Hosts Karim Kanji Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston welcome to the show author Ray Robertson. Ray recently wrote the book, "All The Years Combine: The Grateful Dead In Fifty Shows". The episode began with a discussion on the influence of drugs on the Grateful Dead and the philosophy of life that the band embodied. Ray explained why he chose to write a book about 50 shows and how he came up with the number. He also talked about the challenge of weaving short stories around each show around the band's...
Jan 14, 2024•30 min
Summary: The meeting began with Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston discussing the George Michael documentary (The Real George Michael) before introducing Simon Napier-Bell, who shared insights into George Michael's unique writing process and the making of the "Freedom" video. They also discussed George Michael's legal battle with Sony and his multilayered personality. Simon Napier-Bell explained his decision to let people who knew George Michael speak without any commentary in the documentary, and th...
Jan 08, 2024•31 min
Craig Northey, lead singer of Odds, joined Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji on the show earlier this year. Canadian rock band Odds released their seventh studio album, "Crash the Time Machine," co-produced by Steven Page earlier this year. The album explores themes of struggle and community, showcasing the band's evolution into new musical directions while maintaining their dark ironic signature. The first track, "Staring at a Blank Page," is described as defiantly joyful, offering a perspective on...
Dec 04, 2023•41 min
Host Karim Kanji joined Neil on his recent visit to Toronto to chat about 54-40, playing with his daughter Kandle, and making music with his band since the late 1970s. Neil Osborne and 54-40 will be playing the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto this December 7, 8, 9. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Nov 26, 2023•17 min
Host Karim Kanji interviewed Tom Wilson for the show, Welcome to the Music. They discussed the re-release of Junkhouse's Strays album for its 30th anniversary and the upcoming ticketed shows in London, Kitchener, Hamilton, and Toronto. They also talked about the importance of creating a comfortable environment for creativity and celebrating indigenous culture and art. Wilson emphasized the need for people to listen and open their hearts to one another, and to move away from the colonial way of b...
Nov 12, 2023•33 min
Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston welcome to the show, Classified! We discuss Classified's music career spanning over 25 years, the creative process behind music production, Lost Venues, and Classified's recent music preferences. We end off the conversation introducing Classified's latest single, "People," which is described as a song that brings people together over banging hip-hop beats and a unifying message. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Nov 06, 2023•27 min
Trevor Hurst, frontman for Econoline Crush, joins the show to discuss grief, the new album “When The Devil Drives”, their west coast tour, and upcoming Ontario dates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Oct 31, 2023•55 min
Hosts Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston start the episode off by discussing the Much Music documentary and tour, sharing details about the special guests and expressing their enthusiasm for the brand's continued impact on Canadian culture. They also reflected on recent interviews with celebrities, highlighting their admiration for their work and personal qualities. David McPherson joined the conversation to discuss his book on Canadian music facts, sharing interesting stories about musicians and the...
Oct 25, 2023•38 min
Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston discuss their experience attending Canada's Rock of Fame event which was, in part, sponsored by Forty Creek Whisky. The hosts share their thoughts on the performances of various bands and artists, highlighting the talents of some lesser-known musicians. They also discussed the relevance of songs from decades ago and the importance of strong female voices in the music industry. Karim and Gregg also mention the performances of Trooper and Crown Lands, who nailed their...
Oct 15, 2023•31 min
The Canadian premiere of the Much Music documentary, "299 Queen Street West" occurred on Friday September 22nd. Hosts Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston had the opportunity to attend and meet some of the Much Music VJ's and musical guests. We spoke with: Ed The Sock whose favourite memory was his time covering Woodstock 99 Steve Anthony who reminisced about his annual Christmas tree tosses Monica Deol who spoke to us about meeting Tupac Shakur, doing Electric Circus live and sharing her success with ...
Sep 29, 2023•19 min
Michael Williams joined hosts Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston to talk about his career and Much Music. **Music Unleashed:** Michael's fervent dedication to the world of music unfolded as he shared tales from his journey in the industry. The conversation danced through his experiences, his love for Living Color, and exciting news of their upcoming tour and album. **Diversity and Independence in Music:** The trio delved into deeper waters, discussing the paramount importance of diversity and indepen...
