folk

Back: Bruce, Melanie, Phil, and Neel. Front: Vanessa and Etain

Holiday Love Songs with Melanie Peterson

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

Saskatoon-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Melanie Peterson joined us again, this time with her original holiday-themed love songs. Melanie has been deemed “Mary Poppins with a broken heart” by the BBC and a “superb songwriter” by Joe Warmington of the Toronto Sun. She was last on our show in 2015.

We talked about:

Listen to the whole show

Watch the live performance

Connect with Melanie

Where’s Bob Dylan?

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by Bruce Harrott

Okay, so we couldn’t get Bob to come to the studio for the show. Not surprising considering how the Nobel Prize people can’t find him either. On this show about Bob Dylan we discussed:

  • The new film from Ron Howard  – The Beatles, Eight Days a Week
  • How the Beatles wrote songs
  • Should the Nobel Prize for Literature have been given to Bob Dylan?
  • What was Bob Dylan’s contribution to the music world?
  • Bob’s lyrics and melodies
  • How much his early career was influenced by the times (early sixties)
  • His long career
  • Two of his songs: “Shelter from the Storm” and “Subterranean Homesick Blues”
Neel, Phil, Jacob, Bruce, Nicole, and Janice

Jacob Moon a song writing star

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by Bruce Harrott

With 10 albums over a 20-year career, Canadian singer/songwriter/guitarist Jacob Moon dropped into the studio to share a wealth of helpful tips and clear insights. “Live a Little” is a truly exceptional tune, a perfect marriage of lyrics, melody, theme and variation.  “Is That All You Got” is a gutsy rocker that looks at calamity with defiance and a “bring it on” attitude. The hour just flew by as we discussed –

  • live performance looping
  • putting cover songs on YouTube
  • social media
  • how to reharmonize your chords using the same melody
  • the influence on Jacob of songwriters Paul Simon, Ron Sexsmith, Joni Mitchell, and Jackson Brown
  • the benefits of writing a song using only a bass guitar (or the bass notes on piano)
  • open (alternate) tunings including the ever-popular DADGAD
  • how a great song requires hard work and lots of rewrites

Listen to the whole show

Check out Jacob Moon’s engaging and heartfelt performances

Blair Packham packs emotional power

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by Bruce Harrott

From the moment Blair Packham started to speak, we knew we were in for some great lessons from a master songwriter and experienced teacher. If You Were Mine featured a great bridge and instrumental break. In Her Dreams started out as a story of a woman in a call centre and moved to a daughter caring for an ailing mother. In our wide-ranging conversation we also touched on the following:

  • who are you writing for?
  • does the song connect emotionally with the listener?
  • collaboration is good
  • ask for feedback and use it
  • write from your creativity
  • the new singer-songwriter accent (Shawn Mendes song Stitches for example)
  • song-writing workshops (songstudio.ca)

Listen to the full episode

Exploring poetic lyrics with Liz Jaremyn

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by Phil Emery

The ever talented Liz Jaremyn returned with two great songs. Here’s some stuff we talked about:

Listen to the whole show:

John Glover keeps it simple and engaging

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by Bruce Harrott

On this highly informative and entertaining show, we talked with John Glover:

  • how John adapted his guitar playing after a hand injury
  • the difference between “cathartic creativity” and the hard work of writing songs
  • Justin Rutledge‘s songwriting workshop
  • lyrics versus poetry
  • playing with Willie P. Bennett
  • starting the writing of a song with a melody and a chord progression
  • “Object writing” as a songwriting exercise to build sensory awareness
  • “Secret Agent Man” as inspiration
Bruce with the team

Keeping it real with Bruce Harrott

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

A very special show with Song Talk Radio’s co-host and co-creator Bruce Harrott, showcasing and discussing the process behind some of his best songs. We talked about:

  • Bruce’s traditional approach with writing lyrics first, and trying a different approach now
  • working with different producers
  • The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
  • writing about real experiences (“staying true to the story”)
  • using different melody/chords in bridge vs. verses
  • chord substitutions

Giving yourself a deadline to get stuff done: Janice Ho

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by Phil Emery

Our very own Tweeting SongBird, Janice moved to the other side of the mic. We talked about her having Opera training and her natural bluesy style.

Some stuff we talked about:

Daneil with the team

Folk Songs with a spanish flavour with Madrid native, Daniel Caceres

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by Phil Emery

Madrid, Spain born indie-folk songwriter Daniel Caceres has traveled to Toronto for a year and stopped by the Song Talk Radio studios with some great folky songs. He’s played in bands back in Madrid but is now exploring writing songs on his own.

Stuff we talked about

Listen to the show:

Daniel’s Performance Videos

 

 

Eric Sorenson, Finding his Directions Home

Neel Modi
by Neel Modi

Singer-songwriter and occasional co-host of Song Talk Radio, Eric Sorenson, returned to the show to showcase tunes from his upcoming EP, Directions Home, and a crowd-pleaser from his live shows.  Eric was joined by his bandmates Liz Jaremyn and Andrew Ages.

Stuff we talked about:

  • International Songwriting Competition (deadline extended to November 5)
  • IMSTA Festa Event  – October 17, 2015 at Ryerson University (say hi to Phil and Neel while you’re there!)
  • How to create a concept album
  • Is it a bridge or a pre-chorus? (Who cares? It sounds good!)
  • When your song may not need a chorus
  • When to consider a key change / modulation in your song

Be sure to support Eric’s indiegogo campaign to help him cover production expenses for his new album.