This episode is with one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever had the privilege to meet: the Grammy-winning producer, musician and author Ian Brennan who has traveled the world in search of countries and languages that are underrepresented. He has produced over fifty remarkable international records since 2009 across five continents with his wife the Italian-Rwandan filmmaker, photographer and author Marilena Delli Umuhoza.

In this Part 1 of a new series with Ian within this podcast, you’ll hear about the Tanzania Albinism Collective, Rwanda’s The Good Ones, the Zomba Prison Project in Malawi, Comorian and Africatown’s Ancestor Sounds, music of the descendants of the last slave ship in Mobile . Ian also has a fascinating personal story and is sought after for his work in empathy-based violence prevention.

The links for all the music you’ll hear are in the Show Notes

In the show notes you'll also find the link to sign up for my newsletter, where you'll get exclusive information about upcoming episodes, different ways to support this podcast and linked episodes, as well as the YouTube video and transcript.

Photo: Marilena Delli Umuhoza

(00:00) Intro

(02:48) book “Missing Music: Voices From Where The Dirt Road Ends”, Comoros

(09:00) Music: excerpt of track 1 Please Protect My Newborn Child from the Spirits from Comorian's album "We are an Island, but we're not alone”, recording in Comoros, Marilena Umuhoza Delli.

(14:51) Rwanda, The Good Ones, Marilena’s mother

(20:51) Music: excerpt The Good Ones album"Rwanda...You See Ghosts, I See Sky" track 9, "My Chubby Baby, Please Sleep( I will protect you from anything)”

(21:50) The Good Ones, Kinyarwanda language, Rwanda history

(29:06) dominance of English in media and songs

(33:09) Music: excerpt The Good Ones album “Rwanda…You See Ghosts, I See Sky” track 4 “Every Job Has Importance”

(34:05) dominance of English, nonverbal communication, Ian’s sister who had Down syndrome, working in psychiatric environments

(41:15) other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast

(42:02) violence prevention and anger management books and workshops, “Peace by Peace”

(47:32) efficiency in recording

(51:08) Zomba Prison Project

(51:08) Zomba Prison Project

(54:53) Music: clip from track 4 "All is loss" album Zomba Prison Project "I will not stop singing”)

(55:39) Zomba prison recording with clip of track 3 “I Will Never Stop Grieving For You, My Wife” from Zomba Prison Project album “I will not stop singing”

(01:00:44) how Ian records and produces

(01:02:50) Africatown, Mobile,Alabama trip, descendants of slaves on the Clotilda

(01:05:39) Clip of track 1 “Run if you can, don’t go down that road” from Ancestor Sounds

(01:07:04) history and music of Africatown, Ian’s life as a songwriter and guitarist, becoming a parent

(01:12:31) Music: clip of Track 8 Comorian "Bandits Are Doing Bad Deeds" from album "We are an island, but we’re not alone”)

(01:13:43) early career recording in the laundromat

(01:18:00) Tanzania Albanism Collective, Ukerewe island, Standing Voice

(01:22:22) Tanzania Albinism Collective, track 23 “Happiness”, album “White African Power”

(01:22:51)Standing Voice organization, dangers of albinism

It was so inspiring to have this conversation with the multi-talented singer-songwriter and pianist Vienna Teng .

In this episode we’re featuring the band Few of a Kind’s new album, a beautiful collaboration with Vienna, Brandon Ridenour, Ben Russell, Yousif Sheronick, and Andrew Gutauskas. Vienna takes us inside their creative process with excerpts from each track. She also reflects on what truly makes a great song, how her identity evolved with parenthood, and how she has connected with audiences through her climate action workshops. Vienna also shared insights into two other brilliant recent projects, her unique album We’ve Got You and “The Riversitter” after Dave Eggers’ “The Museum of Rain”.

You’ll hear the charming story of how she actually found her stage name, some highlights including opening for Joan Baez, performing on the Late Show with David Letterman and especially what it felt like to return to touring and recording after a ten-year hiatus after working in environmental sustainability.

