You can’t begin to talk about the history of hip-hop without talking about Maestro Fresh Wes. Dubbed the godfather of Canadian hip-hop, Maestro became widely known in 1989 for his debut single, “Let Your Backbone Slide,” which was a game-changer for Canadian music. He joins Tom to take us through his journey from writing rhymes at Scarborough’s Parkway Mall to releasing the first hit Canadian hip-hop record.

Maestro Fresh Wes: His journey to becoming the godfather of Canadian hip-hop

Five days a week acclaimed interviewer Tom Power sits down with the artists, writers, actors and musicians who define pop culture. Whether he’s ribbing Adele, singing a boyband classic with Simu Liu, or dissecting faith with U2 frontman Bono – Tom brings the same curiosity, respect and meticulous preparation into every conversation. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom – like Lizzo and Billie Eilish — who appeared on Q well before hitting the mainstream. Hear your favourite artists as they truly are, every weekday with Tom Power.

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The director Tarsem Singh first made a name for himself in the ‘90s making iconic music videos for bands like R.E.M. and Dream Warriors. In 2000, he captured moviegoers' imaginations with the sci-fi thriller, “The Cell,” starring Jennifer Lopez. His latest movie, “Dear Jassi,” is based on the real-life story of Jassi Sidhu, a young Sikh woman from Vancouver who was kidnapped and murdered while visiting the man she secretly married against the wishes of her family. Tarsem sits down with Tom to talk about this tragic love story, and why it was also pretty personal to him.

Tarsem Singh: On Dear Jassi and the real-life tragedy that inspired the film

After blowing up on TikTok, the rising Canadian pop star Alexander Stewart has now released his debut album, “bleeding heart.” He sits down with Tom to discuss his journey, writing songs about eating disorders and body dysmorphia, how devastated he was when his voice changed, and how Shawn Mendes’s singing coach took him under his wing.

Alexander Stewart: His pop music journey, the devastating moment his voice changed, and his debut album

The Australian director George Miller made his name with the post-apocalyptic “Mad Max” film trilogy that he launched 45 years ago. In 2015, he revived the franchise with a fourth film, “Fury Road,” which won six Oscars and introduced the character of Furiosa. Now, George has created a new film in the franchise that focuses on Furiosa’s origin story. He sits down with Tom to discuss “Furiosa” and his evolution as a filmmaker through the entire “Mad Max” franchise. 

George Miller: Furiosa, what Mad Max is really about, and his early career as an ER doctor

The director Jane Schoenbrun first became known for their 2021 movie “We're All Going to the World's Fair,” which tapped into a teenaged fascination with the culture of viral memes. Now, Jane has made a new film called “I Saw the TV Glow,” which follows two suburban teens who get emotionally enmeshed in a fictional ‘90s TV show called The Pink Opaque. The result is a moody investigation of identity, growing up and making decisions about who you want to be. Jane talks to Tom about how this film relates to transness, why ‘90s TV has a special place in the film, and their own experience getting intertwined in TV shows as they grew up.

Jane Schoenbrun: I Saw the TV Glow, the trans experience, and their ‘90s TV obsessions

The father-daughter duo Ethan and Maya Hawke have teamed up for the new film called “Wildcat,” which follows the life of Flannery O'Connor while she was struggling to publish her first novel. Ethan and Maya join Tom to talk about their collaboration and why O’Connor’s work connected with them so deeply.

Maestro Fresh Wes: His journey to becoming the godfather of Canadian hip-hop

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