Singers and Songwriters
Listen to interviews with singer / songwriters and those who touch their lives.
Learn about their journey and the inspiration for their songs.
Spill The Tea
Previous Shows
Show 049 - Mar 22 2025
Big
Lou
Cara
McLeod
Harley
Card
Big Lou was born in St. Maarten and now lives in London, Ontario. He has captivates his audiences with his signature Island Hip Hop style—a vibrant fusion of Caribbean rhythms, Afro-soul, and Latin energy. From the humble beginnings of self-taught songwriting and rapping to earning awards like ECA’s Best Hip Hop/RnB Artist in 2023, his dedication to his craft is undeniable.
Cara McLeod has had music in her veins for years. From childhood voice lessons, to the Canadian Finals Rodeo singing competition in the early 90’s, to performing in Rome, Italy in 2009. One of Cara’s performing highlights is sharing the stage with her dad singing Country Roads by John Denver. A year after his passing, she would be invited by Rick Worrall to join Rocky Mountain High concerts with ESO at the Winspear Centre.
Harley Card is a guitarist and composer who has been a contributor to the creative music scene in Canada since 2003.
As a singer-songwriter he has emerged as a member of the Toronto chamber jazz outfit; Hobson’s Choice.
In 2018 he began performing in his own solo projects as a
songwriter and has since put out three releases;
‘Unconfined Invisible’, Two Tomorrows (single) and ‘Our Canopy’ (an EP co-released with Rebecca Hennessy).
Show 048 - Mar 15 2025
Emma
Della Rossa
Vili V
Malorie
Blake
Emma Della Rossa is a versatile artist—singer, songwriter, flutist, and educator. She is inspired by exploring the deeper level of seemingly ordinary experiences and expressing them musically through a lens of honesty and truth. As a singer-songwriter, her original music combines influences from indie-pop and folk genres, tied together with layers of vocal harmonies and introspective lyricism. Her recent singles “Better” (2023) and “Someone I Adore” (2024) mark a new thematic and artistic direction.
Vili V is a YTV Achievement Award winner. He has Canada, Europe and the United States. He has been described as “one of the most artful practitioners of roots rock working today”. His music offers solace, hope and a reminder that, no matter what challenges we face, the power of music can uplift and lead us on our journey.
Malorie Blake grew up in Toronto and is the vocal powerhouse at the front of the band Propter Hawk. Her voice has the raw energy of Janis Joplin blended with the melodic tones of Paul McCartney. The Propter Hawk sound has been described as indie meets classic Southern Rock. She is a self proclaimed lover of animals, wine and real housewives.
Show 047 - Mar 8, 2025
Heliara
Evan
Rotella
Victoria
Carr
Heliara is a London, Ontario native transplanted to Ottawa, She is a passionate singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been writing songs for as long as she can remember.
In 2023, she released an indie folk track entitled ‘Under the Pines’ dedicated to her late grandfather.
Her song Cloak of Fear earned her a semi-finalist spot in the 2024 Music in Motion Awards Competition, a Canadian national competition for unsigned indie talent.
Evan Rotella is a Niagara Region home grown singer/songwriter. His first release was in 2021 with a collection of songs written when he was in his early teens entitled “The Demo Tapes” He’s played in dozens of venues including the iconic Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey where Bruce Springsteen started his career.
Victoria Carr is an across the board artist. Her compositions range from Dora award-winning plays to commissions for art installations and audiobook pieces….. to corporate commercials. She is a member of the JUNO nominated band; The Wilderness of Manitoba. Her style has been described as a melodic blend with intriguing lyrics, airy vocals and mellow instrumentation combining the folk music of the past with more contemporary alternative influences.
Show 046 - Mar 1, 2025
Siobhan
Bodrug
Amanda
Braam
Adina
V
Siobhan is a singer-songwriter and recording artist from Toronto. Her soulful vocals and Indie Pop sound defy her 20 years on the planet. She has opened for Juno award-winner Dizzy at The Golden Hour Festival and has played at the iconic Rockwood Music hall in New York City and legendary El Mocambo. She just completed her “Stranger” debut tour of Ontario & Quebec and her single, “The End Lies Ahead” has over 130k streams on Spotify.
Amanda Braam is a singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Kitchener, Ontario. Presently, Amanda attends Wilfrid Laurier University full-time, studying Music Therapy.
She is also a gigging musician; and a songwriter and producer with the Lullaby Project, a social-justice based organization working with at-risk mothers to write and record personal lullabies for their babies.
You can find her busking frequently in he KW area.
Adina V has a voice like an angel and a tender, heartfelt sound. As an award-winning songwriter, she creates an atmosphere of intimacy and wonder, captivating listeners from the very first note.
She is the recipient of the prestigious MARTY Award for Emerging Solo Vocalist (2022), and a nomination for Musician of the Year (2023). She has amassed over 500,000 Spotify streams from fans around the globe.
Show 045 - Feb 22, 2025
Sarah
MacDougall
Desiree
Dorion
Sarah
Shafey
Sarah MacDougall is a Swedish-born, Canada-based, multiple award-winning singer/songwriter. She also composes, produces, and mixes records. She has released four albums, and over the last ten years she has toured extensively across North America and Europe. Rootstime Belgium called her ‘one of the greatest talents of this era’.
She shared the stage with performers, Tallest Man on Earth, Buffy St. Marie, Passenger, Bruce Coburn, and many more.
Desiree Dorion is a JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter who embraces vulnerability, courage, and transformation as she shifts from her traditional Country sound to the expansive world of Roots/Americana. Her songs have graced the Canadian Country Music Top 100 Charts (TRAX) and reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. With three Manitoba Country Music Awards to her name and nine nominations, she has also been recognized by the Indigenous Music Awards and Western Canadian Music Awards.
Sarah Shafey is an award winning Canadian Egyptian artist with a fifth album set to release. Her thought-provoking and hard-rocking new album—aptly-titled The Paper Bag Princess—merges feminist ethos and personal revelation with 1990s grunge.
Show 044 - Feb 15 2025
Elena
Erin
Chloe
Watkinson
Rachael
Dara
Elena Erin is a pop artist originating from a small town in British Columbia near the Alaskan border. She has carved her path through New York City and London with her raw and experimentally edged music. Since her first independent release in 2018, she has amassed millions of streams, climbed to #2 on CBC Top 20 with "Build a Ship", landed on major editorial playlists, and released her debut album "Holy Tender Artist" in 2022.
Choe Watkinson has a sound that continues to evolve with her latest musical art…… fusing Soul, Rock, Jazz, and Pop without losing listenability.
She has played throughout North America and Europe, including the stages of Massey Hall and festivals in the French Quarter of New OrleansShe was in the top 100 on Canadian Idol, and twice nominated for a TIMA (The International Music Award) music award.
Rachel Dara is a Montreal-based singer-songwriter who recorded her debut album, “The Next Big Invention" with legendary Canadian record producer Mark Howard. Mark crafted the album on a 75 year old mic for an essence, reminiscent of Joni Mitchell.
In 2023, Rachel Dara received ISSA’s “International Female Rising Star” award and was announced as a silver award winner for “International Female Music Video of the Year”.
Show 043 - Feb 8 2025
Amanda
Keeles
Vitalia
Justine
Tyrell
Amanda Keeles is an ward-winning, Ontario based Country music artist.
She left behind her high-level career in finance, as well as her marriage to launch what has become an incredible Country music career.
To date, she has been featured on SiriusXM's Top of the Country, over 50 radio stations across Canada, and on multiple television shows nationwide.
Vitalia is a Ukrainian-Canadian singer-songwriter and actress. Starting her musical journey at age 6, her versatile voice and eclectic style, refuses to be confined to a single genre, embracing the diversity of her musical influences.
Known for her engaging and energetic live performances, she interacts with her audience through dance and music, turning every show into a shared experience.
