Inside The Artist's Studio

Bridal Party’s new album Too Much is one of Sean’s favourite records of 2019 (and it hasn’t even come out yet!); he got the chance to listen to the record before doing this interview at Sled Island 2019. It’s a record where every song is supernaturally likeable; they all twist and turn in a way that’s danceable, unexpected, and completely inevitable. The interview was conducted in a barely furnished Airbnb in Calgary’s Bridgeland neighbourhood, where Sean pulled the couch into the kitchen to avoid the unpleasant ringing of a completely empty living room. They chatted about pop music, Steely Dan, the magical land of Victoria, and of course, Bridal Party’s forthcoming album, Too Much.

Recorded June 20th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Bridal Party.

https://bridalparty.bandcamp.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Astral Swans is a solo project from Calgarian, Matthew Swann whose previous endeavours include Hot Little Rocket, Extra Happy Ghost!! and GOLD. The music he plays as Astral Swans, combines folk leanings with experimental tendencies and swirls them into an indie style that is utterly unique to this project. Alongside the music’s distinct sound is a lyrical depth that has gotten him noticed around the world. He joined Jeff at the Cups N Cakes Studio a couple weeks before Sled Island 2019 to talk about his 2018 record, Strange Prison, the music scene in Calgary, touring Japan and what the future holds for Astral Swans.

Recorded June 2nd, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Astral Swans.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Jeff sits down with Contra and Eboshi from Cartel Madras to discuss an immense amount of things kicking off for this hip-hop duo. The two discuss the evolution of their sound, the story behind their signing to SubPop Records (thanks to a show at Sled Island 2018), their plans to break into the Indian music market and the mystery behind the music video for “Eric Andre”. They also discuss their love of Alberta hip-hop and that although they’re leaving the prairies, they plan to represent Calgary no matter where they live. Finally, Jeff runs through the rapid fire questionnaire where we learn about their love of Freddie Gibbs, their overweight dog Theodore and their love of a good mosh pit.

Recorded June 1st, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Cartel Madras.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Recordshttp://www.marlowrecords.com

Jeff sits down with Snake River’s principal songwriter Christopher Sleightholm at the 2019 Sled Island Music Festival. His Regina based band makes psychedelic garage rock a cut above their peers. They’ve been at it for over seven years and have released five full length albums and one EP. The narrative for most the records revolves around Reginald McKruski and his wife Jeanie McFeven-McKruski in the town of Snake River Mountain. Last years excellent album “Tread On to the Unknown You” saw that story arc continue in what was Snake River’s best album to date. An album that landed them in the Cups N Cakes Network’s “Best Albums of 2018”.

Recorded June 21st, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Snake River.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Joe Vickers came up in the Edmonton music scene busking around town in the early 2000’s before forming one of the cities most beloved bands called Audio Rocketry. Audio Rocketry fused punk and folk together into songs that became instant classics, their music is as equally great for foot stompin’ as it is for moshing. Although they are still an active band, members live in different cities, including Vickers himself who makes his living as a farmer in Drumheller. With Audio Rocketry slowing down, Vickers needed a creative outlet for his musings so he went back to his beginnings and started making music by himself. Since 2011, he has released 4 EPs and 2 full lengths, the most recent being the incredible 2018 album Notes for the Wood Burning Stove. Before Vickers took to the stage with Audio/Rocketry for the Cups N Cakes 5 year anniversary this past April, he stopped by our studio for a chat.

Recorded April 13th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Joe Vickers.

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Jeff sits down with JP Lancaster and Jared Doherty from Kamloops band At Mission Dolores. The conversation covers the history of the band and their very busy 2019 which saw them release two full length albums and tour Western Canada. Jeff gets them to talk about the music scene that is bubbling up in Kamloops right now and how the two of them are role models of the younger bands starting up. Doherty leads by example by playing in multiple bands as well as solo (he had a song on our “Best Tracks Of 2019” list), and Lancaster boosts the scene by running a production company that puts on shows and a record label called Factotum Cassettes & Oddities.

Recorded May 9th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from At Mission Dolores.

https://factotumco.bandcamp.com/album/last-night-outside-her-apartment

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, Jeff sits down with Counterfeit Jeans to discuss their long awaited sophomore album, Good Morning (which was recently a “Pick Of The Week”). They discuss their growth as a band and also their love for the Sled Island Music Festival before launching into the rapid-fire. This is not Counterfeit Jeans first time being interviewed by Jeff (Episode 060 from the pre “All Canadian” era), and the familiarity leads to hilarity as the interview runs off the rails on the back half.

Recorded May 10th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Counterfeit Jeans.

https://counterfeitjeans.bandcamp.com

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 Artist’s studio, Sean talks to soon-to-be country star Maddie Storvold about her unique experiences in the industry and her new album Flowers, Books, Poetry and the Moon. They chat about the sense of humour in Maddie’s music, and about returning to Canada after spending most her formative years in Dubai. Sean gives Maddie a rapid-fire questionnaire before she leaves, and she touches on her experience working with Bryan Adams on CTV’s The Launch.

Recorded March 22nd, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Maddie Storvold.

https://www.maddiestorvold.com

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, Jeff sits down with experimental artist Jonathan Kawchuk to discuss his phenomenal 2018 debut North. They talk about the fact that the album was written and recorded in various locations around the globe, which includes the unique final step which took place in a Norwegian forest. They also talk about Kawchuk’s time spent as an intern for Ben Frost and Nico Muhly at Greenhouse Studios and dive into how his relationship with Paper Bag Records was forged.

Recorded March 9th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Jonathan Kawchuk.

http://jonathankawchuk.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

On today’s episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Eamon McGrath, who at the time had just finished touring his 2018 album Tantramar. The conversation dives heavily into the art/business of touring and how it taught McGrath just how much his home country has influenced his music. They also look at the difference between music scenes in major markets in Canada versus the scenes in the cities with little to no music industry. Then they have some fun with a quick dive into the rapid-fire questions before playing a brand new single called “Guts” that will be on McGrath’s forthcoming album.

This isn’t the first time Eamon McGrath has appeared at the Cups N Cakes Network, have a listen to Episode 083, in which McGrath reads an excerpt from his 2017 book “Berlin-warszawa Express”.

Recorded February 14th, 2019.

Track used with full permission from Eamon McGrath.

https://eamonmcgrath.bandcamp.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com