The Artists Behind the Music

Crystal McGrath
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  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS
The Artists Behind the Music

Conversations with artists from around the world sharing their personal and professional stories on overcoming struggles, celebrating achievements and the meanings behind the songs we love!

  1. 82- The Artists Behind the Music with Peter Peres

    10/27/2021

    82- The Artists Behind the Music with Peter Peres

    Peter Peres is a Canadian country singer from Toronto, Ontario. By working as a photographer and videographer he got to experience a variety of concerts and music festivals which inspired his love for music. Peter’s strong roots to Pop and modern country music express themselves clearly in his sound, where he delivers a flurry of emotions that hits with his listeners. Growing up, we all had our favourite childhood shows. For Peter it was 90s shows like Pokemon, Arthur and Franklin that helped him discover his ear for music when he started memorizing and singing the theme songs. In 2013, he met his mentor and vocal coach Laura Cavacece who through their collaboration, it had a huge impact on Peter’s artistry. Teaming up with producer James Nickel of Cleveland Sound Lab, his debut single “Miss Mistake” was released March 2020 followed by his recent single “Hangover Sunday” which was released July 2020. Peter’s love for performance was found in weekly karaoke with friends and Open Mic nights. This opened the door to Peter building meaningful relationships with other emerging artists. His biggest influences in Country Music are Brett Young, Jordan Davis, Luke Combs, Keith Urban and Thomas Rhett. Peter Peres is currently in the process of working on his debut EP with well known producer Shawn Moore and is set to be released next year.

    19 min
  2. 82-The Artists behind the Music with Ashley Ghostkeeper

    10/20/2021

    82-The Artists behind the Music with Ashley Ghostkeeper

    Ashley Ghostkeeper is a Metis-Cree Emerging Country Artist originally from Red Deer, Ab. She currently calls Calgary her home. Ashley was born into a family of singers and songwriters and at an early age was heavily influenced by her family and their love of music. At the tender age of 8 years old, Ashley began writing and singing her own songs. She knew then that music was her calling, blazing the trail to where she is now. Growing up, her inspiration by artists such as Miranda Lambert, Sara Evans, The Chicks, and 90s country sound helped to carve her honest, down to earth lyrics and writing style with an early 2000s country feel. Often being compared to a mix of Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood. Ashley’s unique singing style ranges from rowdy and sensitive to light and soothing with a melodic twang. A natural storyteller, Ashley’s music connects with her listeners at a deeper level of meaning and healing, while staying true to her country soul.

    20 min
  3. 81- The Artists Behind the Music with Adele & Andy

    10/13/2021

    81- The Artists Behind the Music with Adele & Andy

    A husband and wife acoustic duo who only started our music career April, 2019. During our short time we have played at over 30 venues across Staffordshire and in doing so were awarded "Acoustic Duo of the Year" by the Mark's Readers Choice Awards. Our songs are a mixture of modern country covers by artists such as Miranda Lambert, Carrie Underwood and originals based on real-life issues. We also cater for all tastes and have over 100 cover versions of well-known songs. Our instrumentation, although based on an acoustic sound. has the addition of basic percussion and lead playing. We are extremely lucky to have engaged Scott Ralph to assist with the production of our first album 'Watch Over You' which can be found on all major platforms.

    24 min
  4. 79- The Artists Behind the Music with Matt Freedman

    09/29/2021

    79- The Artists Behind the Music with Matt Freedman

    A singer and songwriter with a 15 year history of writing and selling out shows, Matt Freedman was born in Pennsylvania and was a teenager when he began writing songs. His blend of storytelling, nostalgia and anthem hooks makes Matt a unique artist as well as songwriter in the pop/country and Americana genres. He taught himself to play guitar, drums and bass as a young teenager, and started his first band at 12 years old with middle school friends. As a student at Council Rock High School, Matt was the captain of his Football and Basketball teams, leading to a Football Scholarship as a quarterback. As a young football player, Matt set school records in passing and rushing yards, and earned himself First team honors. As Matt grew as a musician, his bands went to sell out the Trocadero Theater in Philadelphia, and went on to play Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Freedman was being scouted as a baseball player during his time playing American Legion baseball, as a pitcher and outfielder but decided to follow his passion as a quarterback on the football field. After blowing out his knee during college on a passing play, Matt's career abruptly ended as a football player and Matt turned immediately to music. He began writing deeply personal songs to get through the change, and gravitated towards pop/punk, country and soul music. Influenced by artists like Kenny Chesney and Eric Church.

