listen to an interview with author and researcher Yves Engler offering a critique on the Montreal-based global security firm Garda, outlining the role that GardaWorld is playing in militarized zones of conflict around the world, from Iraq to Libya.

specifically this interview aims to explore the under-researched and under-scrutinized influence that GardaWorld is holding within the context of conflict zones and the relationship between former Canadian military officials and Garda.

this interview was recorded in Montreal for broadcast on CKUT fm by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org/

listen to an interview with musician / composer Maurice Louca speaking on 'Salute the Parrot' a recently released album. in this interview Maurice speaks about the creative process behind the album, the musicians involved from the independent music scene in Cairo.

also Maurice speaks more generally about the creative process, both personal and social influences on this album and compositional work in general. a highlight in this interview is about the ways that the political unrest and popular uprising that took place in Egypt in 2011 influenced the social atmosphere for artists in Cairo and throughout Egypt.

this interview was recorded in Montreal in Parc X at Sam Shalabi's place during a visit to the city where Maurice presented new compositions. recorded for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio, info: http://freecityradio.org/

listen to an interview with NYC-based saxophonist Nonoko Yoshida speaking about creative process, reflecting on the relationship between improvisation and life experience. in this interview recorded at Casa del Popolo, the night after a beautiful concert during the Suoni per il Popolo festival Nonoko also reflects on personal artistic development, in NYC specifically, having collaborated with John Zorn and performed at The Stone venue.

photo by Mayuko Nakatsuka.

interview recorded by Stefan Christoff @spirodon during the Suoni per il Popolo festival, for broadcast on CKUT radio on Free City Radio, info: http://freecityradio.org/

listen to an interview with saxophonist Dave Rempis speaking on the importance of community process in the creation of music, the ways that the creative spirit lives within social networks. Dave speaks about experiences playing music in independent venues in Chicago and then reflects / offers thoughts about the scene in Montreal.

also this interview highlights the importance of critical reflection in relation to the ways that social relations and structures of oppression in society can impact musical scenes.

recorded during the Suoni per il Popolo 2015 at Casa del Popolo.

produced for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org/

a soundwalk from the St. Hubert street fair on August 21, 2015, as part of a sound walk / sound scape audio project. thx. for listening, take care. -- stefan.

track playing in most of the piece is j. balvin's ay vamos.

photo by thiên v.

listen to an interview with Arnold de Boer and Andy Moor from the iconic punk collective The Ex. this interview was recorded at Casa del Popolo during the Suoni per il Popolo festival in June 2015. in this interview we hear reflections on recent experiences of The Ex, from touring in Ethiopia, to playing benefits in Europe for migrant rights and also playing in Cairo, Egypt, during the 2011 uprising.

broadly this interview revolves around the importance of the autonomy of artists in sustaining their space in a hostile society and creating art outside of the dictates of the market.

info : http://www.theex.nl/news.html

this interview was recorded for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio info : http://freecityradio.org/

listen to an interview with Samia Al-Botmeh, professor of economics at Birzeit University in the occupied West Bank of Palestine, also a founding member of the global Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (PACBI).

in this interview Samia speaks about the ways that Israeli settler violence against Palestinian civilians is inherently connected to Israeli state policy of expansion and stresses the importance of highlighting this link in the wake of growing settler violence in the summer of 2015. also Samia speaks about the ways that international solidarity can play a key role in combating systems of Israeli apartheid violence against the Palestinian people, in the occupied territories but also toward Palestinians living within the Israeli state, facing a system of internal apartheid.

info / context / background : http://www.pacbi.org/

this interview was recorded in Montreal for broadcast on CKUT fm by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org/ photo taken by ActiveStills at weekly protest against the apartheid wall in the West Bank, Palestine.

listen to an interview with composer / improviser Ken Vandermark recorded in Montreal in June 2015 during the Suoni per il Popolo festival. during the festival Ken delivered a strong solo performance at Casa del Popolo on St. Laurent street in Montreal.

in this interview Ken outlines some ideas on the relationship between art scenes and gentrification in the US context. also Ken speaks about the importance of independent community spaces in the creation of innovative culture and the current challenges that musicians face in an economic context where non-commercial artists are finding it more and more difficult to survive. finally Ken also speaks about the importance of artists looking at their role in society in relation to the issues of our time, particularly looking at the systemic police shootings taking place in the US targeting African-Americans.

this interview was recorded and produced for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org thanks to Suoni per il Popolo festival to helping to set-up this interview series.

listen to an interview with Kolkata-based professor, researcher and progressive economist Mritiunjoy Mohanty. in this interview Mohanty speaks about the neoconservative policies being driven by the current BJP government, specifically looking at the attempts to repeal some progressive legislation, like the land acquisitions act, passed due to the pressure of social movements under the previous Congress government.

also Mohanty speaks about the role of women's movements today in India in relation to broader workers struggles within the context of growing foreign corporate investment in the country. finally this interview addresses the global alliance between deeply right wing forces globally, linking together the BJP in India, the current Israeli government and Conservative governments in Australia, the UK and Canada.

this interview was recorded for broadcast on CKUT radio in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org/

photo : truck on roadway in Mumbai, India.

listen to an interview with writer & activist Atiaf Alwazir, who lives between Tunisia and Yemen. Ataif founded the project "Women for Yemen," and in this interview outlines from reflections and critical perspectives on the Saudi-lead bombing campaign currently taking place. this interview highlights the impacts of the Saudi bombing on civilians in Yemen, while also speaking to the ways the military attack threatens world heritage.

importantly this interview provides from political context and background on the military campaign, particularly highlighting a perspective that is opposed to the Saudi military intervention but finds base not in the rebel Houthi movement but in the popular protests and activism against state-driven injustice that took the streets of Yemen in 2011/12.

photo is by AFP photographer Mohammed Huwais of a Saudi bombing in Yemen.

this interview was produced for broadcast on CKUT fm in Montreal by Stefan Christoff @spirodon for Free City Radio http://freecityradio.org