Hidden Track

Amy Millan is a Montreal-based artist who has been working at a full-on sprint pace with her main band Stars for more than two decades. She's also kept herself busy as a prolific contributor to Broken Social Scene. He musical life includes numerous collaborations. But this spring, at long last, Amy Millan released her first solo album in fifteen years, I Went to Find You.   In this Hidden Track Story, find out how friends and collaborators have helped this talented artist find harmony and use her voice in new ways.   CREDITS  Host: Grant Stovel  Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf  Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette  Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous  Theme Music: Doug Hoyer  Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!   The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!    Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack. 

Rose Cousins is an artist who seems to possess amazing access to pure feeling. She is capable of heartbreaking tenderness one moment, and side-splitting hilarity the next. On her new album, Conditions of Love Vol. 1, she explores a full range of emotions, and she re-connects with the piano, an instrument she first played as a child. In the newest episode of the Hidden Track podcast, Rose Cousins talks about creativity, love, and the human condition. She also shares beautiful performances of three songs from the album: “Borrowed Light,” “K's Waltz,” and “I Believe in Love (and it's very hard).”    CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Sound Recording: Brendan Cross Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Looking back on 30 years of Captain Tractor's hugely successful, beloved classic album East of Edson, practically everything about it seems unlikely. They came together as a bunch of theatre and music school kids, and became known all over Canada. With the release of that record, the band also hit upon a signature song that remains a buzz track to this day. Enjoy their chat with CKUA's Grant Stovel in this episode of the Hidden Track Podcast.  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack. CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams, and Brendan Cross for recording this conversation. The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! 

Cold Bones Fest was the site of this edition of the Hidden Track podcast, and Lethbridge band Starpainter takes centre stage.  Starpainter is a favourite on the CKUA airwaves, and they have been outspoken about their support of the CKUA community. Their latest album, Rattlesnake Dream, has received international acclaim, with one of its tracks being named #1 Song of the Year by Americana and UK. They also had the opportunity to tour Japan for the first time.  Enjoy this edition of the Hidden Track podcast, which was recorded live at the Drumheller Legion during Cold Bones Fest.  CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams and a big thank you to Cold Bones Festival! The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Canadian icon Alan Doyle shares his fascinating musical journey in this episode of the Hidden Track podcast. From his humble beginnings in Petty Harbour to performing on global stages, Doyle's narrative is filled with heartfelt reflections and vibrant storytelling. He discusses his evolution with Great Big Sea, his solo career, and his ventures into theatre and writing.   He talks about his educational background, influences such as Ron Hynes, and his new introspective album, Welcome Home. Listen for an engaging tale of music, humility, and gratitude, and enjoy a bonus acoustic performance of "Hard Old Hands," live in CKUA's Studio A.  CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams!  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

Caity Gyorgy and Mark Limacher are a formidable musical duo known for their brilliance and creativity on and off stage. Caity, a two-time JUNO Award-winning singer and songwriter, and Mark, a versatile composer and pianist, share a unique bond that enhances their collaborative performances. Their ability to blend their talents creates an enchanting experience for audiences, whether they are performing music or engaging in conversation.  Recently, they reunited in Alberta for holiday performances before heading to Japan for a series of shows at The Cotton Club.   Their visit included a special session at CKUA, where they shared their inspired music and insights with fans.    CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel Associate Producer: Scott Zielsdorf Executive Producer: Arianne Smith-Piquette Senior Producer: Jasmine Vickaryous Theme Music: Doug Hoyer Mixing and mastering for this Hidden Track Session was provided by Brendan Cross. Special thanks to the CKUA Events & Marketing Teams! The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Learn more about Hidden Track at ckua.com/hiddentrack.