Justine Tyrell is is a proud member of the Blackfoot and Jamaican communities. She is a Canadian R&B sensation and is quickly rising to be one of our country’s most promising talents. If you watch Canadian Football, you’ve probably heard her belt out our national anthem at a Calgary Stampeder’s football game.
Show 042 - Feb 1 2025
Kellylee
Evans
Kellylee Evans was born in Scarborough Ontario and now based in Ottawa. She is a Juno award winning vocalist who loves putting her own signature on classic songs. She has opened for John Legend, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson and has had record deals with Universal Music and Publishing along with releases music on her own label Enliven Media.
oH!
The Artist
oH! grew up in his parents record store. He was a child star, performing on Sesame Street. As a teenager, he joined the group known as “The Show” who signed tow major label deals and toured alongside Usher, Yung Buck and Ginuwine. He competed on Canadian Idol and garnered a standing ovation for his rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers.
Sammy Jo
Higgins
Sammy Jo Higgins has been essential in youth development for the Discovery Program of Canada’s Teen Jam. She works tirelessly to achieve the goals of this not-for-profit organization which dedicates itself to providing a stepping stone along the journey to success for Canada’s future musicians. Her group is in Phoenix Arizona at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions for a major announcement.
Show 041 - Jan 25 2025
D. O.
Gibson
Holly
Gillis
Ken
Whiteley
D.O. Gibson was born in Watrous, Saskatchewan, with Cape Breton Nova Scotia roots. He grew up in Southern Ontario before settling in Toronto.
He has defied the odds as a rapper from Canada, with achievements that include setting a Guinness World Record by freestyling for nearly nine hours in 2003. He joins us today to talk about his latest project.
Holly is a singer, songwriter and passionate music lover who aims to connect with listeners through her emotional songwriting and storytelling. Born and raised in Cape Breton Island, she now makes Ottawa, Ontario her home away from home where she teams up with other talented musicians. She has been influenced by many different genres of music such as Country, Celtic, Rock and the Blues.
Ken Whiteley is Toronto-based folk/singer-songwriter icon who has crafted beautiful songs that have piqued the interest of children, gospel fans, and lovers of tasteful, highbrow folk music. Now he has again added to his rich discography with his latest single part of a 12-track effort features him performing on 12-string guitar for majestic results.
Show 042 - Feb 1 2025
Kellylee
Evans
Kellylee Evans was born in Scarborough Ontario and now based in Ottawa. She is a Juno award winning vocalist who loves putting her own signature on classic songs. She has opened for John Legend, Tony Bennett and Willie Nelson and has had record deals with Universal Music and Publishing along with releases music on her own label Enliven Media.
oH!
The Artist
oH! grew up in his parents record store. He was a child star, performing on Sesame Street. As a teenager, he joined the group known as “The Show” who signed tow major label deals and toured alongside Usher, Yung Buck and Ginuwine. He competed on Canadian Idol and garnered a standing ovation for his rendition of “Ain’t No Sunshine” by Bill Withers.
Sammy Jo
Higgins
Sammy Jo Higgins has been essential in youth development for the Discovery Program of Canada’s Teen Jam. She works tirelessly to achieve the goals of this not-for-profit organization which dedicates itself to providing a stepping stone along the journey to success for Canada’s future musicians. Her group is in Phoenix Arizona at the International Association of Fairs and Expositions for a major announcement.
Show 040 - Jan 18 2025
Sarah
MacDougall
Sarah MacDougall is a Swedish-born, Canada-based, multiple award-winning singer/songwriter. She also composes, produces, and mixes records. She has released four albums, and over the last ten years she has toured extensively across North America and Europe. Rootstime Belgium called her ‘one of the greatest talents of this era’.
She shared the stage with performers, Tallest Man on Earth, Buffy St. Marie, Passenger, Bruce Coburn, and many more.
Ian
Crichton
Hayley
Verrall
Ian Crichton is best known as one of the founding members of Saga, alongside his brother Jim.
Saga went on to sell roughly 10 million albums world-wide and continue to perform around the world.
As the driving force behind , SiX By SiX, Ian takes a cunning turn, in assembling another potent band but one that focuses on his guitar prowess. The band has produced two albums. Their debut work, the self titled, Six by Six and their follow up Beyond Shadowland.
Hayley Verrall is a young and talented pop country artist from Burlington, Ontario, who is making waves in the music industry. Inspired by artists like Dolly Parton and Shania Twain her clear and distinct voice delivers thought-provoking observations and encouragement through her music. With over 400,000 streams and a new single she is quickly becoming a household name in the country music scene.
Show 039 - Dec 21, 2024
Christmas Special
Cat
Bernari
Cat Bernardi has performed at many of Toronto's most popular Jazz venues such as the Jazz Bistro, Chalker's Bistro and Gate 403, to name a few. She has also performed in many esteemed festivals such as the Downtown Oakville Jazz Festival, Scarborough Town Jazz Festival, Hamilton's Steel City Jazz Festival and Toronto's Canadian Music Week. Last summer (2019), she was the TD Jazz Hotspot feature for the Markham Music Festival.
Steven
Taetz
Alex
Bird
Steven Taetz
is an award-winning singer and songwriter. The holidays have been a touchstone of monumental occasions throughout his life, from his first Christmases in sunny California, to
snow-covered Alberta, before settling in Ontario.
Some voices are definitely best suited for specific genres, but a voice like Steven Taetz’s can handle it all.
With swagger and slicker attitude the revivalist crooner settles elegantly beneath this vintage Nashville groove.
Alex Bird has become one of the most exciting names on the Canadian Jazz scene. With praise from around the globe, and alongside songwriting & piano partner EWEN FARNCOMBE, he has created timeless and heartfelt originals for a modern audience. His sophomore album You Are the Light and the Way, backed by the Jazz Mavericks, was nominated for “Best Vocal Jazz” at the 2022 JUNO Awards. Now, just in time for the holiday season, he delivers The Holiday Album.
Lou
Pomanti
Cassidy
Taylor
Sean
Jones
Lou Pomanti is a Canadian Screen Awards (Gemini) winner and one of Canada’s most accomplished producers, composers, musicians and musical directors.
His original music and performances are featured on soundtracks and recordings from some of Canada's biggest stars, and he has contributed playing, arrangements and productions to several Grammy winning albums.
Cassidy Taylor is an indie pop singer-songwriter who brings storytelling to another level with her atmospheric guitar tones and metaphorical lyricism. As a self-declared introvert who grew up in
the Haliburton Highlands, she was deeply influenced by nature and a sense of community.
Her quirky personality shines through on stage and charms any audience she sets foot in front of.
Sean Jones is a Juno award winning artist who blends rap, pop and R&B. Along with his many accomplishments, he garnered a solo summer residency at Toronto’s historic Casa Loma and brought Soul in the City to venue. The success of Soul in the City led to a collaboration with Westjet and the Westjet boarding Sessions with our guest recording Canadian hits and interviewing legendary Canadian musicians.
Show 038 - Dec 14, 2024
Jason
Kirkness
Ann
Vriend
Ralph
Selbach
Sean
Jones
Jason Kirkness is an award winning artist from Manitoba. He is a Male Artists of the Year award winner and his single Anywhere the Night Goes kept him on the Canadian Billboard Top 50 for 18 weeks.
He has performed with Keith Urban, Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood AND his latest song was written with Juno Award winner William Prince.
Ann Vriend is from a six piece, all-female, vocal group from Edmonton's inner city. Embracing the diversity and wide ranging musical backgrounds of each of its members, they create a Roots-Soul blend of R&B and non-religious Gospel style music that is easy to sing along with, and hard to forget. Their inception story is as captivating as their music. And she joins us today from Edmonton
Ralph Selbach waited 30 years to give life to his compositions and started recording.
