Backstage Pass

Douglas McLean | Canoe FM

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MUSIC INTERVIEWS
UPDATED DAILY

Backstage Pass is an interview podcast dedicated to Canadian and international artists in conversation about their latest album release, tour schedules, or songwriting experience. We hope these interviews will inspire you to go buy some music and celebrate in the creative magic that gives us songs that lifts us up in times of trouble and makes us dance in times of joy and happiness.

25 JAN

CARMEN TOTH. ‘Fix the World’

This week, CARMEN TOTH. ‘Fix the World’ On October 7, 2025, Toronto-based singer-songwriter Carmen Toth released ‘Fix the World’, her most personal and politically charged album to date. Anchored by its searing title track - written in a single burst of inspiration - the record blends raw honesty with lush, guitar-driven instrumentation to deliver a message that is both intimate and universal: break free from prescribed roles, embrace authenticity, and reclaim power. Toth wrote Fix the World after attending a women’s gathering where she felt alienated by performative femininity, inspiring her to examine deeply ingrained expectations placed on women. “I feel like from birth, my generation of women was collectively brainwashed to put others first, cater to men, compete with each other, and obsess over beauty and having a perfect home and family,” she shares. “We need to hold ourselves accountable for enabling the patriarchy and start rebelling against it. The only way we’re going to fix the world is by supporting each other fiercely and stepping fully into our power.” The album’s tarot-inspired artwork, illustrated by Peter Guidon (also behind Toth’s Pretty Dresses animated video), reflects that message of liberation. It reimagines the World tarot card, depicting Toth with both acoustic and electric guitars, drumsticks in place of batons, and her two late cats - Snowshoe and Fritzy - as spirit guides. “The woman on the card is liberated and joyful, dancing without caring what others think,” Toth says. “That’s what my music and art represent for me. We must not be afraid to be who we really are and express ourselves authentically. Only by doing that can we fix the world.” Produced by Joel Wasson (The Discarded) and John Critchley (Lowest of the Low), the 11-track album features Wasson on drums, Drew Atkins on bass, Michael McKenzie (Lowest of the Low) adding guitar textures, and Lee Rose (Ace of Wands) on viola for the haunting ballad Ghost. The record was mixed by Critchley and mastered by Grammy-nominated engineer João Carvalho, reflecting a team effort rooted in Toronto’s indie community. Carmen Toth is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter known for her hook-driven power pop, heartfelt storytelling, and retro-influenced sound. Drawing inspiration from artists like Stevie Nicks, Kate Bush, Cyndi Lauper, and Sheryl Crow, her music blends vulnerability with classic pop-rock grit. Over the past two decades, Toth has evolved from solo acoustic sets and her early duo Social Potion into a fully realized indie artist, performing in both band and solo formats and building a loyal following through regular livestreaming. Her 2018 EP Safety Net, produced by Derek Downham, marked a shift toward a modern pop sensibility. https://socialpotion.tumblr.com/ https://www.facebook.com/CarmenToth111/ LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

47 min
14 JAN

LLOYD SPIEGEL. CANADIAN MINI-TOUR

This week, LLOYD SPIEGEL. CANADIAN MINI-TOUR On his way to NAMM in California, 2026; Lloyd Spiegel took time before his mini-tour in Ontario to talk to Backstage Pass. Bakehouse Dozen (2023) is a masterclass in tone and soul. Band is cooking and Llyod is in fine form with incredible guitar mastery and deep soul blues vocals. Great album with a baker’s dozen of powerhouse songs. Melbourne Blues artist Lloyd Spiegel has been touring the globe for 30 of his 40 years. The 14-time Australian Blues Award Winner has one of the most interesting stories in music, having grown up on stage, learning from and touring with the founding fathers of modern Blues. Spiegel’s guitar wizardry, powerful lyrics and knack for humorous story telling delivers a truly unique performance that reinvents the genre and dispels the cliches associated with the Blues. https://www.lloydspiegel.com https://www.facebook.com/lloydspiegelmusic LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

37 min
6 JAN

CLELA ERRINGTON - ‘Walkin’ Each Other Home’

