Wendy McNeill

She's always had a way of finding those human stories that make us feel connected to some of the very big themes and questions that she tackles in her songs. Wendy McNeill's music often deals with the epic, the mythic, the unknowable, the elemental... but in an artfully narrative, poetically detailed way that draws the listener right into the very human emotions at the heart of it. And with her new album, First There Were Feathers, those very human emotions are evoked by 17 songs that are all about birds.  Whether she's wielding a guitar, a kalimba, a looping pedal, or her trademark accordion, Wendy McNeill's been crafting a sound all her own throughout her acclaimed discography, ever since she started her recording career more than a qurter-century ago now.   Her art has always been global in nature -- both in the sense that she contemplates issues that affect us all, ranging from ecological concerns to the mysteries of the human heart; as well as in the way that her noirish folk music draws on influences that seem to know no borders. And you can add "globe-trotter" to that description, as well, as she long ago branched out from her Alberta roots to live in various culturally rich locales in Scandinavia and Europe, making her home these days in Spain.  The place that she lives is along the flightpath of many migratory birds travelling between Africa and Northern Europe; after massive wildfires in both her adopted Spanish home and her old Albertan stomping grounds, she began to wonder how those birds were impacted by the fires. Digging into both the scientific and the poetic sides of this question, she created her new album as a means of exploring how birds could bring us stories, messages, and wisdom about the perilous situation that humanity is currently facing. "A wild wisdom wrapped in verse," as she says in the album track that she'll spin for us, "The Language of the Birds."  Along the near-hour of music on her new album, we meet many different bird characters and narrators, as they share a diverse range of elevated perspectives. They relate tales from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Oscar Wilde, and Greek mythology, as well as many stories that spring from Wendy's own boundless imagination. During a visit to Alberta in the wake of the album's release, Wendy came to CKUA studios and brought along a song to spin for us, her captivating stories and wit, and of course, her trusty accordion, Ruby.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer   With additional recording assistance from Brendan Cross and Duke Paetz.

She's always had a way of finding those human stories that make us feel connected to some of the very big themes and questions that she tackles in her songs. Wendy McNeill's music often deals with the epic, the mythic, the unknowable, the elemental... but in an artfully narrative, poetically detailed way that draws the listener right into the very human emotions at the heart of it. And with her new album, First There Were Feathers, those very human emotions are evoked by 17 songs that are all about birds.  Whether she's wielding a guitar, a kalimba, a looping pedal, or her trademark accordion, Wendy McNeill's been crafting a sound all her own throughout her acclaimed discography, ever since she started her recording career more than a qurter-century ago now.   Her art has always been global in nature -- both in the sense that she contemplates issues that affect us all, ranging from ecological concerns to the mysteries of the human heart; as well as in the way that her noirish folk music draws on influences that seem to know no borders. And you can add "globe-trotter" to that description, as well, as she long ago branched out from her Alberta roots to live in various culturally rich locales in Scandinavia and Europe, making her home these days in Spain.  The place that she lives is along the flightpath of many migratory birds travelling between Africa and Northern Europe; after massive wildfires in both her adopted Spanish home and her old Albertan stomping grounds, she began to wonder how those birds were impacted by the fires. Digging into both the scientific and the poetic sides of this question, she created her new album as a means of exploring how birds could bring us stories, messages, and wisdom about the perilous situation that humanity is currently facing. "A wild wisdom wrapped in verse," as she says in the album track that she'll spin for us, "The Language of the Birds." Along the near-hour of music on her new album, we meet many different bird characters and narrators, as they share a diverse range of elevated perspectives. They relate tales from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Oscar Wilde, and Greek mythology, as well as many stories that spring from Wendy's own boundless imagination. During a visit to Alberta in the wake of the album's release, Wendy came to CKUA studios and brought along a song to spin for us, her captivating stories and wit, and of course, her trusty accordion, Ruby.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer  With additional recording assistance from Brendan Cross and Duke Paetz.

Wendy McNeill | Wild Wisdom Wrapped in Verse

Doug Paisley

Considering how much he shares of himself through his frank, tender songs, and how down-to-earth and open he is in live performance and in conversation, Doug Paisley has always seemed to be a bit of an enigma.  For one thing, his music seems so truly timeless. It’s like the Toronto troubadour’s lastest album Say What You Like could just as easily have been released in 1973 as in 2023. His unique blend of the cryptic and plainspoken - along with the specific, cinematic details - gives the sense that he’s on a distinct creative journey of his own, seemingly unrelated to trends in the larger musical world.  And yet, there are plenty of luminaries from that larger musical  world that have collaborated with Doug on his  greatly-acclaimed albums. In the past, Doug’s records have been graced by contributions from revered artists like Mary Margaret O’Hara and the keyboard genius from The Band, Garth Hudson. On his new album, Doug’s evocative songs, expressive guitar playing, and beautiful tenor voice are treated to some stellar production help from his old friend Afie Jurvanen and his band, Bahamas.  On tour through Alberta in summer 2023, Doug Paisley stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to serenade us with a pair of songs, and to trace his one-of-a-kind creative career. He told us about his musical beginnings with buck-a-Beatles LP buys; the lasting lessons learned in his early onstage experiences, ranging from bluegrass to reggae to performance art; the influence of everyone from outsider folk great Bonnie “Prince” Billy to ‘70s AM country’s “Gentle Giant” Don Williams; the way Afie’s and Bahamas’ support helped unlock the creative breakthrough of Say What You Like; and how writing songs and playing guitar are a great release for the feelings that move you when, as the title track says, “those bygone times come back to visit.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer  | Sound Engineer: Duke Paetz   This episode of Hidden Track features live performances from Doug Paisley. Music is used with permission from the artist. 

Considering how much he shares of himself through his frank, tender songs, and how down-to-earth and open he is in live performance and in conversation, Doug Paisley has always seemed to be a bit of an enigma.  For one thing, his music seems so truly timeless. It’s like the Toronto troubadour’s lastest album Say What You Like could just as easily have been released in 1973 as in 2023. His unique blend of the cryptic and plainspoken - along with the specific, cinematic details - gives the sense that he’s on a distinct creative journey of his own, seemingly unrelated to trends in the larger musical world.  And yet, there are plenty of luminaries from that larger musical world that have collaborated with Doug on his greatly-acclaimed albums. In the past, Doug’s records have been graced by contributions from revered artists like Mary Margaret O’Hara and the keyboard genius from The Band, Garth Hudson. On his new album, Doug’s evocative songs, expressive guitar playing, and beautiful tenor voice are treated to some stellar production help from his old friend Afie Jurvanen and his band, Bahamas.  On tour through Alberta in summer 2023, Doug Paisley stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to serenade us with a pair of songs, and to trace his one-of-a-kind creative career. He told us about his musical beginnings with buck-a-Beatles LP buys; the lasting lessons learned in his early onstage experiences, ranging from bluegrass to reggae to performance art; the influence of everyone from outsider folk great Bonnie “Prince” Billy to ‘70s AM country’s “Gentle Giant” Don Williams; the way Afie’s and Bahamas’ support helped unlock the creative breakthrough of Say What You Like; and how writing songs and playing guitar are a great release for the feelings that move you when, as the title track says, “those bygone times come back to visit.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer | Sound Engineer: Duke Paetz  This episode of Hidden Track features live performances from Doug Paisley. Music is used with permission from the artist.

Doug Paisley | Be Who You'll Be

Jose Louis Modabi is the given name of Colgolese-Canadian artist Pierre Kwenders, the exceptionally innovative music-maker behind the Polaris Music Prize-winning album, Jose Louis and the Paradox of Love.  Bridging the gaps between musical worlds, the traditional and the future-leaning, his hometowns of Kinshasa and Montreal, and between the profoundly personal and the universally human, Pierre Kwenders is a one-of-a-kind musical visionary. Drawing on jazz, Congolese rhumba, pop, electronica and disco, and singing or rapping in five languages -- Lingala, Kikikongo, Tshiluba, French, English – he constructs a whole sonic universe on his latest album. There are meditations on love, lust, spirituality, home, family, freedom, culture, and music; all of it deeply centred in his unique, highly personal aesthetic. The expanded Deluxe Edition of Jose Louis and the Paradox of Love released June 30,2023, further deepening the album’s artistic sweep of styles, textures and perspectives with bonus tracks and re-works.  In this episode of the Hidden Track Podcast, Pierre Kwenders tells us about his musical background: from growing up singing in church choirs as a kid in the Congo, to discovering the underground music scene in Montreal, where he moved as a teenager. He discusses the formative influence of Congolese musical heroes like Lokua Kanza and Papa Wemba, the importance of matriarchs on his life and how he takes his artistic moniker from his grandfather’s name. We'll discover more about Pierre Kwenders' birth city of Kinshasa, which “vibrates with music”, plus his personal vision for a globe-spanning, era-mashing Black futurism and his guiding philosophy that “love never dies on the dance floor.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

