Backstage Pass

Douglas McLean | Canoe FM

5.0 (1)
Music Interviews
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.

6d ago

MIMI O’BONSAWIN – EVOKE #101

This week, MIMI O’BONSAWIN – EVOKE For Mimi O’Bonsawin, defining her sound goes far beyond genre. She invites listeners into her woodland world, leading them through gardens, celebrating the joy of growing food and living in relationship with the land, and revealing how those passions bloom into song. Those inspirations are at the heart of Evoke, her new studio album, due August 28, 2026. An award-winning alt-folk singer-songwriter born in Northeastern Ontario, Mimi O’Bonsawin is French Canadian and W8banaki (Abénaki), and a member of the Odanak First Nation. Her music blends folk traditions, playful experimentation, and heartfelt storytelling into a sound that feels entirely her own. Evoke features ten richly textured songs, from vibrant instrumentals like "Blueberry Jam" featuring OKAN, to collaborations such as "Better Than Before” with The Pairs, alongside deeply personal works including "Pass the Time" and "Steady." The latter reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and was praised by AmericanaUK as "so heartfelt and disarmingly emotive that the feeling remains with you long after listening." Creating Evoke became an act of empowerment, allowing O’Bonsawin to leave behind people-pleasing and embrace the music that she really loves to make alongside her favourite collaborator and person: her husband, drummer, and co-producer Ryan Schurman. “In a time when AI and social media seem to be taking over the creative process, making a record like this feels like an act of resistance, and I love that. We’ve spent the last three years touring and honing our craft on stage, my favourite place to be. I wanted to bring all the good medicine people give us at shows into this album and let it fuel the fire that makes it a living piece of art.” As both artist and gardener, O’Bonsawin sees the two practices as inseparable. “Making music and growing food are very much the same. They both start with a seed and, with proper care, can grow into a beautiful garden that we all can share. I put intention and love into every seed and every note.” As her audience continues to grow across Canada and around the world, O’Bonsawin remains guided by a simple philosophy: “I want to invite audiences into my world because, for me, music is medicine. It’s not mine, it’s not yours alone. Music is something we all share. It is our garden.” https://www.mimi.ca/ 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/
Oct 8

MIA KELLY- BIG TIME ROLLER COASTER FEELING. – EPISODE #100

This week, MIA KELLY- BIG TIME ROLLER COASTER FEELING. – EPISODE #100 Mia Kelly’s new album is so full of life, energy and fun. Mia shares many aspects of her creative process – “the emotional rollercoaster”, that resulted in this very evocative new set of songs. Continuing on her Canada wide tour, Mia took the time to talk to Backstage Pass in this refreshing, lively conversation. Bio: Mia Kelly is an award-winning singer-songwriter from Gatineau, Quebec. Kelly is ready to release her third full-length album, Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling (May 2026). For the new collection, she ventured to acclaimed producer Connor Seidel's (Charlotte Cardin, Half Moon Run, Leif Vollebekk) studio, The Treehouse, in Sainte-Adèle, QC. "This is my most joyful album to date," shares Kelly. “I was so excited to have the chance to work with Connor and see where the new songs would take me.” As snowstorms battered the surrounding landscape, Kelly embraced the studio’s cozy isolation, living out of her van just steps away while bringing the record to life. Featuring 11 original songs, Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling celebrates all the juicy good bits of life: falling in love (title track), community (“Coin in the Cake”), dreams (“Strange Cocoon”), friendships, and creativity. The album also reckons with systemic inequality (“Blind Horse”), and deep grief (“Salish Sea”, “Medicine”, “Le vent qui m’enmmènera”). Throughout, Kelly digs deeper into her own story while continuing to share the powerful, empathetic portraits of the people she meets along the way. With Big Time Roller Coaster Feeling, Mia Kelly broadens her horizons, digging into her core values while continuing her touring adventures and discovering new fans, one bottle of hot sauce at a time. https://miakellymusic.com/home https://youtu.be/h01LL4QrKpQ?si=EpwSppM9Dst-j8La 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/
Sep 21

