Canadian Musician Podcast
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536 episodes
It’s essential these days as an artist or band to have merch available. Not only can t-shirts and other apparel generate income for musicians, they’re also a great way to advertise. Yet with production costs rising and other issues coming up in the world of merchandising, things can be difficult for artists at many levels these days. MOD (Merch on Demand) is a platform designed specifically for music artists. Their mission is to revolutionize the way artists create, sell, and connect with their fans through merchandise. Here, founder Joseph Pinho takes us through the history of MOD, and the ways he hopes it will help musicians.
With BreakOut West only a few months away, we caught up with Programming Manager Liam Prost to chat about what’s going on this year at the music industry conference and showcase festival. BreakOut West’s 2023 edition takes place October 11-15 in Kelowna, BC. We hope to see some of you out there!
Brighid Fry likes to describe her Toronto-based outfit Housewife as a project comprised of anyone who collaborates with her—in Nashville, Los Angeles, and New York City-based recording studios, or on tour everywhere across North America. Right now, Fry has her sights set on the future, with her volunteer work with the musician-led activism group Music Declares Emergency, as well as the writing and recording of new music.
This week, we're joined by Richard Todd, guitarist and vocalist of Toronto progressive rock trio Redpath Traffic. Todd and his bandmates may range from their 50s to 70s, but they're out to prove that you can start a band at any point in life, and music isn't all about youth.
We have an interesting topic on today’s episode. As the label coordinator and artist manager at MDC Music, as well as production lead and showcase presenter for Breaking Sound, Tim Wilson’s life is fully immersed in music. Wilson is also a trained luthier, and back in his school days, delved into the topic of sustainability in guitar manufacturing for a term project. Here, he discusses the steps the lutherie industry can take to make the craft of guitar building more environmentally beneficial.
Aphrose puts a modern spin on R&B and soul with relatable lyrics and glittery melodies. The Scarborough native was raised by Trinidadian parents who owned a record store on Toronto's West side, exposing her to the Soulful delights of Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin, and Michael Jackson. After Canadian singer-songwriter Chantal Kreviazuk heard her on the radio, she reached out to Aphrose directly and invited her to open for her and husband Raine Maida's Moon vs. Sun tour. In addition to her own music, Aphrose has sung backup for Daniel Caesar, Lee Fields & The Expressions, Jessie Reyez, and Charlotte Day Wilson. Check out our interview with Aphrose, and listen to her new single, "YaYa," now.
For our most recent issue of Canadian Musician magazine, Editor Matt Bauer chatted with Grammy-nominated house music producer and DJ Jayda G to talk about her newest release, Guy. Titled after her late father, Guy, is Jayda G’s most personal release to date. Known worldwide for her exuberant DJ sets, the Grand Forks, BC-born and London, UK-based writer, producer, DJ, environmental toxicologist, and broadcaster has crafted a vivid, danceable tapestry in tribute to her father Richard Guy who passed when Jayda was ten. Listen to the full interview here.
We're joined this week by HERDD, a Sudbury, ON-based electro-pop artist who is in the midst of perfecting his newest record. HERDD chats about the challenges of being sober in the music industry, what it takes to reinvent one's artist identity, being a perfectionist, and more. This interview explores some heavy topics, so listener discretion is advised.
This week, our gusts are Wallace da Silve, the promoter behind Nitro Funk, and Toronto artist Nick Souza. The two are part of a wave of Baile Funk in Canada. The high-energy music originated in Brazil and is amking its way into the global market, with some major stars getting in on the action.
This week, our guest is Music Publishers Canada (MPC) CEO Margaret McGuffin. In addition to chatting about MPC's work and what it is that music publishers do, McGuffin gives us the details on this year's Women in the Studio National Accelerator program. First launched the program regionally in 2019 and expanded nationally in 2020, this is the fifth cohort the Accelerator is supporting. It is designed to provide the group with opportunities for skills development and networking that they may otherwise be unable to access.