Jose Louis Modabi is the given name of Colgolese-Canadian artist Pierre Kwenders, the exceptionally innovative music-maker behind the Polaris Music Prize-winning album, Jose Louis and the Paradox of Love.  Bridging the gaps between musical worlds, the traditional and the future-leaning, his hometowns of Kinshasa and Montreal, and between the profoundly personal and the universally human, Pierre Kwenders is a one-of-a-kind musical visionary. Drawing on jazz, Congolese rhumba, pop, electronica and disco, and singing or rapping in five languages -- Lingala, Kikikongo, Tshiluba, French, English – he constructs a whole sonic universe on his latest album. There are meditations on love, lust, spirituality, home, family, freedom, culture, and music; all of it deeply centred in his unique, highly personal aesthetic. The expanded Deluxe Edition of Jose Louis and the Paradox of Love released June 30,2023, further deepening the album’s artistic sweep of styles, textures and perspectives with bonus tracks and re-works.  In this episode of the Hidden Track Podcast, Pierre Kwenders tells us about his musical background: from growing up singing in church choirs as a kid in the Congo, to discovering the underground music scene in Montreal, where he moved as a teenager. He discusses the formative influence of Congolese musical heroes like Lokua Kanza and Papa Wemba, the importance of matriarchs on his life and how he takes his artistic moniker from his grandfather’s name. We'll discover more about Pierre Kwenders' birth city of Kinshasa, which “vibrates with music”, plus his personal vision for a globe-spanning, era-mashing Black futurism and his guiding philosophy that “love never dies on the dance floor.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer

Pierre Kwenders | Love Never Dies on the Dance Floor

They’ve always been musical alchemists -- melding worlds and traditions together, taking on the big questions, and crafting bold musical narratives. On  greatly-acclaimed previous albums like Guesthouse and Line of Light, they've created poetic anthems addressing mortality, embracing our shared humanity, and, of course, longing for love. And they've done it while fusing everything from roots-Americana to psychedelic rock to Mexican folk traditions.  And yet somehow, the new album by David Wax Museum sees the band achieving a whole new level of depth and dimension, of scope and scale. Fittingly enough, it's called You Must Change Your Life.  Suz Slezak and David Wax are the creative couple at the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia's David Wax Musuem. Their heartfelt, deeply personal approach to songcraft is matched by a sound that's all their own, and by a wildly inventive, boisterous live show. They've been building a hardcore fanbase over their nine albums and countless miles on the road.  Mid-2023 saw the release of what they call their "magnum opus" -- a Latin term that literally means "great work", and which in the ancient world of alchemy signifies transformation and transcendence. They describe You Must Change Your Life as "an openhearted manifesto -- a collection that embodies, then transcends bedrock elements of the band's 15-year career."  David Wax Museum fans can rejoice that their magnum opus is finally out in the world, just released in spring 2023 via Nine Mile Records. And they can also be glad that David Wax himself is here to savour the moment, too; as he and Suz will tell us, an unexpected and terrifying health concern interceded in the band's journey, just as they were on the verge of this album's triumphant release.  Suz and David joined us for a heartfelt conversation from their barn/studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, to talk about how they became a band, then a couple, and eventually a family; and how their creative journey has led from Harvard University to folk music studies in Mexico, from what seemed like a never-ending tour, to their backyard barn, and eventually to the syncopated truths conveyed on this truly transformative album.   To paraphrase the chorus from the song ‘Luanne’, this new record is a shape shifter and a fate twister; constructing a colourful, multi-layered dream world which speaks to both the  most earthly and the most ineffable sides of our human existence. As David sings in ‘Summer Wrapped in Gold’:  "My heart still beats to that syncopated truth.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

They’ve always been musical alchemists -- melding worlds and traditions together, taking on the big questions, and crafting bold musical narratives. On greatly-acclaimed previous albums like Guesthouse and Line of Light, they've created poetic anthems addressing mortality, embracing our shared humanity, and, of course, longing for love. And they've done it while fusing everything from roots-Americana to psychedelic rock to Mexican folk traditions.  And yet somehow, the new album by David Wax Museum sees the band achieving a whole new level of depth and dimension, of scope and scale. Fittingly enough, it's called You Must Change Your Life.  Suz Slezak and David Wax are the creative couple at the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia's David Wax Musuem. Their heartfelt, deeply personal approach to songcraft is matched by a sound that's all their own, and by a wildly inventive, boisterous live show. They've been building a hardcore fanbase over their nine albums and countless miles on the road.  Mid-2023 saw the release of what they call their "magnum opus" -- a Latin term that literally means "great work", and which in the ancient world of alchemy signifies transformation and transcendence. They describe You Must Change Your Life as "an openhearted manifesto -- a collection that embodies, then transcends bedrock elements of the band's 15-year career."  David Wax Museum fans can rejoice that their magnum opus is finally out in the world, just released in spring 2023 via Nine Mile Records. And they can also be glad that David Wax himself is here to savour the moment, too; as he and Suz will tell us, an unexpected and terrifying health concern interceded in the band's journey, just as they were on the verge of this album's triumphant release.  Suz and David joined us for a heartfelt conversation from their barn/studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, to talk about how they became a band, then a couple, and eventually a family; and how their creative journey has led from Harvard University to folk music studies in Mexico, from what seemed like a never-ending tour, to their backyard barn, and eventually to the syncopated truths conveyed on this truly transformative album.   To paraphrase the chorus from the song ‘Luanne’, this new record is a shape shifter and a fate twister; constructing a colourful, multi-layered dream world which speaks to both the most earthly and the most ineffable sides of our human existence. As David sings in ‘Summer Wrapped in Gold’:  "My heart still beats to that syncopated truth.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer

David Wax Museum | Syncopated Truths

William Prince

William Prince's rich baritone voice resonates with amazing warmth, light, and wisdom. Along with the poetic songs and stories that it delivers, his voice just seems to have a way of instantly finding a place in people’s hearts. It's no wonder that William's voice and songs have taken him all the way from the small Manitoba community where he grew up, to great acclaim all across Canada.  In a way, William Prince has spent his whole life exploring the ways that music can be a source of connection, communion, and healing. As a kid growing up in Southern Manitoba's Peguis First Nation, he played guitar with his father, who was as singer and songwriter in a gospel/country vein. After that up-close apprenticeship, he embarked upon a career of his own. He hit home almost immediately with his powerful 2015 debut album Earthly Days, which won him a Juno Award right out of the gate, signaling the arrival of a major new figure on the singer-songwriter scene. In the years since, he's garnered increasing international recognition for his work with his sophomore album Reliever, and an homage to his dad and his roots with Gospel First Nation.   Spring 2023 sees the release of Stand in the Joy, a triumphant collection of bittersweet yet hopeful songs. It’s an album that William says, "acknowledges pain but does not give it power. What I hope comes through are feelings of love, peace, and strength."  On tour through Alberta, William Prince stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios for a visit, bringing his guitar, his brilliant songs and, of course, that incredible voice.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

William Prince's rich baritone voice resonates with amazing warmth, light, and wisdom. Along with the poetic songs and stories that it delivers, his voice just seems to have a way of instantly finding a place in people’s hearts. It's no wonder that William's voice and songs have taken him all the way from the small Manitoba community where he grew up, to great acclaim all across Canada.  In a way, William Prince has spent his whole life exploring the ways that music can be a source of connection, communion, and healing. As a kid growing up in Southern Manitoba's Peguis First Nation, he played guitar with his father, who was as singer and songwriter in a gospel/country vein. After that up-close apprenticeship, he embarked upon a career of his own. He hit home almost immediately with his powerful 2015 debut album Earthly Days, which won him a Juno Award right out of the gate, signaling the arrival of a major new figure on the singer-songwriter scene. In the years since, he's garnered increasing international recognition for his work with his sophomore album Reliever, and an homage to his dad and his roots with Gospel First Nation.   Spring 2023 sees the release of Stand in the Joy, a triumphant collection of bittersweet yet hopeful songs. It’s an album that William says, "acknowledges pain but does not give it power. What I hope comes through are feelings of love, peace, and strength."  On tour through Alberta, William Prince stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios for a visit, bringing his guitar, his brilliant songs and, of course, that incredible voice.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer

William Prince | The Truth About Love

Vivek Shraya

Vivek Shraya is a constantly churning force for creativity. She's an author, playwright, filmmaker, a professor of English Literature, a poet, an active champion of BIPOC, women- and femme-identifying artists though initiatives she's launched, and she's an absolute joy on social media.  Vivek’s new album is Baby, You're Projecting, out now via Mint Records. Her debut label release offers a brilliantly crafted, heart-on-sleeve glimpse into her own personal experiences and perspectives. It traces deeply felt, masterfully created musical stories that ring so true, we can probably all see ourselves in them somewhere; they feel like they have something important to say to all of us.   Vivek's been writing songs since age 13 and crafting albums for a good 20 years now. Always at the core of her art is personal experience, offering a wide range of often very frank, unflinching perspectives. Being an Albertan of South Asian heritage, growing up queer, being trans, making pop music into her 40s - all are experiences which have in some way inspired or informed her creativity over the years.    Some songs on her latest album are responses to societal issues like pervasive toxic masculinity and sexism, ongoing colonial attitudes, and the takedown culture fostered by of our extremely online current moment. Other songs on the record are simply about friends, family, and heartbreak.    While some moments do feel heartbreaking, others are powerfully affirming, even anthemic! She and longtime collaborator/producer James Bunton have hit a whole new level of sophistication in crafting this album, and Vivek is digging deeper than ever. The album is also accompanied by a companion short film that weaves some of these musical stories into a larger, visually spectacular arc.  This is Vivek Shraya | Singing Free and Loud!  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

Vivek Shraya is a constantly churning force for creativity. She's an author, playwright, filmmaker, a professor of English Literature, a poet, an active champion of BIPOC, women- and femme-identifying artists though initiatives she's launched, and she's an absolute joy on social media.  Vivek’s new album is Baby, You're Projecting, out now via Mint Records. Her debut label release offers a brilliantly crafted, heart-on-sleeve glimpse into her own personal experiences and perspectives. It traces deeply felt, masterfully created musical stories that ring so true, we can probably all see ourselves in them somewhere; they feel like they have something important to say to all of us.   Vivek's been writing songs since age 13 and crafting albums for a good 20 years now. Always at the core of her art is personal experience, offering a wide range of often very frank, unflinching perspectives. Being an Albertan of South Asian heritage, growing up queer, being trans, making pop music into her 40s - all are experiences which have in some way inspired or informed her creativity over the years.   Some songs on her latest album are responses to societal issues like pervasive toxic masculinity and sexism, ongoing colonial attitudes, and the takedown culture fostered by of our extremely online current moment. Other songs on the record are simply about friends, family, and heartbreak.   While some moments do feel heartbreaking, others are powerfully affirming, even anthemic! She and longtime collaborator/producer James Bunton have hit a whole new level of sophistication in crafting this album, and Vivek is digging deeper than ever. The album is also accompanied by a companion short film that weaves some of these musical stories into a larger, visually spectacular arc.  This is Vivek Shraya | Singing Free and Loud!  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer

Vivek Shraya | Singing Free and Loud!

