A captivating musical journey of empowerment, self-determination, and the pursuit of lifelong dreams, Country artist Amanda Keeles unveils her invigorating debut album, “Can’t Stop Me Now!“. Her rich, ribbon-like vocals come straight from her soul, sharing deeply personal narratives drawn from a songbook overflowing with a lifetime of compositions.…

Nelson Little is a celebrated storyteller from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, who brought home his third award from the Manitoba Country Music Awards this winter for “Best Roots Artist”, and has also received an Aboriginal People’s Choice Award. Little has opened for Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame inductee Charlie Major, The Sheepdogs, and Fred…

Over the last few years, Alex Bird & Ewen Farncombe have become two of the biggest names on the Canadian Jazz scene. With praise from around the globe, this talented team has created timeless and heartfelt originals for a modern audience. They have produced something that is completely unique; three original albums in three years. ……

Built on emotion-stirring storytelling and unmistakable vocal harmonies accompanied by a century-old instrument, Burnstick, a JUNO nominated husband and wife Folk duo, are intent on creating affecting music that inspires listeners to feel. The Manitoba-based duo features Nadia and Jason Burnstick, esteemed independent artists who united over a deca…

Singer-songwriter, producer, and Song Studio maverick Allister Bradley joined us to talk us through song registrations (for Canadians). We talked about: Billy Joel’s new song and AI-driven video Turn the Lights Back On Collective Societies | Copyright Board of Canada (cb-cda.gc.ca) lists ALL the organizations responsible for collecting and distribu…

Flavia Abadía is an international DJ, MC, singer, and songwriter based in Toronto, Canada. Colombian and French-Canadian, born in France, Flavia seamlessly blends an array of musical genres, ranging from Latin and Moombahton to Hip Hop, House, Vogue, and other global elements. With an impressive track record, Flavia’s original music has garnered ov…

This week we were joined again by Chad Shank to talk about two of his favourite songs and why they should be studied. Chad Shank is a Songwriter, Music Producer, and Songwriting Teacher. Chad is the founder of At-Home Songwriting, a YouTube Channel and Songwriting Education Community. He is also a Lyric Instructor for Berklee ……

Darrin James is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, and producer known for his distinctive gravelly voice, thoughtful lyrics, and soulful musicianship. His eclectic production style encompasses a growing range of influences, often fusing gritty, bluesy guitar playing with rustic, acoustic elements of Americana and soul-style Hammond organ an…

Sunny Zaman is a musician whose main passion is songwriting. He is also a singer and guitar and bass player who occasionally dabbles with keyboards and synths. He wrote his first song at the age of 14 and continues to follow his passion many decades later. While he plays mostly rock and pop, he has ……

Fresh off the release of her sophomore album, “Roses”, Toronto R&B/Neo-Soul artist, Aphrose, is receiving exciting critical acclaim at home and across the globe. Black Entertainment Television premiered Aphrose’s video for “Roses” to millions of people across their televised channel, socials, and website. She also appeared nationally on The Morning…

Happy New Year to our listeners! For this post-hangover episode, we kept it simple by catching up on our holiday shenanigans, music activities, and other stuff. We talked about: Phil’s Christmas miracle with his new neighbours Neel’s working on demo recordings for his band Beige Shelter The new Apple Vision How we post and distribute ……

Last week Kill Rock Stars Indie/Pop/Rock/Americana recording artists Glitterfox have released their brilliant new single It’s Always Over (produced by Portland’s own Chris Funk of The Decemberists)! Glitterfox, lead by queer married couple Solange Igoa (They/Them) and Andrea Walker (They/Them), were named one of Portland’s “Best New Bands” by the W…

Garrett Neiles has just released his sophomore EP, “27”. His sound is a revival of the 2000’s era Alternative Pop-Rock concept, infused with refreshing lyrical depth of deep introspection. His unique and meticulous balance of old and new is rooted in the sonic exploration of the past, and features catchy rhythms and unforgettable lyrics. A tale of …

Delyn Grey is Rock’s next fierce female. Her latest EP,Good Girls Die, gives you a fiery taste of the young artist’s unapologetic approach to pursuing a career in music through a unique and fresh sound— inspired by a diverse range of artists like Kurt Cobain, Annie Lennox, Trent Reznor, and Joan Jett. Delyn is carving ……

Just in time for the holidays, “SNOW ANGELS“ Steven Taetz’s new original Christmas love song is available now on all platforms. A dreamy ballad made to conjure an idyllic winter wonderland where Steven Taetz sings about the wish to live in the magical moment forever. The nostalgic production by JUNO-winning producer Daniel Ledwell (Good Lovelies, ……

For this special episode, we invited Song Studio organizers and pro singer-songwriters Blair Packham and Allister Bradley, to have a music movies and TV shows draft game show. We each named our favourite movies or TV shows about music, including documentaries, biopics, musicals, or concert films, and if the other players had the same title ……

