-listed album Hard Settle, Ain't Troubled - and those he's had covered by the likes of Tim McGraw, Alan Doyle, and many others. Get a glimpse into his creative process and some attractive revenue streams available to artists.
Plus, the 2016 Polaris Music Prize gala is happening Sept. 19th in Toronto, where the grand jury - including our own Andrew King - will decide on this year's winner from the 10-album shortlist. This week, Polaris founder and Executive Director Steve Jordan joins us to tell Andrew exactly what he's in for, plus muse a bit about the prize and Canadian music in general.
We've got a treat for Sam Roberts Band fans. A year after the release of their Counting the Days EP, SRB has announced that their upcoming full-length offering, TerraForm, will drop at the end of October. It was recorded at The Tragically Hip's Bathouse Studios with co-producer Graham Walsh (Holy F*ck), and Sam himself joins us to offer up a preview of what to expect, plus his thoughts on The Hip's farewell, music streaming services, and more.
Similarly, Toronto's The Balconies are also returning with some new music in the fall. The self-produced rock opera, Rhonda, explores how Western culture's "forced ideologies and criticism impact the mind" through the lens of its heroic title character. Frontwoman Jacquie Neville and guitarist Liam Jaeger join us to chat about the record and some of the interesting instruments and techniques that went into making it.
Jason Blaine has been a busy man over the past 18 months. After being honoured with the most wins at the CMAO Awards and his third consecutive Airplay Award from SOCAN, he and co-producer Deric Ruttan are up for the Record Producers of the Year award at the upcoming CCMA Awards for their work on Blaine’s 2015 release Country Side. We’ll talk about some of the major milestones he’s reached in the past year, his charity initiatives, and what’s currently keeping him busy.
Plus, Lindsay Hyslop is the manager of marketing and digital with RGK Entertainment Group and has some advice on digital tools and platforms to help artists from any genre promote themselves and their work.
Trevor Guthrie came back in a big way in 2014 thanks to his huge collaboration with Armin van Buuren. Ever since, the former soulDecision vocalist has continued his upward trajectory with his solo career, including more cool collabs in various genres. Mike had a chance to speak with Trevor about maintaining that momentum, his new musical identity, his latest single, "Wanted," and more.
Plus, the Canadian industry has been abuzz about a cool idea coming from our smallest province. For the past several years, Music PEI has been hosting Showcase PEI, a unique event that brings industry influencers from around the world to the island to drive mutually beneficial business opportunities. Executive Director Rob Oakie gives us insight into this year's edition of the event, and how the model could be applied elsewhere.
How has country music – and Canadian country music in particular – evolved in recent years? Ron Kitchener, the head of RGK Entertainment Group and Open Road Recordings, speaks with Mike about the genre’s shift towards capturing a younger demographic, the rise of “anti-country” artists, and a lot more. Even if country music isn't your thing, it’s an interesting and engaging conversation about the music business.
Plus, they’re our cover boys for the July/August 2016 issue of Canadian Musician and their new album Morning Report drops on August 5th. Hear parts of Andrew’s interview with Arkells frontman Max Kerman that didn’t make it into the story, and get your hands on that issue in the meantime!
It's been 15 years since Theory of a Deadman hit the scene as the first act signed to Chad Kroeger of Nickelback's 604 Records imprint. After a celebratory acoustic run in early 2016, the back is back on the road later this year while fans eagerly anticipate the follow-up to 2014's Savages. Frontman Tyler Connolly fills us on on how much longer they'll have to wait, how 2016 differs from 2001 for the band, and more.
Plus, she's been writing and recording music since her early teens, but with the release of her long-awaited "alternative swoon pop" album, Time, in June 2016, Alexandria Maillot is cementing her artistic identity. We chat about the emotional and physical journeys - some very trying - that have brought her to this point.
Their 1988 album The Trinity Session is one of the most heralded in Canadian history, and now they're back on the road for a string of intimate evenings. This week, Cowboy Junkies' Alan Anton joins Mike to chat about the current tour, their ongoing legacy, a songwriting approach borrowed from Elton John,and more.
Plus, after years working with one of Canada's best-known management firms, Tim des Islets launched his own company, Noisemaker Management, in 2015. We check in to see what the past 12-plus months have produced, his thoughts on some pressing issues, and more.
What's the most popular medium for music discovery in 2016? Just how popular are the big music streaming services in Canada? These and many more stats and trends were shared in Nielsen Music's 360 Canada Report, and this week, Nielsen Canada's Paul Shaver joins us to sort through the data and pinpoint some of the things that will have an impact on independent Canadian artists going forward.
Plus, Jess Moskaluke was the CCMA Female Artist of the Year in both 2014 and 2015. She's currently pushing "Elevator," the third single from her 2015 EP Kiss Me Quiet, to radio and speaks with Andrew about what's kept her based in Saskatchewan despite all of her success, why she refuses to write music at home, and more.
Does that riff sound familiar to you? Timothy English, the author of "Sounds Like Teen Spirit" and one of the world's authorities on music plagiarism, speaks with Mike about the recent Led Zeppelin verdict, the Justin Bieber allegations, and many more instances of plagiarism - intended or otherwise - in popular music.
Plus, Jessy Lanza has been one of Canada's most buzzed about new musicians and songwriters since the release of her critically-acclaimed debut album Pull My Hair Back in 2013, which was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize and appeared on a lot of year-end "best of" lists. She has now released the follow-up to that success with this year's Oh No, and speaks with Mike about dealing with the fan and critic expectations that come with a successful debut album, as well as a wide range of other topics such as why she loves Japanese electro-pop, anxiety, and Canadian radio's "indie bullshit" obsession.
Bernie Finkelstein sat down with Canadian Musician Editor Andrew King during Music PEI's 2016 edition of the May Run Music Festival and Canadian Song Conference for the keynote address. Bernie was as candid and charismatic as always, talking about his history in the business, True North Records, his ongoing professional and personal relationship with longtime client Bruce Cockburn, and more, and we're sharing that interview with you!
Plus, current tour mates Attica Riots and Bleeker spoke with Mike about their present happenings. Bleeker (formerly Bleeker Ridge) dropped a self-titled EP through Five Seven Music in the early spring while Attica Riots will drop their debut LP on the same label later this year. Both bands are finding their audiences thanks to hooky debut singles and both are likely to be staples at rock radio in the not-so-distant future.
Montreal International Jazz Festival Co-Founder Alain Simard sat down for a candid conversation with Mike shortly after his induction into the Canadian Music Industry Hall of Fame. He opens up on everything from his successes and struggles in the business to some differences between the music industries in French and English Canada and much more.
Then, being touted as one of Toronto's most promising artists by the likes of Pitchfork and Spotify, Tasha the Amazon has a chat with Mike prior to her set during NXNE 2016. It's already been a big year for the "Patron Saint of Ruckus" and her rhymes; let's see what's in store for the second half...
Earlier in 2016, there was a lot of speculation over the future of NXNE. Since, however, the festival has announced its new format and much of its lineup, which includes the likes of Father John Misty and Ghostface Killah alongside Canadians like Dan Mangan, Mother Mother, Born Ruffians, and more. NXNE's Michael Hollett joins us to talk about the changes and how they'll impact the industry experience.
Plus, Your Favorite Enemies are virtually clinicians in DIY. They own their own jam space and recording studio (which is actually a converted church), run their own record label, and ultimately, enable themselves to make full-time careers out of music. The envelope-pushing rockers share some of their secrets and tell us how it's done.
Leah Daniels was just named Female Artist of the Year at the 2016 Country Music Association of Ontario Awards, which is fitting because this week, she and CMAO President Bruce Good - a member of long-running Canadian country legends The Good Brothers - join us to chat about the association. From networking to problem-solving, Bruce and Leah weigh in on the value of a music industry association like the CMAO while sharing some of its upcoming initiatives.
Also from the country realm, we have Calgary's Lindsay Ell on the program. She's opened for everyone from The Band Perry to Keith Urban to Luke Bryan to, yes, Buddy Guy. She's now based in Nashville, and Mike has a chance to ask her about her impressive career trajectory to date.
The Federal Government has pledged to inject $1.2 billion into cultural infrastructure in the coming years, and part of that is going to the CBC/Radio-Canada. Mike speaks with CBC’s Executive Director of Radio & Audio, Susan Marjetti, about what that means for programming and, specifically, Canadian music.
And speaking of Canadian music, we also check in with a pair of Canada’s most blogged-about acts in relative newcomers Dilly Dally and alt-electro vets Holy F*ck. The former had a huge breakout year on the back of their album Sore while the latter is fresh from the release of their fourth LP, Congrats.
The music industry is often considered an "old boys club," but one Canadian organization has been working to change that. Women in Music Canada was established in 2012 with the goal of fostering equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of women. It's been (almost exactly) a year since they published their report "A Profile of Women Working in Ontario's Music Industry." We speak with founder & executive director Samantha Slattery about their efforts since.
Then, featuring ex-members of Alexisonfire and Saint Alvia, combustible rock trio Say Yes are fresh from the release of their debut LP, Real Life Trash Mag. We speak with the band about how their previous industry experience bas propelled their new project to impressive heights relatively quickly.
And finally, Desiree Dawson has been named the winner of CBC Searchlight 2016. She joins us from Jamaica to talk about some of the opportunities stemming from the victory and how she plans to carry the momentum forward.
We all know creators are seeking more compensation for streams of their songs. But what efforts are being made in Canada to make that a reality? Re:Sound President Ian MacKay gives us the lay of the land on the never-ending debate and a lot more.
Plus, let's say things are starting to happen and your career is starting to take off. When should you consider getting legal advice to make sure all your ducks are in a row? How do you find the right lawyer for your needs? Edwards PC, Creative Law's Byron Pascoe - one of our CBC Searchlight Career Booster partners - has those answers and more.
And finally, he's caught the attention of major influencers like Oprah Winfrey with his musical message of love and acceptance. We'll hear from Paul Luftenegger about making his musical dreams come true through hard work and good networking.
SOCAN brought in record royalties for its members in 2015, continuing a year-over-year trend. CEO Eric Baptiste tells us about the organization's current initiatives aiming to increase those numbers, its consistently slimmer operating costs & more.
What do Nickelback, Tim McGraw, and Dallas Smith all have in common? For one, they all rely on Charlotte Thompson of Red Umbrella PR to promote their current happenings in the Canadian market. As one of our CBC Searchlight Career Booster partners, she'll give artists some insight into when they should consider taking on a publicist, what a successful campaign looks like, and what you need to have ready to make the biggest impact.
And finally, PEI's Dylan Menzie has been turning heads in Atlantic Canada for a few years. He was in Toronto during CMW and had a few heavy-hitting industry folks at his showcases. He tells us about making a successful video on the cheap, his push into new markets, and more.
Having performed at several of Canada's biggest music festivals without an LP to his name, rising Canadian country star Jordan McIntosh shares his excitement about finally releasing his debut album, Steal Your Heart. It features work alongside a host of well-known producers and songwriters, and he'll tell us about the chance to road test many of these songs during his teens at the Boots & Hearts and Cavendish Beach festivals and on tours supporting the likes of Brett Kissell.
Plus, Saskatchewan rockers League of Wolves find an ally in a former Sheepdogs guitarist Leot Hanson, who collaborated with the band on their latest EP, which was self-recorded in an old schoolhouse.
We also have pop singer Alexi Couto on the program, offering proof that you can still put faith in your dreams.
On this week’s episode of CM Radio we’re honoured to have Claude Morrison, one of the founding members of iconic vocal group The Nylons, who are currently on their farewell tour after nearly 40 years. They’ve record hit versions of songs such as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” “Happy Together," "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." They have seven gold and platinum records and are undoubtedly one of the most successful a cappella group of all time.
As well, we have Holly Nimmons, the executive director of the Coalition for Music Education, which is the creator of Music Monday. The year’s Music Monday event will happen on May 2nd and Holly is hear to explain what Music Monday is and also discuss the benefits of music education and how to be an effective advocate for music education in schools.
We’re also join by Aaron Miller, an artist manager for Arts & Crafts and also a curator for Red Bull Sound Select, a unique Toronto-based organization supporting artists in a progressive way. Red Bull Sound Select provides a signal boost to Toronto artists by using the brand’s worldwide resources to elevate the artists beyond their Toronto neighbourhoods through track releases and performance opportunities.
Lastly, we also have a brief conversation with HHB Canada Product Specialist Dave Misener, who will tell us about the Blue Microphones package they’re contributing to Canadian Musician’s Career Booster Prize Pack for the CBC Searchlight Contest winner, and also provide some microphone and recording tips.
You probably know him from his roles in shows and movies like The League and Let's Be Cops, or from his hugely popular parody songs; however, now, Jon Lajoie is putting his musical talents to more "serious" use with his indie folk project Wolfie's Just Fine, which we'll hear all about.
We also catch travelling troubadour Corin Raymond amid his cross-Canada tour, talking about his latest release, Hobo Jungle Fever Dreams, and how the Canadian landscape seeps into his material.
Vocal powerhouse SATE has a new release that showcases her brand of gritty blues-tinged rock through songs that were entirely selected by her fan base.
Plus, our friends Terence Jack and ESMA join us ahead of a major cross-counry tour and huge CMW showcase, respectively.
Plants & Animals are back with Waltzed In From The Rumbling, which FILTER says is ripe with "cross-legged acoustic jams and staggering electric anthems." We chat about their unique take on left-of-centre symphonic pop and the extra time they took on their latest work.
Nova Scotia's Erin Costelo also joins us to speak about Down Below, The Status Quo, her latest album that fuses her former retro-focused sound with more contemporary pop.
Guitar Workshop Plus has just announced its guest artist lineup for its five 2016 sessions, and it includes some mammoth players like Robben Ford, Gary Hoey, Jennifer Batten, Victor Wooten, and more. We'll tell you how to get in on the action.
And finally, photographer Neal Burstyn of Images with Impact joins us to chat about his role in our Career Booster prize package for CBC Searchlight 2016, plus he shares some tips to help bands produce better promo shots!
Those who have been waiting for something new from Canadian duo Digging Roots won’t be disappointed with their latest offering, For The Light. Inspired by their travels during four years of international touring, For The Light firmly inhabits roots and blues with a nomadic wanderlust. Husband and wife Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish join us to talk about the collection.
Heather Rankin is keeping quite busy these days. Best known as a member of Cape Breton’s Rankin Family, she’s fresh from the release of her debut solo album, A Fine Line, and will host the 2016 East Coast Music Awards gala alongside Ashley MacIsaac. She joins us to talk about her experience creating her first solo offering and more.
Toronto-based musician and producer Angel join us to talk about the various projects he has on the go under his Invisible Werks banner.
Plus, we check in with Sarah Konowal of Metalworks Institute, which is offering up access to some of their Online Certification Courses as part of our Career Booster Prize package for CBC Searchlight 2016.
In the second part of our Best of SXSW 2016 coverage, Mike sits down with The Strumbellas, Fast Romantics, Milk & Bone, and The Wet Secrets in Austin. We've also got snippets with Polaris Prize founder Steve Jordan and producer Kevin Dietz, the head engineer at Metalworks Studios and one of our Career Booster Prize partners for CBC Searchlight 2016.