Sep 17, 2023•57 min
On the heels of 2021’s monolithic collection 52 SONGS, Canada’s best-known musical power couple Gina Kennedy and Devon Lougheed are releasing AHEM upon the world on June 30, 2023. Until then, you can enjoy the newest single “Waiting on a Sign That’s Already There”, debuting May 12. The song was inspired by “the utilitarian urge to joke about our own struggles with depression and anxiety as a survival technique”, according to Lougheed. The anxious joke was almost on them during filming for the mu...
Jun 26, 2023•56 min
When 22-year-old accountant Harvey Lisberg heard the Beatles’ ‘Please Please Me’, he had an epiphany: he could be Manchester’s answer to Brian Epstein. He had a musical ear, a knack for numbers and a gambler’s instinct for taking a punt. Within a year he had taken local group, Herman’s Hermits, to number one with ‘I’m Into Something Good’. Soon, Hermania was a global phenomenon. Harvey had found his vocation. In this uproarious, frank and moving autobiography, he reveals the excesses of life on ...
Jun 11, 2023•58 min
Sean Kelly is the author of the new book, Don't Call it Hair Metal. There may be no more joyous iteration in all of music than 1980s hard rock. It was an era where the musical and cultural ideals of rebellion and freedom of the great rock ’n’ roll of the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s were taken to dizzying heights of neon excess. Attention to songcraft, showmanship, and musical virtuosity (especially in the realm of the electric guitar) were at an all-time high, and radio and MTV were delivering the good...
Jun 07, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Podcast home can also be found here: https://welcometothemusic.com/ With unprecedented access to the MuchMusic archives, “299 Queen Street West” tells the story of a scrappy television upstart from the perspective of the VJ’s. At the time, they had no prior TV hosting experience, were given no scripts, no direction and went live to air across the country. The channels rise in popularity intersected with rap music entering the mainstream, the birth of grunge and alternative rock and pop stars cau...
May 28, 2023•59 min
With nine original solo albums and three EPs to her credit, Toronto-based singer/songwriter Lily Frost is a beloved figure within the Canadian music scene. Over the course of those records, she has explored topics ranging from introspection and our connection to nature, to spirituality and psychology, all draped in poetic metaphor in genres including indie folk, pop, swing, western—all with a touch of sass. This, along with her sweet but dynamic voice and stage presence, has led to her loyal fol...
May 15, 2023•58 min
Judgement believes in the freedom of self-expression, and the acceptance of all. “Some are so quick to judge other people’s lives before their own. Ignore those people and do what the fuck you want to do”. The band's passion for change is shown throughout their live performance, social media, and music. Their style of music derives from the early 2000’s emo/post-hardcore era. They re-invent those nostalgic sounds and feelings from the genre’s history, while adding modern elements and a different...
May 07, 2023•1 hr 7 min
Over 11 years and two separate managerial stints with the Toronto Blue Jays, John Gibbons endeared himself to fans with his folksy manner and his frequent battles with umpires: “Here comes Gibby!” Winning helped too. Under Gibbons’s management, the Jays made the American League Championship Series in 2015, ending a 22-year playoff drought; then they did it again in 2016. Along the way the team defied odds, won over a nation, and with one flip of a bat produced one of the most iconic moments in M...
Apr 30, 2023•57 min
John Borra's new album, Cassettes In Common, is a collection of covers of some of Toronto's song writing cult heroes, from Handsome Ned and Bob Snider, to Sam Larkin and Kyp Harness. He also covers one of Ron Sexsmith's early songs from his first indie cassette, Grand Opera Lane. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Apr 23, 2023•1 hr 3 min
Dr Nadia Azar joins Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston on the show. Her current research has her combining her roots in occupational biomechanics and neurophysiology with her love of music to study drummers. The drum set is arguably the most physically intense instrument to play, which leads to lots of interesting questions about drummers' athleticism, performance, and injuries. Her overall goal is to do for drummers what sport science is doing for athletes: She wants to help them achieve their peak ...
Apr 02, 2023•52 min
Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilson welcome to the show, Marc Jordan. Canadian musician Marc Jordan, known for writing the classic pop hit "Rhythm of My Heart" for Rod Stewart, has announced the release of his new solo album "Waiting for the Sun to Rise" on April 21, 2023. The album features jazz-tinged, original songs arranged for piano and orchestra by acclaimed producer Lou Pomanti, with trumpet solos from Grammy-winning artist Randy Brecker. Jordan's new album also includes cover versions of Tears ...