In 2019, he went to Small Pond Studios in Georgetown, Massachusetts and recorded a six song EP “Born Just a Little Too Late.”
Since then he has released more singles, which were recorded in the artist’s home studio , and then mixed and mastered at Small Pond.
Show 037 - Dec 7, 2024
Anna
Goldsmith
Braydon
Hall
Peyton
McNamara
Anna Goldsmith is a 17 year old secondary school student who is an International award-winning musical force. Channeling her talents into creating music that conveys messages of kindness, hope, and confidence. she won a NATS award in Knoxville, TN, which had over 1000 preliminary and 400 semifinalist auditions. As a skilled lyricist and vocalist, she leans towards rock, grunge, and pop-punk genres.
Braydon Hall is a secondary school student, singer, songwriter, guitarist from a Ayr, Ontario. He preforms a broad range of genres, however, most of his music is country pop . He has a love for music and loves sharing his music with others. He is also the recent winner of Canada’s Teen Jam in the solo artist category and he joins us from Ayr, Ontario
Peyton McNamara is a 15 year old, secondary school student. While Peyton calls the Ottawa Valley home, she is currently living in the Toronto area to allow her to focus on developing her musical skills. While she has been singing and songwriting for years, she began to seriously focus on her music in 2023. Since attending her first open mic in , she has ventured out, performing in many venues headlining her own show as a Solo Acoustic Artist.
Show 036 - Nov 30, 2024
Paige
Warner
Mallory
Chipman
Lou
Pomanti
Sean
Jones
Paige Warner started singing at the ripe old age of 7. She was busking for coins at a local outdoor market in Waterloo Ontario, where her life began. She has been described as a “soulful songstress” by Billboard and her recent singles “Damaged Goods” and “Stockholm Syndrome” have attracted over 100 thousand streams. Her music will tug on your heartstrings or pull you to the dance floor.
Mallory Chipman is fresh off the heels of her fifth studio album release, with her signature brand of folk-rock. She is making waves in the Canadian roots scene with Songs to a Wild God which displays her
vivid lyricism and acrobatic vocals atop a deft and dynamic rhythm section.
She has been compared to Kate Bush, Melissa Ethridge, and Joni Mitchell.
With her skillful balance of grit and grace, she powerfully embodies a rare and striking duality that leaves audiences wordless in wonderment.
Lou Pomanti s a Canadian Screen Awards (Gemini) winner and one of Canada’s most accomplished producers, composers, musicians and musical directors.
His original music and performances are featured on soundtracks and recordings from some of Canada's biggest stars, and he has contributed playing, arrangements and productions to several Grammy winning albums.
His playing and arranging has enhanced the recordings of Michael Bublé, Gordon Lightfoot and Anne Murray; as well as rockers Kim Mitchell and Triumph.
Show 035 - Nov 23, 2024
Eric
Alper
Sean
Jones
Presley
Bollert
Eric Alper is a self confessed musicaholic. He is a 6 time nominee for Publicist of the Year and has overseen the publicity campaigns for over 155 Juno Award nominated albums. His client list is a who’s who in the music business. Ringo Starr, Bob Geldof, Carol King, The Guess Who, Kim Mitchel and hundreds more. If his voice is familiar, you’ve probably heard him on SiriusXM channel 167 with his show @ThatEricAlper’s Show.
Sean Jones is a Juno award winning artist who blends rap, pop and R&B. Along with his many accomplishments, he garnered a solo summer residency at Toronto’s historic Casa Loma and brought Soul in the City to venue. The success of Soul in the City led to a collaboration with Westjet and the Westjet boarding Sessions with our guest recording Canadian hits and interviewing legendary Canadian musicians.
Presley Bollert is the 16 year old lead singer and guitarist for the band, Destined For The Throne. He formed the band along with Ryan Pickering and Carter Soucie. They have been called a force for our Next Generation of Music Superstars by Mark Higgins a veteran promoter in the music business and creator of Canada’s Teen Jam competition.
Show 034 - Nov 16, 2024
Leanne
Pearson
Leanne Pearson has been described by industry folk as levelheaded, sweet, funny and very talented. This Canadian country rocker walks on stage with a pretty dress and a big smile, then shatters your expectations as she tears up the stage. Leanne’s shows are high energy and filled with laughs.
In addition to a Top 50, she has had multiple Top 100 songs at Canadian Country Radio as an artist.
Avery
Raquel
Avery Raquel earned her master's degree in music from Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain.
She is a Canadian Billboard-charting recording artist who, as an alternative / soul singer/songwriter has been entertaining audiences professionally for over a decade.
Her latest self-titled release, debuted on the Canadian iTunes Top 200 RnB/Soul album, charting in #5.
Nathalie
Kraemer
Nathalie Kraemer was born to a French/Vietnamese mother and a German father. Her music is noted for its cinematic electro pop and trip hop style, while her sound expresses deeply rooted themes like mental health and emotional life experiences
The Toronto-based artist is known for her sultry smooth low voice reminiscent of the true artists of the vintage jazz era and an upper range that is soft and melodic.
Show 033 - Nov 9, 2024
IILLAA
IILLAA is a determined teenager with a dream to be a rising pop sensation working with one of the industry's top producers illustrates her extraordinary trajectory. She is not just performing music; she's living her truth through every note and lyric, inviting listeners into a world where music is both a celebration and a solace. As she continues to evolve and expand her musical repertoire, one thing is clear: You will be hearing her name a lot more of in the future.
Moonlyn
Moonlyn has a vibrant force behind infectious and feel-good tunes that radiate positivity.
As an indie solo artist, she's on a mission to spread joy through her music.
With catchy melodies and lyrics that celebrate life's sunny side, she invites you to a world where every beat is an invitation to dance, and every note is a burst of happiness.
Denise
Leslie
Denise Leslie s a rare talent who is able to sound fresh and personal yet still keep a sense of jazz tradition. She straddles the world of balancing art and songbook with street pulse savvy. She performs throughout the GTA including a 10 year stint as lead vocalist with the Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble.
Show 032 - Nov 2, 2024
Chris
Birkett
Chris Birkett is a producer, arranger, and sound engineer on a slew of international, award-winning records.
He is also an accomplished musician and prolific songwriter, creating six albums of his own music. His music collaborations have sold well over 100 million records and earned four Canadian JUNOs, a GRAMMY, a Polaris Music Prize, a Canadian Screen Award, a Community Service Award, and three international AMPEX Golden Reel Awards for excellence in the music business.
Gracie
Ella
Gracie Ella is a supremely gifted singer, songwriter, vocal arranger and multi-instrumentalist based in Toronto.She studied for two years at a prestigious Jazz Vocal Program at University, and then left to become a working musician.In the last 5 years, Gracie has been recording with an incredible array of amazingly talented producers and songwriters.
Ralph
Selbach
Ralph Selbach waited 30 years to give life to his compositions and started recording.
In 2019, he went to Small Pond Studios in Georgetown, Massachusetts and recorded a six song EP “Born Just a Little Too Late.”
Since then he has released more singles, which were recorded in the artist’s home studio , and then mixed and mastered at Small Pond.
He has just launched a new website ralphselback.com
Show 031 - Oct 26, 2024
Anjula
Evans
Anjula Evans is a singer/songwriter who navigated a dual career as a Children’s Therapist and Musician/Music Teacher.
Shortly after recording her album, “Illusion”, she was in a car accident which left her with a brain injury.
Later during rehabilitation, Anjula decided to split up her album and release some of the songs as singles.
Robert
van Wyngaarden
Robert van Wyngaarden is a Singer-Songwriter-Performer based in Stittsville (Ottawa), Ontario.
He has been a big fan of music since a small child and started playing music in elementary school.
He continued his musical journey and bought his first guitar at the age of 16 .
He has been a fan of poetry since his early twenties and has always appreciated the music in poetry and the poetry in music which is at the soul of his own songwriting.