Full Show Notes for all the links: Vienna Teng's albums, website, Songwriter podcast, linked episodes with Gabriel Kahane, Jean Rohe, Ida Gillner, Fern Lindzon and Diane Nalini and my Newsletter, Merch store and how you can buy me a coffee to support this series!

photo: Sherwin Lainez

(00:00) Intro

(02:21) Stage name story, David Letterman and early fame, working at Cisco

(07:09) Few of a Kind band, with clip track 1 “Transcontinental 1:30 AM”

(11:49) life of a singer, Ben Russel with clip of track 4 Two Steps From the Blues

(18:31) creative process Few of a Kind, Octavian studios

(20:52) environmental sustainability, decision to go back to university

(28:07) Few of a Kind, clip of track 2 Alone, Brandon Ridenour

(31:32) crafting a life in music with social impact

(34:12) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(35:02) what makes a great song, Asian American identity Alex Wong

(42:31) climate action workshops connected to concerts

(47:20) We’ve Got You with clips, how Comfort and Spark fit together

(54:33) writing “The River Sitter” after David Eggers “The Museum of Rain”

(01:00:36) Few of a Kind, with clip of track 3 Five’s Alive, Andrew Gutauskis, Yousif Sheronick

(01:07:40) touring, opening for Joan Baez

(01:12:03) coming back after 10 year hiatus

I was honoured to have this opportunity to talk to the pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico about her extraordinary life in music and the arts. She shared wonderful and moving stories about Ann Southam, Louis Quilico, Pierre Boulez, Jacques Isrealievitch, and her legendary teacher Rosina Lhévinne.

I was really struck by Christina’s open-minded attitude throughout her long career to learning new music, culminating in almost 70 brilliant and powerful albums so far; it’s amazing to learn that most of her recordings are recorded live, in one take. Christina also shared how meaningful it is to her to be a mother and grandmother, as well as respected academic; she’s Professor Emerita and Senior Scholar at York University in Toronto. Among many honours, she has been appointed to the Order of Canada, and the Royal Society of Canada.

Her curiosity and creative energy seem limitless; she’s a poet and visual artist, she’s studied Ancient Egyptian culture, and she lives her life spiked with humour and a down-to-earth attitude. We are also including excerpts from several of Christina’s albums and performances including music by Mozart, Art Tatum, Ann Southam, Meredith Monk and David Jaeger, all detailed in the timestamps, with links in the show notes.

The show notes will also bring you to: Christina's website, linked episodes you'll enjoy, my podcast newsletter for exclusive information about upcoming guests, podcast merch, the YouTube video, and all the albums featured on this podcast!

(00:00) Intro

(02:19) Ann Southam

(07:29) clip fo Ann Southam’s Glass Houses Revisited #5 from concert; video linked in show notes

(09:09) Ann Southam

(11:29) mindset for recording

(17:11) Jacques Israelievitch Mozart project with

(22:07) clip of Mozart Sonata no. 32 in B flat major, K. 454, 3rd movement Allegretto, album linked in show notes

(23:20) Louis Quilico, opera

(30:38) visual art, synesthesia

(35:32) Other linked episodes

(36:31) learning so much new music, Pierre Boulez stories

(45:55) first husband Michel-Georges Brégent, David Jaeger

(49:07) clip of Takemitsu Les Yeux Clos from Games of the Night Wind, album linked in show notes

(50:12) upcoming projects, career path, Rosina Lhévinne

(56:30) impact of sexism on her career

(0:01:13) audio clip Paris by Meredith Monk from Retro Americana, album linked in show notes

(01:02:24) Retro Americana album, with clip of I’ll Never Be the Same by Art Tatum

(01:05:22) Rzewski, clip of Winnsboro Cotton Mill Blues from Retro Americana

(01:06:28) David Jaeger, arts funding, CBC

(01:12:21) piano repertoire and technique, Jeaneane Dowis

(01:16:39) learning music, funny story, Vintage Americana album

(01:20:44) clip of Fantasy Pieces - Allegro Minacciando by David Del Tredici from Vintage Americana)