"Hey, you! Come and gather round!"  That's one of the lyrics from “Things Are Gonna Change,” Lealani's collaboration with Kid Koala on his new album, Creatures of the Late Afternoon.  It's a song about coming together, about engaging with one another, sharing a common pursuit, and pushing toward something new and exciting.  For both Kid Koala and Lealani, their work as artists—musical, visual, and otherwise—is always about gathering around: humans joining together, in shared experiences, creating something new.  For decades, Kid Koala's ethos has been all about togetherness. When he first burst onto the scene back in the '90s, he was bringing people together on the dance floor. His astonishing skills as a turntablist could instantly spark dance parties, as he joyfully spun funk, ska, jazz, and spoken word records into something new altogether.  In addition to that, Kid Koala's albums have always incorporated more to engage with, beyond the music: visual art, a hand-cranked cardboard turntable, a chess set, a graphic novel. His projects are often wildly ambitious—the Space Cadet Headphone Concert, an interactive Turntable Orchestra, a theatrical puppetry presentation. His latest album is a double LP that also happens to fold out into a playable board game.  Among his many featured collaborators on Creatures of the Late Afternoon is Lealani, a young art-pop firebrand who's very different from Kid Koala, yet a kindred spirit in many ways. Each one is a creative polymath and DIY dynamo.  He lives in Montreal; she's from Los Angeles, and there are decades between them, but artistically, they complement each other perfectly. And as we hear in this episode of Hidden Track, it turns out that these two one-of-a-kind artists can trace all kinds of surprising connections to one another.  They have many adventures together coming up, including a big summer 2023 tour. However, their first-ever jaunt out on the road together saw them play Calgary's Block Heater festival back in February.  The duo took time between their soundcheck and headlining show at Block Heater to come join us in CKUA's Calgary studios for a marvelous conversation. Between the ambient sounds of downtown Saturday night traffic, a band sound checking down the hall, and the wildly wide-ranging discussion, it almost felt like being inside a Kid Koala album. This is "Kid Koala x Lealani | Gather Round."  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

"Hey, you! Come and gather round!"  That's one of the lyrics from “Things Are Gonna Change,” Lealani's collaboration with Kid Koala on his new album, Creatures of the Late Afternoon.  It's a song about coming together, about engaging with one another, sharing a common pursuit, and pushing toward something new and exciting.  For both Kid Koala and Lealani, their work as artists—musical, visual, and otherwise—is always about gathering around: humans joining together, in shared experiences, creating something new.  For decades, Kid Koala's ethos has been all about togetherness. When he first burst onto the scene back in the '90s, he was bringing people together on the dance floor. His astonishing skills as a turntablist could instantly spark dance parties, as he joyfully spun funk, ska, jazz, and spoken word records into something new altogether.  In addition to that, Kid Koala's albums have always incorporated more to engage with, beyond the music: visual art, a hand-cranked cardboard turntable, a chess set, a graphic novel. His projects are often wildly ambitious—the Space Cadet Headphone Concert, an interactive Turntable Orchestra, a theatrical puppetry presentation. His latest album is a double LP that also happens to fold out into a playable board game.  Among his many featured collaborators on Creatures of the Late Afternoon is Lealani, a young art-pop firebrand who's very different from Kid Koala, yet a kindred spirit in many ways. Each one is a creative polymath and DIY dynamo.  He lives in Montreal; she's from Los Angeles, and there are decades between them, but artistically, they complement each other perfectly. And as we hear in this episode of Hidden Track, it turns out that these two one-of-a-kind artists can trace all kinds of surprising connections to one another.  They have many adventures together coming up, including a big summer 2023 tour. However, their first-ever jaunt out on the road together saw them play Calgary's Block Heater festival back in February.  The duo took time between their soundcheck and headlining show at Block Heater to come join us in CKUA's Calgary studios for a marvelous conversation. Between the ambient sounds of downtown Saturday night traffic, a band sound checking down the hall, and the wildly wide-ranging discussion, it almost felt like being inside a Kid Koala album. This is "Kid Koala x Lealani | Gather Round."  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer

Kid Koala x Lealani | Gather Round

Matt Andersen

He's currently traversing the continent, along with a band and a production that are so big, they won't all fit on just one tour bus. He's selling out dozens of shows at concert halls that seat thousands of people. And what's he playing? Pretty much exclusively his own original roots, folk, and blues songs; and a handful written by some good friends of his. Matt’s whole music career has always been exceedingly homespun and genuine. In fact, a bunch of his best friends are in his band!  How is this kind of success possible? In this day and age? Well, it's incredibly rare. But it certainly helps if you have the soul, grit, presence, work ethic, humility, smarts, and sheer mind-boggling talent of New Brunswick powerhouse Matt Andersen.  Matt's new album The Big Bottle of Joy is also the name he gives to his eight-piece band of brilliant musical pals. On their way through Alberta in April 2023, Matt generously shared some of his precious off time with CKUA. And he brought his guitar!  Matt popped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to tell us about his musical beginnings in the tiny town of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick; how he's crafted a stellar international music career in the true time-tested way, through an endless application of blood, sweat, and tears over more than 20 years; how his friends, family, and heroes have always kept him grounded and inspired; and how the songs and the giant band on the new record were products of these difficult past three years – the one time in his life he's ever stopped for a moment to catch his breath.  On top of his touching, hilarious, and wide-ranging conversation, Matt offers us a pair of exclusive performances. Given the size and scope of the band sound on the album, it's absolutely astounding to hear Matt Andersen pour his larger-than-life musical soul into an intimate, solo acoustic performance of two songs from The Big Bottle of Joy: "Only an Island" (written by his friends in the band Port Cities) and album closer "Shoes" (a song Matt wrote with Donovan Woods).  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

He's currently traversing the continent, along with a band and a production that are so big, they won't all fit on just one tour bus. He's selling out dozens of shows at concert halls that seat thousands of people. And what's he playing? Pretty much exclusively his own original roots, folk, and blues songs; and a handful written by some good friends of his. Matt’s whole music career has always been exceedingly homespun and genuine. In fact, a bunch of his best friends are in his band!  How is this kind of success possible? In this day and age? Well, it's incredibly rare. But it certainly helps if you have the soul, grit, presence, work ethic, humility, smarts, and sheer mind-boggling talent of New Brunswick powerhouse Matt Andersen.  Matt's new album The Big Bottle of Joy is also the name he gives to his eight-piece band of brilliant musical pals. On their way through Alberta in April 2023, Matt generously shared some of his precious off time with CKUA. And he brought his guitar!  Matt popped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to tell us about his musical beginnings in the tiny town of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick; how he's crafted a stellar international music career in the true time-tested way, through an endless application of blood, sweat, and tears over more than 20 years; how his friends, family, and heroes have always kept him grounded and inspired; and how the songs and the giant band on the new record were products of these difficult past three years – the one time in his life he's ever stopped for a moment to catch his breath.  On top of his touching, hilarious, and wide-ranging conversation, Matt offers us a pair of exclusive performances. Given the size and scope of the band sound on the album, it's absolutely astounding to hear Matt Andersen pour his larger-than-life musical soul into an intimate, solo acoustic performance of two songs from The Big Bottle of Joy: "Only an Island" (written by his friends in the band Port Cities) and album closer "Shoes" (a song Matt wrote with Donovan Woods).  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer

Matt Andersen | Uncorked

Tara MacLean

CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Hidden Track contains multiple references to childhood trauma and sexual abuse. Although the content does not go into explicit details, some listeners may find these topics of discussion uncomfortable.  "Looking back, I am astonished at times by what I have done in search of love, and just to survive."  Over the course of her astounding life story, Tara MacLean has been an international hitmaker; a survivor of horrific childhood abuse; a lifelong student of art, music, and philosophy; a performer everywhere from Lilith Fair to Late Night with Conan O'Brien; a mother; a creative collaborator; a theatre creator; and now an author. At her core, though, Tara MacLean sees herself as... a sparrow.  In the title track to her new album Sparrow, Tara MacLean sings passionately of her need to "trust the wind and the open sky". And, to be sure, she's spent her life navigating a staggering series of soaring highs and gut-wrenching lows. Tara is a songbird by nature; songs are her way of expressing and grappling with life's often incomprehensible joys and sorrows. And her stunning new memoir Song of the Sparrow recounts her heartbreaking, inspiring, fierce, stranger-than-fiction life journey. In the pages of her book and the lyrics of its companion album, she brings us inside moments of horrifying trauma, transcendent triumph, unthinkable loss, and cosmic good fortune. Of what she's learned from walking this jagged road, she writes, "I propose that love has no opposite. It's all love in this messy, sad, heartbreaking world."  From her earliest childhood years in the wilds of Prince Edward Island, she was surrounded by the performing arts and music.  Also surrounding her from an early age, however, was horrific sexual abuse. As a child, she taught herself to cope with her tumultuous existence by pouring her heart into writing and singing songs. Her life as a singer-songwriter began as a raw, elemental urge to express and create. However, it set her on a path that saw her ascend onto the world stage in the late 1990s, just at the very tail end of a golden age for the music industry, in the moment of blazing glory just before the online music phenomenon popped that bubble.  In this free-spirited, open-hearted conversation Tara tells us about the dizzying journey she's been on, including a hippie 1970s PEI upbringing; being "discovered" while jamming on the top deck of a ferry; being mentored early in her career by Sarah MacLachlan; playing her songs during touchstone moments of '90s culture, ranging from the Lilith Fair tour to the movie Coyote Ugly; the need to retreat and revitalize after years of working herself nearly to death on the road; summoning the courage to confront the demons in her life; her devotion to family, the loss of loved ones, and being a mother; discovering an urge to share her story on the printed page with this new book; how on this new album, she reinterprets songs she wrote decades ago, alongside  perspectives offered in the record's three fresh new songs; and the unforgettable moment that began this whole sparrow's journey, when a 9-year-old Tara stepped onto a county fair stage, and fell in love with sharing her music with the world. 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Hidden Track contains multiple references to childhood trauma and sexual abuse. Although the content does not go into explicit details, some listeners may find these topics of discussion uncomfortable.  "Looking back, I am astonished at times by what I have done in search of love, and just to survive."  Over the course of her astounding life story, Tara MacLean has been an international hitmaker; a survivor of horrific childhood abuse; a lifelong student of art, music, and philosophy; a performer everywhere from Lilith Fair to Late Night with Conan O'Brien; a mother; a creative collaborator; a theatre creator; and now an author. At her core, though, Tara MacLean sees herself as... a sparrow.  In the title track to her new album Sparrow, Tara MacLean sings passionately of her need to "trust the wind and the open sky". And, to be sure, she's spent her life navigating a staggering series of soaring highs and gut-wrenching lows. Tara is a songbird by nature; songs are her way of expressing and grappling with life's often incomprehensible joys and sorrows. And her stunning new memoir Song of the Sparrow recounts her heartbreaking, inspiring, fierce, stranger-than-fiction life journey. In the pages of her book and the lyrics of its companion album, she brings us inside moments of horrifying trauma, transcendent triumph, unthinkable loss, and cosmic good fortune. Of what she's learned from walking this jagged road, she writes, "I propose that love has no opposite. It's all love in this messy, sad, heartbreaking world."  From her earliest childhood years in the wilds of Prince Edward Island, she was surrounded by the performing arts and music.  Also surrounding her from an early age, however, was horrific sexual abuse. As a child, she taught herself to cope with her tumultuous existence by pouring her heart into writing and singing songs. Her life as a singer-songwriter began as a raw, elemental urge to express and create. However, it set her on a path that saw her ascend onto the world stage in the late 1990s, just at the very tail end of a golden age for the music industry, in the moment of blazing glory just before the online music phenomenon popped that bubble.  In this free-spirited, open-hearted conversation Tara tells us about the dizzying journey she's been on, including a hippie 1970s PEI upbringing; being "discovered" while jamming on the top deck of a ferry; being mentored early in her career by Sarah MacLachlan; playing her songs during touchstone moments of '90s culture, ranging from the Lilith Fair tour to the movie Coyote Ugly; the need to retreat and revitalize after years of working herself nearly to death on the road; summoning the courage to confront the demons in her life; her devotion to family, the loss of loved ones, and being a mother; discovering an urge to share her story on the printed page with this new book; how on this new album, she reinterprets songs she wrote decades ago, alongside  perspectives offered in the record's three fresh new songs; and the unforgettable moment that began this whole sparrow's journey, when a 9-year-old Tara stepped onto a county fair stage, and fell in love with sharing her music with the world.

Tara MacLean | Love Has No Opposite

Andy Shauf

At times, the protagonist of Andy Shauf's new album Norm might strike you as a charming, shambling sort of fellow. Norm likes getting high, he watches The Price Is Right, he's been known to lock his keys in his car, he seems excited when Halloween is coming up. Those moments all seem innocuous enough, and it's certainly easy to get lost in just how flat-out gorgeous the songs on this record are. But listening carefully, it starts to become clear that there's something a whole lot more sinister going on here.  There's a lot to process and ponder. Andy gives you just enough detail that you can begin to put the plot's puzzle pieces together, but he also masterfully maintains a great deal of space in this story. It's a space where your imagination can wander, where you might find yourself reflecting on some big questions, and which becomes increasingly unsettling as the album unfolds.  Andy's previous album-length narratives like The Party and The Neon Skyline have garnered him Juno Award nominations, and landed him on the Short List for the Polaris Music Prize. And although this is another beautiful-sounding, long-playing yarn... well, he's going in a dramatically different and darker direction with Norm. It's a bit like a chilling, slow-paced novel; or a sinister movie; or a true crime podcast that involves divine intervention. It's certainly an album like no other.  Norm was released February 10th, 2023, via Anti- and Arts &amp; Crafts. Originally from Estevan, Saskatchewan, Andy Shauf returned to the Canadian prairies in March of 2023 as part of an international album release tour. While preparing to play a big concert hall show at The Winspear Centre, he generously made space in his busy schedule to spend some time at CKUA's Edmonton studios - and he brought his guitar!  In this episode, he shares intimate solo acoustic performances of two songs from Norm: "Halloween Store" and the album's title track. And in a wide-ranging conversation, he tells us all about the record; he relates how a scrapped disco album was part of the process; the way a borrowed synthesizer reinvigorated his songwriting, and fired his imagination for this project; what it's like to have gone from playing small clubs to concert halls in the matter of a few years; why a pop-up Halloween store in Regina, Saskatchewan, holds such special fascination for him; and how he considers himself a storyteller who happens to use music as his medium. 

At times, the protagonist of Andy Shauf's new album Norm might strike you as a charming, shambling sort of fellow. Norm likes getting high, he watches The Price Is Right, he's been known to lock his keys in his car, he seems excited when Halloween is coming up. Those moments all seem innocuous enough, and it's certainly easy to get lost in just how flat-out gorgeous the songs on this record are. But listening carefully, it starts to become clear that there's something a whole lot more sinister going on here.  There's a lot to process and ponder. Andy gives you just enough detail that you can begin to put the plot's puzzle pieces together, but he also masterfully maintains a great deal of space in this story. It's a space where your imagination can wander, where you might find yourself reflecting on some big questions, and which becomes increasingly unsettling as the album unfolds.  Andy's previous album-length narratives like The Party and The Neon Skyline have garnered him Juno Award nominations, and landed him on the Short List for the Polaris Music Prize. And although this is another beautiful-sounding, long-playing yarn... well, he's going in a dramatically different and darker direction with Norm. It's a bit like a chilling, slow-paced novel; or a sinister movie; or a true crime podcast that involves divine intervention. It's certainly an album like no other.  Norm was released February 10th, 2023, via Anti- and Arts &amp; Crafts. Originally from Estevan, Saskatchewan, Andy Shauf returned to the Canadian prairies in March of 2023 as part of an international album release tour. While preparing to play a big concert hall show at The Winspear Centre, he generously made space in his busy schedule to spend some time at CKUA's Edmonton studios - and he brought his guitar!  In this episode, he shares intimate solo acoustic performances of two songs from Norm: "Halloween Store" and the album's title track. And in a wide-ranging conversation, he tells us all about the record; he relates how a scrapped disco album was part of the process; the way a borrowed synthesizer reinvigorated his songwriting, and fired his imagination for this project; what it's like to have gone from playing small clubs to concert halls in the matter of a few years; why a pop-up Halloween store in Regina, Saskatchewan, holds such special fascination for him; and how he considers himself a storyteller who happens to use music as his medium.

Andy Shauf | A Normal Record

We all remember the moment we discovered that secret song on one of our favourite albums. Often, those hidden gems provide a revealing peek behind-the-curtain, leading us to new insights about the artists and recordings we thought we knew. CKUA’s Hidden Track podcast aims to do the same, by bringing you stories that change the way you experience music. Any given week, we’ll get to the heart of the song with the musician who wrote it, reflect on a landmark recording with the producer and engineer who helped shape it, or examine the legacy of a musical icon with the critic, biographer or industry player who knows them best. Whoever the guest may be, each episode will provide a moment of discovery you won’t soon forget.