All of our full interviews from SXSW, including last week's guests The Trews, Paper Lions, and Whitney Rose, can be found on our YouTube channel - http://youtube.com/norriswhitney
There was a strong Canadian presence in Austin for SXSW 2016, and Mike was in the thick of it all. He brought back interviews with the likes of The Trews, Paper Lions, Whitney Rose, and eOne Music Group President Chris Taylor, so we're happy to bring you Part 1 of "the best of the fest."
Also, we check in with Giancarlo Gallo of Metalworks Studios, one of our CBC Searchlight Career Booster Partners, for some info on the studio and tips about making the most of your studio recording time.
Just how did Wintersleep get Rush's Geddy Lee to perform on their brand new album, The Great Detachment? Wintersleep frontman Paul Murphy tells us about that and a lot more about their stunning new collection.
We also catch up with Ron Hawkins, who in addition to his work with The Lowest of the Low has recorded some very impressive solo releases, the latest of which is Spit, Sputter & Sparkle.
Finally, Kim & Kevin Sinclair of SpinCount, a CBC Searchlight Career Booster Partner, tells us about their world of radio tracking and promotions.
Pavlo has a lot of exciting things on the go for 2016 already. In the past year, the Canadian guitarist has toured the world, partnered with both Jose Feliciano and The Tenors, and filmed a concert in his parents' birthplace in Greece. He's got a new album out March 18th as well as the Live In Kastoria DVD, which is airing as his second PBS special across North America.
Also, CBC Radio 2 Drive host Rich Terfry (aka Buck 65) tells us more about CBC's 2016 Searchlight Contest, featuring some massive opportunities and really impressive prizes. He's even got some helpful tips to get you further in the competition...
The Sheepdogs dropped their latest full-length, Future Nostalgia, in the fall of 2015. Since, they've racked up a nod for Rock Album of the Year at the upcoming JUNOs, embarked on a cross-country tour, and will surely be fixtures on the festival circuit this summer. Do they prefer festivals or packed clubs? We'll find out...
We also catch up with BC's Rococode, fresh from the release of their sophomore LP, Don't Worry It Will Be Dark Soon. The album was recorded in an off-the-grid cabin and finds the band going deeper down the EDM rabbit hole - to great results.
The Zolas join us fresh from a trek overseas to talk about their upcoming third LP, Swooner, dropping March 4th via Light Organ Records. This time around, the band dove headlong into vibrant, experimental pop and we'll discuss what informed the sonic shift.
Then, we speak with Montreal-based MC Bless, whose latest LP is Spoils of War. After a few stints with major labels and tours alongside the likes of Eminem and Gang Starr, Bless started his own entertainment imprint and has been making impressive strides on his own ever since.
Finally, we've also got Toronto-based melodipunk act Like Pacific on the show. The band is currently out on the Alternative Press 2016 World Tour, performing to hundreds or thousands of fans at each date. We'll talk about their recent surge of success and more.
Steven Page joins us to talk about his upcoming solo release, Heal Thyself Pt. 1: Instinct - a cathartic return to music for the well-known artist. The album was produced by Craig Northey, and his band The Odds performs on most of the tracks.
We also speak with Jim Bryson, whose new album Somewhere We Will Find Our Place drops on Feb. 19th. The album features collaborations with Charles Spearin of Broken Social Scene and Do Make Say Think, and Jim tells us how it differs from his last offering, 2010's The Falcon Lake Incident.
Michael Joseph Nelson, much better known to the world as BANNERS, joins us for this week's show. Originally from the UK but now based in Canada, BANNERS draws influence from artists ranging from The Beatles to Arcade Fire and has been drumming up a lot of buzz through his infectious single, "Shine A Light."
We also speak with New Brunswick-based songwriter and guitarist Chris Colepaugh, who fronts Chris Colepaugh and the Cosmic Crew. Their latest release is called RnR and draws inspiration from the stripped-down rock of years past. In addition to his own project, Chris also regularly performs with bilingual icon Roch Voisine.
Stefan Babcock of heralded Toronto punk outfit PUP joins us to chat about their upcoming sophomore effort. The band just dropped "DVP," their first new song in nearly two years, which will appear on the upcoming LP - the one that Billboard calls one of its most anticipated of 2016.
Mike also sits down with Jett Pace of Vancouver's Old Man Canyon. The band emerged on the alternative scene in early 2013 with the debut EP Phantoms & Friends. Their first full-length, Delirium, just dropped mid-January.
We were fortunate enough to sit down with Hedley bassist Tommy Mac down in Anaheim during The NAMM Show 2016. He fills us in on the upcoming tour supporting their late-2015 release, Hello, as well as some of the other creative projects he's got underway and the importance of having several irons in your creative fire as a music professional.
We also caught up with Liam Cormier of Cancer Bats during the UK leg of the band's tour support last year's Searching For Zero. In addition to questions about working with producer Ross Robinson and recording a Joel Plaskett cover at Joel Plaskett's studio, he tells us about his fundraising campaign for the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation. Liam's shaving his head later in February, so donate to a great cause here: http://www.thepmcf.ca/Home
This week, Mike has a pair of interviews with two of the country's most revered guitarists and songwriters with very unique styles.
Matt Andersen's upcoming release, Honest Man, drops at the end of February. It's the follow-up to 2014's Weightless, which saw him sell out Toronto's iconic Massey Hall alongside many other new career highs.
Then, recent Latin Grammy winner and Grammy nominee Alex Cuba joins Mike to talk about his latest, 2015's Healer. In addition to music and songwriting, the Cuban Canadian also speaks about what an improved relationship between the U.S. and his native land could mean for arts and culture.
54-40 frontman Neil Osborne joins us to chat about the band's latest album, La Difference: A History Unplugged, a collection of acoustic reworkings of some of their best-known songs to mark their 35th anniversary. He also tells us about the new music in the works.
Then, we have one of the most recognizable voices in the Canadian jazz community as Emilie Claire Barlow joins us to talk about her latest album, Clear Day, an ambitious collaboration with Metropole Orkest and a host of other musicians.
Longtime Honeymoon Suite frontman Johnnie Dee joins us for our first show of 2016. The rather candid interview discusses the new material the band currently has in the works, their plans for the first part of the New Year, and some of the other endeavours keeping Dee & his bandmates busy.
Mike also has details on some showcase opportunities for Canadian artists and discusses the pending $150-million lawsuit against Spotify that could have some major ramifications for artists all over the world.
In our final episode of the calendar year, we look back at interviews from 2015 with on-the-rise artists that are poised to explode in the new year and beyond.
Join us as we revisit talks with the likes of Alyssa Reid, Grandtheft, Ben Caplan, Palaye Royale, Grand Analog, Rosie & The Riveters, Cold Creek County, and Highs.
Thanks for your support throughout 2015, and join us for new original episodes in the new year, featuring the likes of Honeymoon Suite, 54-40, Emilie Claire Barlow & many more.
Welcome to Canadian Musician Radio's Best of 2015 episode. We're looking back at some highlights from the past 12 months, including interviews with a diverse list of top artists like Randy Bachman, k-os, Molly Johnson, Magic!, Finger Eleven, Jesse Cook, Billy Talent, and Paul Brandt.
Of course, you can check out the full interviews with these artists and many more by going through the Canadian Musician Radio archives. We appreciate your support throughout 2015 and look forward to bringing you more great interviews, industry updates, and more in the New Year!
We (and our readers) were fortunate enough to have Rush grace the cover of our November/December 2015 issue, talking about their recent R40 Tour and its impact on their legacy. On our last "new" episode of 2015, we'll have some of the unused portions of Andrew's interviews with Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson for your listening pleasure.
We also have Billy Wild of Uninvited Guests on the show, who was commissioned by the estate of iconic Canadian pianist Glenn Gould to remix his recordings and rebrand him for a younger generation. He'll talk about his work and the controversy it has stirred up among the purists.
In a preview of our first issue of 2016, we've got Monster Truck and Protest The Hero on this week's show.
The former will drop their highly-anticipated sophomore LP, Sittin' Heavy, early in the new year. We chat with the band about how their meat-and-potatoes hard rock sound has evolved between the two releases, how these new tracks will enhance their live show, and more.
Then, we speak with Canadian metal outfit Protest the Hero about their new subscription-based delivery platform for their new 6-song EP, Pacific Myth. It's a fresh idea in a time that needs fresh ideas, so we'll see where it came from and how it works.
We speak with country music innovator Corb Lund about his new collection, Things That Can't Be Undone. As we've come to expect of this off-kilter troubadour, the album is an ambitious, diverse collection of songs chalk full of sonic surprises.
A longtime flagbearer for Canadian hip-hop, Prevail is one of the founding members of Swollen Members and also has some solo material to his name. His latest project is a collaboration with Neph called Alpha Omega. We speak with the MC about the new initiative and how it differs from the rest of his output.
Canadian pop songstress Alyssa Reid joins us to chat about her upcoming release, Phoenix, which finds her temporarily abandoning the polished pop sound for a barer, more intimate acoustic style.
Then, Marie-Helene Delorme, much better known as Foxtrott, speaks with Mike about her debut LP, A Taller Us, which follows the heralded 2012 EP, Shields.
Finally, on-the-rise country artist Jason Benoit tells us about his successful summer and what's on the horizon for 2016.
Boasting one of the most recognizable voices in Canadian rock, Glass Tiger frontman Alan Frew joins us to talk about his new solo album, 80290 Rewind, a collection of covers of iconic songs released in the 1980s.
Then, we've got a pair of east coast acts with new albums to talk about. Cape Breton-via-Halifax rock duo The Town Heroes have a new release, Please, Everyone, that follows up the very successful ECMA-winning Sunday Movies. And the ever-animated Christina Martin chats about the pop influence on her latest collection, It'll Be Alright.
Canadian guitar virtuosos Pavlo and Remigio Pereira (of The Tenors) recently teamed up for an album called Guitarradas. Mike had a chance to speak with both of these talented instrumentalists about the project and everything that went into it, their musical chemistry, and a lot more.
We also speak with JUNO-winning vocal powerhouse Simone Denny about her new release, The Stereo Dynamite Sessions Vol. 1, which showcases a rather diverse range of influence. Previously, Denny was the voice of celebrated Canadian pop outfit Love Inc.
Though he's already amassed over 50 million plays for his remixes and original material, Grandtheft opens up about his first "formal" collection, the Quit This City EP.
We also speak with Zach from Vancouver indie pop outfit The Zolas about the band's latest release, Wino Oracle" - a teaser EP featuring three tracks from their upcoming full-length.
mFinally, we speak with Jason Burns, the founder of Burnt Tree management who, along with clients including Hey Rosetta!, Rich Aucoin, and Plants & Animals, has just joined Arts & Crafts' management division.
This week, we're more than thrilled to have k-os join us. The MC/songwriter/producer discusses how rediscovering pop music influenced his work on his latest album, the excellent Can't Fly Without Gravity.
Also, New Brunswick rockers The Motorleague offer insight into the writing behind their latest album, Holding Patterns, produced with Eric Ratz (Big Wreck, Monster Truck, Billy Talent).
Finally, Ontario metal outfit Odium chat about how lineup changes shaped the sound of their punishing new release, Terraform.
On-the-rise country outfit Cold Creek County joins us to chat about their upcoming album, Till The Wheels Fall Off, on Sony Music Canada. The band is making a lot of noise at country radio and are sure to be a huge live draw.
Then we chat with Edmonton-based songwriter Ken Stead about his latest, Fear Has No Place Here, and the tour dates supporting it.
Coldjack vocalist John Fraser joins us to chat about the band's genre-mashing sound and hard-hitting live show.
Finally, Mike Homewood joins us to chat about Toronto's hottest new country club, the Boots & Bourbon Saloon.
Mike sits down with Canadian MC Madchild who, in addition to his work with Swollen Members, has enjoyed plenty of success as a solo artist. His most recent work is Silver Tongue Devil, which dropped in July 2015, and he's kept busy since then with some interesting and diverse projects.
Set to deliver the keynote address at IMSTA FESTA Toronto on Oct. 17 in Toronto, producer Jimmy Douglass has been a bona-fide hitmaker for four decades, having worked with everyone from ACDC to Jay-Z.
Then, we speak with Allyson Baker, an Ontario native, about her San Fran-based outfit Dirty Ghosts, whose latest synth-punk encrusted LP, Let It Pretend, is available via Last Gang Records.
Finally, we've got blues guitarist Juan Barbosa talking about his latest genre-mashing album, this year's Soulbot 6000.
Millions of people know Jill Hennessy from her starring roles on programs such as Crossing Jordan and Law & Order; however, her latest project is a musical album - her second, in fact - called I Do. The album showcases her storytelling abilities, blanketed in tasteful light rock and we delve into the release with Jill.
Then, we have Saskatoon-based quartet Rosie & The Riveters, whose music, like everything else about them, pays homage to the '40s while simultaneously bringing attention to great causes anchored in women's rights.
Finally, Toronto jazz vocalist Monica Chapman joins us to speak about her current and upcoming recordings, a special show at Toronto's Jazz Bistro, and the city's jazz community in general.
Ian Thornley, the man behind Big Wreck and Thornley, is dropping a solo release called Secrets under the moniker Ian Fletcher Thornley on Oct. 30th, showcasing a raw, intimate side of this Can-rock icon. We chat about the project and other things he has on the go.
Keeping it rock, we also have Toronto's Poor Young Things, whose EP Force of Nature is dropping via Noisemaker/Pheromone on Oct. 9th. Produced by Gus Van Go and Werner F, it delivers euphoric guitar pop from this on-the-rise quintet.
Canadian guitarist, composer, and producer Jesse Cook joins us to chat about his chart-topping latest release, One World, and his subsequent performances in support of it. Join us as Mike gets candid with the JUNO winner.
Also on the show is Emilie & Ogden, the collaboration of songwriter and vocalist Emilie Kahn and her harp. Her traditional folk sound, accompanied by drums, bass, and electronic elements, draws comparisons to the likes of Feist and St-Vincent.
Luke Lalonde of Born Ruffians joins us to chat about the Toronto indie stalwarts' upcoming album RUFF, dropping Oct. 2nd through Paper Bag Records. There are also some cool promo initiatives surrounding the release, and we get the inside take on those.
As for The Sole Pursuit, after scrapping an entire album over conflicts with a former manager, the band came back swinging with the release of their debut LP, Infinite Regress. We catch up with frontman Kyle Dawe during the band's east coast swing.
It's been awhile since anyone has heard from The Dears, at least formally, but band frontman Murray Lightburn joins us to talk about the group's upcoming release, Times Infinity Volume One, plus their 20 years together.
We've also got Canadian country artist Wes Mack on the show. Fans might recognize him from his TV roles in Smallville and Heartland, but in addition to his screen appearances, Wes has been gaining popularity as an artist and is set to drop his debut LP, Edge of the Storm, through Universal Music Canada.