(01:21:36) living a creative life, mindset, studying Ancient Egypt

Hank Moore became a radio DJ at just ten years old, then went on to influence the broadcasting industry. You’ll hear about his experiences interviewing Elvis Presley, working as an advisor to President Lyndon B. Johnson, and earning two inductions into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. From payola to the negative effects of the deregulation of broadcasting, he offers valuable perspectives on the music industry. Hank has crossed paths with legends like Ed Sullivan, Frank Sinatra, and Burt Bacharach, and lived through many moments that defined popular culture. We discussed his Pulitzer Prize nominated "Pop Music Legends" and some of the many highlights from his varied and fascinating career in broadcasting and business.

Like all my episodes, you can watch this on my YouTube channel or listen to the podcast, and I’ve also linked the transcript. t’s a joy to bring these inspiring episodes to you, and I do all the many jobs of research, production and publicity. Have a look at the show notes of this episode, where you’ll find all the links, including different ways to support this podcast and other suggested episodes. Show Notes with All the Links!

Hank Moore website

(00:00) Intro

(01:53) Hank Moore’s books, celebrities, radio, Lady Bird Johnson, Lee Iacocca, Bing Crosby

(19:16) Elvis Presley, André Previn, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

(30:31) advisor to President Lyndon Johnson, radio industry

(49:18) linked episodes, ways to support this podcast

(50:02) Ed Sullivan, Mitch Miller, popular music history

(58:54) Payola, meeting Burt Bacharach, McCarthy black list

(01:08:39) stars discovered on talent shows, music industry problems

(01:20:40) non-profit work, business and political work

(01:27:45) Carole King, creative process

The trumpet player and composer Nadje Noordhuis joined me for a wide-ranging conversation about identity, creativity, and carving out a life in music on her own terms. Nadje reflects on her early musical upbringing in Sydney, Australia, and the formative training that led her toward jazz trumpet. She remembers her friend Lois Martin, and Nadje speaks candidly about experiences of sexism in the music world, and the challenges of breaking into the New York jazz scene—financial struggles, years at the Manhattan School of Music, and finding her footing as a woman in jazz.

She reflected on her collaborative project Multitudes with composer James Shipp, and you’ll be hearing clips from that project as well as Gulfoss with Maeve Gilchrist, Full Circle with Fred Hersch. She talked about being about to record with the legendary engineer Jan Erik Kongshaug, and Nadje encourages all of us to take risks to follow our own paths.

Complete Show Notes with all the links! (Video, linked episodes, Transcript, podcast merchandise and Ko-fi support page, newsletter)

Nadje Noordhuis Website

photo: Matt Baker

(00:00) Intro

(02:12) Sara Caswell, Dutch heritage

(03:45) Multitudes with James Shipp

(07:06) clip of Run Together from Multitudes

(07:48) more about Multitudes, clip of Say Goodbye

(09:31) Lois Martin

(13:36) Laurie Frink

(16:09) versatility in building a career, Anat Cohen

(19:21) early music training childhood in Australia

(22:20) experiences of sexism, decision to pursue jazz trumpet

(30:15) Full Circle album Elan Mehler, Fred Hersch (clip Little Song from Full Circle)

