Lyrically Speaking

It’s a double-interview “minishow” of Lyrically Speaking! Today, we check in with two emerging musicians to watch: Pallmer and Jordan Little. From their cozy home in Fredericton, Pallmer talk about their brand new single, “Allude to What,” which was written in Banff, recorded in Montreal, and now released accompanied by a spectacular, dance-based music video filmed in Fredericton. Then Jordan Little calls in from Etobicoke to discuss their debut EP, Late June.The Lyrically Speaking theme song was composed, recorded, and mixed by JoJo Worthington. Check out her other work on her website & follow her Facebook page.The show’s artwork was created by Mingjia. You can see her portfolio on her website.

Welcome to the first ever “minishow” of Lyrically Speaking! On this episode, we listen to some new (and some sort of new) songs from amazing friends of the show: Mingjia Chen & Kieran Smythe, JoJo Worthington, and Mike T. Kerr! Then we have a little interview with Toronto’s honest-hearted Shawn William Clarke about his spectacular new EP “Spectral Acoustics Vol 1,” which you can download now.The Lyrically Speaking theme song was composed, recorded, and mixed by JoJo Worthington (hey, you heard her on this episode!). Check out her other work on her website & follow her Facebook page.The show’s artwork was created by Mingjia (hey, you heard her on this episode too!). You can see her portfolio on her website.

Avant-folk world builder Mappe Of (AKA Tom Meikle) joins me from his home studio for a very special episode of the show. We take a guided audio tour of The Isle of Ailynn, the fantasy world he crafted as his latest record, released on Paper Bag records last year. Mappe Of just released a companion experience for this record, too: a virtual reality rendering of the island, which you can experience now—preferably while listening to our conversation through the album! In addition to exploring Ailynn, Tom talks about falling asleep while listening to the black metal of Dimmu Borgir; we nerd out about Zelda, and talk about the influence of a little film called Star Wars; and explore how creating an imaginary world can make us more empathetic towards our real world. I also mispronounce some names—as Tom admits, “this record’s a minefield!”Head over to Mappe Of’s site to learn more and catch his livestream (presented by the National Arts Centre) on Wednesday, April 29th.The Lyrically Speaking theme song was composed, recorded, and mixed by JoJo Worthington. Check out her other work on her website & follow her Facebook page.The show’s artwork was created by Mingjia. You can see her portfolio on her website.

London Folk-Pop harmonizers The Pairs join me in the CFRU studios to talk about a couple of wonderful tracks off their debut LP, Noise! These thoughtful creators discuss that fine line between kindness and paranoia: when worrying about offending people freezes your ability to contribute in a meaningful way. We talk about how to own up to mistakes and the empowering feeling of ignoring genre delineations (“maybe we can do whatever we want!”). Also: what can we learn about personal growth from Woody Guthrie? Check out the Pairs’ Facebook page for details about forthcoming livestreamed performances this week.The Lyrically Speaking theme song was composed, recorded, and mixed by JoJo Worthington. Check out her other work on her website & follow her Facebook page.Our artwork was created by Mingjia. You can see her portfolio on her website.

Lunar Bloom are the first guests on the new run of Lyrically Speaking! Bringing hot mugs of tea & coffee to a snowy morning, we talk about two songs on their debut, self-titled EP. We also get into the perils of forgetting your opening harmony at your first concert, talk about why a choir is like a cake, and do a lovely circle of compliments.Learn more about Lunar Bloom at their website!This episode is the first to feature an amazing, brand new theme song by JoJo Worthington. Check out her other work on her website & follow her Facebook page.The beautiful new art for the show was created by another fabulous musician, Mingjia. Visit her website—you won’t regret it.NOTE: This episode contains discussion around sexual assault. If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault, please visit the Draw the Line website for support in Ontario. If you need an emergency mental health support, please call the Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-866-996-0991.

The marvellous alt-country songwriter REBEKAH HAWKER stops by Lyrically Speaking to talk about a couple songs off her debut EP Careful Women (out August 23rd). We talk songwriters from Kathleen Edwards to Carrie Underwood to Feist and get into her process of building shells for songs between music lessons. We also talk about the complicated intersection between feminism and romantic dedication and what it feels like to be confident and secure when people want to see you as damaged. Learn more about Rebekah’s adventures at rebekahhawker.com.

This week, Ottawa-based art-folk bilangue superforce Moonfruits! These must-see performers chat about high school peer Leif Vollebekk encouraging their early songwriting, fostering empathy through characters, and what it means to let an imaginary town speak for itself. We listen to a song from that town (Ste. Quequepart, translated as “Saint Somewhere”), and delve into how this town can help facilitate kitchen table conversations around income inequality and other vital social issues. Alex also gets heated on what could become new podcast, “classically speaking.” Check out Moonfruits’ latest work & upcoming tour dates in Ontario at moonfruits.ca and remember: “there are no wrong notes – it just matters what comes after them.”

This episode, SAFFRON A joins me in the Toronto Apartment to talk two songs off her latest EP, Resilience! Saffron and I chat about the three phases of amusing oneself during a family road trip, trading a pickle for a Pokémon card, and how her best performance this past summer was at a Glenco train platform. We also talk about Saffron’s experience with her song “Resilience,” which has invited survivors of all sorts to open up about their stories of sexual harassment and assault. Listen to the raw & powerful “Resilience” EP now on Bandcamp, and check out where you can catch Saffron A live at her website: saffronamusic.com.