MOONRIIVR is a band known for creating lush, cinematic, and atmospheric music inspired by timeless classics, yet uniquely personal in style. Comprised of seasoned musicians Gavin Gardiner and "Champagne" James Robertson, the duo brings a wealth of experience from the Southern Ontario music scene, blending indie rock, folk, jazz, and country influences. Their debut album, Vol. 1, and its follow-up, The Tascam Sessions, showcase their musical alchemy and innovative expression. We're treated to a sample of that magic in this Hidden Track Story, as the duo shares a bonus pair of live performances with us as part of this episode!   The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! Subscribe to the Hidden Track podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer

After releasing a captivating debut single called "Dancing with Sue" in June of 2020, Wyatt C. Louis created a stir that saw them gain fans across Alberta, Canada, and beyond.  But it would be nearly four years until Wyatt's debut full-length album was released. The album Chandler, released on May 27, 2024, shot straight to #1 on CKUA's weekly Top 30 chart.  Their songs are pensive, deeply felt, and slow burning, while their supple voice and guitar work express wonder and vulnerability. The candid solo performances that Wyatt shared with us in CKUA's Studio A are intimate and beautiful.  This live session took place in December 2024 — just as CKUA's music library team had crunched the numbers and determined that Wyatt's album, Chandler, had become the most played on CKUA's airwaves for the entire year. As a special bonus, we had the opportunity to surprise Wyatt with the joyful news that they were #1 for 2024! It's a moment of pure joy, alongside Wyatt's blissful music and conversation.   The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production, made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!   Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording/Mastering for this Session provided by Brendan Cross.

We've got a live one here!   This is a live session with the celebrated Canadian artist Tony D, who for decades has been known as an electrifying guitar talent, equally expressive in styles ranging from blues to swing to acid rock to flamenco! Tony has travelled the world playing music, and has a trophy case worth of awards; but somehow his new record Electric Delta is the first proper new Tony D solo offering of original material in a couple of decades! And the album release party for this long-awaited new record is what we hear in this highly celebratory live CKUA Hidden Track Session.   Between his solo projects, the celebrated Canadian band MonkeyJunk, and plenty of other musical activities, he's toured everywhere from Memphis to Italy, and all across Canada! He's even performed in the northernmost continuously inhabited place in the world — Alert, Nunavut.  Alberta has long been a kind of second home to Tony D; and these days he's actually a part-time resident of this part of the world, when he isn't on the road, as his partner and family live in the province. In this final episode of Hidden Track Season 5, we hear the electrifying Tony D performing in front of a rapt audience at CKUA's Live Performance Space in Edmonton, joined by his longtime bass player Joe Hawkins, as well as two superb Edmonton-based musicians: keyboardist Rooster Davis and drummer Jamie Cooper.   The sparks really fly between these four musicians and the audience, as they perform a diverse set of original material — a Tony D classic called "Argentinian Surf Tango", plus two standouts from the new album, "Highway 7" and the rousing opening salvo: a dynamic instrumental workout entitled "NAS".    Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording/Mastering for this session provided by Brendan Cross. The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production, made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  

When you consider that the Yukon's population density is estimated to be roughly 0.07 people per square kilometre, it's kind of amazing the cultural imprint that the territory has made — both in terms of Canadian and global culture! The majestic, dramatic land made world-famous in classics ranging from The Cremation of Sam McGee to The Call of the Wild has long inspired artists of all kinds, and it's truly become a haven for musical creatives. From the territory's living Indigenous musical traditions, to the fabled folk songs of the Klondike, to the incredible people making original music today ranging from bluegrass to hip-hop, the story of Yukon music is a vibrant, diverse, and ever-evolving one — as we hear in this episode, the thrilling conclusion of our first-ever Hidden Track two-parter!  Just as in Part One of our Music Yukon/Hidden Track collab, we're treated to some truly thrilling live performances by artists from that vast territory, and we get a sense of how the Yukon impacts their lives and art practices.  While Edmonton, Alberta is sometimes referred to as the most northerly large city in the Americas, with metropolitan population of more than one million people, you've got to make a roughly 2,000 kilometre-long trip southeast to get from the Yukon's capital city of Whitehorse to Edmonton! So, it was a pretty big deal when a whole troop of Yukon musicians made the big trek down south to perform as part of the Edmonton International Fringe Theatre Festival in August 2024. This was thanks to the support of Music Yukon and a really cool partnership with the Edmonton Fringe.  While they were here, CKUA was lucky enough to host a whole bunch of them for Hidden Track sessions in our Studio A in Edmonton. They shared stories and songs with us that evoke the unique natural beauty, highly personalized sense of expression, and vibrant community feeling that make the Yukon such a magical place for music.  In Part 2, we hear from Alex MacNeil (leader of the outsider power-pop favourites Alex MacNeil and the Revenants, accompanied here by Hendika), the idiosyncratic punk-inspired stylings of Cryptozoologists, and the spirited soulful beauty of Bria Rose N' Thorns.  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording and mastering for this episode by Brendan Cross.  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by our incredible donor community. Thank you for your support!