(34:24) move to New York, financial struggles

(39:06) breaking into the jazz scene as a woman, Manhattan school

(43:54) other linked episodes and ways to support this project

(44:51) youth in Sydney, Australia

(48:40) teaching, Fifth Bridge

(53:26) recording Gulfoss album with clip of Seven Miles

(57:25) working with Jan Erik Kongshaug, recording Ten Sails with Luke Howard

(01:05:35) clip of Rainbow from Multitudes, living as an expat

(01:07:36) clip of Full Circle, reflections on choosing her own path

Julia Keefe (Nez Perce) is an internationally acclaimed Native American jazz vocalist, actor, activist, and educator currently based in New York City. You’ll hear how her Indigenous Big Band project started, the history behind jazz in Native American communities and inspiration from Delbert Anderson to Jim Pepper. A special influence in her life has been Mildred Bailey and you’ll be hearing some clips from Julia’s Mildred Bailey Project album throughout this podcast; the track names are in the timestamps. Mildred was a very important figure in jazz and Julia is also working on a film about her life and career. Julia spoke about some of the sexual harassment she has experienced and how she was affected by the experience of sexual assault by a professor when she was in graduate school. She opened up about how she got through that time with the support of her vocal teacher Jo Lawry . In the shadow of this challenging time, Julia shared some fascinating specifics into how her voice teachers Jo, Theo Bleckmann and also Kate McGarry helped push her artistic and expressive boundaries, and later what a transformative experience it was to be mentored by Esperanza Spalding.

Julia’s identity as an Indigenous jazz musician shapes her creative life in so many affirming and inspirational ways; I’m so happy to share this meaningful conversation with you.

Complete Show Notes

In the show notes: links to other suggested episodes, newsletter, buy me a coffee, podcast merch, link to Indigenous Big Band video, transcript and of course Julia Keefe's music!

Julia Keefe website

photo: Don Hamilton

(00:00) Intro

(02:38) Indigenous Big Band, Delbert Anderson

(10:21) clip of Jim Pepper’s “Water”, video linked in show notes

(12:24) Mildred Bailey Project

(14:19) clip of “Thanks for Memory" track 8

(15:08) Mildred Bailey Project album release

(18:10) Mildred Bailey with clip of Rockin’ Chair opener track 1

(25:28) clip of track 9 Rockin’ Chair, Mildred Bailey film project with Lily Gladstone, Gary Farmer

(39:23) clip of track 2 “Lover, Come Back to Me” Sterlin Harjo film “Love and Fury”

(41:51) linked episodes and ways to support this podcast

(42:56) Jim Pepper

(49:06) Julia’s childhood, Kamia, learning Nimipuutimt

(55:00) residential schools bands history

(01:00:24) Master’s at Manhattan, Kate McGarry, Jo Lawry, Theo Bleckmann

(01:05:35) personal challenges including sexual assault, support of Jo Lawry

(01:19:11) Esperanza Spalding mentorship

Eliza Marshall is a British flute player acclaimed for her expressive multi-style playing and in this episode we’re celebrating her new album “Eternal Birth” in which this award-winning flautist and composer channels over two decades of international collaboration into a bold, genre-defying album, with a rich cinematic soundscape, blending classical, folk and world traditions, with haunting flutes, whistles, bansuris, spoken word, percussion and electronics. Recorded in both the UK and Senegal, the album features an extraordinary line-up of world-class andGrammy Award-Winning musicians: Ady Thioune, Ansumana Suso, Drew Morgan , Dónal Rogers, and Lena Jonsson .

Eliza shared her rich musical life: her studies with Michael Cox, her varied career including performing on the long-running West-End show The Lion King in London, touring with Peter Gabriel, and the joys and challenges of using a loop pedal. She shared insights about the importance of the folk band Ranagri in her life, her multi-disciplinary project Freedom to Roam, her love of the Hebrides Islands, the importance of re-wilding, and finding the courage to push boundaries and take risks.This episode is being released a few days before the release of Eternal Birth; you’ll find the pre-order link on Eliza’s website. I was really inspired to exchange ideas with Eliza about living a life rich with connection and creativity.

Show notes take you to linked episodes you'll love, the video, transcript, podcast Newsletter to get access for exclusive information about upcoming guests, and support link for this independent project for which I do all the many jobs! (also podcast merch)

Complete Show Notes

Eliza Marshall Website

Photo: Jason Sheldon

Timestamps:

(00:00) Intro

(03:04) album “Eternal Birth”, Lena Jonsson, with clip of They Listen

(06:29) layering textures, interest and research into music of Africa, percussionist Ady Thioune

