La Villa Strangiato: Recent Episodes
La Villa Strangiato
Weekly progressive rock and jazz radio show on CHUO 89.1 FM (University of Ottawa) highlighting the best from Canada and the international scene. Thursdays at 7:30pm (Eastern) chuo.fm/show/la-villa-strangiato
This week, we catch up with multi-instrumentalist, artist and composer Toby Driver of Kayo Dot as he prepares for a run of solo shows in Canada and the U.S. in August, including one in Ottawa next week. (details below).
Toby discusses his recent move away from New York City, the conditions that generated his most recent solo record "They Are They Shield", and taking time away from music to focus on painting and video arts.
Toby Driver plays a solo show at Pressed (750 Gladstone Avenue) with woodwind experimentalist this Jeremiah Cymerman on Tuesday, August 13.
[Interview aired live on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa in August 8, 2019; photo credit Carey Mathewson, 2018.]
On the program this week, we speak with guitarist and vocalist Steven Gillies of the Glasgow, Scotland-based indie alt-rock progressive trio Atlas : Empire.
As the band nears the end of its third Canadian tour with a gig this Saturday evening in Ottawa, Steven reflects on the band's eight-year history, their latest album "The Stratosphere Beneath Our Feet", and Glasgow's ever-evolving music scene.
[Interview aired live April 18, 2019 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa.]
This week, we speak with composer and keyboardist Jean-Paul Prat, general mastermind of the Lyon, France-based Masal.
Two years after the release of his reformed band's third album since 2009, "Paysages du ciel", Jean-Paul weighs in on everything from Masal's history, to its live performances, his objectives and beliefs as an artist, and his outlook on the future.
[Interview aired live April 11, 2019 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa].
Following the release late last year of Falling Edge's third studio release "Fe3", guitarist Chris Rupert and drummer Rob Kovar reflect on the new album, the recording process, and the musical journey that got them here. Check out this Canadian band's new record on their bandcamp page: http://fallingedge.bandcamp.com/album/fe3
[Interview aired live on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa on March 21, 2019]
This week, Ottawa-based guitarist Garrett Warner opens up about his band Tiny Cars' debut four-track EP, The Truth About Snake Oil. Garrett also talks influences and mentors, shares his thoughts on Ottawa's "terribly underrated" music scene, and reveals plans for several upcoming Tiny Cars gigs. The band takes the stage at Avant Garde Bar this Saturday evening, January 20 alongside Ottawa trio The Dandy Lions. Cover $10, doors 9pm!
[Interview aired January 17, 2019 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa].
Last month, Ottawa-based guitarist and composer Nathanael Larochette of Musk Ox and The Night Watch spoke to La Villa Strangiato about his musical journey so far, his various projects big and small, the Ottawa live music scene — and plans for a third solo album, a third Musk Ox release, and a third studio work by The Night Watch. [Interview aired live December 13, 2018 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa, Canada]
Keyboardist and vocalist Aaron Clift of the Austin, TX-based progressive rock group The Aaron Clift Experiment speaks about his band's influences, their great new record "If All Goes Wrong", the local music scene in Austin, and upcoming opportunities to hear the band in a live setting, including at Chicago's Progtoberfest this fall.
[Interview aired on live on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa on June 14, 2018; photo credit aaronclift.com]
Following the release earlier this year of RXP's inaugural album "Pathos", guitarist Carlos Wong and keyboard player Mauricio Delgado speak to La Villa Strangiato this week about their influences, the new record, the local music scene in San José, Costa Rica, and aspirations for upcoming live performance.
Check out the new record at the RXP Bandcamp page: https://rxpcr.bandcamp.com/album/pathos
[Interview aired live on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa on May 31, 2018]
On the eve of The Dead Centuries' album launch show this past week at Live on Elgin, drummer Bryant McNamara and guitarist Adam Tremblett took the time to discuss their sound, their new record Race Against Time, the Ottawa/Gatineau music scene, and the band's plans for the future.
[Interview aired live January 25, 2018 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa, Canada]
This week, keyboardist extraordinaire Ken Baird of the Canadian progressive rock trio Monarch Trail was kind enough to share his thoughts on the band's latest release, Sand.
