Past Podcasts & Playlists

Simone Ferkul is a Toronto-based multidisciplinary designer who specializes in interior and industrial design.  

In her own words, Simone combines "traditional means of production with modern day processes to create a progressive design approach that is responsive to contemporary culture."

We spoke to Simone about winning Best-in-Show at Umbra's 2017 Compact Living Exhibition for her Sling Planter project, being a superfan of The National, and secretly seeking validation from music snob clerks at local record shops. 

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The buzz for New York art-punk band Bodega began brewing months before their debut album was even announced.

Signed to acclaimed independent punk label What's Yr Rupture?, much of the hype surrounding the band can be attributed to their phenomenal live show.

We sat down with Benji Hozie and Nikki Belfiglio of Bodega to discuss how the debut album explores their love/hate relationship with technology, the hypocrisy of cinephilia, and how Nikki's public masturbation as a child inspired the song "Gyrate". 

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Snail Mail began as a solo project of teenage singer and guitarist Lindsey Jordan.  

Her outstanding debut album, Lush, contains 10 deeply confessional tales anchored by 90s-inspired lo-fi indie riffs.

Joined by guest host Jennifer Buchanan of Indie Shuffle, we talked to Lindsey about finding a "soul-sister" in Liz Phair, reenacting Say Anything's iconic boombox scene, and why Kristen Stewart is her #1 celeb crush.   

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Toronto Neo-Soul/Jazz singer-songwriter Chelsey Bennett is one of the hardest working live performers in the city. 

On any given night, you'll find her playing an intimate set at a cozy bar or music venue.

We sat down with Chelsey to discuss how she eventually rejected her classical/opera teachings to pursue jazz and soul music, regularly performing at the Practice jam sessions, and which music legends she would summon to headline her dream concert.  

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Off the Cuff has been a leader in Toronto's menswear consignment retail space for 25 years. 

Owner Lee Romberg curates the shop's clothing and accessories with the panache of a GQ stylist.

We sat down with Lee to discuss the evolution of Off The Cuff and men's fashion, watching music legends like Roy Orbison and Simon & Garfunkel, and how he was able to rediscover his favourite albums in FLAC format.   

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Ontario singer-songwriter Jonas Bonnetta is best known for his indie folk-pop project, Evening Hymns.

More recently, he released the ambient album All This Here under his own name, which started off as a score to a documentary film about an inn on Newfoundland's Fogo Island

We talked to Jonas about his creative process in making the new album, how Jim O'Rourke's production inspired his own love for ambient music, and how performing songs about his late father led to physical and emotional exhaustion.

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For more than a decade, Brooklyn singer-songwriter Shilpa Ray has been somewhat of a hidden gem of New York's rock scene.

Her soulful, jazzy vocals juxtaposed against garage and punk rock riffs conjures the work of Ella Fitzgerald, Blondie, The Cramps and The New York Dolls, to name a few.

We sat down with Shilpa to discuss her latest record Door Girl, smuggling the CDs of The Velvet Underground and The Doors in-between the pages of library books as a teenager, and the crucial advice she got from Nick Cave.

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Darren Goldstein is a professional photographer who specializes in people, film and television, live music and special events.

Over the past two decades, Darren has photographed some of the biggest names in music including Kanye, Drake, Taylor Swift, Alicia Keys, Katy Perry, and Mariah Carey. 

We sat down with Darren to discuss what makes the perfect live music photograph, the time Lady Gaga asked him if they could photo together, and serendipitously seeing Nirvana as a teenager.

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Montréal-based singer-songwriter Brigitte Naggar, otherwise known as Common Holly, has had a whirlwind year.

Over the past 12 months she has been signed to international indie label Solitaire Recordings, released her critically-acclaimed debut album, and made Stereogum's Best New Bands of 2017 list.

We sat down with Brigitte to discuss how nature inspired her stage alias, how the mixtape she received at a Bar Mitzvah would become her daily lullaby, and her ongoing Twitter poem series that pay homage to inanimate objects.

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Toronto Life's Mark Pupo may have started off his journalism career critiquing music, but he's spent almost a decade writing about food.

As the publication's premier food critic, Pupo has profiled some of the most exciting and innovative restaurants in Toronto.

We sat down with Pupo to discuss Toronto's internationally-renowned culinary scene, the innate connection between music and food, and why he's a die-hard Cat Power fan.

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In less than two years, Kohji Nagata has become the podcast master of Toronto. 