This week, we're joined by Toronto-based singer-songwriter Skye Wallace. Currently. Wallace is in the midst of preparations for the rest of her year on the road, while also working on new music. Here, Wallace discusses the differences between festival slots and headline shows, as well as learning to write with other songwriters and how it's enriched her music.
This week, we go all the way back to the beginning with B.C./Ohio-based duo Big Little Lions, who have recently released their seventh album and first concept album, The duo explore the beginnigns of their work together and the discovery of their musical chemistry, and explain how they write, record, and rehearse from afar.
This week, we're joined by JUNO-nominated Indigenous Country artist and advocate, Desiree Dorion. Dorion discusses the meaning behind some of her lyrics and what it's like to put personal stories out into the world, and shares some insights on raising kids as an artist. Dorion recently released her fifth studio album, , featuring songs co-written with Crystal Shawanda and Dave Wasyliw (Doc Walker). Having appeared on Canada's Top 100 Country Charts a whopping six times, Desiree is celebrated for her exceptional storytelling ability and relatable songs. The album navigates a variety of themes, from dealing with a loved one's addiction, to exploring a crush and simply having fun. The title track from her latest project is a fun, upbeat song that celebrates love through actions, no matter how small.
This week, we're joined by guitar Workshop Plus Founder Brian Murray, who takes us through his years running the show. We explore the past, present, and future of Guitar Workshop Plus, and the past, present, and future of guitar music. *
This week, we're joined by Mares of Thrace's Thérèse Lanz, who fills us in on her band's new music, touring plans, and much more. Mares of Thrace, the Calgary sludge/doom metal duo, is riding high after returning from a decade-long hiatus, and things just aren't slowing down. Also, for anyone wondering whether the band is looking for a bassist, the answer is no, and Lanz explains why here.
This week, our guest is Chris Tsujiuchi, one of the Artistic Directors of SING! The Toronto International Vocal Arts Festival, which runs May 29-June 4. This year, SING! will feature all kinds of a cappella arts, from broadway singing to beatboxing, and much, much more. Listen on to learn about what to expect at this year's edition.
This week, we catch up with North By Northeast (NXNE) President Michael Hollett ahead of this year's festival. NXNE takes place June 13-17 in Toronto and features nesrly 300 emerging artists. Listen on to hear about wehat went into NXNE building back up aftet the pandemic to come back stronger than ever.
Our guest this week is solo artist and TikToker Justus Hajas, a young shredder who has already amassed an impressive online following. Hajas takes us through his beginnings as a musician and content creator, his recent trip to NAMM, his endorsement with Ernie Ball, and more. He even critiques our host's guitar in a shout to one of his most popular series of TikToks.
So Fierce Music is a Canadian-based entertainment and education company founded by DJ/Producer Velvet Code. So Fierce is Canada’s leading record label home for 2SLGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual) creators. So Fierce Music’s non-profit organization, the YOU DO YOU Foundation supports 2SLGBTQ+ and QBIPOC (Queer Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) music artists and musicians with an opportunity create music and express themselves. We caught up with Velvet Code and artist Brayo Brians to talk about the work being done by the You Do You Foundation.
As we’re one week away from the Canadian Independent Musician’s Association (CIMA)'s first ever Make It Music summit, we caught up with CIMA president and CEO Andrew Cash to talk about the event. The Make It Music summit will take place April 25-26 at Toronto’s Offworld. Listen on to find out all about the event and what to expect.
This week, we're joined by Brandon Wolfe Scott, best known as the guitarist of Yukon Blonde. With a recently released solo effort, Scott has been trying out new, different things, and discovering more about his own musicianship in the process. Here, Scott talks about finding a balance between his work with Yukon Blonde and his solo endeavours, as well as some of his prized and coveted musical istruments and accessories.