Kae
Shelby
Kae Shelby s from Ottawa, ON. Her music is the imparting of life stories that listeners say hit so close to home.
She believes that if you’re writing about real life, with a resonating melody, and relatable lyrics, the music is timeless. Her albums have garnered her a Top 20 standing at Blues and Roots Radio, International Music Contest, Album of the Year in 2020 and in 2024.
Show 030 - Oct 19, 2024
Allyson
Whitmell
Allyson Whitmell creates music with her intimate yet powerful voice, and piano arrangements, with an emphasis on lyric clarity and story-telling.
After graduating from the University of Toronto in Piano Performance and Composition in 2023, she kicked-off her singer-songwriter career with her debut single, New Love.
Eric
Sage
Eric Sage is a Canadian-born internationally touring country-rock singer and recording artist.
Eric was a world-ranked touring tennis professional, and in a split second, his life changed forever.
He was a passenger in a severe career-ending car accident that left him seriously injured and devastated about his future.
He plays guitar and piano and has recorded and performed with many multi-platinum acts including Slash of Guns' n' Roses, The Beach Boys, and Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe.
Celie & Annie
Siriopoulos
(Caardia)
Celia and Annie Siriopoulos aka Caardia, are a Toronto based alternative pop sister duo. Their songs are about living life, accepting challenges, working through the pain.
They were also selected to showcase during Canadian Music Week in 2021 and performed at Wintersong in 2022 and 2023. In April of 2024, they had some of their biggest shows to-date, accompanying world-renowned artist Pavlo as part of the Canadian leg of his tour.
Show 029 - Oct 12, 2024
Haidee Manasala
Daniel Monte
Carla Gonzalez
Haidee Manansala
was born in a small town in the Philippines.
Her passion for music started in karaoke, singing contests, & Sunday worship services.
At 16, she embarked on a life-changing journey to reunite with her mother in Edmonton, where music became her constant companion in an otherwise unfamiliar environment.
Driven by a deep sense of representation as a woman of color, she strives to empower her listeners with her music, sparking meaningful conversations and making them feel seen.
Carla Gonzalez is Venezuelan born and celebrated for her powerful vocals and energetic performances.
One of the G.T.A.’s most active world music performers, she sings for thousands of people annually through her work as a front woman with Latintrain and Wharpo, two of Toronto’s popular Latin Musical Acts.
Singing in Spanish and English, Carla’s musical career has taken her across the globe to stages in Hong Kong, Spain and Latin America.
Show 028 - Oct 5, 2024
Mark Higgins
Mark Higgins is the founder of Canada’s Teen Jam and Big Music Fest.
It has featured Aerosmith, Soundgarden, Bryan Adams, Slash, The Tragically Hip and ZZ Top, who share the enthusiasm for this program’s success.
Canada’s Teen Jam’s Discovery Program has been a resounding success, uniting undiscovered musical teens and providing them with unparalleled opportunities. As a note, Mark was instrumental in taking Tragically hip to bobcaygeon.
Meagan Aversa
Meagan Aversa is a Toronto based singer-songwriter who melts dreamy and dark tones together to shape her introspective songs. Alongside her solo work, she is a member of Velvet Beach, who released their lush, nostalgia driven record The Dream in 2023.
Her solo debut Blood Moon was co-produced with Jon Savard and released on June 7 2024. The album explores heavier sonics and wide soundscapes, outlined by themes of avoidance and conflict ultimately resulting in isolation.
Mark Kelso
Mark Kelso is originally from Belfast, Northern Ireland, now a Canadian drummer he has made Toronto, Canada his home for quite some time.
Not only is he a skilled musician who plays drums and percussion,
but he is also a singer, producer and composer as well.
As a sideman he has earned 4 Juno awards and has been nominated three times as a leader with his own 2 groups, the Jazz Exiles (2016 &
2023) and the Chronicles of Fezziwig Project (2020).
Show 027 - Sep 28, 2024
Jenna Dundon
Jenna Dundon is already an award winning artist even though she just launched her professional career in January 2024.
She is a singer-songwriter, drummer, and disability advocate who garnered a 2024 MARTYS Award for Emerging Solo Vocalist.
Her ambitious 'Project 2024' promises a new original song on the first of every month this year.
She thrives in both her artist and drumming careers and continues to peruse her passion in both.
Lou Pomanti
Lou Pomanti is a Canadian Screen Awards (Gemini) winner and one of Canada’s most accomplished producers, composers, musicians and musical directors.His original music and performances are featured on soundtracks and recordings from some of Canada's biggest stars, and he has contributed playing, arrangements and productions to several Grammy winning albums.In 1980 he received a call from David Clayton-Thomas to join the seminal jazz rock group Blood, Sweat and Tears.
Ciara Leah
Ciara Leah is a musician, singer-songwriter, and producer from Toronto.
Her soulful sound combines conscious lyrics and dynamic vocals with the colours and harmonies that cross Classical, jazz, and gospel lines with a rhythmic sensibility that draws from classic funk, R&B and hip hop.
She has a growing list of festival performances, including NXNE, Canadian Music Week, iLive, Soulfest, and the Toronto Funk, Soul, and R&B Music Festival.
Show 026 - Sep 21, 2024
Tanya Wills
Tanya Wills is as comfortable on stage in a musical as she is in a club with her Quartet and has sung everything from swing to blues/folk and jazz.
Known not only for her dynamic performance, but also as a great vocal technician, she brings a sensual and evocative sound to her musical interpretations.
Kylie Fox
Kylie Fox is a Canadian singer songwriter, fusing folk storyteller with vintage elements of jazz and alternative rock.
With influences like Kate Bush, Sharon Van Etten, and Joni Mitchell, her music is ethereal, lush and real.
Her latest single “Brandi Baby” is a coming of age alternative rock song produced by ECMA award-winning producer Daniel Ledwell and is the first single to come from her forthcoming album “Sequoia”. She has been showcased at events such as Canadian Music Week, the East Coast Music Awards, Folk Alliance International and Harvest Music Festival.
Kay Francis
Kay Francis has always been a singer / storyteller going all the way back to elementary school.
She received a vocal scholarship from the University of Miami in the late 70’s and was often found performing with her guitar in local restaurants & pubs.
She was a also a regular performer at Vizcaya Museum and Gardens performing both renaissance and folk music.
Upon moving to Canada, she continued performing as a solo artist in addition to her quartet the Dickens Carolers, her jazz quartet, and even on the NAC stage with the Opera Lyra chorus.
A classically trained vocalist her sound is rich with heartfelt emotions and her original songs all tell stories of hope and inspiration.
Show 025 - Sept 14, 2024
Tomas Andel
Tomas Andel aka Saint Idiot is a Slovak-Canadian art pop musician living in Edmonton. While he is often writing his way through all that can come up when one risks feeling deeply in an often unfeeling world—doubt, grief, desolation—his music has been described as reverent, downright ecstatic—a "music of surprises.”
He is DIY motivated, and influenced by pop as much as experimental and underground music and art. He draws on sound palettes as diverse as shoegaze, indie folk, math rock, R&B, IDM, noise, and even free improvisation.
Aimee-Jo Benoit
Aimee-Jo Benoit is renowned for her distinctive vocal style, articulate diction, and expressive phrasing, Calgary vocalist Aimee-Jo Benoit is recognized for her unwavering commitment to featuring the works of Canadian songwriters in her repertoire.
Her performances guide the audience along the path of her emotional roots.
Her discography includes two studio albums.
Her latest from 2024 is her sophomore album HORNS OF HOPE which was released on boutique label Chronograph Records.
Suitcase Sam
Suitcase Sam emerged in late 2010 with the release of the Get It To Go EP on PLEASENCE Records.
Get It To Go was inspired by 1920's traditional Jazz and drew
comparisons to fellow Canadian singer/songwriters, Leon Redbone and Mose Scarlett.
