Q with Tom Power

Sometimes the songs just stop coming. Simone Schmidt, the songwriter behind Fiver, found themselves unable to write before finding their way back to song through an unexpected metaphor. Years after a psychic gave them a ritual to clear their apartment of "stuck energy," Simone realized they needed to do the same thing with their mind. They started sorting through old melodies, unfinished songs and ideas to create their latest album, Cleaning House. In this conversation with Q guest host Garvia Bailey, Simone reflects on their creative block, why they reject diaristic songwriting, and how the best songs leave space for listeners to find their own meaning.

Jean-Michel Blais has been a celebrated figure in the post-classical piano world since the release of his critically acclaimed debut album in 2016. This fall, he’s releasing a new concept album, mirador, inspired by his childhood memories and personal journey as a queer person living with Tourette syndrome. Ahead of the album’s release, he joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the shift from minimalism to something he calls “generous maximalism," and reflect on how his childhood influenced his new album.

Justine Williamson and Greg Vardy are the Canadian sketch comedy duo behind Tracy and Martina, two fun-loving best friends from Cape Breton. Those characters got their start on YouTube, where their sketches racked up hundreds of thousands of views. Since then, Tracy and Martina have appeared on CBC Comedy, Trailer Park Boys+ (formerly SwearNet), and even landed their own Christmas special. Now, they’re releasing their first movie, Tracy & Martina: Goin’ Out West, which hits streaming services this September. They joined Q guest host Gill Deacon to discuss the origins of Tracy and Martina, how they stumbled into making a feature film, and what it was like to head out West.

It’s been 10 years since the iconic Canadian band The Tragically Hip performed together for the last time with their fearless frontman and friend, Gord Downie. To commemorate the anniversary, the band is releasing a live album documenting the group’s final tour, alongside a CBC re-broadcast of their historic 2016 farewell concert in their hometown of Kingston, Ont. The Hip band members Rob Baker and Paul Langlois join Tom Power to reflect on that final concert, what they miss most about playing with Gord, and how they remember him now, 10 years on.

When acclaimed playwright, actor and theatre director Jovanni Sy went back to school a few years ago, he was told to direct something funny. He originally wanted to take on The Way of the World — William Congreve’s British Restoration comedy from 1700. But over time, that morphed into a modern-day, fast-paced Asian rom-com set in Singapore. It’s called The Tao of the World, and it opens at the Stratford Festival tonight. Jovanni joins guest host Garvia Bailey in the Q studio to explain how and why that all happened.

Not too long ago, Max McNown was sitting on a pier in Southern California. He had just taught himself guitar and was busking for change. Though he grew up singing, he didn’t see himself becoming a professional musician. But busking gave him the confidence to go all in on music, and within a few years, he was performing on some of the biggest stages in the world. Now, he’s releasing his third record, Leave On A Light, which is a love letter to the people who’ve supported him along the way. Max sits down with Q guest host Garvia Bailey to talk about the new record, learning to love his voice, and how he went from a quiet life in Oregon to becoming one of country music’s fastest-rising stars. 

English singer-songwriter Laura Marling has spent years writing songs about imagined futures, family and motherhood. First she wrote the album Song for Our Daughter before she had kids, then Patterns in Repeat after becoming a mom. Now, she's surprised everyone with an entire album of Raffi songs. Laura speaks to Q guest host Garvia Bailey about discovering one of Canada's most beloved musicians, what she learned from his approach to making music for children, and how motherhood has completely changed the way she writes, performs and sees the world.

For 75 years, American Girl in Italy has been one of the world's most famous photographs. The image of a young woman walking through a crowd of men has been interpreted as everything from street harassment to female empowerment. To mark the anniversary, photographer Ruth Orkin's family is releasing a never-before-seen frame captured moments before the iconic shot. Ruth’s daughter, Mary Engel, joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to share the story behind the image, the photo’s surprising Canadian connection, and why her mother was one of the most influential photographers you’ve probably never heard of. 

Following his 2024 breakout hit, Big Dawgs, Hanumankind has become a global rapper. Born in Kerala, India and growing up all over the world, Hanumankind quickly drew interest at local open mics in India for his Houston rap influences and his ability to freestyle on a whim. In 2023, he signed with Def Jam India and by the next year, he was playing Coachella and working with artists like A$AP Rocky. Earlier this year, he stopped by the Q studio to talk to Q guest host Garvia Bailey about his first North American tour, his album Monsoon Season, and how he continues to put South Indian hip-hop on the map with his own unique sound and aesthetic. 

Skiifall is a Montreal-based rapper and producer whose music exists at the intersection of grime, electronic music, hip-hop and forward-thinking bass culture. His unique sound brought him early success and caught the attention of artists like Drake and the late designer and DJ Virgil Abloh. Known for his distinctive vocal delivery and genre-defying approach, Skiifall continues to carve out a singular space within contemporary music. He joins Q guest host Garvia Bailey to tell us how Abloh became one of his biggest supporters, how he found early inspiration in the teen sitcom Wizards of Waverly Place, and his brand new song, Sun Up.