To celebrate our 10-year anniversary doing this podcast (can you believe it, ’cause we can’t!) we gathered four other songwriters to engage in a songwriting roundtable discussion. We ask them to provide a question to pose to the group, and we got some insightful, interesting, and varied answers. And we’d love to hear how you ……

Fresh off the heels of her new release, ‘Love and What I Thought It Was’, Mimika is making the transition from songwriter to soul-baring artist. With over 2 million streams as a writer and a degree from Berklee College of Music, Mimika’s ‘story first’ approach to songwriting has earned her the kind of balance that ……

Best known for his heartfelt love songs, songwriter Greg Wyard is about to surprise his audience with “Guns and Money,” a song that delves into significant global issues with a guitar-heavy rock sound. “Guns and Money” takes a more serious and thought-provoking direction than previous songs, taking inspiration from society’s obsession with wealth a…

Carmen Toth is a Toronto singer-songwriter with a power pop sound reminiscent of the 80s and 90s. Whether on acoustic guitar playing solo or on electric with a full band, her unique, childlike voice, relatable lyrics and catchy hooks have drawn comparisons to Stevie Nicks, Cyndi Lauper and Kate Bush. Active in the independent music ……

Creating music that journeys far beyond the confines of genre, Nova Scotia’s Maggie Andrew infuses her style of modern (s)alt-Pop with confident, relatable lyrics that often challenge stereotypical norms. Layered with Punk, R&B, Hip-Hop, and Rock, Andrew’s textured and edgy songs are boldly charming and stunningly innovative. With frank and straigh…

Canadian Soul-Funk collective, The Commotions, are an all original 12-piece Motown-to-Disco era band that has brought the exquisite grooves from the famed Motor City all the way across the border. Celebrating their first decade as a band, founder Brian Asselin created the collective after spending six years with legendary musical group, The Funk Br…

Our second batch of listener songs for our songwriting challenge 2023 to write in a mode included a song (mostly) in Phrygian, one definitely in Phrygian, and one with modal interchange. We talked about: The Song Talk Meetup Being sure you incorporate the unique intervals of a mode in your chord choices and melodies Phrygian ……

Amanie Illfated (pronounced: ah-MAH-nee eel-fay-ted) is an award winning South Sudanese born international recording artist. Her music consists of thought-provoking multilingual mixed with a dynamic blend of R&B, Afropop, Reggae and Trap, all combined with her signature, clear-toned vocals. She incorporates her personal experiences growing up as a …

Few things are as exciting as being a teenager with talent and a dream!! Located in the heart of the entertainment industry, the Los Angeles College of Music faculty are currently touring and working with music’s top stars and can give musical teens a leg up and inside track on the competition. Kasia ‘Kasey’ Livingston ……

Desiree Dorion is an artist fluent in the language of relatable storytelling. With an inherent ability to deliver impactful lyrics that range from emotional to humorous, the decorated singer-songwriter effectively immerses her audiences in her expertly crafted songs with ease. To date, her illustrious career has included a 2014 JUNO nomination, six…

Our first batch of listener songs for our songwriting challenge 2023 to write in a mode included a song in Dorian and two songs in Lydian. Lynn Moe shared his song Clean Up Time in D Dorian. Download the lyrics and chords to follow along. We talked about: Using a phrase that doesn’t necessarily make ……

For our second host-answer episode for our Songwriting Challenge 2023, Phil shared the process behind his answer to the challenge to write a song in the Lydian mode. Our good friend Susan Cattaneo joined in. We talked about: How Phil experimented with various scales before landing on Lydian for his song How working in Lydian ……

Governor Tom is a singer/songwriter whose indie style blends folk, blues, and jazz with pathos and humor. Sherry Jacoby filled in for Neel, who was busy visiting a galaxy far far away, but not too long ago. Thanks Sherry! Tom talked about his song The Public Eye. Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked ……

For our first host-answer episode for our Songwriting Challenge 2023, Neel shared the process behind his answer to the challenge to write a song in a mode. Our good friend Susan Cattaneo joined in – thanks Susan for your awesome insights! Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked about: SummerSongs songwriting retreat The Number ……

Toronto singer/songwriter Greg Wyard is thrilled to announce the release of his latest song, “Suddenly Everything’s All Right.” This track presents a refreshing blend of sounds, reminiscent of Phil Collins infused with the timeless charm of Motown. With its heartfelt lyrics and captivating melody, the song takes listeners on an exhilarating journey…

VILIVANT is a Canadian hard rock artist who started music at the very young age of 3. First with the piano then picking up the guitar and developing her voice along the way, VILIVANT grew a strong liking to rock music. After receiving the Juried Sound Recording grant from FACTOR Canada and the help of ……