CATHERINE MACLELLAN

This week, CATHERINE MACLELLAN. – Upcoming tour to Ontario In a special episode of Backstage Pass, I speak to legendary songstress and songwriter, Catherine MacLellan about her upcoming mini-tour of Ontario with special shows locally in North Bay and Port Sydney. For most of Catherine’s dates she will be accompanied by Lisa MacIsaac of Madison Violet fame. Catherine speaks about her upcoming album and touring especially, with her new trio comprised of Sarah MacDougall, Lisa MacIsaac, and Catherine MacLellan who will touring Germany in the fall. Tickets available here: https://www.catherinemaclellan.com/shows Presented by East Coaster Studios Catherine MacLellan with James Gray Chippewa Secondary School • 539 Chippewa Street West • North Bay, ON https://ticketscene.ca/events/61413/ Catherine MacLellan has been captivating audiences around the world with her music for over two decades. Born and raised in the idyllic province of Prince Edward Island, Catherine's songs reflect her deep connection to the land and the people that call it home. Her passion for songwriting runs in the family; her father, Gene MacLellan, wrote beloved hits like "Snowbird" and "Put Your Hand in the Hand." While Catherine's music is rooted in folk and roots, her sound has evolved to embrace a wider range of influences over the course of her 7 albums. From heart-wrenching ballads to uplifting anthems, her music has a universal appeal that speaks to the struggles, triumphs, and joys of life. In addition to her musical pursuits, Catherine has also dedicated herself to shining a light on her father's legacy, producing an award-winning documentary and stage show that explore his life and struggles with mental health. Through it all, Catherine remains committed to the craft of songwriting and the art of connection. Whether she's playing to a packed theatre or an intimate gathering, Catherine's warm presence and heartfelt music create an unforgettable experience for all who hear her. The Long Way Home Night Crossing Copyright Catherine MacLellan https://www.catherinemaclellan.com/ https://youtu.be/v9edk6x4RFM?si=kYzJ08ofIeoKuhIn 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/
Sep 16

EARL JOHNSON – TRIBZ Release new single "Memories,"

This week, EARL JOHNSON – TRIBZ Release new single "Memories," Based in Hamilton and Toronto, Ontario, TRIBZ have built their reputation on a warm and deeply felt brand of pop and soft rock, music that prioritises melody, genuine emotion, and the kind of songwriting craft that holds up across repeated listens. Backstage Pass lucked out with a long conversation Juno nominee and Six Nations Tuscarora tribe member Earl Johnson. He learned his chops as a teenager touring the world with blues legend King Biscuit Boy and then founded the legendary Canadian rock band Moxy. Sharing the stage with legends AC-DC, Boston, and Black Sabbath, Earl is steeped in the blues with a “take no prisoners” style of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Earl expands on these roots, and delivers this new music with authority. TRIBZ have released their new single "Memories," a luminous and emotionally expansive pop-rock ballad about love that endures long after loss. The quartet is Earl Johnson (lead guitars), Errol Starr Francis (lead vocals), Donny Hill (bass), and Dave Davidson (drums/percussion). Written by Johnson and Davidson and produced by the band on their own TRIBZ imprint, the song is among the most personal and fully realised work of their careers. Their 2024 self-titled album established them as a band with both range and conviction, and "Memories" pushes that creative vision further, arriving as a centrepiece single that showcases the full depth of what TRIBZ are capable of at their most focused and inspired. https://tribzmusic.com https://youtu.be/lOhSiaIfk1s?si=wOIDGlYYSMuTI-Be 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/
Aug 26

SÉAN MCCANN – SINK or SWIM –

This week, SÉAN MCCANN – SINK or SWIM – SÉAN MCCANN Brings his songs to Haliburton. The modern world, with all its technological advancements and pervasive influence, has led us into a world that seems increasingly polarized and isolated from the fun, joy and beauty that life creates all around us almost every minute of our lives, that we somehow forget to marvel in and celebrate. Legendary singer songwriter, Séan McCann, ‘The Shantyman’, formerly of Great Big Sea, brings a new set of original songs, along with worldclass audience favourites, to Haliburton United Church, 10 George St, Haliburton, Friday September 04,2026 TICKETS : Sean McCann With his beloved guitar ‘Brownie’, and a vast repertoire of self-penned songs and traditional Celtic tunes, Séan promises a night of revelry, collective fellowship and merriment. “All my songs are written on guitar, so underneath any production stuff that you'd hear on the albums, you'll hear my guitar; but a song is not worth its salt unless you can stand there on your own two feet and sing it and have it impact people in front of you. What I do at my live show is I enlist the audience to become the band. I convince them and encourage them to make that larger sound, so every night it's like you are part of the audience but you're really part of the choir. And together we're going to sing this song and then together we're going to sing the next song. Don't worry if you don't know the words, I'll tell you what the words are -you know, clap your hands, sing along, stamp your feet.” “The challenge is to put your phone down for two hours. Look to your left and right. Remember who your neighbors are and meet some new friends and just be present in a human-to-human capacity. This is a form of resistance. This is an act of rebellion now.” “My heroes are Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, Bob Marley and Joe Strummer. This is what we do, this is how we respond. And that's where I come from. I'm a folk musician, and that's part of it.” https://seanmccannsings.com LISTEN TO THE MUSIC: https://greatbigsean.bandcamp.com/album/sink-or-swim This podcast is hosted by Canoe FM. https://backstage-pass.zencast.website/
Aug 5