(09:13) youth Steiner Education, trip to Buea,Cameroon

(11:13) about Roots Entwined, with clip of track 2

(13:28) many different flutes, collaborating with Joby Talbot

(17:40) about track 3, Our Times Reborn with clip

(19:56) joy in composing, Reich influence, Sarah Jeffery

(21:45) Michael Cox, learning different flutes and styles

(26:25) Freedom to Roam project

(31:32) Dónal Rogers, Ranagri, staying with projects long-term

(36:08) linked episodes and buying me a coffee to keep this podcast going

(37:08) Leah improv and podcast, Hebrides Islands, re-wilding

(43:03) loop pedal, Linsey Pollak, getting outside your comfort zone, The Lion King job

(53:45) Ansumana Suso on kora, safeguarding the fertility of the Earth, with clip of track 6 On and On

(56:49) Ady Thioune, trips to Senegal

(01:02:48) Rebeca Omordia, Omo Bello, my podcast

(01:05:55) playing with Peter Gabriel

(01:08:30) mortality with clip track 7 Dust to Dust

(01:12:14) Stevie Wonder, studio work, love of film music, album cover meaning

(01:16:56) Embracing our interconnectedness, with clip of track 8 Interconnected, self-care

I’m honoured to bring to you this in-depth conversation with the brilliant musician, writer, composer and storyteller Gabriel Kahane as my first episode of Season 6 of this podcast. You’ll be hearing many short clips from several of his albums including his piano concerto Heirloom, written for his father Jeffrey Kahane. This is a wide-ranging interview and you’ll hear about Gabriel’s upcoming book project, the impact of his early theatre training, how learning to conduct is helping him as a composer, and reflections from his hiatus from the internet and social media. Fans who love Book of Travelers and Magnificent Bird will hear clips and insights from those projects and we also got into his work as an artist-citizen in his large-scale work “emergency shelter intake form” commissioned by the Oregon Symphony about homelessness and the housing crisis. The track and album names are specified in the timestamps and everything is linked in the show notes, including other suggested episodes and ways to support this independent podcast: Complete Show Notes

Gabriel Kahane Website

00:00) Intro

(02:25) Book of Travelers, train trip, American Guide Series, Baedeker with clip from Book of Travelers

(08:19) Book of Travelers, Pattern of the Rail, November with clip

(10:45) Book of Travelers, arranging songs for ensembles, clip of Model Trains

(16:24) train trip, more stories

(19:20) piano concerto Heirloom, decimated press landscape, clip of beginning of first movement “Guitars in the Attic”, Heirloom piano concerto

(22:58) Jeffrey Kahane, Heirloom bringing vernacular music into the concert hall with clip of first movement “Guitars in the Attic”, Heirloom piano concerto which uses Where Are the Arms

(29:24) orchestration of Where Are the Arms and how it relates to the concerto with clip (from Heirloom album, the final track)

(35:14) about the 2nd movement “My Grandmother Knew Alban Berg” and 3rd movement “VERA’S CHICKEN-POWERED TRANSIT MACHINE”, Heirloom piano concerto, with clips of both

(38:52) pandemic move to Portland, living without the internet for a year, Magnificent Bird album

(47:27) To Be American with clip from Magnificent Bird

(50:27) other linked episodes and ways to follow and support this podcast!

(51:15) story of Gabriel’s grandmother’s late life romance, clip of Sit Shiva from Magnificent Bird

(55:24) Gabriel’s writing and upcoming book project, the importance of creativity

(01:08:06) duo with Pekka Kuusisto “Council”

(01:09:52) conducting orchestras

(01:21:23) creative process, storytelling, challenges of internet distraction

(01:28:21) “emergency shelter intake form” with clip XI. A Brief History of The Subprime Mortgage Loan Crisis and housing crisis, clip III. Where Did You Stay Last Night

(01:35:11) Craigslistlieder

Photo: Jason Quigley

The Swedish fiddler Lena Jonsson has created a unique style inspired by traditional Swedish music as well as many other influences. Today we’re focusing on the wonderful 3rd album by her trio, “Folk Covers” which celebrates many great folk music composers of today. I think you’ll really enjoy this uplifting conversation which features a lot of music, including Lena giving us some spontaneous house concert experiences, and clips from the new album, with insights into process of curating and interpreting these folk covers; please note the timestamps have the tune names. You’ll also learn about the Swedish folk scene and regional differences, her experiences studying both in Sweden and Boston at Berklee, her love of creative design and how to dance a Polska. I want to let you know that I’m going to be taking a short break for a couple of weeks, but I’m very excited to bring you Season 6 of this podcast at the beginning of January 2026!