Ken reflects on the Monarch Trail sound, working with bandmates Chris Lamont on drums and Dino Verginella, the current state of the southern Ontario prog scene — and plans for album #3!
[Interview aired live October 12, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa, Canada]
This week, touch guitarist Markus Reuter of progressive rock trio Stick Men pulls back the curtain on the band's sound and history, the dark side of being on the road, the Stick Men live experience, and the band members' commitment to the music and the fans.
Markus, accompanied by bassist Tony Levin and drummer Pat Mastelotto, return to Ottawa this evening, August 26, for an intimate two-hour set at The Rainbow Bistro, as part of the band's current North American tour. Along with showcasing its own original material, the band will also be performing classics from the King Crimson and Mike Oldfield repertoire.
[Interview aired live August 24, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa, Canada]
Photo credit: Kai R Joachim
This week on the program, we catch up with guitarist and vocalist Nathan Da Silva of the Toronto-based progmetal quartet Slyde as the band undertakes a string of dates in southern and eastern Ontario, including an Ottawa gig August 17 at The Rainbow with Règlement 17 and Markian.
Lots of good content here as Nathan takes us through Slyde's back catalog, the magic of the recording arts, and the vibrant original music scene in Toronto. Nathan also offers insight into Slyde's exciting future plans.
[Interview aired live August 17, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa.]
Photo credit: Chrissy Fair
Bubblemath is back! 15 years after the band's first release hit Kmart shelves across the land, they have returned with a very worthy follow-up effort, the critically acclaimed and long-awaited "Edit Peptide".
On this week's program, we speak with the group's keyboard player and lyricist Kai Esbensen about early influences, the perils of too much freedom in the recording studio, getting picked up by Cuneiform Records, the Minneapolis music scene, exciting plans for album #3, and much, much more.
Listen up!
[Interview aired live August 10, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa]
This week, we get right into it with Dominican Republic composer and multi-instrumentalist Jonatan Piña Duluc, as he launches his first solo album titled Drip/Culebra.
Jonatan opines on everything from his early and more recent influences, his vision for this latest project, and the learning process involved in the art of recording. He also pulls back the curtain on the current state of the Dominican music scene, specifically the challenge of building an "alternative" music community in a place where daringly creative musicians are a rare commodity.
More information on Drip/Culebra: https://jonatanpinaduluc.bandcamp.com
[Interview aired live July 27, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa].
This week, an in-depth discussion about Boundaries and beyond with Ottawa's premiere instrumental progressive metal-and-more ensemble The Night Watch, as the band — guitarist Nathanaël Larochette, drummer Daniel Mollema, bassist Matt Cowan and violinist Evan Runge — prepares for several shows this weekend in Montreal and Ottawa with Opusculus and Montgolfière.
In great detail, Nathanaël recounts the band's history and output to date, he and Daniel share thoughtful perspectives on the local Ottawa-Gatineau creative music scene, and Evan describes the intensity of the live experience for band members and fans alike. Also, in a shocking and completely unscripted moment, Matt reveals the identity of the group's favourite Broadway musical.
The Night Watch takes to the stage this Friday evening, July 21 at Petit Campus in Montreal; Sunday, July 23 at Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa; and Monday, July 24 at Station Ho.st in Montreal**.
(*with Opusculus & Montgolfière)
(**semi-acoustic show with Opusculus, Montgolfière and Progtopus)
[Interview aired live July 20, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa.]
This week, we speak with pianist and vocalist Josefine Eckerström of the progressive psych group Montgolfière. Josefine speaks about the band's history, their new album, and upcoming plans.
In fact, it's a busy month for this quartet who are based in Helsingborg, Sweden—having just released their second full-length album "The Fall", on PRC Music, and being just days away from starting a Canadian tour with Opusculus and The Night Watch that will see them perform in Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec City for the very first time. [Interview aired live July 13, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa.]
Écoutez le bassiste Thierry Alexandre Zambo (TAZ) du groupe hard prog montréalais Opusculus en discutant "Resonant", le nouvel album prévu pour une lancement avant la fin du mois. Opusculus est présentement en préparation pour une tournée estivale au Québec et en Ontario avec Montgolfière (Helsingborg, Suède) et The Night Watch (Ottawa) qui arrive au Rainbow Bistro dans le Marché By le 23 juillet. [Entrevue diffusée en direct sur les ondes de CHUO 89,1 FM le 6 juillet 2017.]
