band

Neel, Phil, Linda, and Bruce

How to approach the media and get results

Bruce Harrott
by Bruce Harrott

Okay, so you’re talented singer/songwriter and you’ve recorded a few tunes. Now you’d like to get some media attention to promote you and your music. In this value-rich hour, Phil explains some of the things you must NEVER do, and some the things that will work. We talked about:

  • do NOT send e-mail blasts
  • customized messaging
  • what’s a press release?
  • a “call to action” – a specific and clear request
  • have a “hook”
  • best to have a story in a context
  • and many other things!

Listen to the show

Neel, Linda, Blair, Mike, Phil, and Vanessa

Deep Dive: Penny Lane & Strawberry Fields – how do they work? with Blair Packham

by Phil Emery

Songwriting master Blair Packham stopped by and we gave a deep dive on The Beatles Strawberry Fields and Penny Lane. Friend of the show Mike MacInnes sat in for Bruce.

Stuff we talked about:

Listen to the show:

 

Vanessa, Phil, Bruce, Anthony, and Neel

Exploring songs with “talk-singing”

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

We featured songs on this episode that use the unique “talk singing” technique. For the most part, we agreed that talk-singing meant that the singers were using short notes without too much melodic range, but still consciously in the key of the song.

We talked about:

  • how the ends of talk-singing musical lines work
  • the differences between rap and talk-singing
  • how talk-sung songs have interesting music beds
  • how you have a melody even when you’re speaking
  • how the late 70s and 80s saw a lot of talk-singing songs
  • our theme episode on Unconventional Singers

Listen to the show

Check out the songs

 

Neel, Phil, Vanessa, Bruce, and Anthony

Creating songs when you have an unconventional singing voice

by Phil Emery

You don’t necessarily need to have a fantastic voice to write or even perform songs well. We looked at some of our favorite songwriters with unusual voices and how they did it.

Listen to the episode

We talked about

 

Bruce, Brandon, Belinda, Sintja, Phil, Vanessa, and Neel

Sintja Baba – songwriting with a band’s support

Bruce Harrott
by Bruce Harrott

Multi-instrumentalist and back up vocalist Sintja Baba has been playing alongside various Toronto acts and is currently playing that role in Marlon Chaplin’s band. She started her own band THE NAIVE, where her music has taken the shape of various genres. Her EP, “Saw the Sun” is a medley of catchy upbeat hooks and mellow ballads. We talked about:

  • Jazz program at University of Toronto
  • longterm song development
  • songwriting as expression of longing
  • Brazilian music influences
  • theory versus intuition
  • keyboard as cello

Listen to the whole show here:

Saw The Sun lyrics: saw-the-sun-lyrics

Dirty Streets lyrics: dirty-streets-lyrics

Artist website:
www.thenaivemusic.com

Twitter:
www.twitter.com/sintjababa

Facebook:
www.facebook.com/thenaivemusic

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6qOAVsw-qknKN5ZDGxqycg

SoundCloud / MySpace:
www.soundcloud.com/thenaivemusic

1972 revisited with Kirk Felix and friends

Bruce Harrott
by Bruce Harrott

Kirk Felix arrived at our little studio with a whole band; bass, violin (fiddle), and cajon. As we did our sound check the Song Talk crew all savoured the gentle, soothing and heart-warming sounds of a folk ensemble. Patrick Ballantyne sat in for Neel Modi who was on assignment. In addition to two very authentic folk songs (Dusty Roads and Whispering Peace), we talked about:

Find more Kirk Felix:

www.Facebook.com/kirk.felix.73

https://www.youtube.com/user/Jensguard1968

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/KirkFelix

Read the lyrics here:

Whispering-Peace

Dusty-Roads

Listen to the whole program:

Watch the performance video:

Writing the emotional gamut with Beige Shelter

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

Indie rock band Beige Shelter stopped by to talk about forming the band, producing their first album, and performed two songs. Our very own Neel Modi took the co-guest seat as producer, drummer, and co-writer. A good friend of Song Talk Radio, Patrick Ballantyne filled in for Neel’s host spot.

Beige Shelter is:

  • Adi Aman – songwriter, vocals, rhythm guitar, ukulele, harmonica
  • Neel Modi – producer, percussionist, co-writer on Colours
  • Tom Kuczynski – bass guitar
  • Karan Sabharwal – lead guitar (absent)

We talked about:

  • Adi’s first appearance on Song Talk Radio over two years ago
  • Where the band name came from
  • Adi’s approach to capturing a wide range of emotions with his yin-yang philosophy of songwriting
  • Neel’s approach to producing the album – check out his blog post on this
  • Playing with your key signature to find the sweet spot for your vocals
  • Where you can listen to Beige Shelter’s debut album, Rumours we make, paths we take

Listen to the whole show:

Watch the live performances:

allister-with-the-team

Thoughtful lyrics and music with Allister Bradley

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

Pro songwriter Allister Bradley joined us for an hour to talk about two of his catchy, thoughtful songs and his process for getting them done. Stuff we talked out:

  • Toronto’s Song Studio
  • Making it in the music industry
  • Writing with your secondary instrument
  • Using session musicians
  • Why you should whistle your melody
  • Chord progression tip: make each chord in your progression a perfect fifth above the previous one

Download the lyrics for the songs.

Connect with Allister

Listen to the full show

The unusual world of songs with unusual lyrics

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

For this special theme show, each of the hosts presented a song with “unusual” or hard-to-decipher lyrics. We delved into a discussion around understanding the intentions behind and interpreting the songs. Download the lyrics here: Unusual Lyrics

  • Neel’s selection: A Self Called Nowhere by They Might Be Giants
  • Bruce’s selection: McArthur Park by Jimmy Webb (performed by Donna Summers)
  • Janice’s selection: Paranoid Android by Radiohead

We talked about:

  • The notion that once your song is released to the world, it’s no longer yours and open to multiple interpretations
  • Check out www.songmeanings.com to read user interpretations of songs
  • What is the purpose for communicating a story through unusual, hard-to-decipher lyrics?
  • Use of metaphors
  • Writing a song with unusual lyrics as a songwriter’s challenge – break the rules!

Listen to the complete show:

 

Scott B with the team

Prolific songwriting with Scott B Sympathy

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

Scott B Sympathy returned to Song Talk Radio to talk about how his songwriting process has evolved over twenty years, why you should write everyday, and why every song doesn’t need a bridge. He also played Downhearted live, and played back Come & Go from his Massey Harris album.

We talked about: