Q with Tom Power

Alyssa Martin is an award-winning Canadian choreographer known for blending modern dance with humour, surrealism and absurdity. Her new full-length piece, Landslide, makes its world premiere this month at Toronto’s Fall for Dance North Festival, where she’s this year’s artist-in-residence. Alyssa joins Tom Power to share her “elevator pitch” for modern dance, the punk ethos behind her dance company Rock Bottom Movement, and how her humorous approach to choreography has helped her make sense of some of life’s biggest questions.

Bestselling author Robert Harris (Conclave, Fatherland) has sold millions of books, many of which have been adapted into films. But Robert never actually planned to become a novelist. He joins Tom Power in the Q studio to discuss his new historical novel, Agrippa, which follows the Roman general and statesman Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa — the right-hand man of the Emperor Augustus. Robert shares how he accidentally stumbled into a fiction writing career, why the fall of ancient Rome reflects today’s political climate, and how rare Vatican access inspired Conclave.

Sometimes you have to give flowers to those who came before you. On her new album, So Delighted, Juno-winning jazz guitarist Jocelyn Gould is doing just that. The Winnipeg musician joins Tom Power to talk about honouring the legends who shaped her as an artist — from Wes Montgomery to Grant Green — and why the great organ trios of the '50s and '60s continue to inspire her. Plus, she sets up a track from the new record.

Edmonton’s Stacey Tookey is one of the most successful dance artists. She’s worked with legends like Bette Midler and Céline Dion. But Stacey really gained attention as a choreographer for So You Think You Can Dance Canada and its American counterpart. Now, Stacey is back directing and choreographing a new musical, Dancer, all about the first Canadian-bred horse to win the Kentucky Derby. Stacey joins Tom Power in the Q studio to tell him all about her lifelong journey in dance and how she’s turning dancers into horses.

Back in July, Canadian musicians Haley Blais and Sam Lynch came on Q to discuss why they decided to unite as True Mountain Laurel, a supergroup born from late-night harmonies, voice memos, and friendship. They joined Tom Power in studio to discuss their debut single, Angel So Bad, which is an ode to the moral trials associated with that oldest of human hobbies: gossiping.

The artist Kent Monkman is known for challenging the way Indigenous people have been represented over the centuries in Western art – often flipping the script so that Indigenous stories are front and centre. Now, Kent is unveiling his very first public art installation. It’s a 15-foot high sculpture called The Colony, and it was just unveiled as part of the Lassonde Art Trail in Toronto. The Colony features a group of larger-than-life beavers, who are singing, dancing, and celebrating. Kent speaks to Tom Power about the significance of having his first public art exhibition, why he chose beavers as the subject, and the humour he brings to dark subjects. 

Canadian actor Rohan Campbell talks about his experience shooting the new Netflix suspense mini-series, Below, in Newfoundland alongside Josh Hartnett. Rohan sits down for our segment Getting to Know Q, answering a series of fast-paced questions covering everything from his Tim Hortons order to how he ended up in a Sabrina Carpenter video.

Canadian filmmaker Chandler Levack’s debut film I Like Movies was a huge hit, earning praise from folks like Adam Sandler and establishing Chandler as one to watch. This year, Chandler released her second film, called Mile End Kicks, that taps into her real-life story as a young music journalist coming up in Montreal. Back in April, Chandler joined Tom Power in the Q studio to talk about mining her own life for art, depicting 2011's Montreal, and working with Adam Sandler on her next film.

When Mahershala Ali was growing up, he was caught between two different passions: faith and creativity. His mother was a Baptist minister and his dad was a dancer. Mahershala decided to pursue acting, and is now an award-winning American actor with two Oscars, thanks to his roles in films like Moonlight and Green Book. But his latest role brings back his interest in faith. In Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother, he plays a hitman who is trying to balance his work with his faith and fatherly duties. Mahershala speaks with Tom Power about his latest role, what he was like growing up, and the connection between his faith and his creativity. 

From his favourite Rush song to his go-to coffee order, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith answers some very important questions in a rapid-fire round of Getting to Know Q with Tom Power.