Joel Plaskett first came to fame in the beloved rock band Thrush Hermit, a group who came together as teenagers in Halifax and barnstormed across Canada and beyond throughout the '90s with a dynamic stage show, plus an actual neon sign reading "Rock and Roll". In fact, last time Joel visited CKUA's Edmonton studios was five years ago during a Thrush Hermit reunion tour, and he told us about keeping that "Rock and Roll" sign in storage for many years.  For his autumn 2024 tour, he certainly wasn't in need of the iconic "Rock and Roll" sign. It was just himself and his guitars (plus a reclining armchair and photo projector) for an album launch tour to celebrate his stunningly intimate acoustic album One Real Reveal.  He's an artist who's been known to challenge himself to ever-greater thematic journeys in his solo work. There's his well-loved 2009 release Three— his third solo outing - a triple album which was largely made up of songs with triple-barrelled titles. Then there was 44, released the day before he turned 45, consisting of four albums of eleven songs each. He's come up with maybe an even more daunting creative challenge this time, scaling the process all the way down to the number one — a record made with a single microphone, created almost entirely by Joel alone. Except for one very notable exception, which he'll reveal to us in this conversation. An unparallelled storyteller and an artist of remarkable candour and curiosity, Joel Plaskett shared very generously with us about the serendipitous musical moment that sparked this whole album, how it represents a return to his roots in somewhat surprising ways, how spoken word suddenly introduced itself as part of his artistry, and the importance of embracing the presence, spontaneity, transience, and cyclical nature of music, art, and life. This is a Hidden Track Story: Joel Plaskett | Four Tracks and the Truth. Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donour community. Thank you for your support! 

For this special episode, Hidden Track is doing something utterly different. This isn't a feature on one artist, song, or album. It casts a spotlight on a whole scene—on a whole Canadian Territory, in a sense!   Yukon is a Canadian territory that's bigger than most countries on Earth, but its nearly half-million square kilometres are inhabited by only about 40,000 people.  In partnership with both Music Yukon and The Edmonton Fringe, CKUA invited five acts into CKUA's Studio to share some of their music and their story with us. In Part 1 of this unique collaboration, we hear from Ellorie McKnight and her longtime musical collaborator Brigitte Jardin, touring veterans Diyet & the Love Soldiers, and the incredibly soulful Elijah Bekk (and band).  The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production, made possible by the generous contributions of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer Associate Producer: Aajah Souter Recording and mastering for this Session provided by Brendan Cross. 

