Music Buddy Jane Gowan

Rich Aucoin is a Halifax-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and actor. His live shows are legendary as being multi-media dance and sing-along extravaganzas, and he's well-loved for his ability to connect with his audience in ways that create a feeling of community and also mutual trust and respect.

Rich's most recent project is an ambitious undertaking of massive scope: a quadruple album entitled Synthetic: A Synth Odyssey. It is being released over 2 years. Synthetic Season 1 (2022) was recently awarded "Electronic Recording of the Year" at the East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs). The album employs 37 synths (all played by Rich), many of them legendary vintage instruments made famous by people such as Brian de Palma and Stevie Wonder.   

Rich is currently on tour for the release of Synthetic, Season 2.
For more information on Rich and his amazing adventures, go to richaucoin.ca.

MUSIC SAMPLES IN THIS EPISODE:
"Pure" - Synthetic Season 2 (2023)
"Algorithm" - Synthetic Season 1 (2022)
"How it Breaks" - United States (2020)
"Future" - Synthetic Season 1 (2022)
"Return" - Synthetic Season 1 (2022)
"Want to Believe" - Ephemeral (2014)
"The Dream" - Release (2019)
"Tonto" - Synthetic Season 1 (2022)
"It" - We’re All Dying to Live (2007)
"Space" - Synthetic, Season 2 (2023)
"Space Western" - Synthetic Season 1 (2022)
"Liminal" - Synthetic, Season 2 (2023)
Support the showMusic Buddy is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.
Our team is: Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor, and audio engineer) and Tim Vesely (Producer of the Music Buddy Sessions, audio engineer, and occasional co-host).

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk.

Contact the show: jane@musicbuddy.ca
Follow on instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Follow on facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Jane's indie pop band: therealshade.com

From punk to rock to roots; from the gritty and exhilarating Queen Street scene of the 1980s, to the intrigue of European street culture; from Toronto Subway stations, to a US tour opening for the Tragically Hip...musician/songwriter/producer John Borra has lived the poetic and storied existence of a true artist - a journey rich with good music, loyal friends, and unforgettable experiences.

John's latest album—Cassettes in Common—is 10 songs written by fellow singer-songwriters: cherished musical allies such as Ron Sexsmith, Art Bergmann, Frank Nevada, and Bob Snider. Some of the songs are from albums that John heard for the first time on cassette. He would play them on repeat, believing firmly that they were some of the best songs ever written. Others are songs that were never recorded or released, penned by friends who may not have received the recognition they deserved. Now many years later, John is carrying on the folk tradition by keeping these extraordinary songs alive.

In this conversation, you will—through John's storytelling—meet many unique characters and creative souls, all of whom have contributed to the vibrancy of the Canadian music culture and sound.

Learn more about John at johnborra.com

THE MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "Did What I Could", by John Borra
Performed by John Borra, Tim Vesely, and Jane Gowan. Recorded at the Woodshed Studio by Tim Vesely. Mixed and mastered by Tim Vesely.

MUSIC SAMPLES IN THIS EPISODE:
“The Wars” - John Borra, with words by Eva H.D.  (Blue Wine, 2020)
"The Wind Loves The Rain" - Rattlesnake Choir (Live Music, 2008)
"The Last Sexy City on Earth" - John Borra (John Borra, 1997)
"Society Rag" - A Neon Rome (A New Heroin, 1987)
"There You Go" - Change of Heart (Smile, 1992)
From Cassettes in Common (John Borra, 2022):
"October Night"  (Frank Nevada)
"Honestly Ed" (Keith Whittaker/Steven Davey)
"Wedding Bell" (Pat Madden)
"Marie" (Sam Larkin)
"Old Nova Scotian" (Bob Snider)
"Crying Heartache Misery" (Ronny Azzopardi/Jim Masyk)
"Sleep" (Art Bergmann)
"Old Grey House" (Kyp Harness)
"Sunk In Glue" (Sandy Fateau)
"Trains" (Ron Sexsmith)
Support the showMusic Buddy is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.
Our team is: Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor, and audio engineer) and Tim Vesely (Producer of the Music Buddy Sessions, audio engineer, and occasional co-host).

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk.

Contact the show: jane@musicbuddy.ca
Follow on instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Follow on facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Jane's indie pop band: therealshade.com

Don Kerr is a drummer, singer, songwriter, cellist, composer, and producer. He's also a pacifist/activist, who believes strongly in the power of positivity and the value of community. A much-sought-after sideman and bandmate since the 1990s, he has performed with Rheostatics, Ron Sexsmith, Bahamas, Dan Mangan, The Weather Station, and many others.

Don's own band—Communism—is a super-charged power trio, renowned for their "dance-your-face-off" live shows, for which Don performs using a DIY stand-up drum kit, fashioned to create a more dynamic presentation.  The result (in combination with video, lights, and lasers) is a visually arresting, sonically exhilarating, and uplifting experience..

Despite our differences as humans, Don Kerr believes that we're all good at heart, and capable of love, change, and...dancing up a storm.  Don looks for the up sides, and talks about how the pandemic allowed his band—at home with no tours planned—the time to create a sonically rich, layered, and exploratory album. The result is Love Speech : 10 tracks dedicated to "...dancing with love in your heart." Don also shares his thoughts on being a "pacifist at war", balancing family and work, composing the soundtrack for The Colour of Ink documentary, and what "communism" means to him.

Later in the episode, musician, engineer and Music Buddy Sessions producer Tim Vesely joins the conversation. Don and Tim compare notes about drums and bass, and the early days playing with Ron Sexsmith and Rheostatics.

More about Don and Communism
Communism.band
Communism on Bandcamp
Communism on YouTube
Communism on Spotify
Communism on Apple Music

MUSIC IN THIS EPISODE:
All song samples are from the album Love Speech, by Communism (2023)

THE MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "One of Everyone", by Don Kerr
Performed by Don Kerr, Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely
Mixed and mastered by Tim Vesely
Support the showMusic Buddy is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.
Our team is: Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor, and audio engineer) and Tim Vesely (Producer of the Music Buddy Sessions, audio engineer, and occasional co-host).

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk.

Contact the show: jane@musicbuddy.ca
Follow on instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Follow on facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Jane's indie pop band: therealshade.com

Seth Akira Feldman is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter, who works tirelessly on many aspects of his craft. His primary musical project is called To The Fields. He released the album Distance in 2021, which he recorded entirely on his own in his home studio, working around his day job work hours. Seth also creates and records with his father, Steve Alan Feldman. Together, the father-son team have released 2 full studio albums, working alongside long-time collaborator Vezi Tayyeb at Kensington Sound in Toronto.

In this episode, Seth and Jane sit down for a good ol' kitchen table chat at Music Buddy "HQ", i.e. Jane's house. They talk about melody, sound, lyrics, bands, options for creating a career in music, and how it felt to listen to Chris Cornell sing "Black Hole Sun" live, in a thunderstorm. They also receive a surprise telephone call-in from a fan!

MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "Morning Sky", by Seth Feldman
Performed by Seth Feldman, Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely
Mixed and Mastered by Tim Vesely

MUSIC SAMPLES:
"No Substitute" - To The Fields (Distance, 2021)
"In the Morning" - To The Fields (Distance, 2021)
"Yahoos and Triangles" - The Refreshments (King of the Hill  theme song)
"Dominoes" - Philip Glass (Fog of War, 2003)
"It's Timeless" - Steven Alan Feldman (It's Timeless, 2017)
"Open Road" - Steven Alan Feldman (to be released)
"6,000 Miles" - To The Fields (Distance, 2021)
"Selfish Love" - To The Fields (Distance, 2021)
"Pinball Wizard" - The Who (Tommy, 1969)
"Black Hole Sun" - Soundgarden (Live from the Artists Den, 2013)

LINKS
To The Fields Music
Kensington Sound 


Support the showMusic Buddy is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.
Our team is: Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor, and audio engineer) and Tim Vesely (Producer of the Music Buddy Sessions, audio engineer, and occasional co-host).

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk.

Contact the show: jane@musicbuddy.ca
Follow on instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Follow on facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Jane's indie pop band: therealshade.com

Singer Songwriter Jerry Leger is the real deal. His combination of authentic humility and spirited self confidence is a rare thing to witness. He possesses a deep understanding and respect for the great songwriters and performers of our time, while forging ahead with his own style and delivery.