This week, CLELA ERRINGTON - ‘Walkin’ Each Other Home’ Comprised mainly of newly arranged blues and country material and two originals, this album stands out for its authentic, resonate connection, that singer- guitarist, Errington makes with the material. She embodies the essence of blues-soul singing with song choices, some of which date back to the earliest of recorded music. In a voice, filled commanding authority, Clela plumbs the depths and intricacies of blues songs written long before her own time, making them sound as vital and prescient as if they were composed this year. More importantly, she has chosen to present tunes that are synchronized with the mood and sorrow of our times in a poignant, clear vocal that makes you proud to be human, moreover proud to be a courageous, self-defined woman. Produced by Jimmy Bowskill of Blue Rodeo and Brooks and Bowskill, with a collection of meritorious studio musicians, Clela and band recorded straight to tape as it were, the mood and feeling she drew out of the songs. It more than amply demonstrates the power that music holds in our life and the emotional revelations that they bring. Thematically, the songs are about standing up, standing tall and standing firm in your faith and love and out stretching a helping hand to bring us all back home safe and out of harm’s way. Born in Montreal and raised on the St Lawrence River in Brockville, ON, in the 1000 Islands region, Errington followed the river to Prince Edward Island on Canada’s East coast. There, she was first introduced to blues, folk, country and Celtic music. She lived in PEI and performed throughout the Maritimes in a duo with Island vocalist Dawne Fraser. Eventually returning to Ontario and settling in Toronto, Errington is now part of the city’s rich music scene – as a featured performer and a backup vocalist, often collaborating with other artists, both onstage and in the studio. Most recently, Errington’s composition “White Dove” was arranged for choir by Toronto musicologist Mike Daley, and was performed in March 2025 by the University of Toronto Hart House Chorus under the direction of Daniel Norman. https://clelaerrington.com/ LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

1h 1m
19/12/2025

LAYNE NEGRIN - Gurdjieff in Tibet

This week, LAYNE NEGRIN - Gurdjieff in Tibet In an extensively researched and detailed study into the background training and inspiration for the teachings of George Ivanovich Gurdjieff, Layne Negrin takes the reader on a profound journey of one man’s path to self-discovery, against seemingly impossible odds, to become one of the most influential thinkers and teachers of the twentieth century. Layne Negrin is a writer, publisher and musician. Layne began his spiritual path in 1988, practicing the Gurdjieff tradition exclusively for 19 years, then Mahayana Buddhism (primarily the Soto Zen of Shunryu Suzuki but also the Shambhalian Buddhism of Trungpa Rinpoche) exclusively for the next 13 years, and since 2020, after having realized that the two ideologies are the same in essence, practices both. Gurdjieff in Tibet is divided into three parts: Part One, looks at the evidence of Gurdjieff's presence in Tibet; Part Two, researches the direct students of Gurdjieff who explored Tibetan or other Buddhist sects to one degree or another; and Part Three is a collection of comparative studies showing the influence of Tibetan Buddhism upon Gurdjieff's teaching. Interspersed with the author's writing on the individuals discussed in Parts One and Two are relevant texts by them, many of which were previously unavailable in English. George Ivanovich Gurdjieff was a philosopher, mystic, spiritual teacher, composer, and movements teacher. He taught students throughout Europe and America from 1913 to 1949. His approach to inner development influenced many scholars and artists during his lifetime and continues to impact many seeking solutions to the conundrum of human existence today. https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561963072520 https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/gurdjieff-in-tibet/9780974107905.html LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

58 min
13/12/2025

DUKE & GOLDIE. Romance and Ramblin’

This week, DUKE & GOLDIE. Romance and Ramblin’ “Romance and ramblin’ There’s two hearts, one’s free the other bleeds Tumbling dice, paying the price, the winner who walks with it all Teardrops of diamonds will fall” Romanticized Cowboy Rarely do artists give us the type of lyrics that take the listener on deep inner journey that provoke wonder and pondering at the same time. In an easy going, refreshing conversation, Jena “Goldie” Gogo and Eric “The Duke” Duquette talk about their newest EP, Romance and Ramblin’- their second EP of powerful evocative songs. As they embark on a eastern tour, please welcome DUKE & GOLDIE to Backstage Pass. Duke & Goldie blend the soul of warm folk storytelling with an upbeat, mystical country twang to create a sound uniquely all their own. The Vancouver-based musical partnership of Eric “The Duke” Duquette and Jena “Goldie” Gogo (longtime members of roots rock band Blue Sky Miners) has forged a style that feels both timeless and refreshingly new. Described as a revival of the sun-kissed Laurel Canyon vibes of the ‘60s and ‘70s, their music invites listeners to journey through heartland stories and wide-open landscapes. The collection showcases Duke & Goldie’s range within Americana and country, from the free-spirited singalong “West End Queen (Abattoir)” to the gritty anthem “Outsider,” which celebrates individuality in defiance of conformity. On the dreamlike “Romanticized Cowboy,” Goldie’s ethereal vocals explore love, longing, and myth, while “Small Town Talk” delivers fire and humour in a sharp critique of small-town gossip. Closing with “The Low Desert,” a sweeping and poetic reverie, the EP demonstrates their ability to balance nostalgia, grit, and cosmic wonder—all while staying rooted in heartfelt storytelling. On stage, Duke & Goldie weave cascading harmonies over acoustic guitar-laden arrangements, bringing stories to life that travel from the towering Rocky Mountains to the quiet mystery of remote deserts. They explore the complexity of their roles as modern-day settlers, grappling with identity, place, and purpose in the beautiful land they call home. Yet it is their magnetic on-stage chemistry—playful, intimate, and deeply connected—that truly hooks audiences, making every performance feel like an invitation into their world. https://www.dukeandgoldie.com/ LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

50 min
02/12/2025

JORY NASH – THE LIGHT STILL SHINES ON THE MAIN.

