Inside The Artist's Studio

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Cassia Hardy, bandleader and songwriter for Wares. The band is coming off a big year, which included the release of their second album, Survival, and the absolutely glowing reception it has received nationwide, including a place on the Polaris Prize long-list. Sean and Cassia talk about her journey from starting out playing opens stages to having to cancel a nationwide tour because of the ongoing pandemic.

Recorded on Aug 6th, 2020

Featured Track: Survival from Survival

Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean talks to Edmonton singer-songwriter Marlaena Moore, whose latest record “Pay Attention, Be Amazed!” came out just as the world was being indefinitely put on ice near the end of March. Marlaena joins the show over the phone from Calgary, where she’s been busy demoing new songs, spending lots of time outside, and learning to drive stick. After acing the rapid-fire, Marlaena talks about working on songs with co-producers Chris Dadge and Chad Vangaalen, diving headfirst into ambitious arrangements, and, of course, Sepp’s Pizza.

Welcome back to our very first, post-hiatus, episode of Inside the Artists studio, where Sean Newton talks with, none other than, Cups N Cakes Network founder, Jeff MacCallum. As of this episode, Sean is taking over this show from Jeff, and so you’ll notice all kinds of changes to the format as we start posting episodes with Edmonton music scene luminaries, from Bad Buddy to Wares to Aladean Kheroufi.

Sean and Jeff chat about how the Cups N Cakes Network got started, how horrible Spotify is (hope you’re ready for some strong language), and Sean gives Jeff a dose of his own medicine with the rapid-fire questionnaire.

Recorded August 16th-ish, 2020

Featured Track: Daniel Romano - “Still Hate Cops”

Intro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

The world is a very different place from when this interview took place. Today we are releasing a conversation Jeff had back in June 2019 with Saskatoon duo, The FAPS. The interview was conducted during Sled Island of that year and was held all this time to be a promo tool for the 2020 edition of the festival. Sadly we know that the Sled has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic but we are still excited to give you Jeff’s conversation with Skyler Cafferata and Blair Colwell. Those two gents are a blast to be around and this interview was a joy to record. Listen on to hear all the shenanigans as they discussed the bands humble beginnings, their opening slot for Insane Clown Posse that never happened, and the brutality of Oshawa.

Recorded June 20th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from The FAPS.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Partner is a two-piece band comprised of Josée Caron and Lucy Niles who are known for their straight ahead rock anthems peppered with hilarious stories. They exploded onto the Canadian music scene in 2015 with a track called “The Ellen Page”, the music video featured footage of Ellen Page dancing and went viral after being shared by miss Page herself. After that they continued to amaze when their debut album, In Search Of Lost Time, was shortlisted for the Polaris Prize in 2017 and they won the SOCAN songwriters prize in 2018 for the track "Play the Field”. Jeff was lucky enough to be able to sit down with Partner when they rolled through the prairies in January for Winterruption. They covered a bunch of stuff in a short amount of time including a rapid fire questionnaire where we received the best answer ever to the question: “What is the weirdest job you’ve ever had?”

Recorded January 24th, 2020.

Track used with full permission from Partner.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Today, we’re happy to share the very last interview from the Winterruption Festival that took place in Edmonton at the end of January. Graham Wright, known for his work as the keyboard player in Tokyo Police Club, was bringing his new project Girlfriend Material through town on their first tour to celebrate the release of their album Cool Car in 2019. Girlfriend Material features members of Tokyo Police Club and Hollerado, and Sean and Graham talked about what it was like coming up alongside so many great bands in Toronto and how unquestionably weird it is to earn a living making music that people are excited to hear. They also touch on a shared love of Jeff Tweedy, and what it’s like to get hired to play gigs for “Big Vodka”.

Recorded January 23rd, 2020.

Track used with full permission from Girlfriend Material.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

On this episode of Inside the Artists Studio, Sean talks to Steve from Nature Of about the band’s brand new LP “The Mean”. The record was recorded right here in Edmonton at MacEwan University’s new recording studios at Allard Hall, and the interview took place in a classroom just a few doors down from where they laid down most of the bed tracks for the album. They cover the process of making the record, from the circumstances that led to them recording with Paul Johnston and Marcus Paquin (who is known for his work with The National), and then took a few detours in the rapid fire to talk about the sleek lines on the 92 Toyota Corolla.

Recorded March 4th, 2020.

Track used with full permission from Nature Of.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

This past January, Sean caught up with Jennifer Castle in the basement of Edmonton’s Freemason Hall before her performance at the inaugural Winterruption music festival. They discussed her 2018 album, “Angels Of Death”, her home in Ontario, and her unique process of semi-improvisational song writing. Sean put her through the rapid fire and we learn about her love of potatoes chips and how much you can learn from old ladies if you take the time to really listen.

Recorded January 24th, 2020.

Track used with full permission from Jennifer Castle.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Sean spoke to Hannah Epperson the afternoon before her performance at Winterruption this past January. Hannah’s live show is an ethereal experience, assembled piece by piece with her fiddle, a loop pedal, and her own voice. These live experiences are reflected in her two records, in which one half of the songs are constructed true to her live show, while the other half are the same songs, but reimagined as avant-pop compositions, not dissimilar to Radiohead or Bjork. We talked about why she decided to approach her first two records in this way, her upbringing in Utah and British Columbia, and the mouth burning glory of the humble salt and vinegar chip.

Recorded January 25th, 2020.

Track used with full permission from Hannah Epperson.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

During the most frigid week imaginable in Edmonton, Daniel Romano rolled into town on tour with Ancient Shapes. The mercury dropped to -40C and the wind chill brought the temperature down to -50C but inside the Rec Room it was nice and warm as Jeff sat down to chat with one of Canada’s most respected artists. From Attack In Black, to his solo work, to Ancient Shapes, they discussed his many projects, past and present, and how he approaches them. They also talked about his massive output of material, how he manages to keep everything organized and what we can expect from him in 2020. Finally, they ran through the rapid fire and Jeff learns a few things we never knew about Mr. Romano.

Recorded January 17th, 2020.

Track used with full permission from Daniel Romano.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com