Joining us this week is Adam Gontier of Saint Asonia. After spending over two decades fronting Three Days Grace, he's now joined in Saint Asonia by current and former members of bands like Staind, Finger Eleven, Stereomud, and more. Their self-titled LP has been turning heads and it likely won't be long before these guys are headlining arenas.
Then, we catch up with Ryan Blake of The Road Heavy just in advance of the band's Devil's Grin tour through the Maritimes. The last time the band hit that market, it was in support of GnR alum Gilby Clarke.
Also on the show is Toronto's The Joy Arson, who recently took part in the "comeback edition" of Generation Next Live, presented by Canadian Musician and 94.9 The Rock.
This week, we catch up with Young Empires bassist Jake Palahnuk about the band's highly anticipated new album "The Gates," set to drop Sept. 4th. It's the follow-up to the hugely successful and well-reviewed breakout EP, "Wake All My Youth."
And fresh from a trek overseas, we've got Montreal's Katie Moore. She's well-known for her first two LPs and collaborations with the likes of Patrick Watson and Plants & Animals and returns with her new LP, "Fooled by the Fun."
Kenny Bridges of Moneen joins us this week, speaking about the band's reunion for a few summer shows as well as his solo output as Br/dges, which offers a different sound from what people may have come to expect.
Also, Canadian country artist Steve Rivers talks about his latest album, No Boundaries, as well as his experiences in Nashville thus far and what's keeping him busy this summer.
The Tea Party are set to reissue The Edges of Twilight in advance of their upcoming Canadian tour. We chat with the band about their longevity and what fans can expect from the upcoming dates.
We also have Halifax's The Stanfields, who will cap off a busy summer of performances with their new album, Modem Operandi - a nice mix of boistrous rock and traditional Maritime music.
Finally, PhemPhat's Ebonnie Rowe chats with us ahead of the 20th anniversary of the Honey Jam Showcase, looking back on the legacy of this empowering event and what's in store for 2015.
Dean Brody and Paul Brandt. Two names synonymous with Canadian country. They're getting ready to hit the road this fall on the Road Trip Tour, and we've got both of them on the show. Dean chats about his latest release, Gypsy Road, which has already amassed a bunch of CCMA Award nods, while Paul speaks about his latest four singles and a special upcoming vinyl release that will defnitely appeal to die-hard fans.
Plus, we've got Calgary artist Raghav, whose single "Until the Sun Comes Up," featuring Nelly, supports good vibes and a good cause.
It's been five years since Finger Eleven dropped Life Goes Electric, so a lot of people - us included - are pretty excited for the release of Five Crooked Lines at the end of July. For this one, guitarist James Black tells Canadian Musician Radio the idea was to go back to basics and capture the essense that the band exudes from the stage.
We've also got Toronto vocal powerhouse SATE on the show. After having sung backup for many of Canada's top artists, she's breaking out with a fresh sound of her own - rooted in blues, punk, rock, RnB, and a lot more.
Lastly, our Canadian Artist Spotlight Song of the Week is "All of Me" from Calgary's Open Sails.
This week, we've got feature interviews with country singer Jason Benoit and jazz guitarist Thomas Carbou in addition to some interesting figures from Nielsen Soundscan on the state of the Canadian music industry halfway into 2015.
Benoit was recently announced as the winner of the CCMA's Atlantic Canada Discovery Program, only to be nominated for the Rising Star Award of the 2015 CCMAs weeks later. It's been a busy summer for the native Newfoundlander, and we talk about his success thus far and how his singles like "Gone Long Gone" came together.
As for Carbou, Mike spoke with him ahead of a performance at the 2015 Montreal International Jazz Festival. Named as one of Montreal's top guitarists to watch, his style is sure to impress. He and David Binney chat about some things they have underway.
And don't miss our Canadian Spotlight Song of the Week from North Sydney, NS's City Walk. The track is called "Summer," and it's a great tune worthy of the season after which it's named.
This week's show features a great interview with the one and only Harry Manx from this year's edition of the Montreal International Jazz Festival. He and Mike have an insightful conversation about things past and present.
Canadian Musician and GigSalad are presenting a free seminar in Toronto on July 18th called "How to Get Gigs that Pay Real Money." Among the panelists are GigSalad's Mark Steiner and Benjamin and Mia Hackett from Hamilton, ON-based duo Azalea. We've got all three here, speaking about their respective careers and sharing a few tips for artists looking to land some new, good-paying gigs. http://canadianmusician.com/realmoney
This week's show features a pair of artist interviews from the 2015 Montreal International Jazz Festival alongside a CM Academy chat with Roni Feldman of Roni Feldman and Associates, a meeting and event planning firm, talking about some unique opportunities for musicians.
Molly Johnson is a member of the Order of Canada, heralded for both her music and philanthropy. Mike speaks with the icon about her career, current happenings, and much more prior to her sold-out performance at Club Soda.
Ross Burns of Gypsophilia sits down with Mike during the same event to talk about the band's eclectic style and a lot more.
Finally, a panelist at Canadian Musician's upcoming seminar, "How to Get Gigs that Pay Real Money," Roni Feldman shares insight into great-paying opportunities for musicians and what they can do to land and make the most of them.
Happy Canada Day!
We've got something of a stacked lineup for this week's show, featuring a trio of interviews from the recently-wrapped NXNE 2015, plus a spokesman for this year's edition of RBC Ottawa Bluesfest.
On the ground in Toronto, Mike had a chance to catch up with Toronto industrial punk-gazers Odonis Odonis, Nova Scotia folksmith Ben Caplan, and singer-songwriter Devin Cuddy of his namesake trio.
Also, Mark Monahan, the executive/artistic producer of the annual RBC Ottawa Bluesfest, talks about this year's lineup, their focus on nurturing local talent, and a lot more.
Canadian Musician Radio is nothing if not diverse, and this week's show has the proof in the pudding.
Canadian hip-hop pioneer speaks with Mike prior to his performance at Burlington's sound of Music Festival about what he's currently got on the go, the state of Canadian hip-hop, and a lot more.
We've also got songwriter and producer Murray Daigle of MDS Recording, speaking primarily about the composition of "Together We Are One, the official anthem of the 2015 PanAm Games, being held in Toronto in July.
Finally, we've got Laurent Saulnier, the VP of programming and production for the Montreal International Jazz Festival telling us all about the 36th edition of the fest and some of the behind-the-scenes happenings.
Welcome to a relatively diverse episode of Canadian Musician Radio.
Joining us this week is Esma, a Toronto-based pop artist who's been turning plenty of heads in the last few years. She's shared stages with some monsters like Jadakiss, Jay Sean, and LMFAO and worked alongside some top producers from the hip-hop realm, including Fingaz (Snoop Dogg) and fellow Canuck Rich Kidd (Drake, Busta Rhymes). We'll chat about her current projects and some tips for networking and navigating the industry.
We've also got Matt Epp, the Winnipeg-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose latest album, Ready In Time, marks a sonic departure from his more folk-inspired back catalogue. We talk about his work with producer Rusty Matyas (The Waking Eyes, Imaginary Cities) and some of the other things on the horizon.
Finally, we have Aldo Mazza, the man behind KoSA, a Montreal-based percussion institution celebrating the 20th edition of its annual Workshop, Fetsival, and Camp in July. We talk about his history with the organization and some of the initiatives planned for the future.
If you’re a country music fan, this is the episode for you. We’ve got a big slate of four country artists this week.
We kick things off with Alessia Cohle, who has been chosen as the first featured artist as part of Steve’s Music and the Boots & Bourbon Saloon’s “Steve’s Supports Country” campaign. Alessia is about to release her debut EP, Let’s Get Gone, and her first single, “Sunday Shoes,” is making waves on radio.
Next up with Paul Malysa who won CM’s CMAO Road to Independence Sweepstakes. Paul talks to Andrew about his experience and lessons from the conference as well as his own music career.
To close out the show, we have one rising star and one established star of country music that are currently on the road together on the Outlaws & Outsiders Tour. Cory Marquardt tells Mike how he went from being a junior hockey player and a fighter jet pilot in training to playing in front of thousands of music fans opening for Toby Keith and working with some of Nashville's biggest writers and producers.
Aaron Pritchett has been one of the genre’s most consistent hit makers over the past 15 years or so, with such songs as “Hold My Beer,” “Big Wheel,” “Let’s Get Rowdy,” which have all been gathered together in his new greatest hits collection, Body of Work.
Our Canadian Spotlight Song of the Week is “Madly, Deeply” by Toronto-based country artist Melonie Ungar.
After the usual bits and news from around the industry, including an audio clip in which Randy Bachman definitely proves of the infamous opening chord is to The Beatle’s “A Hard Day’s Night,” we kick off the interviews with The Road Heavy’s Ryan Blake, who joins Andrew on the phone from Nashville where the band is currently recording.
Also, we have the last of our Canadian Music Week interviews, this one with Luke Austin of the Toronto-based Luke Austin Band. Luke discusses recording in Nashville with producer Vance Powell, visiting Third Man Records, touring on a train made famous by the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin in the film Festival Express, and more.
Lastly, we have Mercedes Arn-Horn of Courage My Love. The band has been up to a lot since being on the cover of Canadian Musician magazine a couple years ago. They’ve just re-issue their EP “Becoming” and are hard at work writing and recording their next album.
Our Canadian Spotlight Song of the Week is “Joey Ramone” by Montreal’s The Magic Man.
After the usual bits and news from around the industry, including an audio clip in which Randy Bachman definitely proves of the infamous opening chord is to The Beatle’s “A Hard Day’s Night,” we kick off the interviews with The Road Heavy’s Ryan Blake, who joins Andrew on the phone from Nashville where the band is currently recording.
Also, we have the last of our Canadian Music Week interviews, this one with Luke Austin of the Toronto-based Luke Austin Band. Luke discusses recording in Nashville with producer Vance Powell, visiting Third Man Records, touring on a train made famous by the Grateful Dead and Janis Joplin in the film Festival Express, and more.
Lastly, we have Mercedes Arn-Horn of Courage My Love. The band has been up to a lot since being on the cover of Canadian Musician magazine a couple years ago. They’ve just re-issue their EP “Becoming” and are hard at work writing and recording their next album.
Our Canadian Spotlight Song of the Week is “Joey Ramone” by Montreal’s The Magic Man.
We've made it - our final Best of CMW episode, featuring a pop-tastic trio of artist interviews plus an insightful CM Academy session.
Join us as Mike and Katlyn check in with currently-exploding fashion-art rock outfit Palaye Royale, "Don't Fight The Music" man Virginia to Vegas, and London alt-pop trio Ivory Hours. Plus, Mike Tanner, Toronto's Music Sector Develpment Officer, talks about some exciting things currently underway for the live music industry in Toronto - and how some of their practices can benefit other centres.
For the first time in a long time, it's both Mike and Andrew at the mic taking you through this week's episode. It's also the second of three "Best of CMW" episodes, this one focusing on some of the indie rockers we caught up with during this year's festival.
Our pal Katlyn speaks with Montreal dream pop trio Caveboy and 2015 ECMA Album of the Year winners In-Flight Safety while Mike sits down with Saskatoon's Slow Down Molasses and Erin Benjamin of Live Music Canada. Plus, we'll also hear the track "Smile" from Moncton's Open Strum in our Canadian Spotlight.
Check back next week for the final CMW installment, featuring the likes of Palaye Royale, Virginia to Vegas, and more.
This is the first of our Best of CMW episodes, and I suppose this one could unofficially be called the Dine Alone Records round-up.
Dine Alone is celebrating its 10 year anniversary this year, and as such, founder Joel Carriere anchored a special panel during the conference to talk about the ups and downs of the last decade in the label game. Mike caught up with him before the round table to talk shop, and it's a great interview.
For musical artists, we've got both Monster Truck and Single Mothers on this weeks show - both blowing up, both Dine Alone bands. The former is working on the follow-up to 2013's hugely successful Furiosity while Single Mothers are still riding the attention surrounding their debut, Negative Qualities.
We've also got the boys in Billy Talent, who may not be a Dine Alone band, but considering their history with the likes of Alexisonfire, Moneen, Cancer Bats, and the gang, could be considered extended family.
Plenty more from CMW coming up. Enjoy!
We've got plenty of Canadian Music Week content coming your way in the next few weeks, but this is where it all starts.
Our two musical interviewees - Halifax rock outfit Gloryhound and Hamilton, ON songstress Terra Lightfoot - are performing at this year's edition of CMW. The former dropped their latest disc Loaded Gun, produced by the one and only Garth Richardson (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine) last year, and since they've hit the road with the likes of Deep Purple, Theory of a Deadman, and many more top-tier touring acts. As for Lightfoot, in addition to her work with Dinner Belles, she's been amassing plenty of attention for her solo material and is directly supporting Daniel Lanois at his sure-to-sell-out CMW showcase at the iconic Horseshoe Tavern. Keep an eye for both.
And finally, to prep us for the big closing weekend of CMW, we speak with festival director Justin Kwan about the new and special initiatives planned for this year's edition. Enjoy!
We've got plenty of Canadian Music Week content coming your way in the next few weeks, but this is where it all starts.
Our two musical interviewees - Halifax rock outfit Gloryhound and Hamilton, ON songstress Terra Lightfoot - are performing at this year's edition of CMW. The former dropped their latest disc, Loaded Gun, produced by the one and only Garth Richardson (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine), last year, and since they've hit the road with the likes of Deep Purple, Theory of a Deadman, and many more top-tier touring acts. As for Lightfoot, in addition to her work with Dinner Belles, she's been amassing plenty of attention for her solo material and is directly supporting Daniel Lanois at his sure-to-sell-out CMW showcase at the iconic Horseshoe Tavern. Keep an eye for both.
And finally, to prep us for the big closing weekend of CMW, we speak with festival director Justin Kwan about the new and special initiatives planned for this year's edition. Enjoy!
It's a pleasure having I Mother Earth's Brian Byrne on the show, especially since we get to chat about the band's upcoming appearance at the Unison Jam on May 6th at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. The money raised during the initiative, which also features the likes of Finger Eleven, Kim Mitchell, k-os, Jason McCoy, The Trews, and many others, will go to the Unison Benevolent Fund and help those in the music industry during their time of need.
As for IME, they're currently promoting their hot new single, "The Devil's Engine" at radio. Fans will also have a chance to hear it from the stage during some summer performances, including a slot at WTFest in Brantford, ON on June 13th.
We also have singer/songwriter/guitarist Salvatore Costa on the show, speaking about his project Smashing Satellites. The band's EP debut, SonicAluzion A-Side, dropped last fall and the buzz has been building quickly. Smashing Satellites is taking part in the May 8th edition of Generation Next Live during Canadian Music Week. We'll chat about the show and the band's impressive success of late.
Welcome! We're stoked to have Joel Plaskett back on the show, this time discussing his most recent release, Joel Plaskett & The Park Avenue Sobriety Test. It touches on his solo acoustic side, his guitar rock work with the Emergency, his happy-go-lucky rhyming talents, carefree memories of growing up in Nova Scotia, and a little bit of anger at the forces making life tougher these days. There are many moments that draw on previous classic Plaskett, from beloved albums such as Three and Ashtray Rock, right back to his Thrush Hermit days. And there are new sides to his sounds as well – Joel like you’ve never heard him.