She's a musician whose artistic vision and songwriting are every bit as distinctive and expressive as that spectacular voice of hers. Frazey Ford's trademark tremulous croon first became well-known as part of the vocal blend for globally-renowned Vancouver folk music mainstays The Be Good Tanyas. While that band's aesthetic leaned toward the folky and jazzy, Frazey's own instincts have always been strongly inclined toward a classic soul music feel.  Her 2010 debut album Obadiah began to chart her own unique artistic course, which she further developed with 2014's Indian Ocean, and 2020's U Kin B the Sun.  In this free-wheeling conversation, we'll learn about the rather stunning experiments in creativity that led to her beautiful latest release; as well as the nearly stranger-than-fiction story behind Indian Ocean, which turned 10 years old in October of 2024. Those sessions took place in Memphis, in the studio where many of her all-time favourite soul songs were recorded in the 1970s – with the very musicians who helped to craft them.    And as a special bonus treat (and a meta experience of sorts) – we conclude this episode of Hidden Track with an actual hidden track! One that appears at the end of the streaming version of Indian Ocean. This is a Hidden Track Story from a dressing room at the Arden Theatre with the wonderful Frazey Ford.  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donor community. Thank you for your support!     

In many ways, Frank is the perfect name for this well-loved singer-songwriter, producer, and eternal punk rock firebrand.  Kind of like the many tattoos that adorn his arms, Frank Turner wears his heart right on his sleeve. Always unstintingly honest in all his artistic endeavours, Frank's music carries a candour and conviction that's incredibly powerful – devastating, even. Frank always manages always to have the ability to connect directly with the human heart – whether sharing tenderly of his own life's journey through his songs, or pushing back with snarling ferocity against fascism and injustice, his music resounds with urgency, authenticity, and humanity. No matter if you're talking about the all-out sonic assault of his fearsome band, Frank Turner and the Sleeping Souls, or – equally powerfully –  when Frank is in the intimate solo acoustic mode that we experience on this episode.  As we'll hear during this Hidden Track Session, Frank Turner is an astoundingly intelligent and acute observer of the human condition, a seemingly tireless road dog, a devoted music nerd of the very highest order, and a truly humble soul.  He carved out some time between shows to join us in CKUA Live Performance Space in Edmonton, as he passed through on a relentless world tour celebrating his triumphant 2024 release, Undefeated. The record arrives on the heels of his 2022 album FTHC (for Frank Turner Hardcore) which – 15 years into his solo discography – saw this folk-punk troubadour shoot all the way up to Number One on the British Album Chart! For context, other artists to score UK Number One albums that year were people like Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift.  But rather than try to repeat that formula for success, Frank decided to take the opportunity to instead to make this new album without a major label; and for the first time in his ten albums to date, to produce it entirely himself, in his own home studio.  And as Frank tells us, the songs on Undefeated are mostly derived from stories drawn from his own life journey. In conversation, Frank is a fount of wonderful stories, insights, jokes, and esoteric music trivia – while as a songwriter and performer, he distills all of his brilliance down to a razor-sharp point. Along with a characteristically brilliant conversation with Frank, we're treated to an absolutely exquisite, heartfelt performance of three songs from Frank's new album, solo acoustic in CKUA studios: "Letters", "Girl from the Record Shop", and one of his most beautiful compositions to date, "Somewhere in Between".  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Recording/Mastering: Brendan Cross | Music: Doug Hoyer

As an artist, she's always been a bit of a shapeshifter.  Over the course of her wildly diverse career, she's touched on numerous different genres, been signed to a series of major record labels, and made music under several monikers.  Her journey has taken her from a tiny community on Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island, to the bright lights of Los Angeles at age 20, to the City of Light – Paris, France.  Her latest work sees her returning to Canada, coming back to her musical roots in many, taking ownership of her art and her story, and reverting to her real nickname and surname, Goldie Boutilier.  We were lucky enough to catch up with Goldie during a breathless 2024 tour which saw her paired up for a run of dates across the continent with Orville Peck. And this autumn sees her rolling back through these parts – this time on her debut North American headlining tour, to celebrate the release of her brilliant new album, out September 27th – The Actress.  Her latest music is inspired by some of the music she grew up hearing – ranging from Tammy Wynnette to Fleetwood Mac, Alison Krauss to the Twin Peaks soundtrack. The songs are informed by the transformations and heartbreaks she's undergone over the years and by her profoundly disturbing real-life experience -- living out the youthful dream of signing a major label deal and moving to L.A. As we'll hear, show business can be a cold, cruel, predatory enterprise; one that many artists only triumph over by reclaiming their narrative and artistic selves, on their own terms.  That's what Goldie has done in her recent evolution, beginning with her arresting 2022 EP Cowboy Gangster Politician, carrying on through 2023's Emerald Year, and now The Actress. If Goldie's wild career arc were a Hollywood screenplay, it might seem a little too far-fetched to be believable. But, as Goldie sings on the title track to her new EP: "I am the actress, and you're in my movie."  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Mixing for this session provided by Brendan Cross. 