HANNAH & NATHAN- ‘Love & Labour’

This week, HANNAH & NATHAN- ‘Love & Labour’ As Hannah and Nathan head out on their August leg of their tour for their debut collaborative album, ‘Love & Labour’ released May 15, 2026, it is great honour to post this conversation about the songs chosen and production of this incredible album. Hannah Shira Naiman and Nathan Smith are award-winning Ontario folk musicians known for their authentic songwriting and pristine vocal harmonies Their collaboration began with double-bill performances in 2022, where Hannah’s clawhammer banjo seamlessly intertwined with Nathan’s fiddle and guitar work. What quickly became undeniable was the power of their vocal blend — precise, expressive, and deeply rooted in tradition. While their sound is often described as Appalachian old-time, each brings a distinct musical lineage. Nathan draws from extensive bluegrass and old-time experience, as well as his upbringing in Celtic and traditional Canadian fiddle music. He performs regularly with touring bluegrass band The Barrel Boys and acoustic trad quartet Vinta. Hannah’s songwriting is grounded in old-time Appalachian and English traditional music, crafting songs that retell personal stories through timeless themes and tropes — so convincingly traditional that they are often mistaken for century-old ballads. Together, they create original music that is heartfelt, poignant, and occasionally raucous — rooted in deep respect for tradition while speaking through a contemporary lens. Within the folk community, their pairing has been met with palpable excitement, with presenters and fellow artists alike noting the rare chemistry and musical precision they bring to the stage. https://hannahandnathanmusic.com https://youtu.be/u2KRhMHK2FM?si=wHyAR9JVo60Z4Re7 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/
Jul 15

KEN WHITELEY – Keep Going

This week, KEN WHITELEY – Keep Going Hard to believe that Ken Whiteley has been making music since the 1970’s and still presents a vital, riveting and compelling message to his loyal fans and new listeners alike. “Keep Going’ is an album for our times, filled with intellectual, emotional and spiritual resilience. Drawing on his own expansive artistry and the traditional music from which his enduring sapiential creativity flows, Whiteley takes us on journey of the heart to what is fundamentally essential in living right here, right now. Backstage Pass Episode 95 is proud to bring this wonderful conversation to your podcast listening pleasure. Ken Whiteley on making his 37th album, “Keep Going” I broke a bone in my ankle in February, 2025 and wasn’t supposed to walk on it so I began sitting, playing guitar and writing the songs that became the album, “Keep Going”. As I was writing and compiling the songs for this recording, the theme of perseverance emerged. Keeping going in these troubled times is an expression of powerful determination and survival, tempered by the recognition of earthly transience. I immersed myself in old blues and gospel tunes and that message kept coming up. May listeners find the inspiration to themselves keep going! “Keep going” is also symptomatic of where I’m at in my life and career. I began performing in public at the age of 14 and I’m about to turn 75. In those more than 60 years of professional music making I have done so many different things from producing recordings and accompanying other artists, writing film scores, making music for children and a long list of musical collaborations (including The Original Sloth Band, The Junior Jug Band, The Whiteley Brothers, Scarlett, Washington & Whiteley among others). These days I’m more likely to be performing at a yoga ashram than a bar, while drawing on the rich storehouse of blues, folk and gospel to make music that speaks to ways forward in this troubled world and brings people together. https://www.kenwhiteley.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/
Jun 24

JESSICA RHAYE – Foolish Heart

This week, JESSICA RHAYE – Foolish Heart Finally, I have the chance to share this wonderful conversation with Jessica Rhaye about her newest EP ‘Foolish Heart’ and the heart felt tender songwriting that created this magical set of songs. Beautifully produced and performed by her remarkable band ‘The Ramshackle Parade’. ‘Foolish Heart’ was released on March 20,2026 and it is deep honour to share this wonderful interview. Foolish Heart is a five-song EP that leans into love, reflection, and quiet vulnerability. Produced by longtime collaborator Dale Murray and recorded across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Nashville, the songs move easily between country-folk warmth, confessional moments, and cinematic swells — including an incredible Laurel Canyon–inspired reimagining of KISS’s “I Was Made for Lovin’ You.” While each song on Foolish Heart stands on its own sonically, they are bound together by a shared emotional thread. These are love songs, but not only the romantic kind—some are tender, some restless, others quietly questioning. Jessica Rhaye is a Canadian independent singer-songwriter, performer, and visual graphic design artist with a 25-year career rooted in folk and Americana. She performs solo, with her folk trio Preeper Rhaye MacKay, and with her folk-rock band The Ramshackle Parade. My Heart Belongs to You. https://youtu.be/c42kkEx9bFw?si=uC4WJW0gtv-2Pspc https://www.jessicarhaye.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/

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

101
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© 2022
Show Website

Backstage Pass