This week, JORY NASH – THE LIGHT STILL SHINES ON THE MAIN. October 24, 2025 - After stepping away from music in 2019, acclaimed folk singer-songwriter Jory Nash returns with his 10th album, The Light Still Shines On The Main, co-produced with longtime friend Chris Stringer (The Wooden Sky, Elliott Brood, Timber Timbre, Megan Bonnell, Holly McNarland). The road to this record has been anything but easy. In 2019, Nash experienced a breakdown that led him to quit music, facing depression and financial struggles. The pandemic compounded these struggles, and in early 2021, his partner, Brittany, was diagnosed with multiple cancers, beginning an intensive journey through chemotherapy and surgeries. That summer, a fire damaged their Toronto rental, prompting a move to Cobourg, ON, where Brittany could focus on recovery and their young son could start kindergarten. “This album is about coming through the darkness,” says Nash. “It’s about hope, resilience, loss, and finding beauty in new beginnings.” https://jorynash.com LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

1h 8m
22/11/2025

THE EAST POINTERS. - Jake Charron joins Backstage Pass to discuss ‘Schoonertown’

This week, THE EAST POINTERS. - Jake Charron joins Backstage Pass to discuss ‘Schoonertown’ JUNO Award-winning Canadian contemporary folk group The East Pointers are excited to announce their anticipated fourth full-length album, ‘Schoonertown’, which will be released on January 23, 2026, via Nettwerk. To celebrate the news, The East Pointers' have released a series of new singles which showcases the power and strength of what’s to come on the upcoming new record. Schoonertown, Tim Chaisson and Jake Charron share, “is rooted in our early years as a band, and depicts what it’s like growing up in a small East Coast seaside town. Through the eyes of a young fisherman, each song traces the highs and lows of life on and off the water—the struggles and triumphs, love, growth, and self-realization that come with finding your place in the world. It's also the first album we've written, produced, and recorded entirely on our own, and we're so excited for you to hear it!” The East Pointers have always been furiously energetic, musically complex, and technically brilliant. Their fusion of folk, pop, electronic, and dance sensibilities has generated strong fan bases worldwide. Representing the seventh generation of traditional Prince Edward Island and Ontario-based Celtic players, The East Pointers pay homage and advance the art form by parlaying folk music into the pop arena. https://theeastpointers.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgmweY4XKtvfpFLPukMP8Mw LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

30 min
10/11/2025

JASON SCHNEIDER- the Strange Saga of rock’s most enduring song, ‘Hey Joe’.

This week, JASON SCHNEIDER- the Strange Saga of rock’s most enduring song, ‘Hey Joe’. Music journalist, editor, publicist and musician, Jason Schneider has written extensively about Canadian Music legends such as Leonard Cohen, Joni Mitchell, Gordon Lightfoot, in his book ‘Whispering Pines’ (2009); Art Bergmann, in ‘The Longest Suicide: The Authorized Biography of Art Bergmann’ (2022). In his most recent book, ‘That Gun In Your Hand: the Strange Saga of ‘Hey Joe’ and Popular Music’s History of Violence’ (2025), Jason Schneider explores, in minute detail, the creation of one of the most enduring and re-recorded songs in rock history, “Hey Joe”. “This is the story of a song, a song that binds nearly every strand of 20th century American popular music. “Hey Joe” was written at the dawn of the 1960s by a man named Billy Roberts, an obscure singer and guitarist from South Carolina who moved to New York City, drawn by the burgeoning folk music scene in Greenwich Village. It was a time when new, original material was scarce, leading other singers to quickly adapt songs of quality in the spirit of folk music’s oral traditions. Thus began the long journey of “Hey Joe” from New York coffeehouses to the bars on L.A.’s Sunset Strip to the ears of a young guitarist named Jimi Hendrix who launched his career with his radical, electrified interpretation.” In exacting detail, with newly uncovered stories, Jason Schneider maps the intricate elements of a song that has provoked dramatic response from the multitude of musicians who have recorded the song, to audiences who still find the track irresistible. In its unusual construction, and mythical history, “Hey Joe”, remains a powerful reminder of what makes rock music such an exciting, complex and influential art form. Its history is, in many ways, a history of the foundations of modern pop and rock music. https://jasonschneidermedia.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560292990370 LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2uIq5kxXDHDEk6D7OzZa6C?si=BCR-hEwAR1KEcqPHq7yJyw This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/

56 min

Backstage Pass is an interview podcast dedicated to Canadian and international artists in conversation about their latest album release, tour schedules, or songwriting experience. We hope these interviews will inspire you to go buy some music and celebrate in the creative magic that gives us songs that lifts us up in times of trouble and makes us dance in times of joy and happiness.

Creator

Douglas McLean | Canoe FM
Years Active

2022 - 2026
Episodes

84
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2022
Show Website

Backstage Pass