Jared McKetiak is the longtime big wheel down at Winnipeg's mighty campus/community radio staple UMFM 101.5. We sat down for a conversation about falling in love with alternative radio, how the station navigated the pandemic, and the way UMFM stays afloat thanks to the generosity of its passionate listeners. Did you know that UMFM is one of the man…

I had a delightful conversation with singer-songwriter Keri Latimer about the new Leaf Rapids LP, which -- if you're listening right when this podcast comes out -- was just released today! Here's our chat about the record and subsequent tour (kicking off tonight, April 19, at Times Change[d]!), Americana/Canadiana, dreamlike songs, terrifying clown…

If you heard episode #886, which came out earlier this month, you know what this is. It's the second collection of interviews I did for the now-defunct YouTube show 'Mom's House', which was a project by local DIY filmmaking collective Young Media. This episode features three interviews I conducted as a guest host (plus live performances) for the sh…

Synthesizer enthusiast C. Samms has an imminent new LP, ‘Bouquet’ (out May 3), so we sat down to talk about the album — the first C. Samms release in five years or so. This episode features our conversation about adding a human element to machine sounds, releasing the new album on cassette (and vinyl), converting the songs to a live setting, and mo…

Remember Solhounds? It’s been a minute, but the 'heavy metal grunge' outfit is back this month for their first show in five years or so (April 26 at the West End Cultural Centre). They’ll be playing two sets: one of original music, and the other… heavy versions of music from the Shania Twain songbook. Here's our conversation about the reunion gig, …

I'm not the only one out here interviewing local artists. Beginning in 2017, a group of DIY filmmakers who operated as a collective called Young Media put out a YouTube show called 'Mom's House'. The short-lived channel featured a bunch of guest hosts, and I was lucky enough to have hosted a total of six episodes. 'Mom's House' is long-defunct, and…

The reason Quinton Blair is one of my favourite guests on the podcast is the same reason he’s one of my favourite local songwriters: dude can tell a story. I caught up with Q on the road outside a truck stop somewhere in Alberta. Here's our conversation about his new music, weekend jaunts out west, learning a songbook and a half of country covers t…

Instrumental trio (drums/bass/Rhodes) Compost recently put out an excellent debut tape of “nutrient rich music for a healthy body and mind” — inspired by ‘90s hip-hop beats, jazz, electronic music, etc. Stay tuned for a conversation about their improv-heavy writing and recording process, future plans, and much more! This episode brought to you by o…

Although a global pandemic threw a wrench into their initial reunion plans four years ago, reggae/soul/rock n’ rollers SubCity are coming back for one night only at the Park Theatre April 13. Here's my conversation with Darryl (sax) and Johannes (vocals/guitar) about next month’s show — their first as SubCity in a dozen years — the band’s history a…

This one's a little different. It's part of a series of episodes I'm doing in collaboration with local rapper Ezoman's Creative Side Entertainment for this year's 'Future of M"you"sic' competition, which is a six-month long showcase of up-and-coming local artists at the Limelight. Here's the first episode, which is similar to my old Quick Hits form…

I sat down with Glenn and Wyatt of grunge-pop outfit Gladly to talk about the fundraising campaign for their new record, balloons, wanting to start tabloid-style feuds with other local bands, the proper BPM for pogoing, and much more. Need more Gladly in your life? Check out episode #646 (Dec. 2021), which features a 'quick hit' interview with Glen…

I caught up with alt-rock solo artist Jared Adams to talk about his new electronic-tinged long-player, ‘Mystic Humanism’ (which just dropped today if you're listening right when the episode comes out)! Here's our conversation about the loose concept album’s focus on technology (for good or ill), the use of A.I. In promoting the record — and whether…

Guitarist Ronnie Ladobruk may be atop many people’s ranking of local guitar wizards, but the man himself says he still has work to do. On Ronnie’s return to the podcast, we had a conversation about guitar (of course), splitting his time as frontman of Ronnie Ladobruk and the Electric and sideman with the Holly Davidson Band, learning from stripped-…

Bassist Mike Downes is one of Canada’s most accomplished jazz musicians, who has performed and recorded alongside a murderers’ row of top international talent. Although he’s based out of Toronto, Mike was born and raised right here in Winnipeg! Here's our chat about his new record, ‘The Way In’, loving King Crimson, making a record without drums, a…

Stepped out of my comfort zone on this episode for a conversation with 'Winnipeg’s most dangerous performer', Brett Oddly! Brett is a sideshow/freak show performer, escape artist, magician, stuntman, etc. He’s part of the upcoming Punk Circus, also feat. local punx Yer Mum and Suburban Hypocrites (hear a few songs by each on this episode as well). …

I sat down with guitarist Paul Rowsell, a/k/a PDR, to talk about his imminent EP of instrumental music, finding the heaviness in acoustic sounds, loving campus/community radio, and more. Paul's 'Moods and Motives' record drops Sunday, March 3! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the …

Winnipeg’s premier Ukrainian folk/punk fusion outfit, Zrada, is back with a new EP and a revamped lineup! I sat down with two-sevenths of the new-look band — which includes a strong franco-manitobain contingent — to talk about the new release, and much more! Need more Zrada in your life? Check out episode #611 (Aug. 2021) This episode brought to yo…