PHOTO: Enrique Uranga
Écoutez les cinq membres du groupe prog-metal montréalais Cydemind en discutant leur nouvel album qui vient de sortir le 26 mai. Le groupe est présentement en préparation pour le lancement de l'album qui aura lieu samedi soir, le 17 juin, au Lion d'Or à Montréal. [Entrevue diffusé en direct sur les ondes de CHUO 89,1 FM le 15 juin 2017.]
Montreal's Kite Trio takes us into their confidence this week as the band prepares to launch its third full-length release, "Slightly Higher in Canada".
Eric Couture-Telmosse (guitar), Paul Van Dyk (bass) and Eric Dew (drums) reflect on their first decade of music making, working with producer Dave King of The Bad Plus, the state of the music scene in their city, and the road ahead. [Interview aired live on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa on June 1, 2017]
To coincide with this month's launch of Peregrine Falls' full-length, self-titled release on Drip Audio, we catch up with one half of the Vancouver-based duo: drummer and mutil-instrumentalist Kenton Loewen.
Kenton regales with accounts of his 15-year collaboration with guitarist Gordon Grdina, the duo's sound, their goals for the new record, the source of the name Peregrine Falls, and the current state of the fertile Vancouver creative music scene. [Interview aired live May 18, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM in Ottawa].
This week, violinist Héloïse Lefebvre and guitarist Paul Audoynaud of Berlin-based progressive jazz sextet Sun Dew discuss their musical origins in France, their soon-to-be released new album on Label Laborie Jazz (May 12), the diversity of the music scene in Berlin, and the real challenges and rewards of touring a six-piece band playing music not that easy to categorize. [Interview aired live on April 20, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM]
Catching up this week with Alex Lefaivre (bass) and Gabriel Vinuela-Pelletier (keys) of Montreal jazz fusion group Parc X Trio as the band prepares for a European tour and the launch of a brand new CD, "Dream". [Interview aired live on April 6, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM]
American bassist Richie Goods delivers the goods in a wide-reaching conversation about his band Nuclear Fusion, his love of funk, jazz and rock, Stanley Clarke's impact on the bass, bowing an upright—and discovering vinyl record bars in Japan. This conversation took place backstage at the Ottawa Jazz Festival on June 21, 2015 following a stop on trumpeter Chris Botti's North American tour. [Interview aired live on March 23, 2017 on CHUO 89.1 FM].
Time to get up close and person with Evan, Tyler and James — three quarters of Ottawa progressive metal band The Aphelion. Along with drummer Nate, the band has been busy writing and recording new material while preparing for a much-anticipated gig next at Mavericks next Wednesday, March 15 opening for Finnish legends Amorphis. [Interview aired live on CHUO 89.1 FM, March 9, 2017]
Cellist Raphael Weinroth-Browne and kamanche player Shahriyar Jamshidi discuss their musical inspiration and collaboration prior to Kamancello's much anticipated performance in Ottawa this Sunday, February 26 at The Record Centre. [Aired live February 23, 2017 on La Villa Strangiato.]
Nicole Lefebvre and Kevin N. Hell of Ottawa shoegaze, post-metal power trio Destroy Clocks discuss the band's vision, the exciting new material they've been working on, and the arrival of new drummer Tyler Black—just in time for a highly-anticipated double bill with No Joy on Friday, Feb. 10 at Cafe Pressed. [Segment to air live February 9, 2017 on La Villa Strangiato, CHUO 89.1 FM.]
Ottawa drummer Jamie Holmes discusses the 4th anniversary of his Thursday jazz jams at the Brookstreet Hotel in Kanata, in addition to his regular gigs with The Chocolate Hot Pockets, Thrust and many more. [Aired live January 19, 2017 on La Villa Strangiato.]
Alex Moxon, Jamie Holmes, JP Lapensée and Ed Lister discuss all things musical on the eve of the launch of their new album, "The Feast".