The No Normal Podcast

In the newest episode of New Music Edmonton's The No Normal podcast, Reid interviews composer, performer and educator Matthias McIntire. Over the past few years, Matthias has been teaching composition at Dalhousie University, serving as the composer-in-residence at the Lunenburg Academy of Music and has been touring his multimedia songcycle, “Sing Nature Alive,” around the world with renowned pianist and soprano, Rachel Fenlon. In this interview, Matthias discusses his immense passion for art, education and sound exploration in nature. His composition, “The Forest Reclaims the Land,” will soon be performed by the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra on April 24, 2026. 01:13 – Forest Reclaims the Land (clip 1) Composed by Matthias McIntire 26:57 – Sing Nature Alive (clip 1) Composed by Matthias McIntire & Visuals by Jamie McMillan, Performed by Rachel Fenlon 37:12 – Sing Nature Alive (clip 2) Composed by Matthias McIntire & Visuals by Jamie McMillan, Performed by Rachel Fenlon 47:58 – Cathedral Grove (and the Gray Jay) (clip 1) Composed by Matthias McIntire, Performed by Matthias McIntire 60:30 – Forest Reclaims the Land (clip 2) Composed by Matthias McIntire 71:46 – Forest Reclaims the Land (clip 3) Composed by Matthias McIntire For more information: ● Matthias McIntire ○ Website: https://www.matthiasmcintire.ca/ ○ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matthiascomposerperformer?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_s heet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw== ○ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/matthias.mcintire ○ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/matthiasmcintire

Olivia Shortt is a storyteller, and they tell us their stories through absurdist and maximalist music, video art and fashion. Olivia discovered that this extravagant combination of art forms can conjure unique spaces for story telling, and such mediums assist her in designing sonic environments for all people to experience and uncover their own personal meaning. In the newest episode of New Music Edmonton's The No Normal podcast, Reid and Olivia discuss her recent residency in Edmonton, her work with the Jack Quartet and her ongoing journey of navigating the strange and weird as forces for her artistic expression. Olivia Shortt ○ Website: https://www.olivia-shortt.com/ ○ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oliviash_rtt/?hl=en

Ali Balighi is a composer, sound designer and poet born in Tehran, Iran. You can listen to his most recent album Radif of Iranian Music: Home Is Far Away, available now on Bandcamp. Ali's compositions draw from his poems, sound explorations and experimentations with electronics. These elements combined have led to the creation of many opulent multidisciplinary works and albums. His works have been performed internationally at festivals and conferences such as Sonic Matter, New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival, Hot Air Music Festival, Tehran Contemporary Music Festival, NoiseFloor UK Contemporary Music, Research On Contemporary Composition Conference, ClarinetFest, Cortona Sessions For New Music, Audiovisual Frontiers Festival, ICSC 2022 6th International Csound Conference, and Tehran International Electronic Music Festival. Music included in this episode: 01:12 – Dastgah: Algorithmic Explorations of Persian Microtonality and Serialism (excerpt 1) Composed by Ali Balighi, March 2025 9:35 – A Song Below Water (excerpt) Composed by Ali Balighi, 2022 16:25 – Who am I? Composed by Ali Balighi, Performed by Kathryn Vetter, 2020 28:39 – Corridor Composed by Ali Balighi, February 2025 33:38 – Home is Far Away Composed by Ali Balighi, February 2025 40:28 – Dastgah: Algorithmic Explorations of Persian Microtonality and Serialism (excerpt 2) Composed by Ali Balighi, March 2025 46:33 – Walking in the Darkness (excerpt) Composed by Ali Balighi, 2018 61:26 – Dastgah: Algorithmic Explorations of Persian Microtonality and Serialism (excerpt 3) Composed by Ali Balighi, March 2025 For more information: ● Ali Balighi ○ Website: https://alibalighi.com/ ○ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ali_balighi/?hl=en ○ Bandcamp: https://alibalighi.bandcamp.com/