In 2012, his song The Sweetest Hippopotamus, from the Get It To Go EP, was adapted into the BravoFACT short-film by the same name. Suitcase Sam, who appeared as himself, composed the music for the film and went on to win the Best Soundtrack Short award at the AOF International Film Festival.
Show 024 - Sept 7, 2024
Lou Pomanti
Lou Pomanti is a Canadian Screen Awards (Gemini) winner and one of Canada’s most accomplished producers, composers, musicians and musical directors.
His original music and performances are featured on soundtracks and recordings from some of Canada's biggest stars, and he has contributed playing, arrangements and productions to several Grammy winning albums.
In 1980 he received a call from David Clayton-Thomas to join the seminal jazz rock group Blood, Sweat and Tears and toured the world.
1983 saw the beginning of his session career as the first call pianist/synthesist in Toronto.
His playing and arranging has enhanced the recordings of Michael Bublé, Gordon Lightfoot and Anne Murray; as well as rockers Kim Mitchell and Triumph.
Cassidy Taylor
Cassidy Taylor is an indie pop singer-songwriter who brings storytelling to another level with her atmospheric guitar tones and metaphorical lyricism.
As a self-declared introvert who grew up in the Haliburton Highlands, she was deeply influenced by nature and a sense of community.
Her quirky personality shines through on stage and charms her audiences.
Releasing her debut, self-Titled EP in July of 2023, the project has garnered over 90K streams on Spotify and amassed praise from blogs like ParaPOP who described the project as “a sonic journey of self-discovery, loss, acceptance, and ultimate healing.”
Justin Maki
Justin Maki is a musician, artist, and creative entrepreneur out of St. Thomas, ON, Canada.
He is the FCLMA’s 2021 “Pop Artist of the Year” and 2022 "Contemporary Singer-Songwriter of the Year".
Born in Japan raised in Canada, Justin’s music carefully draws influence from R&B, Soul, Funk, and Jazz and packages it in an accessible Pop format.​
He has played over 1,000 gigs from Halifax, to Prince George, to Mexico and has shared the stage with many of Canada’s top talent.​
His debut album, "New Flame" (June, 2022), is a diverse concept album that traverses the different stages of a romantic relationship from first spark to last billow of smoke.
Show 022 - June 22, 2024
Cat Bernardi
Cat Bernardi is a multi-award winning jazz vocalist and composer. She has been dazzling audiences with her unique sound and dramatic performances.
Her ‘crystalline’ voice and ‘timeless’ style have led her to stages all around Ontario, Quebec and into Europe.
She was the 2019 TD Toronto Jazz Hotspot Feature in the Downtown Markham Music Festival.
She has recorded two EPs: Minor Ballad/ Major Romance in (2014) and ‘Let’s Get Cozy’ in (2020) which was featured here on Spill the Tea Radio on our very first show.
She just released two new singles, Mona Lisa in June 2023, and I Love You For Sentimental Reasons in February 2024.
Dusty Marcus
Dustin Simpson aka Dusty Marcus has been writing poetry and music since his early teens. He was able to form a band called The Survivorz featuring the late and great Mike Palmer on lead guitar and his son Josh on keyboards.
He occasionally teamed up with his son Brandon on drums, friends Bryon on bass guitar and Garnet on acoustic.
Later he teamed up with his school pal Kyle and formed the band Decay and the Retribution.. In 2020 this artist began using the stage name DustyMarcus.
Seyblu
Chelsey Bennett aka Seyblu hails from a quaint Canadian town, as a remarkably talented vocalist who fuses jazz and R&B in her songwriting.
Her natural charisma shines through her captivating vocals, distinctive fashion sense and electrifying live shows.
Seamlessly blending mesmerizing jazz chords, heartfelt songwriting, and ethereal vocals, she has crafted a fresh and bold R&B sound that is undeniably hers.
Show 021 - June 15, 2024
Sarah MacDougall
Sarah MacDougall is a Swedish-born, Canada-based, multiple award-winning singer/songwriter. She also composes, produces, and mixes records. She has released four albums, and over the last ten years she has toured extensively across North America and Europe. Rootstime Belgium called her ‘one of the greatest talents of this era’.
Sarah has played many international festivals, including Iceland Airwaves, Edmonton Folk Festival, Isle of Wight, Reeperbahn, and has shared the stage with artists, Tallest Man on Earth, Buffy St. Marie, Passenger, Bruce Coburn, and many more.
Wreckless Harbour
Jon Harley and Trevor Roach’s are from the band, Wreckless Harbour. an alternative folk band based in Hamilton, Canada. The band’s sound is inspired by East Coast folk music and indie alternative rock. They met in 2021 during COVID at a socially-distanced open mic event. Originally using the band name “No Name Fold Band”, they immediately went to work and Trevor wrote their first song “Step Lightly” which was inspired after meeting Jon Harley and Lawren Helder. They have been working on new music with producer Steven Branchaud of Canary Minor Music to record debut singles and album to be release this year.
Shreya Jha
Shreya Jha is a Toronto-based composer-playwright and medical student with a keen interest in the intersections between music and science.
Her musicals include Statistics (2020) Connections (2019, 2023), and The Last Piece (2023).
Her research interests include music and dementia and the impact of music on developing brains.
She made her professional orchestra compositional debut with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in 2021.
She has also worked with the Rose Orchestra, the Can-Am trio, the Mississauga Children’s Chorus, the Gryphon Trio, and the Scarborough Philharmonic Orchestra.
Show 020 - June 8, 2024
Maddy Ringo
Maddy Ringo is a Toronto-born folk singer-songwriter, currently based in Ann Arbor while she pursues a degree in classical voice from the University of Michigan.
Her songwriting draws inspiration from American music of the 70s and the indie music of today with a mezzo folk tone like Gillian Welch and jazz inclinations reminiscent of Joni Mitchell. She has become a familiar face in the Ann Arbor local scene, playing heartfelt live shows with her jazz-folk band.
Taylor Simpson
of Wishwell
Taylor Simpson is the front man for the band Wishwell. An indie rock band from Toronto who advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. They create a safe and fun environment for their listeners and make everyone feel included.
Chanel Martins
aka BlkBird
Chanel Martins aka Blkbird is a Canadian singer/songwriter, who began singing at a very young age and has always used songwriting as an outlet.
She decided to pursue a career in music as music has been her lifeline for as long as she can remember.
She has opened for Jeff Martin of The Tea Party, Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots, Puddle of Mudd and more.
She has also performed with Ian D'Sa of Billy Talent and Cone McCaslin of Sum 41.
BlkBird released her debut EP with Grammy Award winning producer, David Bottrill, on September 16th 2022.
Show 019 - June 1, 2024
Matt Hinojosa
Holly Forrest and
Matt Fuentes
aka: fxrrvst
Brian Raine
Matt Hinojosa is an award winning multi instrumentalist performer based in Mississauga.
He has been performing live music for a decade with many successful artists such as Jammer’s Waffle House, Wilson & The Cast Aways and Scratchnasty.
This includes opening for City and Colour, illscarlett, performances on Rogers Hometown Hockey and many more.
With a wide spanning repertoire of familiar favourites and original compositions, he engages an audience and always leaves them
wanting one more song.
Holly Forrest and Matt Fuentes form the duo fxrrvst (Forest). Described as your friendly neighbourhood-queer alternative/indie/emo/ band.
Besides music and rock climbing, they are super passionate about the planet and change for the better, so they always try to make eco-conscious merch and promote organizations they love whenever they can.
Brian Raine is a multi-instrumentalist musician and music producer in Edmonton, Alberta.
Originally hailing from Yellowknife, NT, he began playing music when he was four years old.
It became his single focus before moving to Alberta to study music at MacEwan University.
There, he began developing the project that would eventually become Ways In Waves.