"What's your name?"   On the stunning debut album by Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee, we hear his grandfather pose that question at the end of the song "Nomads". It is a voice that is woven through the entire album; and so is that fundamental idea of reconnecting with identity and truth.  Aysanabee's much-acclaimed November 2022 release Watin tells the story of his grandfather, Watin Aysanabee, who, as a child, was taken away from his family and sent to McIntosh Residential School in Northwestern Ontario, where he was forced to change his name and put aside his language, culture, and traditions. After many painful years, not only did Watin survive his traumatic residential school experiences, but he also met his eventual life partner; together they began a new life and a family of their own. Watin's story is a powerful one and now, more than half a century later, it has inspired a stunning work of art.   During long phone calls in the pandemic's initial stages, Watin shared these tales with his grandson, an aspiring singer-songwriter who worked as a professional journalist under his birth name, Evan Pang. Though the original objective of those long sharing sessions was to record this important family history, these tales gradually began finding their way into songs that his grandson was writing, and later some of those recorded phone calls were woven into the resultant full-length album.  Aysanabee's debut LP is a heartfelt tribute to his family and his roots; and so is the artistic moniker that he took on, which is a reclaiming of his family's name. On tour through Alberta in early 2023, Aysanabee stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to share intimate, live in-studio performances of two songs from Watin: "Nomads", a song of gratitude to his grandfather for being a guiding light and one who has "passed the fire”, and "River", which relates the sweet story of how his grandparents escaped together as youngsters, against all odds, embarking upon a new destiny.  In this gracious and candid visit, Aysanabee also shared some of his own amazing life's journey: growing up in Northern Ontario and Manitoba; humble musical beginnings and diverse early influences; being a soft-spoken person who's blessed with an absolutely thunderous singing voice; working these days with Ishkōdé Records, a visionary new label led by renowned Indigenous women; finding himself suddenly thrust onto the biggest stage in this country, performing for the 2023 Juno Awards gala telecast; and the unique path that led to the creation of his breathtaking, triumphant debut album. 

"What's your name?"   On the stunning debut album by Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee, we hear his grandfather pose that question at the end of the song "Nomads". It is a voice that is woven through the entire album; and so is that fundamental idea of reconnecting with identity and truth.  Aysanabee's much-acclaimed November 2022 release Watin tells the story of his grandfather, Watin Aysanabee, who, as a child, was taken away from his family and sent to McIntosh Residential School in Northwestern Ontario, where he was forced to change his name and put aside his language, culture, and traditions. After many painful years, not only did Watin survive his traumatic residential school experiences, but he also met his eventual life partner; together they began a new life and a family of their own. Watin's story is a powerful one and now, more than half a century later, it has inspired a stunning work of art.   During long phone calls in the pandemic's initial stages, Watin shared these tales with his grandson, an aspiring singer-songwriter who worked as a professional journalist under his birth name, Evan Pang. Though the original objective of those long sharing sessions was to record this important family history, these tales gradually began finding their way into songs that his grandson was writing, and later some of those recorded phone calls were woven into the resultant full-length album.  Aysanabee's debut LP is a heartfelt tribute to his family and his roots; and so is the artistic moniker that he took on, which is a reclaiming of his family's name. On tour through Alberta in early 2023, Aysanabee stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to share intimate, live in-studio performances of two songs from Watin: "Nomads", a song of gratitude to his grandfather for being a guiding light and one who has "passed the fire”, and "River", which relates the sweet story of how his grandparents escaped together as youngsters, against all odds, embarking upon a new destiny.  In this gracious and candid visit, Aysanabee also shared some of his own amazing life's journey: growing up in Northern Ontario and Manitoba; humble musical beginnings and diverse early influences; being a soft-spoken person who's blessed with an absolutely thunderous singing voice; working these days with Ishkōdé Records, a visionary new label led by renowned Indigenous women; finding himself suddenly thrust onto the biggest stage in this country, performing for the 2023 Juno Awards gala telecast; and the unique path that led to the creation of his breathtaking, triumphant debut album.

Aysanabee | Where Do We Go From Here?

He is without a doubt the only winner of a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album ever to make their home in the northwestern B.C. town of Smithers, population 5,316. Alex Cuba originally hails from Artemisa, Cuba; but he's called Smithers, BC home for two decades now. He first visited CKUA 20 years ago, back when he was known as Alexis Puentes, one half of the Juno Award-nominated Puntes Brothers, along with his twin brother Adonis. In the years since then, he's been digging deep into his astounding array of musical abilities and interests, challenging himself creatively at every turn and crafting a solo discography that's touched the hearts of music lovers across Canada, the entire Latin diaspora and across the globe. Over his remarkable career arc, Alex's music has won him two Junos, four Latin Grammys, and in 2022, his album Mendó garnered him a Grammy Award, the most revered accolade in the whole music world. In this episode, Alex returns to CKUA for a spirited in-studio visit to reflect on his rather mind-boggling musical journey, and to share fascinating stories and insights in his characteristically charismatic style. He tells us about how his whole life changed the moment he met the Canadian woman who would become his lifelong partner; what drives him to create his unique, highly personalized form of musical expression; why artificial intelligence will never be able to replicate the raw human beauty that's distilled in music; and what it's like to win a Grammy Award for an album that that he created almost entirely by himself -- writing, singing, producing, and playing all the instruments himself, at home in his small northwestern BC town.

He is without a doubt the only winner of a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album ever to make their home in the northwestern B.C. town of Smithers, population 5,316. Alex Cuba originally hails from Artemisa, Cuba; but he's called Smithers, BC home for two decades now. He first visited CKUA 20 years ago, back when he was known as Alexis Puentes, one half of the Juno Award-nominated Puntes Brothers, along with his twin brother Adonis. In the years since then, he's been digging deep into his astounding array of musical abilities and interests, challenging himself creatively at every turn and crafting a solo discography that's touched the hearts of music lovers across Canada, the entire Latin diaspora and across the globe. Over his remarkable career arc, Alex's music has won him two Junos, four Latin Grammys, and in 2022, his album Mendó garnered him a Grammy Award, the most revered accolade in the whole music world. In this episode, Alex returns to CKUA for a spirited in-studio visit to reflect on his rather mind-boggling musical journey, and to share fascinating stories and insights in his characteristically charismatic style. He tells us about how his whole life changed the moment he met the Canadian woman who would become his lifelong partner; what drives him to create his unique, highly personalized form of musical expression; why artificial intelligence will never be able to replicate the raw human beauty that's distilled in music; and what it's like to win a Grammy Award for an album that that he created almost entirely by himself -- writing, singing, producing, and playing all the instruments himself, at home in his small northwestern BC town.

Alex Cuba | Essence of the Soul

Tanika Charles

At home in Canada, Tanika Charles is a multiple nominee for both the Juno Awards and the prestigious Polaris Music Prize. She's also a sensational success in Europe, where she's been building an enthusiastic fan base for many years. Looking at Tanika's successes in the lead-up to her latest album, you might be forgiven for being surprised that this internationally-renowned R&amp;B artist felt the need for a kind of transformation. But as she tells us, "rebirth, transformation and transition" are what her acclaimed latest album, Papillon de Nuit, is all about.  In this episode, Toronto-based Tanika Charles pays a visit to CKUA studios in her old hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. In a warm, candid and insightful conversation, she traces the surprising path she took to a life in music; spirituality and the way she manifested her dreams into reality; searching for realness and resonance in the music and emotion that we hear on Papillon de Nuit; and the oddly inspiring insect that became the central symbol of this album's creative journey.

At home in Canada, Tanika Charles is a multiple nominee for both the Juno Awards and the prestigious Polaris Music Prize. She's also a sensational success in Europe, where she's been building an enthusiastic fan base for many years. Looking at Tanika's successes in the lead-up to her latest album, you might be forgiven for being surprised that this internationally-renowned R&amp;B artist felt the need for a kind of transformation. But as she tells us, "rebirth, transformation and transition" are what her acclaimed latest album, Papillon de Nuit, is all about. In this episode, Toronto-based Tanika Charles pays a visit to CKUA studios in her old hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. In a warm, candid and insightful conversation, she traces the surprising path she took to a life in music; spirituality and the way she manifested her dreams into reality; searching for realness and resonance in the music and emotion that we hear on Papillon de Nuit; and the oddly inspiring insect that became the central symbol of this album's creative journey.

Tanika Charles | With Love and Light

For a dozen years and four albums now, July Talk has been relentlessly working toward a more just, humane, compassionate world, via the medium of their uniquely cathartic brand of groove-laden epic rock'n'roll.   Juno Award-winning band July Talk is Ian Docherty on guitar, bass player Josh Warburton, and double drummers (double Dani/Dannys, in fact) Danny Miles and Dani Nash. And at the centre of the maelstrom are lead vocalists Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis.    Leah and Peter are on a unique and fascinating creative journey together as artists. Each of them grew up steeped in vibrant artistic environments and, from early on, became passionate about pursuing music and visual art.   Peter grew up here in Alberta. He's from the Edmonton neighourhood of Riverdale, an artistic enclave where Peter came up alongside a whole wave of young musicians who've since gone on to become internationally celebrated. Leah comes from a family of renowned Toronto artists; a family whose artistic environment, aesthetic and story continue to inform her own artistic pursuits. In fact, as we'll hear, it's a legacy that's been massively inspirational and influential for July Talk's work.     We'll hear these two insightful, funny, amazingly candid artists share stories of their roots, how they came together over a decade ago, what people so often get wrong about the whole July Talk project, and the way their artistic dynamic (and their voices) have grown together in astounding ways on Remember Never Before, July Talk's brilliant fourth full-length album, released via their own label, Danuta, on January 20th, 2023.

For a dozen years and four albums now, July Talk has been relentlessly working toward a more just, humane, compassionate world, via the medium of their uniquely cathartic brand of groove-laden epic rock'n'roll.   Juno Award-winning band July Talk is Ian Docherty on guitar, bass player Josh Warburton, and double drummers (double Dani/Dannys, in fact) Danny Miles and Dani Nash. And at the centre of the maelstrom are lead vocalists Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis.   Leah and Peter are on a unique and fascinating creative journey together as artists. Each of them grew up steeped in vibrant artistic environments and, from early on, became passionate about pursuing music and visual art.   Peter grew up here in Alberta. He's from the Edmonton neighourhood of Riverdale, an artistic enclave where Peter came up alongside a whole wave of young musicians who've since gone on to become internationally celebrated. Leah comes from a family of renowned Toronto artists; a family whose artistic environment, aesthetic and story continue to inform her own artistic pursuits. In fact, as we'll hear, it's a legacy that's been massively inspirational and influential for July Talk's work.   We'll hear these two insightful, funny, amazingly candid artists share stories of their roots, how they came together over a decade ago, what people so often get wrong about the whole July Talk project, and the way their artistic dynamic (and their voices) have grown together in astounding ways on Remember Never Before, July Talk's brilliant fourth full-length album, released via their own label, Danuta, on January 20th, 2023.