    21 min
  5. 78-The Artists Behind the Music with Ben Selleck

    09/22/2021

    78-The Artists Behind the Music with Ben Selleck

    Ben Selleck is a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from Essex. Vocally inspired by the soul legends of yesterday, Al Green and Marvin Gaye and lyrically inspired by the the likes of The Eagles, James Taylor, and Brothers Osborne,  Ben has always had a love of music and lockdown has rekindled his love of songwriting, specifically within the country music scene. In May 2021, Ben released his debut single ‘Different Sides’ which soured to #1 in the UK Country iTunes Chart, and was already ready to go with this next track. ‘Soul Food’ represents the moment of tentatively creeping out of lockdown and reconnecting with family and friends - Ben really hopes that listeners will feel the positivity behind both the lyrical content and the music, alike. “The soul food link gave me and the musicians scope to explore a more southern, gospel type of feel as well as my Country & Soul roots that I hope become a familiar theme to my music” “I have had so much fun recording this track. It wasn’t until Lockdown eased and I finally got to meet up with band members when the idea to create a more New Orleans vibe was discussed. So a remotely recorded Gospel Choir (Natalie Jenkin-Smith of Total 80’s, Tony Perry of ChangesTwoBowie, Austin Barber of the Essex Blues Brothers, Country artist Tara Henton providing ad-libs and Scarlet River Managements own Rachel Sellick) and a Horn part (written and performed by Paul Beddow of Faux Fighters UK) was added to great effect. Not to mention the fantastic talents of Adam Wright on guitar, Jacob Sludden on drums, and once again Paul Beddow on Bass. I’m so indebted to these musicians for giving me their time and creating something that  I'm really proud of in this single”.

    18 min
  6. 76 - The Artists Behind The Music with Natalie Pearson

    07/14/2021

    76 - The Artists Behind The Music with Natalie Pearson

    Natalie Pearson is giving her fans something to talk about and the likes of Lee Kernaghan, The Wolfe Brothers, Travis Collins and Adam Brand are paying attention. The contemporary-country songstress and vocal powerhouse continues to create a buzz in her community, earning recognition amongst well respected Australian Country Music legends. “Natalie is an engaging performer and sings incredibly well live. She was nothing short of spectacular at WolfeFest and opening for us on our Queensland tour.” – Tom Wolfe, The Wolfe Brothers “Her range is incredible.” – Nick Wolfe, The Wolfe Brothers “She’s a little pocket rocket. Little, with a big voice!” – Adam Brand “Nat’s vocal and stage presence demands respect, and she gets it. I’ve never NOT seen her win over a crowd” – Travis Collins “The show she put on at Gympie was amazing, she sang the sh*t out of every song. Blew the roof off the stage, gave me goosebumps.” – Mark DiRuggiero, Director of VDM Fest No stranger to the stage, Natalie has been an entertainer all her life, and more recently won over crowds at Gympie Music Muster Talent Search 2018. The overall prize included a trip to Nashville during CMA Fest, and then saw her perform on the main Muster stage last year. The Wolfe Brothers invited her to Tasmania for their inaugural hometown festival, WolfeFest, opened their Queensland shows and was invited to support Lee Kernaghan at his New Years Eve show 2020, and open for Adam Eckersley and Brooke McClymont in April. Natalie has opened for several other big hitters in the music scene, such as Adam Brand, Travis Collins, Casey Barnes, Jessica Mauboy and Karise Eden, and has performed at Deni Ute Muster, Gympie Muster, Tamworth Country Music Festival, Wonderland Spiegeltent, SugarFree Country, Brisbane RiverFest, Country at the Beach Festival, VDM Fest, WolfeFest and Groundwater Country Music Festival. https://www.natpearsonmusic.com/