Feb. 12 marked the tragic death of Cayden Carfrae, better known to local hip-hop fans as Caid Jones. He was only 24 years old. While I didn't know Caid well, I had the chance to talk to him on the podcast back in April of 2021 -- at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic -- and I found him to be a very passionate, insightful, inspiring artist, who was…

Good times on this one talking to multidisciplinary artist and musician Leigh Lugosi about the Góra project, making ‘ambient country’ music, being inspired by wolves (werewolves as well as just regular wolves) on the new tape, The Quivering Green Music of Animals, and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Hu…

Long-running local hard rockers Ash and the Arsonists sat down to talk about their upcoming single (Feb. 23!) and EP, a gig at Festival du Voyageur, shredding and the comeback of the guitar, making a 'big ol' potpourri' of sounds, and much more! (Note: sometimes when I have this many people on the show at once, a few guests' voices can get a bit wa…

I caught up with Dusty From and Dylan Buchkowski of long-running blues project D.B. + the Deadbeats for a quick chat about the writing for their next release, 'three chords and the truth, upcoming shows -- including back-to-back blues festivals in Regina and Winnipeg and a local benefit show later this month -- and much more! Need more Deadbeats in…

Juno-nominated local folk duo Burnstick are set to release the follow-up to their acclaimed debut this spring. Here's our conversation about the upcoming record, writing cinematically, playing intimate shows vs larger festivals, further honing their sound as a duo, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Shirt Company. Huge…

She’s relatively new to the local music scene, but indie-folk-pop singer-songwriter Jennifer Machado has packed a lot into just a few years. Here's our chat about her debut EP (‘The Retrospective Heart’, recorded at House of Wonders), high-profile gigs including the Winnipeg Folk Festival's young performers' program, loving concept albums, and much…

Alt-rock four-piece Toy Sun are ostensibly a new band, but although they’ve only played a handful of shows in their current guise, the members have almost 15 years of experience perfoming together on the covers circuit. Here's our conversation about launching the project during the pandemic, playing original music vs being a cover band, their upcom…

I caught up with experimental guitarist Curran Faris to talk about his latest release as Greenhouse, ‘Sacrifice Zones’ — which was one of my favourite local records of 2023 — and more! Here's our chat about his current projects, including a collaboration with Cole Peters as Seracs, as well as reflecting emotion through atmosphere, approaching the g…

It was great to catch up with vocalist and educator Adele M. Wilding for another chat on the podcast — this time focusing on her upcoming ‘Music of the Caribbean’ vocal workshop at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts for Black History Month! Stay tuned for a conversation about her own roots, the impact the music of the West Indies (reggae, …

Good chat on this episode with indie rock/post-punk/shoegaze/'genre salad' artist Tired Cossack about his new(ish) ‘I Know, I Guess’ album and its sonic and thematic shifts from its predecessor, songwriting, “janky guitars”, and so much more! Need more Tired Cossack in your life? Check out his previous appearance on episode #652 (Jan. 2022) This ep…

Local rap-rockers Pure Entry are set to release their debut EP, Shifting Gears, so we sat down to talk about the record, their alt-rock meets hip-hop vibe (it ain’t nü metal), and much more! Give it a listen before you head down to the Taphouse for their release show Jan. 20 (tomorrow, if you're listening right when this comes out) alongside past p…

Selkirk rock n' roll lowlifes The Bloodshots are back on the show to talk about their big plans for 2024, starting with a trip to Hollywood later this month for a gig at the iconic Whisky A Go-Go Jan. 25! Tune in to our chat about the band’s longevity, upcoming new music, the Indigenous music scene, moonlighting as a Nirvana cover band, and much mo…

On New Year's Day, local musician and filmmaker Jaimz Asmundson passed away. I didn't know Jaimz very well, but he was a guest on the podcast twice -- once in 2014 and once in 2021 -- as a member of synthwave duo Ghost Twin. As evidenced by this tribute from Winnipeg's iconic Dave Barber Cinematheque, Jaimz was an integral part of the local film co…

If you didn't hear the previous three episodes, turn back now and check 'em out! This is part four (of four) in my rundown of my favourite local releases of 2023. Thanks. As I do every year, I've made a list of my favourite local albums of 2023. Did I miss albums? Absolutely. Did I immediately question my judgement after I finished narrowing it dow…

(Sizzling switch-endings... this isn't the finale of my best of 2023 series, is it? Don't worry, that's coming next week. For now, enjoy this time-sensitive interview episode!) Guitarist Keith Price has been living, working, and playing jazz in Auckland, New Zealand, over the past five years, but he’s (temporarily) back home in Winnipeg with a show…

If you didn't hear the previous two episodes, turn back now and check 'em out! This is part three (of four) in my rundown of my favourite local releases of 2023. Thanks. As I do every year, I've made a list of my favourite local albums of 2023. Did I miss albums? Absolutely. Did I immediately question my judgement after I finished narrowing it down…