July Talk | Bring Out That Human Side

CKUA's Hidden Track Podcast returns for Season 4!    Kicking things off in 2023 is (currently) Manitoba-based folk rock duo Whitehorse! Composed of husband-and-wife duo Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, Whitehorse's sound spans from folk/americana to groove-driven pop rock. Doucet and McClelland have always been talented musicians, and both had successful solo careers before joining forces as Whitehorse.    Released on January 13, 2023, the duo's eighth studio album, "I'm Not Crying, You're Crying", marks a tonal shift to the melancholic sounds of hurtin' classic country. Spurred on by feelings of loneliness and isolation due to the pandemic, I'm Not Crying, You're Crying has been described as a "breakup album with the world." Songs like If The Loneliness Don't Kill Me and 6 Feet Away serve as a cry for human connection, written during a time when those connections were increasingly hard to find.    In our first episode of Hidden Track Season 4, "Whitehorse | Breaking Up With Society", Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland join CKUA's Grant Stovel from their Manitoba home to discuss the inspirations behind their latest album, how it feels to be touring again, the duo's musical origins (including a story of 14-year-old Luke's blues band) and so much more!

CKUA's Hidden Track Podcast returns for Season 4!    Kicking things off in 2023 is (currently) Manitoba-based folk rock duo Whitehorse! Composed of husband-and-wife duo Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, Whitehorse's sound spans from folk/americana to groove-driven pop rock. Doucet and McClelland have always been talented musicians, and both had successful solo careers before joining forces as Whitehorse.    Released on January 13, 2023, the duo's eighth studio album, "I'm Not Crying, You're Crying", marks a tonal shift to the melancholic sounds of hurtin' classic country. Spurred on by feelings of loneliness and isolation due to the pandemic, I'm Not Crying, You're Crying has been described as a "breakup album with the world." Songs like If The Loneliness Don't Kill Me and 6 Feet Away serve as a cry for human connection, written during a time when those connections were increasingly hard to find.    In our first episode of Hidden Track Season 4, "Whitehorse | Breaking Up With Society", Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland join CKUA's Grant Stovel from their Manitoba home to discuss the inspirations behind their latest album, how it feels to be touring again, the duo's musical origins (including a story of 14-year-old Luke's blues band) and so much more!

Whitehorse | Breaking Up With Society

Kadhja Bonet

As a child, Kadhja Bonet's Christmas holiday tradition was to spend the whole festive season taking refuge under her bed, or in her closet. Growing up with Asperger's Syndrome, the continuous Christmas clamour just made her want to shut out the world until December's end.  It wasn't until recently (owing largely to a Yuletide-loving partner) that she took it upon herself to try and carve out a space for herself in the world of holiday music and culture. This most unexpected journey to reclaim the Christmas season culminated in two new creations: a holiday radio play called Apocalypsemas Now, and remarkable new EP, entitled California Holiday.   Kadhja's visionary musical artistry is built upon her unique gifts as a singer and songwriter, as well as her stunning synthesis of folk, soul, pop, jazz and psychedelia. She's released a string of greatly-acclaimed albums, EPs, and singles - plus collaborations with an eclectic array of artists, ranging from Anderson .Paak to Bonobo to Khruangbin. And with her spell-binding voice and genre-defying musical sensibility, she's certainly unlocked some fresh new holiday magic with her latest release, out on Ninja Tune in December, 2022. California Holiday finds the Los Angeles artist interpreting songs of the season that are significant for her, in her own inimitable way. On top of material that draws on sources ranging from Stevie Wonder to Sesame Street, the title track is an original that takes a Californian perspective on some of the multi-layered feelings that the holidays can evoke (without ever actually mentioning any particular holiday).     In this episode, Kadhja Bonet discusses the surprising path that led her to make a holiday album, the melancholy and contradictions often found at the heart of great Christmas music, how we use holidays as a way to mark the passage of time in our lives, a few of her favourite off-the-beaten-path Yuletide tunes... and, of course, Charlie Brown!

As a child, Kadhja Bonet's Christmas holiday tradition was to spend the whole festive season taking refuge under her bed, or in her closet. Growing up with Asperger's Syndrome, the continuous Christmas clamour just made her want to shut out the world until December's end. It wasn't until recently (owing largely to a Yuletide-loving partner) that she took it upon herself to try and carve out a space for herself in the world of holiday music and culture. This most unexpected journey to reclaim the Christmas season culminated in two new creations: a holiday radio play called Apocalypsemas Now, and remarkable new EP, entitled California Holiday.   Kadhja's visionary musical artistry is built upon her unique gifts as a singer and songwriter, as well as her stunning synthesis of folk, soul, pop, jazz and psychedelia. She's released a string of greatly-acclaimed albums, EPs, and singles - plus collaborations with an eclectic array of artists, ranging from Anderson .Paak to Bonobo to Khruangbin. And with her spell-binding voice and genre-defying musical sensibility, she's certainly unlocked some fresh new holiday magic with her latest release, out on Ninja Tune in December, 2022. California Holiday finds the Los Angeles artist interpreting songs of the season that are significant for her, in her own inimitable way. On top of material that draws on sources ranging from Stevie Wonder to Sesame Street, the title track is an original that takes a Californian perspective on some of the multi-layered feelings that the holidays can evoke (without ever actually mentioning any particular holiday).    In this episode, Kadhja Bonet discusses the surprising path that led her to make a holiday album, the melancholy and contradictions often found at the heart of great Christmas music, how we use holidays as a way to mark the passage of time in our lives, a few of her favourite off-the-beaten-path Yuletide tunes... and, of course, Charlie Brown!

Kadhja Bonet | Learn How To Celebrate

Abigail Lapell

She has that rare ability to draw the listener in. Abigail Lapell's songs, voice, and smouldering musical presence can bring a hush to even the loudest of barrooms. She just kind of makes you want to lean in closer, and get lost in the elemental, otherworldly tales she weaves through song. So get ready to get lost! For this episode of Hidden Track, Abigail joins us in live performance and conversation from CKUA's Studio A. Abigail's debut album came out in 2011 to rave reviews; and with each successive record, she's broadened the scope of her expressiveness as a singer and songwriter, and she's grown into a reputation as one of the most captivating tunesmiths on the scene today. She's already won a couple of Canadian Folk Music Awards, and the most vied-for awards, to boot: Album of the Year, and the English language award for Songwriter of the Year. Up against some downright legendary names, in both cases! She's up for several 2023 CFMAs for her lovely new record, too.   We'll hear the Toronto-based artist live in CKUA's Edmonton studio, as she treats us to an exclusive performance of three songs from her much-acclaimed 2022 album, Stolen Time. And in her characteristically funny and insightful manner, she also tells us about teaching herself to play and write songs on a found guitar, which was held together with duct tape; how for her, being a songwriter means attempting to tap into a mysterious force much larger than herself; what it's like to criss-cross this giant land all by herself on tour; the central role that nature and natural imagery play in her work; how the lull of the pandemic prompted her to spark her creativity by teaching herself piano (as well as a little do-it-yourself plumbing); and the surprisingly evocative meaning of the musical term "tempo rubato".

She has that rare ability to draw the listener in. Abigail Lapell's songs, voice, and smouldering musical presence can bring a hush to even the loudest of barrooms. She just kind of makes you want to lean in closer, and get lost in the elemental, otherworldly tales she weaves through song. So get ready to get lost! For this episode of Hidden Track, Abigail joins us in live performance and conversation from CKUA's Studio A. Abigail's debut album came out in 2011 to rave reviews; and with each successive record, she's broadened the scope of her expressiveness as a singer and songwriter, and she's grown into a reputation as one of the most captivating tunesmiths on the scene today. She's already won a couple of Canadian Folk Music Awards, and the most vied-for awards, to boot: Album of the Year, and the English language award for Songwriter of the Year. Up against some downright legendary names, in both cases! She's up for several 2023 CFMAs for her lovely new record, too.   We'll hear the Toronto-based artist live in CKUA's Edmonton studio, as she treats us to an exclusive performance of three songs from her much-acclaimed 2022 album, Stolen Time. And in her characteristically funny and insightful manner, she also tells us about teaching herself to play and write songs on a found guitar, which was held together with duct tape; how for her, being a songwriter means attempting to tap into a mysterious force much larger than herself; what it's like to criss-cross this giant land all by herself on tour; the central role that nature and natural imagery play in her work; how the lull of the pandemic prompted her to spark her creativity by teaching herself piano (as well as a little do-it-yourself plumbing); and the surprisingly evocative meaning of the musical term "tempo rubato".

Abigail Lapell | Force of Nature

Newfoundland-based musicians Catherine Allan and Andrew James O'Brien are the couple behind Juno-nominated band Fortunate Ones. The band's latest album, That Was You and Me, released early in June of 2022. Fortunate Ones recently embarked on a tour alongside fellow East Coast artists, The Once and Old Man Luedecke. That tour, dubbed the Anchors Up! Tour finds the band performing shows in Alberta in late November 2022.   The duo behind this incredible folk outlet took time out of their busy tour schedule to chat with Hidden Track host Grant Stovel for a look at their personal and artistic journeys thus far. Andrew and Catherine tell us about how the pandemic caused them to look deep within themselves (and each other) in a whole new way creatively, how the songs on this new record took shape during a secluded summer in a seaside clapboard house, the great Newfoundland tradition of songcraft, staying grounded by running marathons and doing yoga, and the excitement of touring in a bus for the first time ever. 