Michael Bernard Fitzgerald is an artist who's always expressed what's most important to him through his songs. He's also been incredibly meticulous throughout his career, taking care to build a unique and heartfelt connection to his audience and striving to create an unforgettable live setting for his music.  He's elevated the sharing of live music to a high art in itself — whether it's inviting Calgary Folk Fest goers to join him at picnic tables to eat pie in the sun, taking to the stage with 300 backing singers at the Jubilee Auditorium or, as we hear him in this particular setting, going into his Farm Tour mode to immerse audience and performer alike in a whisper-quiet, impossibly intimate moment of musical expression.  Although his brand-new album Horizon Lines contains colossal hooks, massive production flourishes, and the trademark sense of pop music maximalism that has always made MBF's work so exhilarating. Although, the heart of his songcraft, as ever, lies in his voice and his guitar. That's the sensibility that he foregrounds during his very intimate Farm Tours, which is the very mode in which we caught up with him for this Hidden Track Session in CKUA's Live Performance Space in Edmonton.  Just ahead of the September 27th release of Horizon Lines, Michael Bernard Fitzgerald played beautifully hushed, solo acoustic renditions of the title track, first single “After a While”, and MBF staple “Good Plates”. He also shared some insight behind where the songs mugs come from, the inspiration he draws from his burgeoning family, and just exactly what a Farm Tour is all about.  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Mixing assistance for this Session provided by Charlotte Carr.  The Hidden Track Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our donor community. Thank you for your support!

Kaia Kater has learned her craft through the influence of a diverse group of musical heroes, ranging from Herbie Hancock to Rhiannon Giddens. She recently turned her lens simultaneously inward and outward, to confront difficult truths and injustices – personally, historically, societally, and made them into album titled Strange Medicine. CKUA's Grant Stovel caught up with Kaia shortly after the album's release, as she was entering the summertime festival season. And she's very much a child of the Western Canadian folk festival experience.   Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production and made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! Subscribe to the Hidden Track podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.

The joy in the everyday, the continuous arc of life's changes and the way a simple shift in perspective can utterly transform one's experience...  Ellen Doty's new album is a kind of musical meditation, a collection of songs that aims to bring some gentle joy to the listener's heart. Every Little Scene is gorgeous set of songs that relate how if you pay mindful attention, small moments and subtle shifts can bring about great beauty and peace.  It's interesting that Ellen herself was undergoing just about the biggest life change that there is, as she was crafting these songs. In this episode, we hear all about how these songs were created in parallel with a transition into parenthood. We'll also hear stunning renditions of three songs from the new album, "Kaleidoscope", "Coming Back to Me", and the title track to Every Little Scene, as performed with her band.  Reflecting the gracious, spacious beauty of the songs themselves, the musical setting is spare and poetic. Ellen's voice is in dialogue with the lyrical keyboard playing of Devin Hart, and the painterly textures of drummer Peter Hendrickson. Their instruments combine together with a kind of graceful, crackling energy that seems to imbue every note with richness and resonance. There's a roominess to the sound of this trio that creates space for that magical, transcendent quality that the songs invoke.  This is Ellen Doty, as seen on Hidden Track Sessions. You can check out the video version of this episode on CKUA's YouTube channel! Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer  The final mix for this session was provided by Brendan Cross. The Hidden Track Podcast is made possible by the generosity of CKUA's donour community. Thank you for your support! 