Of course, we'll also have our Canadian Spotlight Song of the Week, which comes to us courtesy of Kaylan Mackinnon.
Montreal's Suuns are dropping their latest project, titled Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart, on April 14th. These seven songs are the result of a seven-day studio stint in which the four members of Suuns and Jerusalem in My Heart's Radwan Ghazi Moumneh set out to make and record music with no preconceived notions of what might come out. We speak with Suuns guitarist/bassist Joe Yarmush about the collaboration as well as the upcoming release from Suuns themselves, expected early 2016.
DIlshad Burman is the award-winning host of V-MIX. Airing Tuesdays on Omni 2, V-MIX is Canada’s first national TV show covering contemporary South Asian artists and music videos, while also providing indie Canadian musicians and amateur performers a platform to showcase themselves. Some of the celebrities featured on V-MIX have included Panjabi MC, Black Eyed Peas, Snoop Dogg, Lil’ Jon, Karl Wolf, Moby and many more. We'll chat about how bands can make their most of a TV appearance and much more.
This is a fun one. Mike dropped into Revolution Recording in Toronto, where Billy Talent guitarist Ian D'Sa was in the producer's chair while Australian rockers The Lazys were on the other side of the glass. Mike had a chance to sit down with them between sessions to chat about the project, production work, and get some updates from Billy Talent as well.
We'll also hear about a great initiative called Guitars 4 VETS. The name is self-explanitory and it's a great cause we can all get behind.
Of course, we'll also have the usual Canadian music industry round-up and our Canadian Spotlight song of the week, submitted as always via Reverbnation.
Another big show this week, with back-to-back episodes featuring four interviewees.
Secret City Records' Daniel Isaiah discusses his latest work, Come Into Gone. Though Isaiah has spent considerable time in Europe and the U.S., and is known in some circles as much for his award-winning short films (under the name Daniel Schachter), CIG is a distinctly local work. The new album was written in his cozy Mile End flat, in a 10-foot by 10-foot room with a perfect view of Mont-Royal, and a little piano in it hauled over from Halifax, on which many of the songs were composed. Isaiah had never taken this approach before, but through it he found chords that he wouldn’t have on his usual guitar. And though writing the songs took considerable time, not much rehearsing or preparation went into recording them. The looseness of the recordings works so well precisely because the songs are so well crafted.
We also catch up with 3/4 of the bill for the April 2nd edition of Generation Next Live at The Phoenix in Toronto in electro-rock four-piece DLV, alt quartet The Control Room, and upbeat indie pop trio Goodnight, Sunrise. (Rebel Hero, the fourth band on the bill, was on last week's show.) If you're in the Toronto area, consider checking it out. www.generationnextlive.com.
Lots to talk about in this episode, with four - yep, four - interviewees.
Thomas D'Arcy's latest full-length, Fooled You Twice, dropped in early March and since, it's been getting a lot of positive attention. New Canadian Music, for example, said, "Pop craftsman Thomas D'Arcy is at his melodic and catchy best on second solo record Fooled You Twice." Mike chats with Thomas about the album and a lot more.
Luke Nicholson's Frantic City is his most poignant album to date. Having written the majority of material for this record while touring away from his new born daughter, one can hear the love, and maturity in both his lyrics and delivery. He's also launched an interesting new contest we'll chat about.
Mike also catches up with Toronto's Rebel Hero, a funk-rock trio with an impressive resume that's taking part in the April 4, 2015 edition of Generation Next Live at the Phoenix.
Finally, we speak with musician, engineer, producer, and studio owner Mike Saracino about his new initiative, The Globe Series, which takes him around the world to record on-the-rise musicians and spawn international collaborations.
Eighteen years. Twelve albums. Two gold records. Thirty-plus transatlantic treks. Fifteen Top 40 singles. Arena tours across 11 countries with Guns N Roses. A video trilogy starring Elijah Wood and Ralph Macchio. A feature- length documentary. An oral-history biography. Personal invites from Lemmy to join Motörhead on the road (and on water, for the 2014 Motörboat cruise). For most bands, that would amount to a hell of a career. For Toronto trio Danko Jones, it’s called “warming up." The band is fresh from the release of Fire Music, produced by Eric Ratz (Billy Talent, Monster Truck, Metric) and featuring 11 fresh tracks, and is now amidst a slew of global dates.
As for Faith Healer, led by principal songwriter Jessica Jalbert, following the success of 2011’s self-released solo debut, Brother Loyola, the introspective songwriter set to work on penning another collection of inward looking dream pop played with laid back bravado. Engineered under the masterful watch of whip-smart producer—and fellow Mintie—Renny Wilson, the two bonded over their mutual affection for dreamy ‘60s garage rock and swaggering ‘70s singles while in the studio. Hinting at a slightly spacier sound, Cosmic Troubles will arrive March 31st.
Finally, CM contributor Michael Saracino speaks about his new initiative, The Globe Series, which finds the musician and producer travelling to different cities around the world - from Vancouver to Sydney, New York to London - filming local songwriters and aiding in their long-distance collaborations.
Two duos and a trio on this week's show, and all from the west coast.
Humans create indie-electronic music that also possesses a distinct darkness to it. Focusing on the performance ideals of modern greats like LCD Soundsystem or Jamie XX, Humans are able to impress audiophiles with their technical skills while still stirring up action on the dancefloor. The band is gearing up for a big year, with some major festival dates already announced.
Since their debut EP in 2012, Calgary’s High Kicks have been steadily building a following around their lively, stripped down live set. While the duo of Danny and Matt could easily get by on teen dream/heartthrob status alone, they instead have taken it upon themselves to prove that there's still a place in Calgary's heart for true rock 'n' roll.
Finally, Edmonton's White Lightining are fresh from the release of their EP 1979, produced with Howard Redekopp. We'll chat about the sonic shift between their debut full-length and latest EP and what's in store for 2015.
Grand Analog is a raw collective of seasoned record collectors, musicians, and self-described beat junkies with music described as “a beautiful mess of rap’n’roll, dub, and soul.” Their latest release, 2013's Modern Thunder received critical acclaim upon its release and led to the band signing with Jillionaire of Major Lazer's new label, Feel Up Records.
As for The Good Boys, this three-piece focuses on music’s golden past by nurturing the sounds and aesthetics of early innovators like The Beatles and The Beach Boys. The Good Boys celebrate a time when a dapper group of men dressed in suit jackets and neckties could turn a room of well-behaved teenagers into a teeming frenzy.
We're all about Generation Next Live (http://generationnextlive.com) on this week's show, which features interviews with The Mohrs, The Rathburns, and Dead Projectionists. All three bands are set to take place in the March 5th edition of GNL, happening at The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.
The Mohrs' latest is called "Kings Of Nowhere," produced in rural Ontario at Hawksley Workman's studio with the man himself.
As for The Rathburns, they'll be releasing their upcoming EP at this very show. There are plenty of video teasers online to get you caught up..
Finally, the Dead Projectionists just signed on with The Agency Group and relaunched their website in anticipation of what's sure to be a good year.
There's Magic! in the air and on the airwaves this week, as we speak with band frontman Nasri about the band's hugely successful year, including their pack-leading five JUNO Award nominees. This will be a bit of a preview of our full feature story on the band in our March/April 2015 issue.
Also, we'll be speaking with Beautiful Nothing about their self-titled album, knack for creating cool videos, and their slot on the Generation Next Live showcase on March 5, 2015.
Prince Edward Island is in the spotlight this week on Canadian Musician Radio, as we have two huge talents from Canada's smallest province.
Catherine MacLellan has had an impressive month, being nominated for a pair of JUNO Awards along with some nods for the 2015 East Coast Music Awards on the success of her independently-released latest album, Raven's Sun. We'll speak about the release and the accolades it has garnered, along with what she's currently got on the go.
Also, we'll speak with fellow Islander Tim Chaisson about the upcoming Canadian release of his new LP, Lost in Light. Tim's fresh from yet anouther successful tour of Australia - his sixth in the last few years - and has a number of Canadian dates on the horizon.
This one should be fun...
Limblifter is back with in 2015 with Pacific Milk, their fourth full-length effort - and first in over a decade. The album lives up to the Limblifter name, with the snappy hooks and engaging alt-rock melodies fans have come to expect plus some itneresting sonic progression. We'll speak with frontman Ryan Dahle about this latest effort and how it fits in with the band's back catalogue.
Also, we have Toronto's Highs on this episode. They've turned a lot of heads with just a single EP to their name. Fresh off of a tour of Canada's east coast, Mike speaks with the band about their current happenings and future aspirations.
This week on CM Radio we have one of the true legends of rock and roll, Randy Bachman. Bachman, of course, rose to international prominence as one of the leaders of The Guess Who and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, writing countless hits across multiple decades, including "These Eyes," "American Woman," and "Takin’ Care of Business." He is now forging ahead into 2015 with a brand new project billed simply as BACHMAN. Joined by a virtuoso rhythm section with Anna Ruddick on bass and Dale Anne Brendan on drums, the trio’s debut effort, entitled Heavy Blues, will be available worldwide on April 15, 2015 through Linus Entertainment/eOne Music Canada.
Before that, we will be speaking with two of the excellent bands that will be taking part in the second edition of Generation Next Live (www.GenerationNextLive.com). We have Ryan Abramowitz of The Unchained, an instrumental groove rock band from Toronto who is making a name for themselves for that stellar live show and for their latest project, Lost in the Music. As well, we have Ashley Curtis, lead singer of Affinity, another band gaining buzz in the Toronto live rock scene and a breakout act at last year’s Indie Week. Their excellent debut EP, Consequences Pt. 1, came out last year and Ashley says that have new material in the works that they will be showcasing at Generation Next Live on Feb. 5 at the Phoenix Concert Theatre.
We're thrilled to have Dallas Smith back on the show this week. Since we last spoke, Dallas's career has exploded on the back of his late-2014 release Lifted. Its debut single, "Wastin' Gas," has garnered plenty of attention, and we caught up with Dallas on the eastern leg of his most recent Canadian tour to chat about his last few months and what's on his horizon.
Then, one of the bands announced for the second edition of Generation Next Live (http://generationnextlive.com) is Say Yes. Formed with former members of Alexisonfire, Jersey, and Saint Alvia, the trio has a hard-hitting brand of in-your-face alt rock that's sure to impress. We chat with the guys about what they've got slotted for 2015.
G'day, mates.
This week, we're checking in with our pals in Paper Lions - the first-ever musical guests on Canadian Musician Radio back in 2013 - who are currently touring in the land down under. We'll chat with the band from the other side of the world about their first tour of Australia, some of the cool experiences they've had thus far, and more.
And leading up to our first-ever edition of Generation Next Live, happening Jan 23rd at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto, we've got The Bleeding Lights and Breached, the latter of which is headlining the show as the official launch of their interactive music video which was shot at that very venue last year.
Happy New Year, everyone.
Our first episode of 2015 is a special one, as we're bringing you all the details about a brand new initiatve from Canadian Musician in partnership with 94.9 The Rock and The Phoenix Concert Theatre.
Generation Next Live is a unique concert series showcasing the best Canadian Indie bands. Each month, a team of industry experts will choose four new Indie acts to perform on the legendary Phoenix stage. Not only will this showcase give featured bands the chance to expand their following, connect with industry VIPs, and build a solid future for their talent, but it’s YOUR chance to support your favourite band as they build their groundwork in becoming the future of Canadian music. Get the details at http://generationnextlive.com.
First, we'll chat with Redd from The Phoenix about the initiative itself and what people can expect from it over the course of 2015.
Then, we'll have two of the four bands set to perform the inaugural show on January 23rd - Blind Race and Lost Cause.
Happy (soon to be) New Year!
For our final episode of 2014, we're looking ahead to the next year of music by revisiting some of our interviews with artists that we think you'll be hearing a lot of in 2015.
Tune in to hear snippets from our conversations with the likes of Alert the Medic, Dallas Smith, Kalle Mattson, Trinity Bradshaw, Ben Stevenson, High Valley, Kandle, and Dear Rouge.
We appreciate your support and look forward to bringing you more great content in 2015, with our first post-holiday episode premiering on January 7, 2015.
Happy Holidays, folks.
For our second-last episode of 2014, we're revisiting some of our favourite interviews from the past year of Canadian Musician Radio.
Tune in to hear snippets from our conversations with Bruce Cockburn, Lights, Doc Walker, Karl Wolf, Moist, The New ographers, Serena Ryder, and Slash.
We appreciate your support and look forward to bringing you more great content in 2015.
This week's show is our last regular episode of 2014, as Christmas Eve will be our "Best of Canadian Musician Radio 2014" edition, followed by our New Year's Eve "What's Hot for 2015" edition. Closing out 2014, we've got both Street Pharmacy and Trevor Guthrie on the program.
Ryan Guay, the mind behind Street Pharmacy, is set to drop his next full-length, Pharmanomics, in early January 2015. The album takes influence from the worlds of reggae, rock, ska, and early hip hop and features collaborations with a cool list of producers, including ex-illScarlett members Johnny Doherty and Will Marr, Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Metric), and Adam Tune (Keys N Krates).
As for Trevor Guthrie, after first coming into the industry with soulDecision in the mid-'90s, the well-known songwriter and performer has seen his solo career take off since 2013, after he was featured on Armin van Buuren's track "This Is What It Feels Like" and Markus Schulz's "Until It's Gone." Mike catches up with Trevor about his current projects and what's in store for the new year.
We're bringing you three interesting interviews on this week's show, including a pre-show chat with synth-rock duo and Peak Performance Project winners Dear Rouge plus catch-ups with Justin Evans of MixGenius and Ian MacKay of Re:Sound.
After signing with Universal Music Canada earlier this fall, Dear Rouge are getting set to drop their debut full-length, Black to Gold, in early 2015. The band had a great 2014, as in addition to the signing, they commaded attention and earned a heap of new fans through their energetic performaces on club and festival stages alike.
Also, Mike catches up with Ian MacKay, the President of Re:Sound. Re:Sound represents and safeguards the rights of its artist and record companies and ensures that they are fairly compensated for the broadcast and public performance of their music in Canada. Especially topical in this talk are MacKay's comments on the future of music streaming royalties in Canada.
And finally, Justin Evans of MixGenius speaks with Mike about the incoming paradigm for music production. Services like MixGenius provide instant audio production tools to help musicians on a budget add some impact to their output. Find out more about the company and what these services might mean for the industry.
Mike Raine had the chance to take in the 2014 edition of M for Montreal at the end of November, which featured a great lineup of bands - from last week's featured interviewees BadBadNotGood to the likes of July Talk, The Dying Arts, and more.
In this week's edition, we've got interviews with many of those artists - The OBGMs, Betty Bonifassi, and Lydia Ainsworth - speaking to each about their time at the festival and other current affairs.
Also in this episode, we speak with Brian Murray, the organizer of Guitar Workshop Plus. GWP offers sessions in Toronto, Vancouver, and for the first time next year, San Diego, where students of any skill level come together in a cool and relaxed environment to study guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and voice. Each year, attendees get to learn from and interact with some of the world's most heralded musicians, including previous guest artists Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Rush's Alex Lifeson, and a whole lot more.