With malleable form and the spirit of experimentation at its core, the group began as a live duo, and eventually expanded to a five piece live band with our guest picking up vocals, guitar and keys.
Show 018 - May 25, 2024
Rich Freed
Rich Feed hails from Glasgow, Scotland and moved to Toronto in 2018 to pursue a solo music career.
Influenced by indie-pop and blues-rock, he draws inspiration from bands such as The Beatles, Arctic Monkeys, Oasis, and Radiohead. With performances at top Toronto venues and a brand new single "Peace of Mind", he continues to captivate audiences with his talent for creating innovative melodies, catchy hooks, and introspective lyrics.
Whitney Ross-Barris
Part of the Toronto jazz scene since 2008, Prairie-born, Ontario-based jazz singer Whitney Ross-Barris has quickly built a respected name for herself among players and listeners alike.
As a solo jazz artist, Whitney has appeared frequently in the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, she has been featured recurrently in JAZZ.FM91’s One Stop Vocal Jazz Safari and performs regularly in clubs, restaurants and concert halls across South Western Ontario.
On the heels of her self-produced debut EP in 2009, Whitney released her full-length jazz album "Everybody's Here,” featuring a number of not-so-standard standards, originals and even a few long-lost compositions by her late grandfather, writer-broadcaster, Alex Barris.
Kyp Harness
Kyp Harness has put out 19 albums of original songs, had his compositions covered by Mary Margaret O’Hara and Ron Sexsmith, has opened for Elvis Costello and been called “the most vital, essential Canadian singer-songwriter out there” (Calgary Straight), “the creator of a songbook that should rightly be hailed as a national treasure” (Exclaim!), and identified as “my favourite songwriter” by Ron Sexsmith.
Show 017 - May 11, 2024
Lucas Silveira
Lucas Silveira is the frontman of The Cliks, now a solo artist. He made history as the first openly transgender man signed by Warner Music, a major label with the album Tommy Boy in 2006.
He’s been on global stages alongside music greats the likes of Cyndi Lauper, The B-52s, Debbie Harry, Tegan and Sara, The Cult and The New York Dolls.
His most recent project was a solo album of original music, released in 2022 titled, “The Goddamn Flowers”.
Riwo Ego
Riwo Egor is a Nigerian-born singer/songwriter. She specializes in vocal composition and arranging.
As the lead vocalist of Melafrique, an Edmonton-based, Afro-fusion band, she has gained recognition throughout the province.
With a passion for sharing her own stories, she delves into neo-soul, R&B, and Afro-jazz genres, curating her own distinct voice with each record released.
Using music as the catalyst for new healing journeys, Riwoh facilitates an atmosphere of connectivity, life, and a sense of homecoming for her audience.
Andrew Wilson
Andrew Wilson was born and raised in Mississauga, Ontario. He writes in the indie-folk genre drawing inspiration from 60s folk revival and contemporary americana. He has two music award nominations to his credit and is set to hit the studio with his band, Wilson and The Cast Aways.
Show 016 - May 4, 2024
Brian Raine
Brian Raine is a multi-instrumentalist musician and music producer in Edmonton, Alberta.
Originally hailing from Yellowknife, NT, he began playing music when he was four years old.
It became his single focus before moving to Alberta to study music at MacEwan University.
There, he began developing the project that would eventually become Ways In Waves.
With malleable form and the spirit of experimentation at its core, the group began as a live duo, and eventually expanded to a five piece live band with our guest picking up vocals, guitar and keys.
Ellen Doty
Ellen Doty is a soulful singer-songwriter with a world-class voice.
Her background in traditional
jazz continues to influence her work, drawing from a number of genres while staying true to herself.
A born storyteller, her intimate and personal lyrics shine through her stunning vocals.
Born and raised in southern Alberta, she currently lives in Edmonton and represents Canada on the world
stage, from performing at the Tokyo Jazz Festival to opening for Grammy award winning artists
Gregory Porter and Lisa Fischer.
Harley Card
Harley Card is a guitarist and composer who has been a contributor to the creative music scene in Canada since 2003.
As a singer-songwriter he has emerged as a member of the Toronto chamber jazz outfit; Hobson’s Choice.
In 2018 he began performing in his own solo projects as a
songwriter and has since put out three releases;
‘Unconfined Invisible’, Two Tomorrows (single),
and ‘Our Canopy’ (an EP co-released with Rebecca Hennessy).
Show 015 - Apr 27, 2024
Shannon Butcher
Shannon is an acclaimed Canadian singer, songwriter, arranger and record producer. She charms her audiences far and wide with her joyful wit and warm energy. Shannon has been lauded for her ability to inhabit the lyric and character of a song while equally celebrating playful nature of jazz.
Her performing career over the past two decades has brought her across Canada including performances at Victoria’s Hermann’s Jazz Club, Edmonton’s The Yardbird Suite, Upstairs Jazz in Montreal and Ontario’s greatest jazz festivals. Internationally Shannon has performed across The United States and in England.
Shannon has released five albums under her own label Summer Bloom Records. With her first major album she was named Best New Jazz Artist of the year by iTunes.
Matt Zaddy
Matt Zaddy has a sound that seamlessly blends folk-rock and modern soul.
He is a storyteller at heart and his music is filled with tales of life, love, hardship
and redemption.
He has shared stages with K’Naan, Francesco Yates, Rock legends Tom Cochrane and Jim Cuddy.
His new single, What Comes Around, was released in June 2023 as a follow up to his award winning album, “Be”
What Comes Around plays on mainstream radio internationally in Seven countries, and has been added to over 340 Spotify Playlists.
Melissa Lauren
Melissa Lauren has a boundless souring voice. She is as comfortable with jazz and she is with pop.
Her album “My Voice” showcases original work along with a cover of one of my desert island favorites, Insensitive written by Jann Arden.
She has performed across Canada the United States and internationally in Budapest, Berlin and Rotterdam.
She writes as a solo artist and has collaborated with Juno award winning artist Ernesto Cervini, Steven Taetz and electronic producer Hibernate.
Show 014 - Apr 20, 2024
Karen Thornton
Karen Thornton is a singer-songwriter with a lifelong passion for music & has been proudly performing in the GTA for years.
Karen’s love for piano began at the age of 12.
By 15, she was writing & performing in local coffee houses.
Her father was a part-time drummer & singer who’s repertoire included all of the Big Band favourites & crooners of the 40’s.
This influence is notable in Karen’s musical styling & writing.
Her talent for creating music & lyrics will both stir & soothe your soul.
Jeremy Clement
Jeremy Clement grew up in the village of Croydon, located near Napanee Ontario.
He first began playing and singing country music at a very young age. He comes from a musical family and was able to learn to play guitar by ear followed by his move to song writing.
As he grew onto the local music scene he began playing at various festivals and pubs eventually gaining the chance to open for some of Canada’s biggest country music stars.
He has shared the stage with Dallas Smith, Dean Brody, George Canyon, Jason Blaine, Emerson Drive, Corb Lund, and Gord Bamford.
D. O. Gibson
D.O. Gibson is a two-time Guinness World Record-setting rapper, author, and professional speaker. He set a Guinness World Record for the longest freestyle rap ever (8 Hours and 45 Minutes). Gibson has toured Europe, Asia the US as well as his native country Canada performing over 3500 shows. As a rapper, his songs have hit #1 on the US college charts, he's had Snoop Dogg provide him with freestyle topics, and Drake appeared in one of his videos. In 2023, Gibson completed a national Black Canadian history tour and appeared on CBC, Breakfast TV and The Social.
Show 013 - Apr 13, 2024
Sarah Catharine
Sarah Catharine is an award winning artist for Emerging Solo Vocalist. She takes “independent artist” to another level. She began her songwriting journey in 2020 and released her debut album “Dear You” in 2023 where her song was featured on Spotify’s Editorial Playlist “Best of….created by women” She loves to do mash ups of Taylor swift songs and her creations have attracted millions of viewers.