From the bourbon hills of Kentucky to the streets of Los Angeles, Americana/Rock N’ Roll band Ryan Hahn and the Believers craft honest, insightful stories rooted in Americana, roots, and southern rock and roll. With their dynamic sound, Ryan and his believers harken back to the sounds of Steve Earle and Tom Petty telling stories ……

For this special episode, Phil dives deep on the Burt Bacharach / Hal David song This Guy’s in Love With You, made popular in 1968 by Herb Alpert. We talked about: Our Songwriting Challenge for 2023, and thank-you to everyone who have already sent in their songs! Using ChatGTP to write (a really vanilla draft ……

When The Devil Drives is the latest album from Canadian rock veterans Econoline Crush, formed some 30 years ago by frontman Trevor Hurst, now the sole original member. The band’s first full-length album in over a decade, and documentary film, Flatlander, about a rocker from Brandon, Manitoba’s second career as a psychiatric nurse, will be ……

For this special episode, Phil joined Neel in his studio to record our first in-person episode since early 2020! We dove deep into songs with odd time signatures and talked about: Our songwriting challenge for 2023 How time signatures work How odd time signatures can introduce a lot of tension in your song How complex ……

Meris Gantt is an Indie Folk singer and songwriter based out of the North Carolina mountains. Meris’ songwriting is honest and to the point; exploring life’s journeys with longing, regret and the silver linings that lie in between. Her songs tell tales of love, loss, and redemption that speak to the universal truths that bind us ……

We talked about: Tina Turner’s start in the 60s with Ike Turner and her resurgence as a pop/rock star in the 80s List of songs written by Tina Turner – Wikipedia Nutbush City Limits – Wikipedia Singers who hit the ends of the words, or don’t What’s Love Got to Do with It (song) – …

Burned-out mathematician turned indie-soul artist, Jeremy Voltz’s music is inspired by thinking deeply about the people in his life and what he’d love to have the courage to say to them. Reminiscent of Jeff Buckley, Hozier, and Stevie Wonder, he has a voice that is powerful and haunting. As a vocalist, Voltz has toured the ……

On this special episode, our very own Neel Modi shared his process of revisiting a song he first wrote over 10 years ago. We were privileged and happy to have singer-songwriter Jacob Moon join us for the conversation. Thanks Jacob! We talked about: Canadian folk music icon Gordon Lightfoot dead at 84 | CBC News ……

In this episode, we will also explore the dos and don'ts of collaborative songwriting, including tips for effective communication, handling creative differences, and managing expectations. We will also discuss resources such as BandLab, SongCraft.io and Mixed In Key Satellite. So, whether you're a seasoned songwriter looking to expand your creative…

Hey everyone! I hope 2022 is not hitting you all too hard. Today, we will talk about how important it is to have a clear image of where your song is going in your head and discuss ways to clarify your story and why it is so powerful to define every possible detail of your story and the universe your song is happening in. What are your experiences w…

Hello and welcome back again to an all new season of Songwriting Tips & Tricks, In this episode we are talking about methods of taking notes of songs that pop up in our mind and are so easily forgotten. Hang in there, because there is so much potential to help you write wonderful songs that would otherwise slip your mind. If you have any feedback, …

Hi everyone, Did you ever ask yourself, what it really means to be a songwriter? Is it just the lyrics, is it the music, is there more to it? What describes a songwriter best? Well, this episode is focused on what parts come together to form the term songwriter. We discuss the mindset you should have when turning to these parts and to steadily grow…

Hey there, Would you say that you're writing is aspiringly good or that it is still missing something extra to it? Something to make it stand out? Would you say that your choice of words is too basic, or to dull or are you already aware of how to find intriguing new words to use in your songs? In any of such cases, this podcast is dedicated to song…

Stuck in the depths of my caves it seems. Well, Corona shut down most social and everyday life in Germany and surely has an effect on your country as well. I hope you are in good health and use the time wisely. In this episode we will be talking about useful strategies in your Home Office as a songwriter and how to collaborate with others remotely.…

This episode is all about writing songs as if you were a programming genius. No not you Sheldon, although I'd love to see him writing a song and listening to this show. Writing lyrics is just like writing code in some way and we will talk about how writing lyrics could benefit from the mindset of a coder. Don't worry, there is no nerd-talk beside t…

It is all about perspective in this episode. We are going to discuss the different narration types and through whose eyes the audience is going to experience your stories. Is there any way to tell a story different than all the other writers do? What ways are there to make your stories stand out compared to other writers? What perspective could sui…

No idea how to write better lyrics that get closer to the core, to a deeper level and explain things so honest and in a nutshell that everyone is like - wow? Not yet? Well then you should try this emergency songwriting method we discuss in this episode. It helps you finding the right words faster and explain situations brutally honest and real. If …

Stories shape the way we see the world from the day we are born. But how do we tell a story in a song and what words are we going to use? How are we going to find a coherent thread for the listener to follow along? These are the questions we are going to discuss and discover today and how you can find the right words for your audience to understand…