Just ahead of the 2023 Juno Awards, we caught up with MusiCounts Music Teacher of the Year Award nominees Stephen Richardson and Heidi Wood, as well as MusiCounts' Nick Godsoe to talk what makes effective music education, and why it's important to have access to. Richardson is the music teacher for École St.Joseph School in Yellowknife, NWT, while Wood teaches at Joane Cardinal-Schubert High School in Calgary, AB. Godsoe is Senior Manager, Programs & Education for MusiCounts. The three each bring a unique perspective to this roundtable discussion.
PEI’s Sommo Festival boasts a massive line up for a first-year festival. With hopes to make it an annual event, Ben Murphy and his team at Whitecap Entertainment (the group behind the award-winning Cavendish Beach Music Festival) put a lot of work into the launch, and the festival will be taking place this July. Before starting on the panning, the team did a deep dive into what the community enjoyed about live music events and how they could make it the most enjoyable for all. Of course, everyone said the only thing they like better than live music is delicious food, so Sommo was born.
This week, we’re joined by Ernesto Cervini, one of Canada’s premiere jazz artists, who also runs Orange Grove Publicity. The drummer, composer, and bandleader chats about making a life and a living in the music business, and the literary inspirations behind his latest offering, 2022’s . The Juno-nominated was inspired by a series of book’s Cervini loves: Louise Penny’s series. The album is a musical journey through the soul and heart of the series and the characters who inhabit it, guided by an adoring fan. Cervini’s music and personality beam with unbridled joy and this album is a true reflection of that.
This week, we're joined by Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron of Canadian pop-folk band The East Pointers, who recently received a JUNO Award nomination for Contemporary Roots Album of The Year for their EP, In January 2022, the band suffered an unimaginable loss with the sudden passing of member Koady Chaisson, but Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron have continued to carry on and keep Koady’s spirit alive with the release of their recent album and more new music to come.
This week we are joined by Luc Lemay, lead vocalist and guitarist of the Canadian death metal band Gorguts. Originally from Sherbrooke, Quebec, Gorguts has been around since 1989, with Lemay as its only constant member. The band was in a years-long period of inactivity since 2016, but they've recently gotten back together are laying out plans for a new album, with some new shows announced coming up this spring.
It's obvious that online teaching saw a huge rise during the pandemic, and for some, it proved to be a more efficient model. This week, Teach Music Online's Carly Walton joins us to talk about what it takes to pivot to a new teaching and learning model, and explores the benefits of being an online teacher, but also the results students can see from learning at home.
This week, we're joined by Ottawa blues artist and Juno nominee Angelique Francis, whose latest album,, is up for Blues Album of the Year at the 2023 Juno Awards. Francis delves into her writing process, shares her tips for keeping a neat schedule, and explores the themes of her music, as well as what it's like to be a true multi-instrumentalist and major award nominee. Francis is known for her eclectic mix of various musical genres including blues, soul, folk, jazz, gospel, and rock. She has shared the stage with or opened for a roster of well-known musicians such as Gary Clark Jr, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Gales, Keb’ Mo’, Jimmy Vivino, Beth Hart, Tom Cochran, Burton Cummings, Sugar Ray, and more.
William Carn is one of Canada’s leading contemporary jazz trombonists and composers. His latest release, , is the culmination of over two years of work during the pandemic, and a major stylistic departure. With the help of Toronto producer HiFiLo (aka Todd Pentney), this recording was augmented, edited, and mixed remotely as well. The compositions on were all inspired by various major events from the past two and a half years: the fear of the unknown, BLM and HK protests, the war in Ukraine, the passing of their beloved eldest cat, as well as general feelings of gratitude and love. The two central themes of this recording are reaction and reflection.
We delve behind the scenes on the making of many of the lyric videos we’ve all seen for some of our favourite songs, but probably haven’t thought too much about, as far as who made them goes. Lyric Vids is one of the music industry's leading lyric video production companies, with quite the portfolio under its belt. The 100% Canadian company has garnered more than 250 million YouTube views to date; and produced videos for some of the biggest names in music.