Mallory Chipman
Mallory Chipman is an award-winning singer-songwriter who has never shied away from making music outside the box.
Her genre-bending tendencies, powerful sound, and story-driven
songwriting has been described as “some of the finest folk rock
currently being made” by Amplify Music Magazine and has drawn
comparison to the likes of Feist and Kathleen Edwards.
Recently she was named the Edmonton Public Library’s inaugural Musician in Residence, and was celebrated as
part of the Top 40 Under 40 class of 2023 from Edify Lifestyle Magazine.
Heather Christine
Heather Christine has a soulful sound that blends R&B with Jazz and Pop.
She is an award-winning vocalist, composer, entertainer and producer from Mississauga, Ontario.
Her recent single “Walking With You” was produced by powerhouse Canadian pianist Bill King..
Her latest project “Isn’t She Lovely” was met with standing ovations.
Show 012 - Apr 6, 2024
Faith Amour
Faith Amour is an Award-winning jazz vocalist performing classic jazz, neo soul and original songs, to bring the music of the past….to life!
New York’s Broadway World hailed her voice as “smooth as molasses running downhill in July”.
She was invited to Guyana to sing in the presence of the President and First Lady, and former Governor-General Adrienne Clarkson.
Her second album and DVD, “Classics - Live” was released in 2020. She is currently working on her 3rd album, singing in the languages of love (French, Spanish, Italian) from around the world to bring peace, joy and hope.
Nathan Hiltz
Nathan Hiltz is a jazz guitarist based in Toronto. He has performed and recorded with Melissa Lauren, Terra Hazelton, Jill Barber, Alex Pangman, Laura Hubert, Steven Taetz, Drew Jurecka and others. Nathan composes and plays jazz with numerous trios. His new group, 'Thermo', is co-led with Ottawa pianist Mike Manny. He has also written music for jazz quartet Robot Cops, set classic Canadian poetry to music with vocal trio Samways, and collaborated with Whitney Ross Barris to write solo vocal jazz with The Bright Lunch Trio.
Lori Yates
Lori Yates has been called a trailblazer in Canadian music and one of the original pioneers of “alternative country” in Canada. She burst on the scene in the 80s with her cowpunk band Rang Tango. She has performed and recorded with music legends including Jim Cuddy of Blue Rodeo, Rick Danko of The Band and Greg Allman or the Allman Brothers. Her list of friends include the last names “Cash”, “Wynette” and “Acuff” Her list of awards and nominations include Juno, Lifetime Achievement, Songwriter of the Year and a SOCAN #1.
Show 011 - Mar 30, 2024
Jessica Stuart
Jessica Stuart describes her music as indie-jazz-pop. She has toured the globe landing in Japan, where she had her first top 40 single. To her credit, she won best album at the Independent Music Awards and has had five songs in the finals of the Canadian Songwriting Competition. The CBC documentary about her life in Japan as a child is underpinned with Jessica’s own musical score.
Kromatix_
Kromatix_ is a neo soul and RnB singer, songwriter, recording artist, and jazz pianist emanating from Toronto.
Known for his signature style, he blends sublime lyricism with groovy beats, trademark harmonies, and soulful chord progressions that simply compliment his euphonious vocal tones.
Attracting a growing fandom since his first two singles, “Show U Off” and “Fruit-Loops”, Kromatix_ took his artistry to new levels with a slew of releases including “Songs of Hope”, “Don’t Waste My Time”, and his first EP in 2021 “Thoughts & Afflictions”.
Ralph Selbach
Ralph Selbach waited 30 years to give life to his compositions and started recording.
In 2019, he went to Small Pond Studios in Georgetown, Massachusetts and recorded a six song EP
“Born Just a Little Too Late.”
Since then he has released four more singles, which were recorded in the artist’s apartment during the pandemic, and then mixed and mastered at Small Pond.
Eight of these compositions were originally created long ago with creative partner Alan McLellan.
Show 010 - Mar 23, 2024
Steven Taetz
Vintage pop, swing, and jazz singer and composer/lyricist Steven Taetz is based in Toronto. He has performed in venues such as Carnegie Hall, The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall (NY), The Rogers Centre (Toronto), Blue Room (Korea), Capital Pride (Wash DC), Hotel Café (LA), World Pride, House of Jazz (Montreal), Ironwood (Calgary), and Toronto landmark venues including Jazz Bistro, The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar, Hugh’s Room, Koerner Hall Galleria for Sinatra’s 100th, and leading music festivals.
Dizzy and Fay
Dizzy is Mark Lalama is a singer/songwriter/pianist/producer who has performed extensively and recorded and toured with countless artists. Including Olivia Newton JohnFay is Amanda Walther - Juno nominated singer-songwriter and award winning composer from Toronto, Amanda has spent most of her career as half of acclaimed folk-roots duo Dala, and has ventured into composing music for film.
Denielle Bassels
2024 Juno Nominee for
"Best Jazz Vocal Album of the Year"
Denielle Bassels music is described as a fusion of jazz manouche, blues, folk and pop. With a voice with hints of Norah Jones, she delivers solid heart punches with natural storytelling flair.
From sweet Doris Day-esque melodies to the ferocity of Big Mama Thornton, Denielle's vocal versatility,
Show 009 - Mar 16, 2024
Rebecca Hennessy
Rebecca Hennessy writes in a warm, clear voice that delivers a message of hope, healing and new life. She has released 10 albums including her most recent which was recorded a month before she became a new mom. She has toured North, Central and South America along Europe. She is an award winning musician garnering the Toronto Arts FoundationEmerging Jazz Artist Award in 2018.
Adam Clarke
Adam Clarke has been performing since his school days.
His musical inspiration comes from Chris Cornell, Thom Yorke, Damien Rice and Sohn.
He uniquely blends his classical vocal training and technology to engage his audiences.
He co-hosts the Music City North open mics at The Dive Shop where he performs with his band Chaos Euphonic.
AND on today’s show, he debuts a reworked version of one of his songs.
Thunderclap
Thunderclap (a.k.a. Adam Buller) is a singer/songwriter/performer originally from Niagara Falls, ON.
His music is played on radio stations around the globe, and he has performed live across North America and Europe.
His performance style was honed as a practicing method actor.
His approach is honesty without a preconceived outcome and a pinch of poetic justice.
He will leave you scratching your head and tapping your toes.
Show 008 - Mar 9, 2024
Daphne Lane
Daphne Lane is a 16 year old singer songwriter from Mississauga, Ontario.
She plays the guitar, piano and ukulele.
Ever since she wrote her first song at 10 years old, she has not stopped
since.
She currently has 3 songs uploaded to all streaming platforms and will be releasing more in the near future.
Her dream is a career in music AND from what I’ve seen and listened to so far….she is one to keep on your radar.
Sean Barrette
Sean Barrette entered the radio business as a 17-year-old high school student in 1988.
ISean is a singer-songwriter with three albums to his credit:
Live Through This – 2011
Signs – 2013
The Puckhogs – 2018
Sean gained national exposure as co-writer and member of The Puckhogs, with their song, For the Love of the Game, placing 1st Runner Up out of over 1000 entries in the national 2013/2014 CBC Hockey Night in Canada Song Quest.
Ellen McGregor
Ellen McGregor has a creativity that has been bottled up inside an executive body for decades. She tried music lessons, but they didn’t quite work for her.
She obtained her first piano by displaying her unconditional love for music AND her stories of her journey are epic.
She has been writing and composing music for years including the song we are featuring today, which is a tribute to the late Hurricane Hazel McCallion, the legendary former mayor of Mississauga.
Show 007 - Mar 2, 2024
Francesca Panetta
Francesca Panetta is an old soul who is inspired by many intergenerational artists.