This is one for the musos. We've got interviews with two very talented, innovative, and remarkably unique acts - jazz/hip-hop crossover BadBadNotGood and the lively symphonic Sultans of String.
BBNG is set to drop Sour Soul, a collaboration with the one-and-only Ghostface Killa of Wu Tang Clan, early in 2015. The band is amidst a string of festival dates, getting young music fans into what's traditionally been a niche genre thanks to a youthful energy and abandonment of genre limitations. (Last time I saw these guys, they had a room of a few hundred moshing - yes, moshing - to jazz music - Andrew)
As for Sultans of String, they've got a string of high-profile shows coming up in late November, including a date at Toronto's pristine Koerner Hall. The group's latest release, Symphony!, is a cool project that involved a number of high-profile Canadian musicians, and we'll see how material from that will translate to the stage for these upcoming shows.
Finally, we'll hear the latest about the National Music Centre in Calgary, including the construction of some state-of-the-art studio spaces.
It wasn't that long ago that we last had Roch Voisine on the show, but since then, the much-loved Canadian icon has released Movin' on Maybe, his first English album in 12 years. The album comes after a fairly busy summer for the artist, so Canadian Musician's Mike Raine speaks with Vosine about what's kept him busy in the interim, what fans can expect from his latest release, and more. www.rochvoisine.com
As for Kandle, after a very successful cycle supporting her first EP, the young singer-songwriter has dropped her debut full-length, In Flames. We speak with the young artist about her musical growth between the two albums, growing up in a musical family, and more. www.kandlemusic.com
Plus, don't miss the third edition of our Canadian Arist Spotlight.
A great double-header this week on Canadian Musician Radio. We've got High Valley, the hot Canadian country duo comprised of brothers Brad and Curtis Rempel. The group's latest release is County Line, which has earned comparisons to the likes of Rascal Flatts but also established these guys as a force to be reckoned with. www.highvalleymusic.com.
Then, we've got Ontario-rooted rock outfit The Mandevilles, fresh off the release of Windows & Stones, produced by the one and only GGGarth Richradson (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Rage Against The Machine). The record is full of soulful, powerful rock that harkens back to the masters like Tom Petty, The Boss, and Mellancamp but with a fresh twist. www.heymandevilles.com.
And for a diverse trifecta, DJ Sara Simms speaks with CM Radio about her latest project, The Future Prophecy - a graphic novel and concept album series featuring DJs as the heroes and villains. The popular EDM performer will speak about the inspiration behind the project, some of the ways fans can get involved, and more. www.thefutureprophecy.com.
Please join us for this very special episode of Canadian Musician Radio, dedicated to the one and only Bruce Cockburn.
A Canadian songwriting icon, Cockburn has just released his brand new limited edition box set, Rumours of Glory. Sequenced as a companion piece to his published memoirs, this limited edition 9-disc set includes 16 rare and previously unreleased songs along with Bruce’s first live DVD. It includes 117 songs, a previously unreleased live concert DVD filmed during three shows in 2008, and a 90+-page book featuring rare photos, extensive track information, and liner notes by Nicholas Jennings.
We'll speak with the artist himself about his longevity in the industry, his approach to writing now as compared to that of his formative years, and a lot more.
ALSO, as an Exclusive Offer for Canadian Musician fans, use the discount code CM15 and get 15 per cent off the Rumours of Glory Limited Edition Box Set by visiting: http://bit.ly/1wzwGzU.
Glory Under Dangerous Skies is the brand new record from Moist - their first together since 1999's Mercedes 5 and Dime, and man, is it ever good. We catch up with the band and talk about their decision to reunite, some of the new elements they've incorporated into their sound, and how they're going to win new fans while appeasing those that followed them religiously during their hayday.
Then, we'll have Toronto's Ben Stevenson, whose debut EP, Dirty Laundry, drops Nov. 4th. While it may be Stevenson's first self-branded release, he's no stranger to the scene and has collaborated on productions with the likes of Boi-1da and Vinylz. We'll speak about his new release and the aspiration he has for his new solo venture.
This week, we're bringing you a special roundtable interview with the artists on the upcoming Bands On The Run Tour - Doc Walker, The Road Hammers, and Blackjack Billy.
Doc Walker is dropping their eighth studio album - appropriately titled The 8th - on Oct. 21st, featuring the already-hit singles "That's How I Like It" and "Shake It Like It's Saturday Night." It's the band's first full-length without longtime member Murray Pulver, so we'll talk about readjusting to life on the road and how the new material will take shape on the stage.
As for the Road Hammers, their record Wheels has been doing well since dropping earlier this year. Frontman Jason McCoy talks about some of the differences between performing as a member of the trio vs. his solo tours and a lot more. Noll Billings, vocalist with Blackjack Billy, also weighs in on the band's experiences in Canada thus far and what they're anticipating for this upcoming run with their friends.
Finally, in CM Academy, we speak with James Boyle, the current executive director of the Halifax Pop Explosoin, who's getting ready for his first run at the helm. The lineup this year features acts like Against Me!, Danny Brown, and our Nov/Dec 2014 cover artists, Zeds Dead. We'll chat about what's going on leading up to this edition and what fans should be looking forward to.
Our post-Thanksgiving program (Canadian Thanksgiving, that is) features two great Canadian acts from different ends of the stylistic spectrum.
Victoria Banks is fresh off the release of Indigo, her third studio album, a collection of songs stemming from bare-bones midnight recording sessions in her attic. In addition to her own multi-award-nominated releases, Banks is a staff songwriter at Nashville’s RareSpark Media Group with a catalogue that includes hits for the likes of Sara Evans, Jessica Simpson, One More Girl, Doc Walker, and Johnny Reid
As for The Meds, the PEI-based rock outfit has been touring the country on the back of their debut full-length, South America. Theirs is a sound that blends easily-accessible mainstream rock with a folky, poetic vocal style and plenty of substance. The album was co-produced by Matt Mays and Colin MacDonald of The Trews.
Lights is back with her third full-length offering, Little Machines - a gleaming, groundbreaking, generously tuneful slab of brightly hued 21st-century techno-pop brimming with songs so immediate and timelessly pure of heart that they feel like old friends on delivery. We catch up with the singer to talk about her latest release and some of the things she's got on the go surrounding its release.
We also have Amos the Transparent and the Luke Austin Band on the show. The former is dropping their LP, This Cold Escape, on Oct. 7th. The record is dubbed as a "loosely biographical rock opera" by the band, and it is one of the group’s most accessible and emotionally-bare releases to date. As for the Luke Austin Band, they've been earning accolades for their rowdy alt-rock sound with the kind of intensity and harmony that reminds people of musicians like Bruce Springsteen, Kings Of Leon, and The Killers. They've got an upcoming EP that will feature the hit "Long Road Home."
The one and only Kinnie Starr has just dropped her latest LP, From Far Away, via Aporia Records. We had the chance to speak with the longtime music maker, producer, advocate, and all-around artist about topics like our dwindling natural resources, her spot on Dr. David Suzuki's Blue Dot Tour, the struggle faced by First Nations people in Canada, and of course, how her music weaves it all together.
Next is musician and author Robert Freeman. Classical music should be a vital part of our culture, yet too many orchestras and opera houses have closed down, and it has become increasingly difficult for students with a music degree to find work! As former director of three of North America's top music schools, Robert Freeman identifies what needs to be done to turn this around in his newly-released book, The Crisis of Classical Music in America.
This week's show is a bit of a stylistic roller coaster, featuring performer/songwriter John Southworth, Quebec-based hardcore outfit Obey the Brave, and Kingston rock quintet The Glorious Sons.
Southworth is set to drop his latest LP, a double album called Niagara that's divided into a Canadian and American side, at the end of September. We speak about how the album took shape as well as some of his other artistic endavours and how they correlate.
Obey The Brave, comprised of ex members of Blind Witness and Despised Icon, released their second full-length effort Salvation mid-September. We speak with vocalist Alex Erian about the band's progress since their debut, Young Blood, as well as the current state of the hardcore scene.
Finally, the boys of Glorious Sons are fresh off the release of their debut full-length The Union, produced in tandem with John-Angus MacDonald of The Trews and the one and only Gavin Brown (Billy Talent, Three Days Grace). We get the scoop on the band's success thus far and some of their upcoming plans.
We're going international this week on Canadian Musician Radio, and who better to have on our first such program than the almighty Slash. With his single "World on Fire" setting rock charts ablaze, the iconic guitarist speaks with Andrew just one day following the release of the album of the same name - his latest solo offering with Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators. We'll talk about the record, his trademark guitar sound, and why Canada is so significant to his music career
Also on the show is American folk/rock outfit Trampled by Turtles, who speak with Mike fresh off of the release of Wild Animals, their seventh studio offering. With traditional instrumentation and a fresh ear for contemporary melodies and hooks, the band has been racking up high-profile festival billings and plenty of industry attention in recent years.
Care Failure and the Die Mannequin boys are back with a new EP and its lead single, "Suckerpunch," makes it clear they mean business. We'll speak with Care and see what's coming up from Die Mannequin leading up to and following the EP's release later this month.
We've also got Jenn Essiembre, Creative Manager with ole, the world's fastest-growing rights management company. She'll give us some insight into music publishing in 2014 along with some details on how an early-twentysomething comes out of school and lands a gig travelling from Toronto to L.A. with a hugely successful company.
It's indie pop week for Canadian Musician Radio, and we're reaching from sea to sea for this one. From BC, we've got both Prairie Cat and Shimming Stars, and then from PEI, we've got Coyote. We'll speak with all three about their recent and upcoming releases and see where the similarities and differences lie as far as their approach to writing, performing, and building a career in music.
The brainchild of frontman and pricipal songwriter Cary Pratt, Prairie Cat is fresh off the release of Who Knows Where To Begin? The touring band features a few familiar faces from the west coast music community and we'll chat with Cary about his songs and how they come to life on the stage.
As for Shimmering Stars, they're even fresher off the release of their second and latest LP, Bedrooms of the Nation. The album integrates elements from across the pop, noise, punk, and experimental spectrums - The Pixies, Flipper, Yo La Tengo, Women, and Nirvana running head into The Beach Boys, Phil Spector, and 50s/60s AM radio.
Finally, the cats in Coyote have their first full-length dropping in the coming weeks, and in addition to the unique sound they've crafted, we'll speak about their adventures as a band thus far - which most recently included the theft and recovery of close to $10,000 worth of musical equipment.
We've got a great pair of aritst interviews this week, and they certainly contrast as far as musical styles go.
First up, we bring you a conversation with on-the-rise country performer Trinity Bradshaw. A native of Prince Edward Island, Trinity now calls Calgary home and has been garnering a lot of attention and accolades of late. She's performed the Viper Room in LA, the Bluebird in Nashville, and major Canadian country festivals like the Cavendish Beach Music Festival, Big Valley Jamboree, Boots and Hearts, and Calgary Stampede. We'll speak to the Alberta CMA nominee about the year she's had and what's coming up on the horizon.
Then, switching gears, we've got one of Canadian rock's hottest acts, Saskatoon's One Bad Son. Over the past couple of years, the band has had multiple radio hits, toured alongside Buckcherry, Three Days Grace, and Monster Truck, and is currently prepping for an upcoming Fall 2014 release. We'll chat about the progress on that and what fans can expect from the four-piece powerhouse.
We're back this week with an interview with Karl Wolf, the Lebanon-born, Montreal-based singer, songwriter, and producer who's just about to drop his fifth solo release, Stereotype. He's had a great few years riding the success of his last two releases, Nightlife and Finally Free, which spawned singles like "Afrika," "Hurting," and "Ghetto Love." We chat with him about the new album, some of his upcoming colloborations, wearing the hats of performer and producer simultaneously, and more. Also, Ottawa's Arboretum Festival has put together a killer lineup for its 2014 edition, featuring the likes of Kevin Drew, Constantines, Hilotrons, and Chad VanGaalen. We catch up with the organizers of this on-the-rise event and talk about the things that go into staging a production of this sort, along with the aspects that make Arboretum particularly unique.
Canadian rock outfit Theory of a Deadman are fresh from the July 29th release of their latest album, SaVages. Mike Raine had the chance to speak with frontman Tyler Connolly about the album, their progression over the years since releasing their self-titled debut in 2002, their success outside of Canada, and a lot more. And in CM Academy, we speak with Aaron Bethune, the author of the new book Musicpreneur: The Creative Approach To Making Money In Music. We'll speak about the book and some of the ideas in it. An early review from our friend Eric Alper at eOne Music Canada reads: "It's tempting, when you go into the music business, to think that all you have to do is write a great song. That certainly helps. It's also a necessity to know all aspects of the industry, so you're able to tackle any challenge you face. This book might just be all you'll need to read."
We're really glad to have Bahamas - aka Afie Jurvanen - on this week's show. Bahamas is set to release his third album, Bahamas is Afie, on August 18, 2014 via Universal Music Canada and Jack Johnson's Brushfire Records worldwide. The album title even is a big part of the story here - a symbol of Afie taking ownership of the name Bahamas. It's a self titled record of sorts, that for lack of a better term is kind of a revealing moment in his career which has come with some high acclaim both here in Canada and the US and overseas. The music is expansive, thoughtful, full of huge catchy hooks that are at the same time beautiful and a really fun listen. He also unleashes some incredible guitar playing to boot. Be sure to keep an eye for that... We've also got an interview with Nathan Gill, frontman of Charlottetown rock outfit The North Lakes, talking about the band's in-the-works third release. They've had a busy summer, performing tracks from 2012's stellar Grand Prix at fests like Evolve and Big Red Music Festival. And on that note, we also catch up with Jeff Squires and Alex Douglas, two of the organizers behind Big Red Music Festival, which this year brought massive acts like The Killers, Death Cab For Cutie, Marianas Trench, Sam Roberts Band, and Lights to Canada's smallest province. Join us for a quick peek behind the scenes of yet another great Canadian music event.
We're quite honoured to have Jack Long, the founder of Long & McQuade Musical Instruments, Yorkville Sound, and Traynor Amplification on this week's show - especially because, in addition to pioneering three brands that are probably recognizable to every musician in the country, was also just named to the Order of Canada for 2014 alongside peers like Rick Mercer and Chris Hadfield. We also have an interview with Halifax-based celtic rock outfit The Stanfields. The band's official video for "Hard Miles" was just released and they're about to embark on a fall tour, primarly covering their home province of Nova Scotia. They're a riotous live band and have contributed to Canadian Musician in the past, so we're happy to have caught up with them at the Toronto Urban Roots Festival to get a glimpse at what's coming up for their camp.