    20 min
  7. 75 - The Artists Behind The Music with Rod Black

    07/07/2021

    75 - The Artists Behind The Music with Rod Black

    Rod Black exudes rock and roll passion from a heart of country gold. Beginning his journey in Langley, British Columbia, Rod was born into a professional rodeo family, moving regularly around Canada in his early life. After settling in the Prairies, Rod attended high school in both Regina and Saskatoon, where he immersed himself in vintage classics from southern rock pioneers and original country outlaws. The inspired mix of rock and country influences that some liken to Kid Rock crossed with Uncle Cracker gave Rod a distinctive musical flavour that has led to breakthrough success in both genres. First signed to Island/Def Jam Records New York as the frontman of the rock group Jet Black Stare, Rod powered his way to the Top 30 of the US Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay and Active Rock Airplay Charts with the band’s rip-roaring 2008 single, “Ready to Roll”, which became a fixture at North American sporting events and was included on EA Sports’ NASCAR 09 soundtrack. With Jet Black Stare on hiatus, Rod tapped into his country roots to collaborate with longtime friend and CCMA award-winning producer Jeff Johnson on 2014’s “Keepin’ On”, which reached the Billboard Canada Country Top 25 and earned him 2015 nominations from the Canadian Radio Music Awards for Best New Group or Solo Artist (Country) and the BC Country Music Association for Male Artist of the Year and the Ray McAuley Horizon Award. As he divided his time between Canada and the United States – most notably in Nashville – Rod was signed by Canadian label Bristol Records and its worldwide distribution arm of SONY/The Orchard via Nashville’s Copperline. In 2018, Rod re-released “Keepin’ On” to the US market, where it successfully hit the Top 80 on the US Country Music Row Charts. 2019 brought a new single, “Good Times”, produced by his former Jet Black Star bandmate-turned-award-winning producer Dan Swinimer, which hit #1 on CBC Country/Sirius XM Canada and stayed at that position for an incredible 16+ weeks. Rod’s charting success has been matched by numerous shows across North America, where he’s shared the stage with country stars Dierks Bentley, Chris Young, Dallas Smith, and Meghan Patrick, to go with rock acts like 3 Doors Down, Staind, and Shinedown. Now based in Langley, BC, he thrives on the art of putting his stories to music and sharing them with the world at large. After reuniting with Jeff Johnson, Rod released the 2020 single, “Walk On”, which hit #1 on the iTunes Top 100 Country Singles Chart (South Africa), and has led to a new EP – front-lined by Black’s 2021 singles “Barely Gettin’ By” and currently “Laketown” – that is due later this year. With a collection of rich musical experiences that has earned him undeniable success across genres and borders, Rod Black’s musical journey is primed for another stellar chapter.

    32 min
  8. 74 - The Artists Behind the Music with Emilia Quinn

    06/30/2021

    74 - The Artists Behind the Music with Emilia Quinn

    Emilia has been described as a firecracker, weaving together a combination of roots music tones, such as blues, rock and country, whilst bringing her own unique tone to the table. Having grown up with a wide variety of music genres, she takes inspiration from anywhere and everywhere. She kicked her performance career off as a Singer-Songwriter at age 11 and swiftly joined a Rock band. After experimenting with various genres, Emilia found her feet in Roots music. Emilia's eclectic influences and knowledge of multiple instruments allows her to write in a very personal and identifiable way. She draws inspiration from her life experiences and lives through her songs, in an effort to make a personal connection with her audience through raw emotion.

    23 min
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Conversations with artists from around the world sharing their personal and professional stories on overcoming struggles, celebrating achievements and the meanings behind the songs we love!

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