The lovely Gillian Nicola joins me in the Toronto apartment to discuss three tracks off her first full-length record, Dried Flowers! Jillian joyfully takes us through a journey, from belting classic rock covers at 13 to songwriting at the Banff Centre. Tune in to also hear a tale of escaped chickens. Her powerful LP will be out on May 3rd! Listen to the single Half-Way now and catch Gillian on tour this May. All the details can be found at her website: https://www.gilliannicola.com/.

Sam Allen of Run Coyote invites me into his lovely Toronto home to discuss two irresistible tracks off the new record, In Shadowlands! We discuss how we all desire a hero in anxious times, how writing in images works well within the film noir genre, and the peculiar joys of working with your family in a band. Listen to the new Run Coyote record on April 26th (out on So Sorry Records), and check out their tour dates at runcoyotemusic.com.

Indie folk-poppers CITIZEN JANE join me in the Toronto apartment for a heartwarming chat with this underlying message: brie-lieve in yourself. We discuss their leap of faith, moving from Vancouver to Toronto by train. We talk about the vulnerability of learning new things as adults, the inspiration we take from young people demanding change, and coping with war-time destruction through musical creation. Download the new Citizen Jane single, “High Tide”, on Bandcamp now, and listen to their LP In The Storm while you’re add it. Tour dates and other treats are at citizenjanemusic.com!

RICHARD GARVEY joins me in the Toronto apartment to talk about his experience with the Kitchener-Waterloo based Radical Choir, working with The Ever Lovin’ Jug Band, and the 94-person miracle town of Hazlet, Saskatchewan. We also touch on sing-alongs, hula hoops, and dating apps. Look for Richard’s new album, “You Can’t Just Assume Everyone Wants To Have Sex With You,” on April 1st, and check out his website for tour dates across Ontario and beyond: www.richardgarvey.ca.

Adventures in narcissism! I was rushing around releasing an album for the last couple weeks, but found a moment of calm to interview someone...convenient. Check out samsonwrote.com for more details. I also play songs by friends of the show who have released new art since our interviews: Jojo Worthington, Missy Bauman, and John Muirhead!

This episode is a blast and a half. Jay Foster and Paul Brogee of LONG RANGE HUSTLE join me in Toronto to discuss two songs off their latest record, “Town,” over banana bread and red wine. We get into how it feels to argue with your hero (in this case, producer Tony Doogan), getting less precious about your creations, and realizing you doodle mindlessly just like your grandfather. Also, Paul remembers Track 8 of Tragically Hip’s album In Violet Light, and we go over the cast of characters that seems to exist in every town ever. Go to longrangehustle.com immediately to buy “Town,” and catch LRH on tour across Canada now (follow them for dates and updates!).

I knew that my chat with folk/roots world-wanderers PIPER & CARSON was going to be a great one when we talked about turtles for three minutes right off the top. We listened to a few songs the two wrote collaboratively and talked about how improv informs Piper’s approach to songwriting, being conscious of where you spend your money, and keeping dad off the tractor while recording on the farm. We also get into being undercover introverts and I get to hear the most incredible story about Piper’s activist grandmother, who inspires Carson and Piper’s activism to this day. Swing by their Facebook page for all tour dates & other delectable info!

JESSE MATAS came by the Toronto apartment to talk about his debut solo record Tamarock. We get into how busking with The Crooked Brothers was bootcamp for his voice, shame around male self-expression, and the importance of communing with nature. Falcon Lake, Shad, and Star Trek come up, and we shout out a fellow podcast we love (Folk Roots Radio with Jan Hall!). Listen to Jesse’s new record now and stay tuned for upcoming shows at jessematas.com.

MADELEINE ROGER and LOGAN MCKILLOP stop by for an afternoon chat in Guelph, taking a break from their extensive touring to drink some tea and debrief. These two beams of light discuss the majesty of Manitoba wilderness, touring with an abundance of waffles, and debating guitar panning choices with your family at the dinner table. We listen to Madeleine Roger’s “60 Years More” (off her record Cottonwood, out now) and Logan McKillop’s “Mother’s Love” (off his forthcoming record Anchorless). We learn how catching frogs is really a bad idea, touring with a kayak is crazy but wonderful, and the distinction between being lonely and being alone. Check out Madeleine and Logan’s websites for all the good info: madeleineroger.com / loganmckillop.com.

KIERAN SMYTH (of POMES) swoops by, bottle of wine in one hand and guitar in the other, in order to discuss avian death, spiritual fulfillment, and encapsulating the reckless nature of the modern party. We also talk Blink 182, Joanna Newsom, Neutral Milk Hotel, Jack Kerouac, and the importance of deep conversations with dads. Check out Pomes on Facebook etc. and look out for new music in 2019!

Shawn William Clarke joins me in my Toronto bedroom to discuss three powerful songs off his 2017 album, “Topaz”. We discuss new age music, writing teenage romance honestly, and the problem of normalizing misogynistic covers. Head over to Wenona Craft Beer Lodge in Toronto this Sunday, December 16th, for the last 2018 instalment of their 1-on-1 Songwriter Session series. Shawn will be interviewing Melanie Brulée and David Newberry. Watch out for updates from Shawn at hwww.shawnwilliamclarke.com, and follow him on all those media doodads!

Joe Thomas, from psychedelic folk-rock group Hungry Lake, invites me into his home studio to talk about all three tracks of their most recent EP, “Townies”! We touch on the Salem witch trials, Wilco, writing droughts, and the movie “Hot Fuzz”. Catch Hungry Lake at the ANAF Club in Guelph TODAY (Nov. 29th) or at the Horseshoe in Toronto on December 19th, and listen to “Townies” and the rest of their incredible catalogue at https://hungrylake.bandcamp.com/ or on yer favourite music app!