Another Wednesday, another edition of Canadian Musician Radio. With all of these great summer festivals and tours, we've been able to deliver a heap of artist interviews, and this week is no different. Join us as we catch up with Juno-winning six-piece "folk popgrass" outfit The Strumbellas, singer-songwriter Astrid Young (also the half-sister of the one and only Neil), and Ryan McCambridge. The Strumbellas are playing summer festivals across Canada and the U.S. this summer, continuing to promote the sophomore album, We Still Move Dance Floors. While its predecessor, My Father and the Hunter, was nominated for a Juno Award for Roots & Traditional Album of the Year in 2013,We Still Move Dance Floors actually took the trophy earlier in 2014 and was recently long-listed for the 2014 Polaris Music Prize. They're more focused than ever now, and we'll find out why. Musician, composer, actor, author screenwriter, and sommelier Astrid Young released her fourth solo record, One Night at Giant Rock, at the end of June. In a special performance, Young is kicking off her "psychedelic acid folk" tour in southern Ontario in late July and will work her way west. The album, featuring Victor DeLorenzo of the Violent Femmes is a collection of songs that reflect her personal discovery of the karmic meaning of all her relationships. She speaks about the long gaps between records, some of her other musical endeavors, and more. Finally, in addition to being a studio engineer who's been the right hand man of producer/engineer David Bottrill (Peter Gabriel, Tool, Dream Theater), Ryan McCambridge has been making music under the moniker of A Calmer Collision. We talk about the sonic balance he's struck between modern rock and electronica as well as how his experience in the studio informs his work as a musician and more.
So many great live music festivals and events happening this summer from coast-to-coast has seemingly translated to an overload of artist interviews on Canadian Musician Radio. This week, we speak with three highly-touted acts from rather different scenes: Halifax-based troubadour Adam Baldwin, Montreal folk quartet The Barr Brothers, and riff-driven rock duo PS I Love You. Andrew caught up with Baldwin just before his (terrific) performance at Charlottetown's Big Red Festival while Mike had a chance to speak with the other two during the 2014 run of NXNE. Of course, Andrew and Mike will also have a run-through of the latest news from in and around the Canadian and international music industries. We look forward to having you join us!
Canadian Musician's Mike Raine was on the ground for NXNE 2014 earlier in the month, and from that, we're pleased to bring you another show full of artist interviews. First, Mike speaks with Montreal-based songwriter Ian Kelly, whose latest release, All These Lines, has benefitted from widespread acclaim. Take a look at the year he's had and what's in store for the rest of 2014. Then, we'll speak with recently-announced Polairs Prize long-lister Kalle Mattson (it's pronounced Kale), who had actually just received the Polaris news minutes before sitting down with Mike. The Ottawa resident's Someday, the Moon Will Be Gold is a thing of brilliance and its first single, Pick Me Up, is a perfect summer jingle. Expect plenty more from this young man in the near future. Finally, we're happy to bring you an exclusive interview with The Wilderness of Manitoba. They dropped The Leslieville Sessions EP last year and are currently busy prepping something new, so we tried to get some insight into what fans can expect. That and a whole lot more...
This week on Canadian Musician Radio, we're very excited to chat with Serena Ryder, whose career has exploded in the last year and a half following the release of her mega-selling fifth LP, Harmony. The album went platinum in Canada and spawned two massive singles in "Stompa" and "What I Wouldn't Do." Earlier this year, Serena earned Artist of the Year and Songwriter of the Year honours at the JUNO Awards, which she also co-hosted. Talking to Mike, Serena looks back on the whirlwind year she just had, how expanding her sound beyond to her folk roots led to her success, and what she has in the works as a follow-up to Harmony. Meanwhile, Andrew caught up with Paul Luftenegger, who has finished recording a huge project and album titled Diamond Light with Arun Chaturvedi. Paul uses his music to promote peace, love, and harmony and has worked very closely and continues to be a guest speaker and volunteer/contributor with the 'Canadian Mental Health Association' (CMHA). Paul has been a featured singer/songwriter by Songwriters Association of Canada for his work with Suicide Awareness and Social Change Songwriting. His career also includes partnering with international charities to advance social awareness issues advancing equality and human rights for all people of our World. Paul has also been honoured by Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne for his work with Suicide Awareness. Finally, while at the Sound of Music Festival in Burlington, ON, Mike spoke with the girls in The Beaches. Despite just getting out of high school, The Beaches of been generating some huge review and industry buzz for their brand of no-holds-barred garage rock. The Beaches have charged into 2014 all guitars blazing with a three week tour of the UK supporting ex Distillers front woman Brody Dalle, and the release of their second EP, Heights, which was released on May 5th.
We're all about the music this week. We've got three artist interviews lined up for the show, and they couldn't be more diverse. First, we'll chat with Toronto-based performer-songwriter Patrick Ballantyne. In addition to being a past CM contributor, Patrick has co-writing credits on successful tracks by the likes of Big Sugar and The Trews. Earlier this month, he released his latest solo collection called Days of Rain. We speak with Patrick about his songwriting success, how this album fits into his body of work, and a lot more. A former member of BKS and Love Inc., Simone Denny is a powerhouse vocalist in the pop/dance/house realm. She's fresh off the release of "Your Love Fades Away" - the first single from her solo album "The Stereo Dynamite Sessions, Vol. 1." We'll chat about her career to date and how that's led her to where she is now. Finally, we're stoked to have Dave1 from hugely successful Canadian electro-funk duo Chromeo on the show. He'll be speaking about the band's latest full-length release, "White Women," how the Internet has contributed to their success, and their plans for global domniation.
Our pals in The New P0rnographers (that's a zero to try and fool BlogTalkRadio's automatic sensor) are back with a new record, set to drop late August. It's called Brill Bruisers, and we're more than excited to have the band's frontman, Carl Newman, on the program to talk about the band's fifth full length. The band has a fall headlining tour across North America on the books, though that follows a few summer festival dates - some of which are north of the 49th, like Pemberton, Riot Fest, and Sonic Boom. Can't wait to have some new tunes from these guys, though "Together" is still holding us over... Also, we've got both Luci Tremblay, Communications Manager, and Louis Bellavance, Program Director, from the Quebec City Summer Festival (Festival d'ete de Quebec) speaking about all the work that goes in to pulling off this massive event each year. The 2014 edition is running for 11 days and features headliners like Lady Gaga, Billy Joel, The Killers, Bryan Adams, Journey, Queens of the Stone Age, and deadmau5, to name just a few.m
We promised plenty of summer festival-themed content for June, and we're starting off on a high note with this week's show. Three Days Grace have a new album in the works, but will be spending part of the summer headlining major festivals like the Quebec City Summer Festival, Heavy MTL, and more. We'll chat about what fans might expect from their set lists, how the transition with new vocalist Matt Walst is treating them, and more. Then, in CM Academy, we'll be speaking with Haydn Watters - one of three organizers of Riverfest in Elora, ON. The musical lineup for this year is quite exciting, with the likes of Blue Rodeo, Serena Ryder, Arkells, Charles Bradley, Dan Mangan, Elliott Brood, and Young Galaxy all taking part. What's more impressive, though, is how much the event has grown in stature since even just last year. Haydn will fill us in on the behind-the-scenes efforts that go into organizing and logistically planning this kind of event. Sure to be insightful for anyone in live even production.
We're proud to be doing our rock and roll duty with this week's show. Mike has a chance to chat with the one and only Kim Mitchell - songwriter, killer guitar player, radio host, and a whole lot more. His latest release is 2007's Ain't Life Amazing (it is), though he's out on the road right now for a string of dates and you can hear him regularly on Q107. One particularly funny anecdote involves the ever-talked-about Bob Dylan. Tune in for that. Then, in the return of CM Academy, we'll speak with Aaron Jensen, the artistic director behind the third annual edition of Sing! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival. Acts like The Nylons, The Kinsey Sicks, Alan Frew of Glass Tiger, Dan Hill, and many others are part of the programming, which includes not only a capella performances, but also daily workshops on vocal technique, the busienss of music, and more.
We had so much great content from Canadian Music Week that we figured we'd double down and bring you another best-of full of interviews from this year's showcasing artists. This time around, we've got on-the-rise rock trio The Balconies, BC-based folkies Good for Grapes, country singer Jason Hastie, bouncy indie pop outfit BESTiE, and Toronto newcomers The Cruelty Party, featuring Alphonse Alixander Lanza III of Azari & III. There's something for everyone, musically speaking, plus all the goods from around the industry - including more summer festival talk. (This summer is going to be an absolute blast for music fans.)
We're fresh off of a great run at Canadian Music Week 2014, where Canadian Musician had the chance to take in plenty of panels and sessions during the day and musical showcases at night. We also connected with a slew of the artists performing during the 2014 festival, and are happy to bring you some highlights of those interviews in this week's show. We'll check in with the likes of Magic!, Gloryhound, The Flatliners, Kristina Maria, T.Nile, and more, plus share some highlights from the event and give you a run down of the latest industry news from across the country and the world.
This week's show happens to coincide with the 2014 edition of Canadian Music Week, which is set to take over Toronto with some performances by massive acts like City & Colour, M.I.A., Tegan and Sara, and a whole lot more. Our first guest, taking the floor for CM Academy, is Luther Mallory of BandLimbo.com. A musician, artist manager, label owner, and a whole lot of other things, Luther launched Band Limbo just a few weeks ago to offer practical, real-world advice for independent artists to help them navigate the ever-changing industry. His latest post is actually a short little rant for bands looking to make an impact at CMW 2014. Our feature artist interview this week comes from a CMW showcase artist, Sony Music Canada's Current Swell. The Victoria, BC-born indie rock outfit JUST dropped their fifth studio album, Ulysses, on May 6th, and it's already made an impressive impact. Mike speaks with the band about the project and where they're headed for 2014. Cheers to a successful Canadian Music Week; we'll be back in coming weeks with plenty of content from the Canadian music industry's Mecca.
You may remember the three smiling faces of our pals in Courage My Love from our July/August 2013 cover. We took a risk putting an up-and-coming band front-and-centre, but our staff and contributors have a lot of faith that this young trio is armed with all of the goods - talent, drive, and business savvy - to make a real impact in the Canadian music industry. They've done right by themselves (and us) since then, landing a JUNO nod for New Group of the Year, landing some dates on the almighty Vans Warped Tour, and released their EP "Becoming" through Warner Music Canada. We'll talk about what's next for the band, leading up to the release of their full-length, which is sure to elevate them to another new plateau. We also have eOne Music Canada's Secret Broadcast, whose new LP "Filthy Souls" was recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, WA with Grammy Award-winning Producer Adam Kasper (Foo Fighters, Queens of the Stone Age, Nirvana) and mastered by Bob Ludwig (David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Rolling Stones). That interview culminates in an exclusive performance of the band's song "More Than Friends." Tune in and give it a listen.
Greetings, and thanks for checking us out. This week, we're happy to bring you a special interview with a true Canadian music icon, Roch Voisine. He's fresh off of the release of an all-English greatest hits collection, "My Very Best," which also features four new tracks, including "Living Out My Dreams" - the Canadian Olympic Committee's anthem for the 2014 Winter Games. His career of entertaining audiences in two languages spans more than 25 years, so Mike had plenty to ask about during their conversation. Also, we've got Anthem/SRO Management's Tyler Tasson on the episode. She works closely with acts on the Anthem/SRO roster - Rush, Big Wreck, The Reason, and The Tea Party among them - and helps create opportunities for them. She'll tell us how she worked her way into the business, some of her professional highlights thus far, and more. Mike and Andrew will have a few things to talk about, too.
For this week's show, we're stepping out of the pop realm and into the jazz and classical worlds with two world-renowned performer. First, Montreal-based solo pianist Mark Pinkus speaks with CM Radio about his latest recording, The Peace Messenger. Mark has nine solo piano releases that have taken him around the world to perform. His career is primarily self-driven, so we'll get an idea as to the kind of work that goes with that. Kiermyer is an iconic Canadian jazz drummer fresh off the release of his latest recording, Further, which features Azar Lawrence, Benito Gonzalez, and Juini Booth. He has performed with the likes of Pharoah Sanders and been heralded by outlets including The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, and more. He and Mike speak at lengths about his latest recording, the modern jazz scene, and more.
For this week's show, we're stepping out of the pop realm and into the jazz and classical worlds with two world-renowned performer. First, Montreal-based solo pianist Mark Pinkus speaks with CM Radio about his latest recording, The Peace Messenger. Mark has nine solo piano releases that have taken him around the world to perform. His career is primarily self-driven, so we'll get an idea as to the kind of work that goes with that. Kiermyer is an iconic Canadian jazz drummer fresh off the release of his latest recording, Further, which features Azar Lawrence, Benito Gonzalez, and Juini Booth. He has performed with the likes of Pharoah Sanders and been heralded by outlets including The Village Voice, Entertainment Weekly, and more. He and Mike speak at lengths about his latest recording, the modern jazz scene, and more.
It's Smith week on Canadian Musician Radio as we welcome two accomplished yet stylistically contrasting artists to the show. What's more, we also have a candid conversation with music publicist and Canadian industry icon Richard Flohil, plus some goodies from East Coast Music Week 2014 and more. The founder of Richard Flohil & Associates has been an instrumental component to the careers of a plethora of successful artists, from k.d. lang and Colin James to Serena Ryder and Justin Rutledge and well beyond. He's received numerous awards and honours from the likes of SOCAN, the CASBYs, and was just named the recipient of the 2014 President's Choice Award from Folk Music Ontario. Join us as we take a look back at Richard's decades in the business. Then, we'll catch up with Dallas Smith who, after 10 years fronting Canadian rock outfit Default, has released a solo country EP called "Tippin Point." We'll talk about the transition from one genre to the other and get some insight into his creative process, among other things. We're also very pleased to have Maritimer Meaghan Smith on the program. After a JUNO win for her major label debut, The Cricket's Orchestra, Smith took a few years off to prepare her next release, Have A Heart, set to drop April 22nd. The single of the same name is out now and doing very well at radio. We'll get the scoop from Meaghan on her sonic shift, upcoming affairs, and a whole lot more. We'll also have some news and updates from ECMW, plus a handful of interviews for later in April, so keep an eye on the page!
Yes indeed, we've got an interview with Ian Thorney of Big Wreck, speaking about the band's upcoming fourth studio album and second since they returned in 2012 with the mighty "Albatross" after a 10-year gap. We had a chance to catch up with Ian just prior to "Albatross" dropping, so we'll see what's been happning with the guys since then. In CM Academy, we'll be speaking with Ebonnie Rowe, the founder of Toronto-based female talent showcase HoneyJam. Ebonnie and HoneyJam have been instrumental in propelling the careers of a number of female musicians, and has worked with the likes of Nelly Furtado, Jully Black, Michie Mee, and a host of other Canadian music stars. As always, it's a pleasure having you listen.
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar and Grady fame joins us on this week's show. Big Sugar is set to return to the spotlight with the release of "Yardstyle" - 13 tracks of languidly-paced, percussion-heavy acoustic reggae. The album is set to drop on April 15 thorugh eOne, and Gordie fills us in on the approach taken for this release and other things he and the band have going on for the first half of 2014. Also, we're thrilled to bring you a CM Academy session with songwriter Ralph Murphy, who has penned hits with the likes of Ronnie Milsap, Randy Travis, and Shania Twain. He'll give us some tips taken from his songwriting bible, "Murphy's Laws of Songwriting" on what goes into writing a hit.
