female singer

Sherry, Neel, and Susan

Susan Cattaneo and two of her favourite songs

Award-winning singer-songwriter and music educator Susan Cattaneo joined us to talk about two of her favourite songs and why they’re so great. Sherry Jacoby filled in for Phil Emery as co-host – thanks Sherry! Susan’s choices were Little Green by Joni Mitchell and The River by Bruce Springsteen. We talked about: The differences between classic …

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Neel, Phil, and Andrea

Writing a long song with Civil Wray

Sparkle. It’s exactly what Civil Wray does on her brand-new single, appropriately entitled “Sparkle”.  Civil Wray, the nom de plume of Toronto singer songwriter Andrea de Boer, worked with producer Matt DeMatteo (Danko Jones, Big Wreck, Ashley MacIsaac) in creating an ethereal, dreampop song, that may remind listeners of artists like Fiona Apple, David Bowie, and Tame Impala. It’s a song about …

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Neel, Phil, Alex, and Dana

McMaster LIVELab Concert Research Study

Singer-songwriter Alex Whorms and doctoral researcher Dana Swarbrick met while attending McMaster University. Last year, they collaborated to produce a concert research study at McMaster’s renowned LIVELab, a state of the art performance theatre and research facility, to study social bonding between performers and audience members at live music events. The concert-study involved both in-person …

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Neel, Phil, and Amanda

Writing to the big picture with Amanda Sum

Canadian artist Amanda Sum has recently released her brand-new debut album “New Age Attitudes” and was quickly featured as one of Exclaim! Magazine’s picks of the week. Blending musical elements of Indie-Pop, Jazz, and Alternative Folk with incredibly thought-provoking lyrics, Amanda’s work has received critical acclaim from major media outlets including CBC, Exclaim! Magazine, and …

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Neel, Phil, and Alex

Alex Whorms writes her first original Christmas song

While some artists work to master their chosen genre and others may even manage to define one, Alex Whorms crafts music that is essentially a genre unto itself. Seated at her beloved keyboard, the young vocalist and composer flows freely and flawlessly between styles and sounds, gracefully blending classic singer-songwriter pop, jazz, soul, rock, classical, …

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Neel, Phil, Dave & Meghan

Writing in a blues band with Bywater Call

Filled with incredible vocals and musicianship often compared to the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Canadian Americana/Roots band Bywater Call has made their unprecedented mark on the Canadian and international Blues/Roots scene with their brand-new album, “Remain”. From explosive television performances to radio play across the country, their distinctive sound blending Rock, Americana, and Soul is highlighted …

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Neel, Phil, and Angela

Angela Saini on developing songs past their initial ideas

Indian-Austrian Canadian country folk-pop artist Angela Saini is all about second chances and empowering others. She uplifts and inspires audiences with sing-alongs and storytelling about courage and finding joy in surprising places. BBC Radio has called the positive and upbeat songstress “massively talented”. Angela is most known for her sunshine-soaked song “Living on the Bright …

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