After launching ISO: The Bunz Podcast, a show that interviews members of the popular bartering community Bunz, Kohji has gone on to produce two other podcasts.

We recently sat down with Kohji to talk about his various podcasts, playing in the indie rock band The Maladies of Adam Stokes, and the legendary mix-cd that introduced him to Weezer's Pinkerton.

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Now in its 11th year, Record Store Day is an international event that celebrates the culture of the independently owned record store.

Taking place on April 21st, the annual event features parties, in-store performances and special releases at thousands of independent record stores around the world.

We sat down with Record Store Day Canada's Communications Manager Priya Panda to discuss the event, the resurgence of record culture, and how her own obsession for Neil Diamond and hair metal inspired her to form the hard rock band, Diemonds.

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As a stand-up comedian, singer/songwriter, TV host and chef, Norm Alconcel, aka “Big Norm”, is a man of many talents.

Drawing inspiration from his Filipino and hip hop roots, his comedy routine offers hilarious observations about race relations, multiculturalism, and pop-culture.

We sat down with Big Norm to discuss what his favourite R&B singers and culinary dishes have in common, why he's quick to shut down the cultural appropriation accusations against Bruno Mars, and how a recent trip to Taiwan inspired him to write a one-man show.

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They say the third time is a charm. For Toronto art rock duo Lilla Drömland, this proves to be the case.

Over the past eight years, the duo has undergone various iterations -- each one signaling  a new name and slightly altered sound.

But under their new fantastical-inspired name, Breanna Johnston and Mark Rendall have ushered in a more confident, dream-pop sonic tapestry. 

We recently sat down with the duo and real-life couple to discuss their new material, how moving to rural Ontario has helped expand their creative boundaries, and the challenges of coping with anxiety as a performer. 

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Rockabilly duo catl may be from Toronto, but their gritty blues-country sound conjures the dusty back roads of the Deep South.

Comprised of real-life couple Jamie Fleming and Sarah Kirkpatrick, catl is set to release their fifth record next month on France's Beast Records.

We sat down with catl to talk about their new record, how being in a relationship impacts their creative dynamic, and recording at the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis.

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As a professional singer-songwriter, violinist and DJ, Toronto's Maya Killtron is something of a renaissance woman in music.

She's toured all around the world as a featured performer, musician and DJ including Winter Music Conference in Miami, The Halifax Jazz Festival & NYC’s CMJ festival. 

We sat down with Maya to talk to her about juggling her various musical talents, how her cool dad put her onto the Fugees and TLC, and a shit-ton of Star Trek.

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Over the past two decades, Toronto's Jon Santiago, aka DJ Dopey, has carved out an impressive career as a DJ/turntablist.

As the founding member of the Turntable Monkz, Dopey went on to become the 2003 DMC World Champion -- the highest accolade for a turntablist -- and has shared the stage with everyone from Eminem to Slum Village to Steve Aoki.

We sat down with Dopey to talk to him about the evolving nature of hip hop music, teaching young students the art of turntablism, and what makes a great closing song.

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Toronto's Practice is recurring live jam session that unites a rotating roster of talented musicians, vocalists and emcees to improvise hip hop, soul and funk songs.

Along with Joseph W. Salusbury, Jahmal Padmore, Ian Koiter and Matthew Progress, co-founders Gaurav Sawhney and Gavin Whelehan have turned Practice into one of most exciting live music nights in Toronto today. 

We sat down with Gaurav and Gavin to discuss how they started Practice, the music that they grew up on, and which musicians they would recruit for their live jam dream team.

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In less than three years, DJ, radio host and music curator Josephine Cruz, aka JAYEMKAYEM, has already become a well-known name in the Toronto nightlife scene.

In addition to DJing at clubs in New York City, Los Angeles and Shanghai, she recently collaborated with Paul Chin to launch the 24-hour radio station pop-up, Istolethesoul FM.

We talked to JAYEMKAYEM about how she learned to DJ, her growing sneaker collection, and why she felt compelled to launch Istolethesoul FM.

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Teenage indie folk duo Moscow Apartment may have only been around for a year, but they've already accomplished more than many of their older contemporaries have in a fraction of the time. 

The duo -- comprised of Brighid Fry and Pascale Padilla -- has won two notable music awards, recorded and released an EP, and played nearly 30 shows.

We sat down with the girls to discuss how they balance the duality of rock stardom and being a regular teenager, why they idolize Joni Mitchell, and how their songs draw on themes of body image issues and female empowerment.

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