Newfoundland-based musicians Catherine Allan and Andrew James O'Brien are the couple behind Juno-nominated band Fortunate Ones. The band's latest album, That Was You and Me, released early in June of 2022. Fortunate Ones recently embarked on a tour alongside fellow East Coast artists, The Once and Old Man Luedecke. That tour, dubbed the Anchors Up! Tour finds the band performing shows in Alberta in late November 2022.   The duo behind this incredible folk outlet took time out of their busy tour schedule to chat with Hidden Track host Grant Stovel for a look at their personal and artistic journeys thus far. Andrew and Catherine tell us about how the pandemic caused them to look deep within themselves (and each other) in a whole new way creatively, how the songs on this new record took shape during a secluded summer in a seaside clapboard house, the great Newfoundland tradition of songcraft, staying grounded by running marathons and doing yoga, and the excitement of touring in a bus for the first time ever.

Fortunate Ones | Love Is A River

Colonialism. Beauty. Hate. Feminism. Privilege. Success. These aren't your average topics for a TV program created in the style of an old-school children's variety show. Of course, Lido Pimienta is anything but an average artist. For her brand-new project, Lido TV, the Polaris Prize-winning musician flexes a whole lot of creative multi-media muscle. Even longtime fans of her music may be surprised by many of the creative dimensions that she brings to this show; her biting humour, flair for eye-popping visuals, and almost mind-bendingly diverse areas of musical interest are just a few of the layers of expression revealed in Lido TV. Taking all these tools, an artistic ambition that knows no bounds, visits to different people and areas in her native Columbia, and an extremely eclectic guest list, Lido has just released the first six episodes of Lido TV, which began streaming on CBC Gem in Autumn of 2022. Each episode deals with a serious societal issue or theme, as explored through the use of dramatic dialogue, songs, comedy skits, and plenty of puppets. In a characteristically wide-ranging, whip-smart and hilarious conversation, Lido gets into the genesis for her "kids' TV show for adults;" her childhood in Columbia; how her gateway to writing songs was metal band Cradle of Filth; friends/ guests/ collaborators ranging from Beverly Glenn-Copeland to Nelly Furtado to metal band Kittie; and the importance of wanting to foster a more caring, equitable world. As Lido tells us, "The TV raised me, so now I wanna raise some little future freaks with my show". 

Colonialism. Beauty. Hate. Feminism. Privilege. Success. These aren't your average topics for a TV program created in the style of an old-school children's variety show. Of course, Lido Pimienta is anything but an average artist. For her brand-new project, Lido TV, the Polaris Prize-winning musician flexes a whole lot of creative multi-media muscle. Even longtime fans of her music may be surprised by many of the creative dimensions that she brings to this show; her biting humour, flair for eye-popping visuals, and almost mind-bendingly diverse areas of musical interest are just a few of the layers of expression revealed in Lido TV. Taking all these tools, an artistic ambition that knows no bounds, visits to different people and areas in her native Columbia, and an extremely eclectic guest list, Lido has just released the first six episodes of Lido TV, which began streaming on CBC Gem in Autumn of 2022. Each episode deals with a serious societal issue or theme, as explored through the use of dramatic dialogue, songs, comedy skits, and plenty of puppets. In a characteristically wide-ranging, whip-smart and hilarious conversation, Lido gets into the genesis for her "kids' TV show for adults;" her childhood in Columbia; how her gateway to writing songs was metal band Cradle of Filth; friends/ guests/ collaborators ranging from Beverly Glenn-Copeland to Nelly Furtado to metal band Kittie; and the importance of wanting to foster a more caring, equitable world. As Lido tells us, "The TV raised me, so now I wanna raise some little future freaks with my show".

Lido Pimienta | See You In The TV!

It's been said that over the past couple of years, we've all caught up, in one way or another, with the kind of dark and dystopian world view that's always been at the core of Preoccupations' music. Autumn 2022 sees the release of the group's fourth full-length album, as well as their tenth anniversary as a band. Some of these musicians have known each other since they were little kids, and it's been a solid ten years now that they've been crafting their deliciously doomy musical oeuvre as a unit. Over that time, this quartet from Calgary came up from the underground to truly earn themselves a global following; and they've accomplished it in the old-school, time-tested way: by creating a sonic identity that's distinctively their own, by making innovative and challenging records, and by touring hellaciously hard. At the heart of their sound has always been an edgy, cathartic brand of epic post-punk music; and with their 2022 album Arrangements, they've honed that melodic-yet-discordant sound to a knife's edge. The powerful new Preoccupations record is just out via Jagjaguwar internationally, and in Canada on the illustrious Calgary label, Flemish Eye Records. Two of the chief creative drivers in the band, Matt Flegel and Scott "Monty" Munro, told us about the band's genesis; formative influences from community radio to early Radiohead; the pivotal roles played in their story by factors as diverse as homegrown great Chad VanGaalen and a Black Sabbath tribute band; how such down-to-earth, happy-go-lucky folks can create such dark music; and what it's like to be pulling into their old stomping grounds for a pair of Alberta whistle stops on their current global album release tour.

It's been said that over the past couple of years, we've all caught up, in one way or another, with the kind of dark and dystopian world view that's always been at the core of Preoccupations' music. Autumn 2022 sees the release of the group's fourth full-length album, as well as their tenth anniversary as a band. Some of these musicians have known each other since they were little kids, and it's been a solid ten years now that they've been crafting their deliciously doomy musical oeuvre as a unit. Over that time, this quartet from Calgary came up from the underground to truly earn themselves a global following; and they've accomplished it in the old-school, time-tested way: by creating a sonic identity that's distinctively their own, by making innovative and challenging records, and by touring hellaciously hard. At the heart of their sound has always been an edgy, cathartic brand of epic post-punk music; and with their 2022 album Arrangements, they've honed that melodic-yet-discordant sound to a knife's edge. The powerful new Preoccupations record is just out via Jagjaguwar internationally, and in Canada on the illustrious Calgary label, Flemish Eye Records. Two of the chief creative drivers in the band, Matt Flegel and Scott "Monty" Munro, told us about the band's genesis; formative influences from community radio to early Radiohead; the pivotal roles played in their story by factors as diverse as homegrown great Chad VanGaalen and a Black Sabbath tribute band; how such down-to-earth, happy-go-lucky folks can create such dark music; and what it's like to be pulling into their old stomping grounds for a pair of Alberta whistle stops on their current global album release tour.

Preoccupations | Recalibrated

We all remember the moment we discovered that secret song on one of our favourite albums. Often, those hidden gems provide a revealing peek behind-the-curtain, leading us to new insights about the artists and recordings we thought we knew. CKUA’s Hidden Track podcast aims to do the same, by bringing you stories that change the way you experience music. Any given week, we’ll get to the heart of the song with the musician who wrote it, reflect on a landmark recording with the producer and engineer who helped shape it, or examine the legacy of a musical icon with the critic, biographer or industry player who knows them best. Whoever the guest may be, each episode will provide a moment of discovery you won’t soon forget.

Hidden Track

Bobbie Gentry

She skyrocketed to fame with a song that didn't sound like anything anyone had ever heard before. It was gentle yet tense, lurid yet mysterious. "Ode to Billie Joe" was driven by Bobbie Gentry's trademark acoustic guitar groove, and that low Mississippi drawl that seemed like it was murmuring secrets in your ear. On this episode, Grant Stovel explores the captivating legacy of an artist who has one of most sensational success stories in all of popular music, and also one of its most fascinating and enigmatic disappearing acts. Tara Murtha, author of Bobbie Gentry's 'Ode to Billie Joe' is Grant's guest on this week's Hidden Track.  

She skyrocketed to fame with a song that didn't sound like anything anyone had ever heard before. It was gentle yet tense, lurid yet mysterious. "Ode to Billie Joe" was driven by Bobbie Gentry's trademark acoustic guitar groove, and that low Mississippi drawl that seemed like it was murmuring secrets in your ear. On this episode, Grant Stovel explores the captivating legacy of an artist who has one of most sensational success stories in all of popular music, and also one of its most fascinating and enigmatic disappearing acts. Tara Murtha, author of Bobbie Gentry's 'Ode to Billie Joe' is Grant's guest on this week's Hidden Track.

Ep 3 | Ode to Bobbie Gentry

Grant talks to Neko Case about her latest record 'Hell-On', co-produced by Bjorn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) and recorded in Stockholm. That’s where Neko was when she found out her home in Vermont had burned down. We'll hear her surprisingly zen outlook on the fire. Plus, Neko tells us about finally claiming the title of "producer" after 20 years in the music business. We'll also hear about how her collaboration with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs changed her approached to her 7th studio album.  

Grant talks to Neko Case about her latest record 'Hell-On', co-produced by Bjorn Yttling (Peter Bjorn and John) and recorded in Stockholm. That’s where Neko was when she found out her home in Vermont had burned down. We'll hear her surprisingly zen outlook on the fire. Plus, Neko tells us about finally claiming the title of "producer" after 20 years in the music business. We'll also hear about how her collaboration with k.d. lang and Laura Veirs changed her approached to her 7th studio album.