Third show of the month, three great interviews. We'll start by chatting with Andrew Seale who, in addition to performing mini folk symphonies under the moniker Revelstoke, isa freelance music journalist for a myriad of publications, including ours. We'll talk about pitching projects, interview etiquette, and more. Then, we've got an interview with Kevvy Mental, the frontman of quirky pop-punk-post-prog-pretty much everything outfit Fake Shark Real Zombie from Vancouver. The band just re-released its first two recordings and, between that and his own production and scoring work, Mental has a lot to talk about. Finally, we'll speak with our friends in Sam Roberts Band, fresh off of the release of "Lo-Fantasy" and a few shows at SXSW 2014. The band has been slated to perform the 2014 edition of Osheaga, the Toronto Urban Roots Festival, and more, so we'll chat about the album and the upcoming opportunities to give people a taste. It's a fair departure from their previous output, but then again, so was each record before it.
This week on CM Radio we're very excited to catch up with Mac DeMarco. His last album, 2012's "2," garnered some rave reviews from outlets like Pitchfork and was long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize thanks to its beautifully poetic lyrics, shimmering guitar leads, and drowsy-but-delicate songwriting style. His latest, "Salad Days," drops at the foot of April and already has a lot of people eagerly anticipating its release. As well, in the CM Academy hotseat is Leo Da Estrela, managing partner and creative director at Monteral-based Couture Media. The company specializes in in the curation of specialized radio for businesses of all types, from cafes and restaurants, to waiting rooms and clothing stores. Leo tells us about what businesses are looking for in the music they play and how artists can tap into this vast marketplace for added revenue and exposure. We'll also be playing our International Spotlight song of the week, "Time to Pretend," which comes to us out of Peshwar, Pakistan by Jehangir Aziz Hayat.
Happy March, everyone. Our first show of a diverse month of CM Radio is pretty diverse itself. We're excited to have R&B recording artist JRDN on the show. Originally from Halifax, JRDN has spent the last several years touring behind 2007's "No Dress Code" and 2010's "IAMJRDN." Now, he's pushing the recently-released "JRDNEP," featuring the single "Can't Choose" with our pal Kardinal Offishall. We've also got Dan Moxon of Vancouver's Bend Sinister on the show, talking about his band's (fabulous) new record, "Animals," which drops March 11th through File Under: Music. We'll chat about the new release, recreating some pristine piano sounds on the road, and how scoring films translates musically to output from an indie rock band. Finally, Ryan Schroeyens, a founder of the Canadian DJ Show, will be on to speak about the event and its first edition in Calgary, happening in May 2014. The Toronto show will also return in the fall, and we'll try and get details on what people can expect from each.
We're sending out a happy 10th anniversary to our friends at Last Gang Entertainment, the label/management company/publishing firm founded by Chris Taylor that's largely responsible for launching the careers of acts like Metric, Mother Mother, Chromeo, Crystal Castles, and many more. We'll speak with Chris about the company's first decade in the business, the day-to-day operations of a label in this day and age, and a whole lot more. We'll also be catching up with the fellas in Tokyo Police Club, who are about to drop Forcefield, the follow-up to 2010's Champ and third studio LP. We'll find out what the band's been up to over those four years, see what's on the horizon, and of course, get the scoop on what fans can expect from this anticipated new release. Let's roll...
Happy post-Valentine's Day, folks. In this week's show, bring you some R.O.C.K. in the form of an interview with Monster Truck guitarist Jeremy Widerman, a good friend of the magazine and absolutely phenomenal writer of riffs. We chat about the band's success on radio, their tours with the likes of Alice in Chains, Deep Purple, Buckcherry, and The Sheepdogs, and what it's like pushing into new territories. We're also happy to have Nick Whitehouse on the show, who designs the ligthing looks for major tours by artists like Kanye West, Jay Z, and Beyonce. Most recently, he took on the design for Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience tour, which Mike had the chance to see (lucky fella). We speak with Nick about some of the things that go into a design for a show of this magnitude - a cool look "behind the scenes," or more fittingly, "above the stage." And in our International Artist Spotlight, we'll hear a track from U.K. synth/new wave outfit Jupiter in Velvet. The band lists acts like Bowie, Duran Duran, and The Killers among its influences, and there's a good reason why. The track will get at least a toe tapping.
We're getting aggressive this week, with two of Canada's longer-running "loud" bands - Winnipeg hardcore outfit Comeback Kid and Burlington's post-hardcore heros Silverstein. Comeback Kid are ready to drop their first full-length in five years, Die Knowing, through Distort Entertainment. We'll get a peek at what fans can expect in comparison to CBK's cheriched back catalog. As for Silverstein, the band released This Is How The Wind Shifts exactly a year ago and are currently on the road across Canada and we'll see what the band has in store for 2014 and beyond. Finally, CM Academy is in session with Liana Tassone of music publishing house Third Side Music. We'll talk about getting songs placed and networking with pros in that side of the business.
We're coming to you live from Music PEI Week 2014 with a great bunch of guests from different arms of the business. First, we'll be speaking with Jeff Leake, the Director of Music Programming at Sirius XM Canada, who'll have some tips for musicians on how to capture the attention of people in such a role. Then, we'll speak with PEI performing songwriter, fiddler, and all around nice guy Tim Chaisson about what's keeping him busy about a year following the release of his album, The Otherside. Finally, we've got producer Gavin "Golden" Brown, who's had a hand in monster albums by the likes of Three Days Grace, Billy Talent, Metric, and more. He'll speak about some tricks of the trade and the current state of his business. What's more, we'll have Mike Carver of Music PEI and the band North Lakes on co-hosting duties. Just swell.
We're happy to have Matt Webb from Marianas Trench on this week's episode, discussing both his upcoming solo release and high-profile main project with Mike in our feature interview. We'll also speak with Ryan MacDonald from on-the-rise Halifax rock outfit Alert the Medic, who are set to travel to Toronto in the coming weeks to record their second full-length album - and first in five years - with producer and former Our Lady Peace guitarist Mike Turner at his Pocket Studios. CM Academy this week will feature Pipe & Hat Records founder Tim Jones offering tips on topics like album release parties, track order, album art, and a lot more. As always, happy to have you with us.
Another week, another great show. It's been awhile since we've had a CM Academy session, so this episode, we've got Doug McClement of LiveWire Remote Recorders, a company that does high-quality location sound recording for bands like Rush, Billy Talent, and Elton John and events like the JUNO Awards and Grey Cup; he'll talk about how remote recording can be of benefit to musicians of any level and talk a bit about today's recording technology. Then, we've got an interview with the still-on-fire Glorious Sons, a Kingston, ON-based rock outfit that's been accumulating some serious attention with their EP "Shapeless Art" and its huge single, "Mama." Hear all about the band's romance with "liquor, women, and rock and roll." Finally, Matt Andersen, one of the East Coast's most accomplished musicians (and that's saying a lot), will chat about his latest recording and upcoming tour - which has him poised to sell out Toronto's iconic Massey Hall.
Talk about diversity. On this week's show, we bring you artist interviews with three very distinct, very discussion-worthy artists. First, we'll speak with Dan Doiron, one of the Maritimes' premier blues guitarists who's about to head to down to Memphis to compete in the International Blues Challenge alongside his three bandmates. We'll also talk about the band's latest release, From Deep Inside," and a whole lot more. Following that, we've got South Asian/Canadian songstress Prita Chhabra speaking with Mike about her latest record "Aaja (Come To My Heart)" and some of the opportunities surrounding it. And finally, we'll speak with one of our favourites - Vancouver garage rock duo The Pack a.d., one of Nettwerk's latest signings and a band poised to have a pretty good run in 2014 with their brand new record, "Do Not Engage." Truly something for everyone here, so we'll look forward to having you join us!
Happy New Year, folks, and welcome to the first "regular" edition of CM Radio of 2014. If you've not checked them out yet, hit the archives or the iTunes store to access our special holiday editions of CM Radio. On Dec. 25th, we revisited some of the highlights of our first year, including interviews with major names like Avril Lavigne, Metric, Blue Rodeo, The Tragically Hip, and many others. Then, on January 1st, our show looked back at some of the "on the rise" acts we spoke with in 2013 that we think are going to make an impact in 2014. For this week's show, we've got our Jan/Feb 2014 cover artists, The Trews, talking about the making of their fifth full-length record. You can get the full story in our feature article when the issue drops, but listen in for some additional info on the recording, their work with Gavin Brown, and more. It's a double dose of East Coast artists, as we'll also be speaking with the very young and very talented Molly Thomason, whose new album "Columbus Field" is sure to turn some heads - especially for fans of Tegan and Sara, Sleater Kinney, and Neko Case. We're very happy to have you with us as we kick off 2014 on Canadian Musician Radio!
Happy New Year and welcome to 2014! This special episode will feature some of the interviews from our first year of CM Radio with on-the-rise artists that we think have big things in store for 2014. Tune in for snippets of our chats with artists like July Talk, Metz, The Balconies, Paper Lions, David Myles, Lindi Ortega, Pear, A Tribe Called Red, and a bunch more. Let's start the new year off right.
Happy Ho-ho-holidays! our Christmas Day episode (which you can take in at your leisure over the holidays in our archives or via iTunes) will feature some of the highlights from our first year doing CM Radio. From Avril Lavigne to Blue Rodeo to Metric to Dean Brody, we've interviewed our share of major artists. This will be a great opportunity to catch up on some past episodes, or if you're new to CM Radio, this is your ticket. Cheers to 2013 and a Happy New Year!
This will be our second last episode of 2013, so we're leading up to our "Year in Review" episode on Christmas Day in style with a very insightful interview with music author Martin Melhuish. His latest title is "Oh What A Feeling - A Vital History of Canadian Music, the Next Generation" and the title makes it clear what to expect. Melhuish has also written the offical biographies of acts like Bachman Turner Overdrive, Supertramp, and a whole slew of others. Whether you're feeling nostalgic or want to hear about some exciting emerging Canadian artists, be sure to tune in for our talk with Martin. We'll also have Swiss-Canadian singer Rykka on the show, fresh off of her 2013 Peak Performance Project win. We'll chat about her experience with the Project and a whole lot more. Finally, Montreal-via-Toronto artist Alan Snoddy, a former guitarist with Stars, has a brand new EP out called "Shot of Rhythm," which features a monster list of guest collaborators - members of Steve Earle and the Dukes, Blue Rodeo, Sam Roberts Band, Sloan, and Serena Ryder.
It's a pretty diverse trio of interviewees taking part in our Dec. 11, 2013 show. First, we'll speak with Kurt Dahl - a well-known entertainment lawyer and also the drummer for on-the-rise rock outfit One Bad Son. Dahl has launched an interesting website at LawyerDrummer.com, sharing valuable information from his perspective of being a working musician with an intimate knowledge with some legal issues faced by artists today. Pear is a country duo comprised of two major musical guns-for-hire (who also happen to be husband and wife) that are currently touring in support of Johnny Reid on his massive Christmas tour and are gearing up to release their second full-length record. Finally, we'll catch up with Eva Avila, the winner of the fourth season of Canadian Idol who has been working hard to stay in the spotlight and is looking forward to a new EP dropping in Spring 2014. The current single, "Bitter Meets Sweet," is rising the ranks at radio and we're excited to see what's coming next.
The Not Guilty Tour is making its way across Canada to close out 2013, featuring the Tragically Hip's Paul Langlois promoting his latest LP, "Not Guilty," alongside Kingston, ON's Greg Ball and Pete Murray, visiting from Australia. We'll be speaking with all three gentlemen from a stop on the trek to talk about the outing, their latest respective releases, hearing what it's like for an Aussie to tour in a new market, and of course, get a quick update on what's happening with Canada's favourite rock band, The Tragically Hip. Looking forward to having you join us.
We've had the chance to speak with some major country stars over the last few weeks - Gord Bamford, Deric Ruttan, and Dean Brody - which is great, but this week, we're going to the other end of the spectrum... Protest the Hero are fresh off of the release of their fourth full-length studio album, Volition, which was entirely crowd funded through a MAJORLY successful IndieGoGo campaign (over $340,000 raised from an initial ask of $125,000). The band is back on the road for the first time in awhile and touring with a new drummer, so we'll get the latest from that camp. Before that, though, we've got AL the Yeti Bones from Windsor, ON stoner rock band Gypsy Chief Goliath. He'll talk about the band's international successes despite little press coverage here in their home country, plus his thoughts on the "stoner rock" label and a lot more. Plus, in CM Academy, we'll talk with Aven Hoffarth, a Ryerson University student who, along with a group of peers, is putting together the Wired City Music Festival - a one-night event in downtown Toronto with artists like Bruce Peninsula, Union Duke, and KC Roberts & The Live Revolution. We'll get first-hand info on what it's like putting together an event with a fresh slate. Looking forward to having you join us!
November has seemingly been Canadian country month for CM Radio, and this week's show is no different. The prolific Dean Brody is set to hit the road in the new year in support of his latest full length, "Crop Circles," on the Crop Circles & Tractor Beams tour with Cassadee Pope. Mike will speak with him about this latest release and the work that went into it. Before that, though, we'll speak wtih PEI singer/songwriter Dennis Ellsworth about his latest, Hazy Sunshine, recorded at The Hip's Bathhouse studio with Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers at the helm and an impressive group of musicians.
This week's episode will feature interviews with on-the-rise country star and songwriter Deric Ruttan as well as global-flavoured string group Sultans of String. Ruttan is fresh off of the release of his latest album, "Take the Week Off," and has also penned massive hits for the likes of Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and a slew of other major names. He'll talk about the recently-wrapped Your Town Throwdown tour alongside some other hot Canadian country acts and a lot more. Meanwhile, Sultans of String have relesed their fourth studio album, "Symphony!," recorded with Canadian orchestral musicians and due for an official release with an anticipated performance at Toronto's stunning Koerner Hall.
Last week's show was a monster and this one is no different. Two great Canadian artists, two brand new albums. We'll speak with Blue Rodeo about their latest release, "In Our Nature," which was recorded at vocalist/guitarist Greg Keelor's country home. Fans awaiting the interview should check out CM's Blue Rodeo Sweepstakes at http://canadianmusician.com/bluerodeo for a chance to win a Hagstrom acoustic guitar signed by the band, all 13 of their studio albums, and more. JUNO-winning MC Shad just put out his fourth studio album, "Flying Colours," and CM caught up with the master lyricist at the 2013 edition of the Halifax Pop Explosion to chat about the release, Canadian hip-hop in general, and more. Finally, we'll speak with newly-appointed Music Ontario Executive Director Scott Honsberger about the new music industry association and his plans for it.
This is a BIG one, folks. We've got international superstar Avril Lavigne speaking about her upcoming self-titled fifth full-length release, as well as some insight into her live shows, some reflection on her early career, and more. We also spoke with Canadian country star Gord Bamford, currently touring with Reba McIntire in support of his upcoming release Country Junkie. Gord also just donated $100,000 to 10 children's hospitals across Canada - what a stand up guy. Finally, CM Academy is in session with the gents behind Cloud Empire - a new Toronto-based music consulting company with a whole slew of services on offer. The company was launched by some industry vets who've propolled the careers of the likes of Protest the Hero, Lights, Abandon All Ships, and Closet Monster.
