In this episode I talk to the Juno nominated Canadian singer-songwriter and producer Drew Brown. Drew Brown's story is one that's interwoven with faith, love, pain, hope, rights activism and a lot more. The more I chatted with Drew, the more it became apparent where the "thing" I hear in his music comes from. Now, I say "thing" because Drew's music is more than just great lyrics sung over beautiful chords. Drew Brown is an experience and the feeling his sound evokes is quite hard to articulate. There's a sage quality to the man that can only come from the unique experience he has had.

Drew and I talked about his childhood, his relationship with his mother, his entrance into the church, his discovery of music, his first record deal, losing and finding his faith, the making of Digital Love in Analog Times, his 2015 Juno Nominated Album, Black Lives Matter and a host of other things. 

When fate brings together two gifted singer-songwriters at the Bachelor of Music program at Humber College, it's only a matter of time before they form a duo and put all of that talent into creating some pretty incredible music.

Alexa Goldie's talent is so undeniable and her star, so bright that at the age of 13,  a successful audition with Cliff Fabri, Avril Lavigne's first manager takes her from Wolfe Island-all the way to- Los Angeles where she gets to meet and work with industry heavy-weights like record producer Matthew Wilder, record producer for an endless list of A list stars like Christina Aguilera, Hannah Montana, and No Doubt.

With a big ol' voice and an equally big personality, Alexa is a delight to chat with. Our conversation reaches into the past, to the start, in Kingston, Ontario where it all started for this fast-rising pop star.

With the outbreak of the pandemic, the world, and indeed all of us in it have experienced a radical change in our lives and what we once considered normal. Performing artists have turned to technology in an attempt to continue to engage with their audience, and bring healing to those in despair, and maybe most importantly, artists have turned to technology to help them do what they know to do best, simply being artists. Today on the show, I talk to Heather Christine, the award-winning Mississauga singer-songwriter about what it's like being an artist in the midst of COVID-19 and online performing. We also backtrack a bit and talk about her early musical years,  "Love in Color" her most recent project, and a host of other things. 

We first encountered Cynthia in concert, on the last stop of her tour earlier this fall, in Schomberg, Ontario. Our take away from that encounter was that beyond being a great pianist and vocalist, Cynthia has the ability, through her music, to take you by the hand and lead you to a familiar place, one of nostalgia. There's an effortlessness she brings to bear on the intricacies that is imperative in the jazz musical genre. There was a sense, at least for us that if she could make beautiful such level of complexity, that there was a way that we, none singer-songwriters and piano maestros, you know, everyday people, that there was a way could transcend the often complex and complicated plays of life and create beauty out of it as well. 

The award winning artist sits with us through what would turn out to be a spirited, intimate and personal conversation about her journey as a creative and all she hopes for the future.

Music so hauntingly beautiful

Roveena has got The voice and if you are attuned to music styles and genres, you'll also notice, rather subtly that she is a student of the craft, through and through. She is meticulous with her enunciations and the way she approaches her music. 

She is also a storyteller with a larger-than-life personality. This quality was possibly at its brightest when we sat down to record her story. Roveena took us on an incredible journey of yielding to her calling and giving in completely to purpose. 

 There's a certain quality about Arlene that is hard to describe. The best I have been able to come up with since we sat down to tape her show is this -  Arlene is powerfully gentle. She is softly spoken but in the softness of her words lies hard and heavy truths for daily living and consequently, life. The more I listened, the more I learned that courage isn't always loud and that boldness could arise in the form of notes and chords strung together into a beautiful melody. Arlene can sing and her fingers glide effortlessly on the keys of the piano whenever she plays. However, what's most notable is the theme that seems to have found a home in her songs. It is one of strength and courage. Add these to her remarkable talent and you get an experience unmatched.  

Michael is one of the more genuine people I have encountered. He always has a huge smile on and is often dancing between that smile and the threshold of laughter. Once he honored our invitation here at TTND, I knew our conversation was going to be filled with sincerity, genuity and just an all-around good feeling. Our meeting lived up to all three. I first experienced Michael some 4 years ago at Milton Praise Night, an annual musical concert in Milton, ON. Although I have seen him perform a few times after, that night set the tone for how I'd come to know and understand what he is about. He is a selfless creative and lives it all on the stage when he performs. He gives you his all for his convinced, this is not just music, it is walking in purpose.