Mar 11, 2023•1 hr 5 min
Robyn Stewart is the Executive Director of Women in Music Canada (WIMC). WIMC is a registered non-profit organization, who has the aim to fostering gender equality in the music industry through the support and advancement of female identifying professionals. Their goal is to strengthen the social-economic and creative balance of the music industry by providing resources FREE to our membership and the greater community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Mar 05, 2023•36 min
Hosts Karim Kanji and Gregg Tilston welcome to the show, Skye Wallace. Skye Wallace is a Canadian singer-songwriter who has carved a niche for herself with her ability to blend rock, folk and pop into a unique and refreshing sound. Her guitar playing skills are also a notable feature, with the ability to create memorable moments on stage. Her live performances are electrifying and guaranteed to leave you feeling exhilarated. Her latest album, Terribly Good, is a candid self-exploration that invi...
Feb 27, 2023•1 hr 6 min
Host Karim Kanji takes on one of the most iconic figures in Canadian music lore: Ed The Sock. Ed The Sock is a Canadian television personality and puppet character created and performed by Steven Kerzner. Ed is a cigar-smoking, sock puppet who first rose to prominence in the 1990s as the host of the late-night talk show "Fromage," which aired on the Citytv network in Toronto, Canada. Ed quickly gained a following for his irreverent and often controversial commentary on popular culture, politics,...
Feb 20, 2023•57 min
CHIII: The Come Up is STORRY’s debut album and was released three weeks before the pandemic hit. CHIII: The Come Up is based on a chapter of STORRY's life; a woman exiting the sex industry to enter the music industry, only to discover that both are equally misogynistic and problematic. The Deluxe edition marks her first time in a truly collaborative process with different artists/producers. Remixes include an old school R&B take on I Don’t Wanna Get High from Toronto’s Polaris Music Prize-no...
Feb 12, 2023•55 min
Before writing a No. 1 Billboard hit (“Black Velvet”), becoming a MuchMusic original veejay, and an author and podcaster, JUNO-winning songwriter Christopher Ward recorded a 1978 solo debut album titled, Spark of Desire. Until now, Spark of Desire has never been available on streaming services. However, on a lucky trip to his well-organized storage space during the pandemic, Ward found the master tapes, and Warner Music Canada was able to bake them back into existence and remaster this delightfu...
Feb 05, 2023•58 min
Hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji welcome to the show musician, Dan Mangan. Daniel Mangan (born April 28, 1983) is a Canadian musician. He has won two Juno Awards and has toured extensively throughout North America, Europe and Australia, having released 5 studio LPs and numerous EPs and singles. He has scored for feature film, as well as television for Netflix and AMC. He is also a co-founder of Side Door , a marketplace platform connecting artists with alternative venue spaces for in-person &...
Jan 22, 2023•56 min
Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji welcome to the show, Harkness!Born in Toronto, Canada, Harkness is the 2nd in a brood of 5. Both his parents were talented musicians. His father fronted The Al Harkness Orchestra a band consisting of horns and winds along with a traditional rhythm section. His mother was a top French horn player at North Toronto Collegiate, a high school known for their music curriculum, as well as a beautiful piano player, who taught the local kids, including her own while they wer...
Jan 15, 2023•39 min
Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji speak with bassist and founding member of legendary rock band, 54-40, Brad Merritt in between performances at the Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto. Established 42 years ago at Vancouver’s famed Smilin’ Buddha Cabaret, 54-40 have penned countless iconic, enduring, chart-topping gems, rightfully catapulting them to worship-worthy status among millions at home and around the globe.“When I started playing, I was an angry young man with a big mission,” chuckles Neil Osborne o...
Jan 01, 2023•39 min
Hosts Gregg Tilston and Karim Kanji welcome superstar Crystal Shawanda to the studio.Born in Wikwemikong First Nation, on Manitoulin Island, in Northern Ontario, Crystal was introduced to the blues by her eldest brother and to old-time country by her parents. “I was also into other styles of music that led me to the blues,” she says, citing everything from Elvis Presley’s “Hound Dog,” written by Big Mama Thornton, to R&B-pop star Monica’s “Misty Blue,” by Dorothy Moore. “I was one of those k...
Dec 24, 2022•1 hr 3 min