Mike was out at the CASBY Awards in mid-October thanks to our pals at 102.1 The Edge and Corus Radio, so in addition to seeing performances by acts like Hollerado, Mother Mother, and Serena Ryder, he also had the chance to catch up with Said the Whale and Walk Off The Earth, both of whom have been enjoying a ton of on-air success of late.
We have a double dose of artist interviews in this week's show, as Mike speaks with Jacquie Neville of Toronto-based rock trio The Balconies. The band has spend the lion's share of the last year on the road and are currently crossing Canada and the US with a string of shows. Then, Andrew catches Jay Malinowski, frontman for the reggae rock trio Bedouin Soundclash, who's preparing for the release of the debut from Jay Malinowski & The Deadcost called "martel," based on the life of one of his actual ancestors. We'll also speak with Cristina Fernandes, the founder of Listen Harder, a publicity company based in Toronto that's propelled the careers of artists like The Lumineers, Tokyo Police Club, Monster Truck, City & Colour, and a long list of others. She'll talk about effective publicity campaigns, how to recognize the need for a pro PR campaign, and more.
This week's episode is a special one - especially if you're a fan of the multi-talented Hawksley Workman. To kick things off, Andrew and Mike will round up the latest news and interesting stories to have hit the wire in the last week. Then, we have PEI singer/songwtier/stand-up gal Ashley Condon in the hot seat for CM's 20 Questions. Ashley just received her second Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, this one surrounding the release of her second full-length, This Great Compromise, proudced by CM contributor David Francey, an acclaimed writer in his own right. Then, CM Catches Up With... Mr. Hawksley Workman for one of our most in-depth and explorative interviews yet. We'll talk about his latest work, the one-man show "The God That Comes," along with a bit about his on-the-rise side outlet Mounties, plus things like music journalism, extracting joy from everyday life, and plenty more. It's a long one, but should be a lot of fun...
Welcome to yet another edition of Canadian Musician Radio. We have a pretty diverse bunch of interviewees this time around. First, we'll speak with Sean Kelly, who currently plays guitar with Nelly Furtado and has also performed with and written for a long list of notable artists. His project "Metal On Ice" features stories from some Canadian heavy metal greats. For CM Academy, we grabbed The Agency Group's Adam Kreeft at Showcase PEI 2013 to chat about how artists can make a lasting impression at showcase events and festivals, and also about proper follow-up. Finally, CM Catches Up With... Nashville-via-Toronto rockabilly phenom Lindi Ortega about her move to the US, her chameleon-like approach to touring, and of course, her upcoming record, "Tin Star."
We're very excited to have Mike speaking with Peter Dreimanis, one half of Toronto-based gritty blues/rock act July Talk. The band's self-titled has been turning a LOT of heads over the last several months, and their live show is making those heads spin like crazy. If you haven't heard them yet, check out the videos for "Paper Girl" and "Guns and Ammunition" and then tune in for some insight from someone behind the songs. Also, we'll be speaking with live production professional and frequent CM contributor Mark "The Drifter" Desloges. Mark has toured with acts like Cancer Bats, Classified, Johnny Reid, and a slew of others. Lately, he's been rigging up video walls and lighting for major acts as part of the Tour Tech East team. He'll have some inside info on life behind the scenes on major events for anyone thinking of getting into tech work.
In this week's episode, we'll chat with Brendon Saarinen of Toronto's Still Life Still. The band's latest record, Mourning Trance, just dropped via Arts & Crafts and has a notably different tone to that of their debut. We'll speak about what informed the shift, the band's experience with Arts & Crafts to date, and plenty more. But before that, our friend Josh Hogan will play double-duty, first in the hot seat for CM's 20 Questions as the lead vocalist of Halifax metal outfit Orchid's Curse, then as our CM Academy prof as the Co-Owner of Red Tentacle Music Solutions. Thanks for checking us out!
Western Canadian blues/country crossover artist Little Miss Higgins will be speaking with us about her latest recording, Bison Ranch Recording Sessions. The album features her band, dubbed with Winnipeg Five, and is full of lush arrangements and multi-part harmonies all recorded in an old barn in rural Manitoba. We'll also speak with Shawn Bradley, Fadernoise.com recording engineer and author of "The Other Side of the Tracks" recording blog on CM's Blog Central, about the continually shifting paradigm of home recording and some tips on getting the most from your home studio set-ups.
Andrew and Mike are together again, chatting about Mike's upcoming trip to Northern Ontario with ArtsCan Circle - an organization that brings music and art to underpriviledged residents of remote Canadian communities. We'll Catch Up With... French-Canadian songstress Lisa LeBlanc, where we'll talk about her terrific self-titled record, summer performances, working with Karkwa's Louis-Jean Cormier, and much more. And in our CM Academy session, we'll speak with Heather Gardner of Vapor Music, a Toronto-based music licensing company, who'll talk about what a music supervisor does and how you can network with people in that role in hopes of landing a placement for your work in a film, TV, or gaming project.
Toronto rock outfit The Darcys have a new record dropping in September, so Mike will be speaking with Wes Marskell about the release, expected through Arts & Crafts, as well as the band's other current affairs. Also, Raoul Juneja, otherwise known as Deejay Ra of nationally-televised entertainment program V-Mix, will speak to Mike for CM Academy about how artists can lock down potential television opportunities and make the most of them - whether it's an interview or performance. Plus, plenty of other news from the Canadian industry and updates on some of your favourite artists and events.
This will be a big on for fans of seminal Canadian indie rockers The Dears. Murray A. Lightburn has an upcoming release called MASS:LIGHT that's very different from anything The Dears have put out, but nonetheless brilliant in its sonic textures and arrangements. We'll preview some music and get the lowdown from Murray on the record and many other things music-related. CM Academy will feature Jonny Stevens, the Executive Director of the Halifax Pop Explosion, talking about the newly-announced lineup for the 2013 edition, plus some inside details about the logistics of planning a festival of that scope and also some tips for bands Showcasing at industry events. There'll be plenty more and we'll look forward to having you join us.
Looking forward to have you join us with Mike back from his 2-week getaway. In this installment, CM Catches Up With... the Maritimes' music man, Mr. Joel Plaskett. We'll chat about what's been happening since Scrappy Hapiness, including some high-profile summer shows. We'll be speaking with producer/engineer/mixer Dan Weston, whose credits include work with Attack in Black, City & Colour, Sirah, Flo Rida, Shad, Classified, and a whole slew of others. He'll talk about life on the other side of the studio glass in 2013. Finally, our friends in Toronto metalcore outfit Partycat will play CM's 20 Qs, which I'm sure will be a good time. Cheers.
We're very pleased to have Tom Wilson, the man behind LeE HARVeY OsMOND and one third of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, joining us on this week's episode. Tom speaks to Mike about his latest endeavours, the success of LHO's "The Folk Sinner," and plenty more. We'll do CM's 20 Questions with on-the-rise country/pop artist Livy Jeanne and also talk about the really cool anti-bullying initiative she's championing in the Alberta school system. Finally, we'll be speaking with Jason Murray of Black Box Music. Jason manages artists like Classified, Shad, and Livy Jeanne and also runs the Black Box Recordings imprint with Ian Stanger. He'll fill us in on developing new artists and the opportunities currently available in the industry.
Lots of Polaris Prize talk lately, and this week isn't much different. We have Chris Slorach from short-listed noise/hardcore/grunge/awesome outfit METZ chatting with Mike about their self-titled effort, what it's like joining the ranks at Sub Pop, and a whole lot more. CM Academy will feature Eric Alper, the head of Label Aquisitions for eOne Entertainment Canada, the imprint that's been booming lately and plays home to some monster acts from here and aborad, talking about what he's looking for in upcoming talent and how a relationship with a label like his comes to be. Plus, CM plays 20 Questions with Alec O'Hanley of The Danks, Alvvays, and formerly Two Hours Traffic, and Andrew shares bits of what's circulating out in the industry of late. Let's rock...
In this episode, Broken Social Scene founder Brendan Canning speaks with us about his upcoming solo album, "You Gots 2 Chill," and his other creative endeavors post-BSS. CM Academy will feature Scott Emslie, the man behind Wet Ape Productions and the upcoming Center of Gravity Festival in Kelowna, BC. In its 6th year, the festival will feature acts like Tiesto, Kaskade, and Canadians like Lights, Keys N Krates, DVBBS, and more. Find out the kind of work and planning that goes into an event of this scale. Finally, expect the latest from around the Canadian industry and some other fun tidbits. Looking forward to having you listen.
Andrew and Mike will be back in the saddle for this one following Andrew's return from Quebec City. We'll chat with sonic innovators A Tribe Called Red about their second Polaris Prize nod and what they've got on the go for Summer 2013. We'll also chat with Toronto photographer Neal Burstyn, who's done all kinds of shoots for musicians - including a whole host of Canadian Musician cover shots - as well as architectural shoots, sporting events, and much more. He'll offer some tips for musicians on getting the perfect promo shot and the process behind it. As always, we'll also have the latest from around the industry and a few surprises. Join us!
Andrew will be checking in from the Festival d'ete de Quebec in Quebec City, with a MONSTER lineup of artists from Canada and abroad. Get a sample from our interview with live trap trio Keys N Krates, which we'll have posted very shortly. Then, Metric's Jimmy Shaw will be on the show talking about what's happening this summer with the band and what fans can expect as far as new material. We'll also have Liam Killeen of Coalition Artist Management, who reps the likes of Faber Drive, U.S.S., These Kids Wear Crowns, and Greig Nori. He'll talk about the right time to seek out a manager, how the band/management partnership works, what makes it successful, and more. Plus, CM's 20 Questions with a special guest and more news and facts from the Canadian music industry. Join us!
One for the rockers... First up, Don Levandier from Moncton's The Motorleague will join us for CM's 20 Questions. The band has a new album out now through Sonic Records. CM Academy will feature our friend and contributor Kit Watson of RockItGirl Group. Kit will offer up some tips on fine-tuning your social media presence - which platforms to use, how to make the most of them, and more. Then, CM Catches Up With ... Chris Cresswell of The Flatliners! The band has a new disc dropping this fall and are just about to embark on a full Canadian tour, so we'll get the latest from that camp. Should be a lot of fun, so join us!
A great episode this week featuring interviews with a pair of intriguing ladies and a new segment. First, we put Mike in the spotlight for our first edition of CM's 20 Questions - quick snappers ranging from "favourite Neil Young song" to "coolest guitar of all time" and a whole bunch in between. Expect more of these with some recognizable characters down the road. Our CM Academy segment features Kim Sinclair of SpinCount, a radio tracking and PR firm that's worked with everyone from Joel Plaskett to The Flatliners to David Myles and more. She has the scoop on what radio tracking is all about and how you can gain some traction with the medium. Finally, CM Catches Up With ... Martha Johnson, the frontwoman of seminal Canadian new wave act Martha and the Muffins, who's just recently released an interesting collection of solo material, much of which was co-written with our friend Ron Sexsmith. Don't miss it!
More music, more fun. Mike checks in from NXNE 2013 with Jose Contreras, the longtime frontman of By Divine Right, while Andrew chats with Audio Blood Media founder Sari Delmar. With a slew of heralded albums like Mutant Message, Bless This Mess, and Good Morning Beautiful to his name, Jose has also shared the prestibious BDR moniker with the likes of Brendan Canning (Broken Social Scene), Brian Borcherdt (Holy F*ck) and even Leslie Feist. Sari, on the other hand, is the publicity princess who propels acts like The Balconies, Paper Lions, Raine Maida, and Wildlife onto the national stage. We'll also discuss the 2013 Polaris Music Prize long list and have plenty of other goodies on offer.
This should be a fun one. First, we'll have all the info to get you prepped and primed for NXNE 2013. Then, we'll speak with New Brunswick-based burgeoning troubadour David Myles and Warner Music Canada's Head of A&R, Ron Lopata. In our CM Academy session, Lopata will share some insight into how labels like Warner are nurturing talent - and what you need to do to get to that level. Even if a spot on a major label roster isn't what you're after, you'll still need studio-ready material to make an impact in this business. Then, Myles will speak about his latest double-disc "In The Nighttime," working with fellow Maritime music man Classified, and much more. Be sure to Subscribe to our channel to get regular updates on our upcoming shows, including guests, co-hosts, and informative content! http://canadianmusician.com
Join us on June 5th for an all-new broadcast featuring Canadian country music icon Michelle Wright and NXNE's Music Programming Manager, Crispin Giles. Wright is one of the most successful Canadian country recording artists of all time, with a pile of awards and nominations to her credit. Mike caught up with her at the recent Country Music Association Awards of Ontario gala, where she also performed. We'll get the scoop on what she's up to. Then, Andrew will be in session in CM Academy with Giles, who'll be speaking about how artists can make the most of an opportunity like a NXNE showcase slot and much more. We'll also have the latest from around the music industry and some fun tidbits for you to chew on as well. Be sure to Subscribe to our channel to get regular updates on our upcoming shows, including guests, co-hosts, and informative content! http://canadianmusician.com
We're pretty excited for this one. We'll have Mike speaking with Blue Rodeo's Greg Keelor from the Country Music Association of Ontario Awards. Keelor is performing at the show with Travis Good of The Sadies, and apparently the two have something special on the go. We'll get the lowdown from Greg and, of course, an update from the Blue Rodeo camp. Also, Andrew sits down with producer, songwriter, and artist developer Brian Howes, who'll offer some tips on fine-tuning your craft and getting poised to capitalize on opportunities. Brian has produced work from Nickelback, Simple Plan, Hedley, and a plethora of other platinum-sellers, so he knows a thing or two. We look forward to having you join us!
Call-in Number Disabled Our second episode will feature plenty of content from the Vancouver Island Music Business Conference, hosted in the Comox Valley from May 15-20. We'll have a CM Academy session with entertainment lawyer, author, and Music BC Executive Director Bob D'Eith, we'll be Catching Up With ... Ryan Guldemond from quirky pop quintet Mother Mother, and have plenty more from Andrew's travels to the West Coast. We'll also check in with Mike back in Ontario and get the latest news and trending topics from the industry, plus highlights from the May/June 2013 issue of Canadian Musician. Tune in, and follow us to get more updates on our future broadcasts.
Call-in Number Disabled Welcome to the first-ever edition of Canadian Musician Radio! We'll be broadcasting every Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST and delivering you the same kind of insightful, informative, and entertaining content you've come to expect from Canadian Musician magazine. In this episode, we have a CM Academy segment with Jim Norris, the publisher of Canadian Musician, sharing tips from his popular "Self Promotion 101" seminars. We also have some highlights from the May/June 2013 issue of CM, the scoop on some upcoming industry events, and some insight on current topics making waves in the music industry. Then, CM Catches Up With ... PEI indie pop outfit Paper Lions, who've recently launched their own record imprint and co-founded an alternative music festival set to debut in their home city of Charlottetown this fall. Thanks for listening and stay tuned each week for much more!