In the newest episode of New Music Edmonton's The No Normal podcast, Reid interviews Toronto-based composer and performer Bruce A. Russell. From navigating through systemic barriers as an emerging artist, his mentorship under James Tenney, and becoming the composer/curator-in-residence at Arraymusic, Bruce's story and compositions embody a deep passion for music and creation. Interest in Bruce's music increased following the global Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. As a result, his work has been performed by Prism Percussion, San Juan Symphony, Idaho Falls Symphony, Grant Park Orchestra, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Isabel String Quartet, Mill City String Quartet, and the University of Delaware School of Music. The most recent performances of his work have included Mill City String Quartet, University of Delaware Percussion Ensemble, Piano Lunaire, and junctQín keyboard collective. Music included in this episode: 01:13 – Kalimba Canon (excerpt 1) Composed by Bruce A. Russell, Performed by Second Note Duo, July 2020 13:20 – Linea Nigra (excerpt 1) Composed by Bruce A. Russell, part of the Ashil Mistry Royal Academy of Music, July 2016 24:12 – Sequences (excerpt) Composed by Bruce A. Russell, Performed by the University of Delaware Percussion, Directed by Gene Koshinski, May 2024 39:54 – ex harmonia (full) Composed by Bruce A. Russell, Performed by Arraymusic, 2023 55:29 – Linea Nigra (excerpt 2) Composed by Bruce A. Russell, part of the Ashil Mistry Royal Academy of Music, July 2016 72:07 – Kalimba Canon (excerpt 2) Composed by Bruce A. Russell, Performed by Second Note Duo, July 2020 For more information: ● Bruce A. Russell / El Mahboob ○ Website: https://elmahboob.com/ ○ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/el_mahboob/?hl=en ○ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BruceARussellComposer/ ○ Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/brussell

Welcome back to The No Normal. Multi-faceted artist Helen Pridmore is our guest on this episode. For decades Helen has been a champion of cutting edge compositions by a huge roster of contemporary composers. With a palette of vocal techniques that includes virtually every “extended” technique imaginable, traditional classical singing, improvisation, live electronics and more, Helen Pridmore’s work is wide-ranging, and she has performed across Canada, as well as in the US, Europe, and elsewhere. Among her priorities as an artist has been intense, sonic and multidisciplinary collaborations with a huge list of great artists. Recent projects have included theatrical works, both self-composed, and created in tandem with others. Our conversation with Helen looks at all of these things, and begins with some really interesting background talk about her voice, and how she came to be interested in experimental music and art. Music included in this episode: 02:03 Out Loud (2023, excerpt 1) Composed and Directed by Terri Hron in collaboration with Helen Pridmore and Jennifer Beatty 17:10 Voi(REX) (excerpt 1) Composed 2003 by Phillipe Leroux, performed 2021 by Helen Pridmore and Aventa Ensemble 28:37 Aria (excerpt) Composed by John Cage, 1958, performed 2013 by Helen Pridmore 37:14 Voi(REX) (excerpt 2) Composed 2003 by Phillipe Leroux, performed 2021 by Helen Pridmore and Aventa Ensemble 43:31 Voi(REX) (excerpt 3) Composed 2003 by Phillipe Leroux, performed 2021 by Helen Pridmore and Aventa Ensemble 52:45 GOYA (excerpt) Composed 2015 by WL Altman, Libretto by David Fancy, both in collaboration with Helen Pridmore 61:36 Out Loud (2023, excerpt 2) Composed and Directed by Terri Hron in collaboration with Helen Pridmore and Jennifer Beatty 67:22 Sor Juana and the Silences (excerpt) Created and performed by Helen Pridmore, 2018 68:06 Out Loud (2023, excerpt 3) Composed and Directed by Terri Hron in collaboration with Helen Pridmore and Jennifer Beatty For more Information: Helen Pridmore: https://www.helenpridmore.ca/ https://soundcloud.com/helen_pridmore Aventa Ensemble: https://aventa.ca/ Phillipe Leroux: https://www.lerouxcomposition.com/en/ Terri Hron: https://terrihron.com/ Jennifer Beattie: https://brightworknewmusic.com/person/jennifer-beattie/ WL ALtman: https://uregina.ca/media-art-performance/directory/altman-wl.html David Fancy: https://www.davidfancy.ca/site/home