Complete Show Notes for this Episode!

Lena Jonsson Website

photo: Klara Granberg

(00:00) Intro

(02:16) album Folk Covers, with clip of Äntligen!

(04:33) childhood musical family in Hälsingland Sweden

(10:28) microtonality and ornamentation in Swedish fiddling with Silkesvalsen

(13:25) fiddling, duo with Brittany Haas

(16:33) Four Minute Love Story with clip “Neljän Minuuttin rakkaus” Johanna Jukola

(18:44) arranging, curating with Erik Ronström and Krydda Sundström with clip of Fortcalquier by Genticorum

(22:29) first Canadian tour, Blue Skies festival

(24:26) teaching folkhögskola, Berklee experience

(30:22) Burdland, cover of Kinnaris with clip, Norwegian hardanger fiddle influence

(34:51) learning from archival recordings

(37:23) other linked episodes and ways to support this series

(38:10) experience studying in Stockholm

(42:00) Bubbles in Central Park with clip, how to dance a Polska

(47:58) how to pronounce Lena and bits of Swedish culture, and clip of Unless/The Tobagganist by Hawktail

(54:58) love of design and fashion, duo with Johanna Juhola

(59:00) Morgenslått with clip, memorizing music

(01:03:01) Erik Rydvall nyckelharpa, Midsummer, great fiddle teachers

(01:07:33) harpist Maeve Gilchrist, clip of Brenda's Abbey, how the trio got started

(01:12:09) composing with performance of Ispolskan

Violinist Lara St. John joins me to discuss her upcoming documentary Dear Lara, her remarkable career, and her ongoing work to ensure a safe and inclusive music community . Lara’s creativity, warmth, humour and brilliance come through in this wide-ranging interview and you’ll hear about her decision to become the first classical soloist to start her own record label, her formative year in the former USSR, advice about learning music and the violin, and a tribute to one of her main mentors, Joey Corpus. In fact Joey’s amazing story wasn’t one I was familiar with and since this conversation I’ve learned more about this inspiring pedagogue. We talked about two of her many albums, and you’ll hear a couple of clips from Shiksa and She/Her/Hers; track names are in the timestamps and everything is linked to Lara’s website in the show notes. Lara is also known for her love for iguanas, and at the very beginning of this episode you’ll get to meet Baby Octavius!

Trigger warning: Please note that there are detailed timestamps below, so you can go to specific parts of this interview; there are mentions of both sexual assault and a suicide attempt

Complete Show Notes with linked episodes, newsletter, podcast merch and more!

Lara St. John Website

Varaiuni Bar Fight video on Lara's channel

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Timestamps: (00:00) Intro with mention of sexual abuse (trigger warning) (03:10) meeting the Caribbean iguana Baby Octavius (04:59) Order of Canada, meeting other celebrities for Canadian Thanksgiving (06:28) the story of Moishe the violin, klezmer (09:48) about album Shiksa with clip from The Pain Will Find Us (14:17) “Dear Lara” film, trigger warning mention of rape (27:16) changing perspectives on her career (32:27) other linked episodes and supporting this podcast (33:16) perspectives on children in music, competitions (35:36) U.S.S.R. experience (38:18) her record label Ancalogon, album She/Her/Hers women composers with clip of Ana Sokolović Danza 2 (42:55) adjusting repertoire, Gabriela Lena Frank with clip of Luciérnagas (46:40) clip of video Variaiuni Bar Fight from Shiksa, linked in show notes (47:54) first trip to Peru, brief reference to suicide attempt (49:16) Marlboro, Felix Galimir (53:06) Joey Corpus violin pedagogue, portato problems, final reflections on film making and career direction

photo: Titolayo Ayangade