She kindled an interest in music from a young age, evolving to release her
alt-pop/folk original music. This artist has come to headline her first festival and play her first “Sofar Sounds” show, resulting in sparking a name for herself aroundToronto and the GTA.
She transitions into a more psychedelic, orchestral jazz sound with the release of her latest single, September Weather.
Ji Sharp
Ji Sharp is a singer, songwriter, manager and lead vocals and guitar for Ontario based soul-rock band, Road Waves. Road waves was conceived a decade ago and now tours across North America delivering an energetic and emotional experience. They have been named “Best New Group” and “Best Jazz Group” at the Niagara Music Awards which propelled them to a coveted Diamond award in 2020 by Niagara Falls Readers Choice Awards.
Sandra Bouza
Sandra Bouza gets right down into our blood and bones. An award winning singer with roots in Canada and Spain, this well traveled artist has had a groundbreaking year, playing Massey Hall as part of the Women’s Blues Revue, nominated for a Maple Blues Award and releasing her third album; A Sound in the Dark. She is an artist who will stop you in your tracks with her powerful voice and well crafted, thoughtful lyrics
Show 006 - February 24, 2024
Whitney Ross-Barris
Part of the Toronto jazz scene since 2008, Prairie-born, Ontario-based jazz singer Whitney Ross-Barris has quickly built a respected name for herself among players and listeners alike.
As a solo jazz artist, Whitney has appeared frequently in the TD Toronto Jazz Festival, she has been featured recurrently in JAZZ.FM91’s One Stop Vocal Jazz Safari and performs regularly in clubs, restaurants and concert halls across South Western Ontario.
On the heels of her self-produced debut EP in 2009, Whitney released her full-length jazz album "Everybody's Here,” featuring a number of not-so-standard standards, originals and even a few long-lost compositions by her late grandfather, writer-broadcaster, Alex Barris.
Sherri Harding
As long as she can remember, Sherri wanted to be a singer.
As a child, she used to stand on tables in her parents’ used furniture store and belt out “I’m Goin’ Hollywood” from The Little Rascals for bemused customers. Her folks had no money for lessons or instruments, but she managed to “borrow” a cheap guitar from her older brother and spent endless hours immersed in her Mel Bay chord book. School band and church choir followed, along with innumerable basement groups, until she was finally old enough to get into the bars, and her first professional gigs.
Arlene Paculan
Arlene is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Mississauga. She has enchanted crowds across Canada, UK, Europe and the US since 2010. She is the host of her own TV show, Striving Artist, which is aired on Filipino TV. Past performances include: Rock the Coliseum, JUNO Fest (London), Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, Aeolian Hall, Living Arts Centre, The Rose Theatre, tedXMississauga, CMI TD Connected Music Series, YYZLive, Sound of Music Club Series, Paisley Arts Festival (Scotland). Her upcoming EP features original songs that embrace the concept of mental health.
Show 005 - February 17, 2024
Ori Dagan
Shifting Ground
Richard (Dick) Cooper
Ori Dagan is an ward-winning jazz singer-songwriter.
He has attracted a dedicated and growing audience, both in his native Toronto and globally.
He brings a wry and agile sense of swing to everything he does.
His songs are filled with everyday happenings.
His songs, Viruses, Click on Romance and My Finger Slipped are filled with humorous lyrics and real life everyday situations.
Viruses garnered him a Grand Prize at the Great American Songwriting Contest
His songs are called “fun, provocative, fancy-free and spirited,” while Jazz Weekly proclaimed: "Rare are the male singers these days who are just as clever with the pen as the vocal sword.
Josh Kilimnik, Shannon Murtagh and Colette Richardson are part of a group dedicated to promote musical theatre.
Shifting Ground Collective which is Toronto’s newest home for emerging musical theatre voices. Their work spans developmental processes for new Canadian musicals, concert and cabaret programming, and full-scale productions of beloved musical theatre favourites – all with a focus on spotlighting the next-generation of great Canadian musical theatre talent. The group is performing their adaptation of Merrily We Roll Along.
Richard (Dick) Cooper is an award-winning songwriter, novelist, and screenwriter. He has penned seven Cooper Brothers albums that included several singles that were charted on the Billboard Top 100 including Dream Never Dies, Rock 'n Roll Cowboys and Know Her When I See Her.
As a screenwriter, he has worked both in television as well as video games.
He spent 10 years as Creative director at Artech Studios working with the likes of John Cleese, Whoopi Goldberg and Andy Serkis.
He currently teaches a “Storytelling for Media” course at Algonquin College in Ottawa and continues to write for his own band as well as other artists such as J.W. Jones, Sherri Harding, and Jeff Rogers.
Show 004 - February 10, 2024
Cat Bernardi
Cat Bernardi is a multi award-winning jazz vocalist, composer, arranger and educator from Mississauga, Ontario.
Her ‘crystalline’ voice and ‘timeless’ style have led her to jazz festivals around the GTA. She was the 2019 TD Toronto Jazz Hotspot Feature in the Downtown Markham Music Festival.
Cat has recorded two EPs: Minor Ballad/ Major Romance in (2014), and ‘Let’s Get Cozy’ in (2020).
The EP’s title track was one of the Top 4 picks in Canadian Beats’ “Weekly Beatdown” and was featured on PopCan Radio’s Top 24 picks for #NewMusicTuesday.
She just released her new, I love you for sentimental reasons.
Robert Williston
Robert Williston was born in Vancouver and now lives in Calgary, Alberta.
He initiated the "Canadian Music Discovery Project" in 1988, fueled by his passion for the nation’s diverse musical landscape.
Drawing from his personal collection of Canadian music, he meticulously built a database that would later evolve into an expansive digital archive.
He has the largest private collection of Canadian Music memorabilia with more than 110,000 items.
Over the past decade and a half, he has built an all Canadian music streaming website which boasts over 700,000 titles.
Jeff Rogers
Jeff Rogers has an unmistakable soulful voice which often evokes weighty comparisons - however, his tone, range, phrasing, and sincerity, all make him completely contemporary.
A professional musician since 1998, he has performed thousands of shows, in dozens of different bands.
Predominantly a piano-playing singer, he averages over 250 shows a year .
He travelled to Muscle Shoals, Alabama in early 2020, to begin work on his 3rd solo album along with co-writer and co-producer Dick Cooper of Cooper Brothers fame.
Jeff’s album “Dream Job” was released in December 2023 at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.
Show 003 February 3, 2024
Heather Christine
Jesse Maxwell
Heather Christine has a soulful sound that blends R&B with Jazz and Pop.
She is an award-winning vocalist, composer, entertainer and producer from Mississauga, Ontario.
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Her recent single “Walking With You” was produced by powerhouse Canadian pianist Bill King..
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Her latest project “Isn’t She Lovely” was met with standing ovations.
Jesse Maxwell has distinctive brand of Pop, Alternative R&B and Soul
Born in Toronto, this artist released his debut album Radio Silence which led him to plays on SiriusXM and over 400K streams on Spotify.
He then released Hellion in 2021 and LP2 in 2022.
Recently, he released five acoustic reimaginings of his songs in 2023.
He also has 1.3 million streams on Spotify to his credit as well as being #1 on the People’s Soul Choice Charts in the UK.
Melissa Lauren
Melissa Lauren has a boundless souring voice. She is as comfortable with jazz and she is with pop.
Her album “My Voice” showcases original work along with a cover of one of my desert island favorites, Insensitive written by Jann Arden.
She has performed across Canada the United States and internationally in Budapest, Berlin and Rotterdam.
She writes as a solo artist and has collaborated with Juno award winning artist Ernesto Cervini, Steven Taetz and electronic producer Hibernate.
Show 002 January 27, 2024
Cat Bernardi
Randy Ray
Matt Zaddy
We broadcast on Classic 1220 AM
Saturdays at 11am and 8pm
and
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We broadcast on Sauga 960 AM
Mondays at 3pm