If you didn't hear the previous episode, turn back now and check it out! This is part two in my rundown of my favourite local releases of 2023. Thanks. As I do every year, I've made a list of my favourite local albums of 2023. Did I miss albums? Absolutely. Did I immediately question my judgement after I finished narrowing it down to 20? Yuppers. B…

As I do every year, I've made a list of my favourite local albums of 2023. Did I miss albums? Absolutely. Did I immediately question my judgement after I finished narrowing it down to 20? Yuppers. But for good or ill, there are 20 releases by local artists I want to highlight. Continuing the tradition I began last year, I've recorded a series of ep…

Reggae and dancehall artist Black Lantern is on the show! Here's our conversation about his long family tradition of making music, his other creative outlet T-West Dance, reggae’s enduring international appeal, finding acceptance and collaboration in Winnipeg’s diverse music scene, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at Devine Sh…

I was pleasantly surprised the other day when I saw that Lounge FM — seemingly out of nowhere — had a new album. Here's a chat with everyone’s favourite “Friday night bath music” outfit about the phone-centric ‘1800CYA’ record, “dialing back” some of the already chillest vibes around, their release show with Odd Outfit, and much more! Need more Lou…

The last time Ben Rüsch was on the podcast (episode #553, Jan. 2021), it was to talk about a record by his prog trio Providence. Since then, he’s been making industrial-tinged, synth-heavy solo electronic music as Neuroshock, with the release of his debut album, 'The Reactance Bias', earlier this month. Here's our conversation about live vs. progra…

Local rappers/producers Rob Crooks and Kitz Willman are back on the show — inna combination style — to talk about their new ‘Gazogene’ album, which -- if you're listening the day this comes out -- was just released on Bandcamp today! We talk about collaboration, the prolific 2023 they’ve each had, taking hip-hop out of its comfort zone and into imm…

Long-running local alternative rock trio WHY are back on the show, talking about their new single, “Soul Declares”, which came out Dec. 1. Here's our conversation about writing genuine songs, getting out of the way of your own creativity, and much more! Need more WHY in your life? Check out episode #389 (June 2019) This episode brought to you by ou…

On this one: a good hang with Winnipeg blues/roots original Romi Mayes! It's conversation about her upcoming record — the first in almost a decade(!) — and the ambitious fundraising campaign behind it. We also talk about navigating the post-COVID/streaming-era music biz, making loyal fans (who have become good friends) around the world, one show at…

Let's get experimental on this episode with a fascinating conversation with avant-garde chamber punk duo Savant Flaneur! We talk about bringing the weird to the people, bringing the people to the weird, composing for (and improvising with) cello and violin, and an upcoming musical/architectural installation that will let listeners experience music …

Everyone’s favourite freak-rawk guitar wizard, Paige Drobot, is about to release her first full-length, but this one is extra-special. It’s a decade-in-the-works record of songs by her old band, the Psychics, finally getting the release it deserves (Dec. 1 via Transistor 66)! On this episode, we catch up about the album, the Psychics' legacy (such …

Lots of faces (and voices) on this one! Alternative hip-hop collective Facetape includes a local Winnipeg member (Mr. Introvert), plus vocalists, producers and instrumentalists from all over the map, including Ontario, Michigan, Tennessee, California, and beyond! Here's our conversation about the logistics of putting together such a far-flung group…

With the release of their new full-length, ‘Wild One’, last month, local indie rock/pop/roots/etc. twang gang Neighbour Andy are ready to take over your, um… neighbourhood! Check out our conversation about the record, their ever-changing and maturing sound, finding vulnerability on slower songs, who the ‘most important’ (haha) band members are, and…

If you're listening to this episode right when it comes out, we're less than 24 hours away from this year's instalment of the Manitoba Loud Music Awards, happening Nov. 18 at the Park Theatre! I sat down with event founder Dag Aymont and fellow organizing team member Mike Dearman (of the band Ramskull) to talk about the fan-driven celebration of al…

Indie pop/freak folk artist Harper K. Smith is a recent transplant to Winnipeg, having moved here from Vancouver a few months back. Here's our conversation about getting into the local music scene as an outsider, DIY recording and her upcoming EP, intensely personal lyrics and the impact of isolation, and much more! This episode brought to you by o…

I sat down for a conversation with indie rock/Americana singer-songwriter Nicholas Goszer, who records and performs under the name Nickybaby! We talked about his project’s origins during the pandemic and development into a full-fledged band (with some crazy-talented players), catharsis through performing highly personal songs, new music on the hori…

Good chat on this episode with singer-songwriter/piano player Elliot Feeling, whose release of the new ‘Submariner’ EP is just around the corner! We talked about their long history in the local music scene (the great Lonely Vulcans, among others), finally putting out a solo record, not getting hung up on classical theory, writing on piano vs guitar…

It’s been 18 years since they released ‘Craftsmen’, but prairie rap triumvirate Park-Like Setting are back with a new record, ‘This, That and the Third'! On this episode, I talk to Yy, mcenroe, and Bazooka Joe 204 about PLS in 2023, making records with your friends (“synergy!”), the upcoming 30th anniversary of Peanuts & Corn Records, and so much m…