Ep 8 | Neko Case

Shawn Everett

Shawn Everett is one of the most in-demand and hardest-working production minds in music today. His skills as a recording engineer, producer, and mix engineer have been put to use on records by The War on Drugs, Weezer, Lucius, Alabama Shakes, Perfume Genius, Kacey Musgraves, John Legend, Kurt Vile, and Vampire Weekend to name just a handful. Along the way, he’s garnered a boatload of Billboard Number One Albums, Juno Awards, and Grammys. He’ll tell us the story of the life journey that has taken him from growing up in small-town Alberta – to having the world beat a path to his door in L.A. It’s a story that, along the way, involves an artist enclave on the top of a mountain, a former boy band star, ninjas, tuning chairs into musical instruments, and a lengthy series of mentorships – being taken under the wing of a succession of amazing production minds.

Shawn Everett is one of the most in-demand and hardest-working production minds in music today. His skills as a recording engineer, producer, and mix engineer have been put to use on records by The War on Drugs, Weezer, Lucius, Alabama Shakes, Perfume Genius, Kacey Musgraves, John Legend, Kurt Vile, and Vampire Weekend to name just a handful. Along the way, he’s garnered a boatload of Billboard Number One Albums, Juno Awards, and Grammys. He’ll tell us the story of the life journey that has taken him from growing up in small-town Alberta – to having the world beat a path to his door in L.A. It’s a story that, along the way, involves an artist enclave on the top of a mountain, a former boy band star, ninjas, tuning chairs into musical instruments, and a lengthy series of mentorships – being taken under the wing of a succession of amazing production minds.

Ep 11 | Shawn Everett

The Pixies’ album Doolittle was released thirty years ago this month. It’s an album that’s bursting with arresting-yet-mysterious imagery, captivating-yet-cryptic lyrics, and breathtakingly unexpected musical dynamics and departures. It’s an almost unbelievably dense, compact artistic statement that fascinates at first blush, and heavily rewards repeated listening. There’s a whole world in there. A world we’ll explore with Ben Sisario, who’s the author the book Doolittle, part of the 33 1/3 series. For his book, Ben interviewed front man Black Francis at a pivotal time in the Pixies’ story – just as they were reuniting in the 21st Century after a fifteen-year breakup. Doolittle was an underground sensation – bubbling just below the level of the hit parade. It left a lasting impression on generations of influential artists, and the rock genre as a whole.

The Pixies’ album Doolittle was released thirty years ago this month. It’s an album that’s bursting with arresting-yet-mysterious imagery, captivating-yet-cryptic lyrics, and breathtakingly unexpected musical dynamics and departures. It’s an almost unbelievably dense, compact artistic statement that fascinates at first blush, and heavily rewards repeated listening. There’s a whole world in there. A world we’ll explore with Ben Sisario, who’s the author the book Doolittle, part of the 33 1/3 series. For his book, Ben interviewed front man Black Francis at a pivotal time in the Pixies’ story – just as they were reuniting in the 21st Century after a fifteen-year breakup. Doolittle was an underground sensation – bubbling just below the level of the hit parade. It left a lasting impression on generations of influential artists, and the rock genre as a whole.

Ep 7 | The Pixies' Doolittle at 30 

Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, burst onto the Americana scene in 2011 with his debut album 'Roll the Bones.' Armed with a suitcase outfitted with a kick pedal, and his acoustic guitar, the Austin born musician was soon mesmerizing audiences with his spectacular one-man-band performances. His 2014 follow up 'And the War Came,' yield the smash single “Dearly Departed," and earned him slots on the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and Austin City Limits.  Alejandro talks to Grant about his artistic vision for his 2018 release 'Can't Wake Up', the creative advice he received from director Robert Rodriguez, and his sincere love for The Spice Girls.

Alejandro Rose-Garcia, aka Shakey Graves, burst onto the Americana scene in 2011 with his debut album 'Roll the Bones.' Armed with a suitcase outfitted with a kick pedal, and his acoustic guitar, the Austin born musician was soon mesmerizing audiences with his spectacular one-man-band performances. His 2014 follow up 'And the War Came,' yield the smash single “Dearly Departed," and earned him slots on the Late Show with David Letterman, Conan, and Austin City Limits. Alejandro talks to Grant about his artistic vision for his 2018 release 'Can't Wake Up', the creative advice he received from director Robert Rodriguez, and his sincere love for The Spice Girls.

Ep 4 | Shakey Graves

Stewart Copeland

The legendary drummer and composer talks to Grant about his latest project, Stewart Copeland’s Orchestral Ben-Hur, which comes to Edmonton’s Winspear Centre this month. Stewart shares the story behind his rich cultural upbringing, growing up the child of a C.I.A agent stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He also reflects on founding The Police alongside Sting, an epic jam session with Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson of Rush that had an unfortunate ending, and his score for Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Rumble Fish.’  

The legendary drummer and composer talks to Grant about his latest project, Stewart Copeland’s Orchestral Ben-Hur, which comes to Edmonton’s Winspear Centre this month. Stewart shares the story behind his rich cultural upbringing, growing up the child of a C.I.A agent stationed in Cairo, Egypt. He also reflects on founding The Police alongside Sting, an epic jam session with Neil Peart and Alex Lifeson of Rush that had an unfortunate ending, and his score for Francis Ford Coppola’s ‘Rumble Fish.’

Ep 9 | Stewart Copeland

Anoushka Shankar

It’s rare to perform your first gig to a few thousand people at a celebration for a musical icon. That's the pulse-pounding experience that ushered Anoushka Shankar into the public sphere. Anoushka has been making records since she was a teen, under the tutelage of sitar master Ravi Shankar. She fuses her training in Indian classical sitar with everything from flamenco, electronica, Latin music to folk-pop. She talks to us about growing up in a musical royal family, and how she’s carving out a legacy of her own.

It’s rare to perform your first gig to a few thousand people at a celebration for a musical icon. That's the pulse-pounding experience that ushered Anoushka Shankar into the public sphere. Anoushka has been making records since she was a teen, under the tutelage of sitar master Ravi Shankar. She fuses her training in Indian classical sitar with everything from flamenco, electronica, Latin music to folk-pop. She talks to us about growing up in a musical royal family, and how she’s carving out a legacy of her own.

Kat Danser

Kat Danser's chance encounter with Al Green in a parking lot in Memphis was part of an experience that put her on a path to a place in her life that she could never even have dreamt of when she was growing up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan. It’s a voyage of discovery that’s involved travelling thousands of miles, while making an inward journey that led her to become Canada’s Queen of the Swamp Blues. On the eve of her induction into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame, Grant Stovel talks to the musician and ethnomusicologist about her journey into music at 33, and her Ph. D studies in blues and roots music of the American south. 

Kat Danser's chance encounter with Al Green in a parking lot in Memphis was part of an experience that put her on a path to a place in her life that she could never even have dreamt of when she was growing up on a farm in rural Saskatchewan. It’s a voyage of discovery that’s involved travelling thousands of miles, while making an inward journey that led her to become Canada’s Queen of the Swamp Blues. On the eve of her induction into the Edmonton Blues Hall of Fame, Grant Stovel talks to the musician and ethnomusicologist about her journey into music at 33, and her Ph. D studies in blues and roots music of the American south.

This week, Leslie Feist talks to Grant Stovel about how a conscious shift in perspective guided the approach to her latest album, Pleasure.  She’ll tell us about the “dark nights of the soul” that led her to finding a better work-life balance. Plus, Leslie reflects on her tributes to Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie, and the milestone anniversary of her appearance on Sesame Street.

This week, Leslie Feist talks to Grant Stovel about how a conscious shift in perspective guided the approach to her latest album, Pleasure. She’ll tell us about the “dark nights of the soul” that led her to finding a better work-life balance. Plus, Leslie reflects on her tributes to Leonard Cohen, Gord Downie, and the milestone anniversary of her appearance on Sesame Street.

Ep 2 | Feist

Jeremy Dutcher

On our debut episode, Grant Stovel welcomes musician Jeremy Dutcher. The classically trained operatic tenor and composer spent most of his 20's quietly crafting his stunning debut album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. The album blends his training in opera, and his contemporary musical sensibility, and features post-classical rearrangements of Wolastoq First Nation traditional music. The work recently took home Canada's top musical honour, the Polaris Music Prize, this past September.  In this wide-ranging discussion, Jeremy talks about his musical upbringing, discovering the notable absence of classical music that reflects indigeneity, and uncovering the archival recordings that became foundational to his debut album.  The podcast features three selections from the album: "Mehcinut", "Oqiton", and "Eqpahak".  

On our debut episode, Grant Stovel welcomes musician Jeremy Dutcher. The classically trained operatic tenor and composer spent most of his 20's quietly crafting his stunning debut album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. The album blends his training in opera, and his contemporary musical sensibility, and features post-classical rearrangements of Wolastoq First Nation traditional music. The work recently took home Canada's top musical honour, the Polaris Music Prize, this past September.  In this wide-ranging discussion, Jeremy talks about his musical upbringing, discovering the notable absence of classical music that reflects indigeneity, and uncovering the archival recordings that became foundational to his debut album.  The podcast features three selections from the album: "Mehcinut", "Oqiton", and "Eqpahak".

Ep 1 | Jeremy Dutcher

The best podcast episodes on parenting. Interviewing experts and talking through common issues surrounding parenting. This topic is filled with important lessons and insights for anyone listening. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!

OwlTail

Best Parenting Podcasts

The best podcast episodes on physical health. Episodes talk about your diet, sleep, exercise and all the things that people do to improve their physical health and live a healthier life. This topic is for everyone, with applications in all of our everyday lives. Add episodes you're interested into your queue below!