Since his teenage years, Jerry has worked relentlessly on his craft - releasing at least one album a year, always with another gig or a new project on the horizon. On any given night, you can find him performing with his band The Situation, his rock and roll outfit The Del Fi's, or holding the crowd on his own - just him and a guitar. 

In this conversation, Jerry talks about life, influences, the art of the song, honing his craft, and what it takes to keep the lights on.

Learn more at jerryleger.com

SONG SAMPLES IN THIS EPISODE:
“Johnny B Goode” - Chuck Berry (Hail! Hail! Rock “n” Roll Documentary, 1987)

“Cold Cold Heart” - Hank Williams (A-Side, 1951)

“Ragged Rag” - Jerry Leger (The Good Old Days Are Back in Drag, 2011)

“Nobody’s Angel” - Jerry Leger (Early Riser, 2014)

“All Over Again ft. Serena Ryder”  - Jerry Leger and the Situation (Some Folks Know, 2012)

“Too Broke to Die” - Jerry Leger and the Situation (Farewell Ghost Town, 2006)

“Things Are Changin’ Round Here” - Jerry Leger (Nonsense and Heartache, 2017)

“Still Patience” - Jerry Leger (Nothing Pressing, 2022)

“That Ain’t Here” - Jerry Leger (Time Out for Tomorrow, 2019)

“Have You Ever Been Happy” - Jerry Leger (Nothing Pressing, 2022)

“Corner Light” - Jerry Leger (Live From Paradise, 2023)

“Blue Boy” - Ron Sexsmith (Blue Boy, 2001)

“Brigitte Bardot” - The Del Fi’s (Crowd Pleaser, 2015)

THE MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "Nothing Pressing", by Jerry Leger
Performed by Jerry Leger, Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely
Recorded and mixed by Tim Vesely
(listen at 1:25)
Support the showMusic Buddy is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.
Our team is: Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor, and audio engineer) and Tim Vesely (Producer of the Music Buddy Sessions, audio engineer, and occasional co-host).

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk.

Contact the show: jane@musicbuddy.ca
Follow on instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Follow on facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Jane's indie pop band: therealshade.com

Ansley Simpson is a Toronto-based Michi Saagiig Nishnaabe singer, songwriter, and composer. Her enchanting and powerful sophomore album She Fell From the Sky  embraces the origin story of Gizhiigokwe (Sky Woman), who embarks upon an emotional and brave journey on earth in an attempt to repair and restore humanity and the planet. Ansley's musical continuation of the story is filled with compassion, humour, mystery, and a healthy blend of dark and light. In this—the finale episode of Season 1—Ansley talks about the making of the album, and guides us through the meaning behind each song. 

Ansley also talks about other aspects of life as a working musician, such as : developing her singing voice (with the help of vocal coach Micah Barnes), touring with her sister Leanne Betasamosake Simpson for the [Polaris Short-listed] album Theory of Ice, composing the soundtrack for the Amplify TV series on APTN (watch the making of Ansley's song "Firewater" on Season 1),  and scoring the documentary Spirit to Soar based on Tanya Talaga's book Seven Fallen Feathers.

All songs in this episode are from the 2022 album She From the Sky, by Ansley Simpson
 
MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "Without Warning" by Ansley Simpson
Performed by Ansley Simpson, Jane Gowan, and Tim Vesely. Recorded and mixed by Tim Vesely (listen at 1:10:37).

More about Ansley at ansleysimpon.com
Support the showMusic Buddy is brought to you by Morning Run Productions.
Our team is: Jane Gowan (host, producer, editor, and audio engineer) and Tim Vesely (Producer of the Music Buddy Sessions, audio engineer, and occasional co-host).

The show's theme song, "Human Stuff," is written by Jane Gowan and Tim Vesely, and performed by Jane and Tim, with additional vocals by Steve Wright and Connie Kostiuk.

Contact the show: jane@musicbuddy.ca
Follow on instagram: @musicbuddypodcast
Follow on facebook: @musicbuddypodcast
Jane's indie pop band: therealshade.com