A couple of seasons back, Hidden Track released a big Cadence Weapon special. We spoke with Rollie Pemberton (Cadence Weapon) himself, along with some key family, friends and collaborators. A whole lot has happened for Cadence Weapon since that episode's release. So, we felt it was time to catch-up during his brief visit back to Edmonton during the 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs.   It's certainly been an exciting two years for Cadence Weapon! The major headline being that, in 2022, he won the Polaris Music Prize, the biggest and most illustrious music award there is in Canada! And, that same year, he released his greatly-acclaimed memoir, Bedroom Rapper. Jumping forward to 2024, he's recently put out an incredible new record, ROLLERCOASTER.   Another noteworthy development brought Cadence Weapon back home to Edmonton somewhat unexpectedly. In early June 2024, the hockey team he's been cheering for all his life made a storybook run, from the bottom of the National Hockey League standings at the start of the season, all the way to the Stanley Cup Championship.  Seized by sudden inspiration, Cadence Weapon created a new version of his anthem for Edmonton Oilers' sensation star centre and captain, Connor McDavid. Cadence Weapon released the first version in 2017 at the beginning of McDavid's NHL career, and he felt called to update it for this momentous occasion.  Ever the hometown man, Cadence Weapon made time during his Edmonton playoff visit to chat with CKUA's Grant Stovel for this episode of Hidden Track Stories. Here's our first in-person visit in many a long year with Cadence Weapon, who was very much in championship form.  CREDITS Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer  Special thanks to Cadence Weapon for allowing us to include the opening instrumental to My Computer in this episode of Hidden Track.   The Hidden Track Podcast is made possible by the generosity of CKUA's donour community. Thank you for your support! 

DakhaBrakha combines traditional folk and punk, drawing inspiration from their Ukrainian homeland with a global sensibility. Melodies from the ancient past collide with future sounds. They like to describe their style as “ethno-chaos.” At CKUA, we were treated to a visit from touring dignitaries DakhaBrakha while they were on tour. It was the full four-piece band in all their full, distinctive instrumentation, in full regalia and in all their glory. For this episode of Hidden Track Sessions, the band set up in CKUA's Edmonton performance space and shared a scorching set of three epic songs, as well as a very rare English language interview. Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Mixing for this session provided by Brendan Cross. The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production and made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!

Inspired by the energy, the soul and the message of classic ska, The Slackers have truly become legends themselves over the past 33 years.  They first came together in New York City back in the early '90s, and studied at the feet of the masters, including members of Jamaican ska originators the Skatalites, who had relocated to the States.  The Slackers rose to prominence alongside a wave of ska-oriented artists who came to fame in that decade, in what became known as "Third Wave Ska".  However, long after Third Wave hitmakers like The Mighty Mighty Bosstones had sort of faded away, The Slackers remained true to their roots, and have continued to craft vibrant, original and important music for the past 33 years and counting.  Lead singer/ lyricist/ multi-instrumentalist Vic Ruggiero and sax player David Hillyard have been doing this a long time. So, it's remarkable how much freshness and sense of purpose they perpetually bring to everything they do.    The band's now legendary series of livestream concerts from New York during the early days of the pandemic are a great example of how they continue to lead the musical charge with imagination, originality and a sense of community. That run of livestreams eventually led to the Billboard chart-topping album Don't Let the Sunlight Fool Ya, along with a series of reissues of their past discography via Pirates Press Records – also home to punk and ska luminaries like Rancid, the Aggrolites, and Subhumans.  Long after the days of those global livestreams, The Slackers continue to connect globally with fans across the world. Alberta is a shining example of this. The band is very well-loved here, and both Vic and David have plugged into the scene here for music projects of their own, performing and/or recording with Albertan luminaries like Jory Kinjo and Audrey Ochoa. But there hadn't been a proper Slackers tour through Alberta in seven years! At least, not until June of 2024, when they played sold-out shows in Edmonton and Calgary- which represented the last of the tour dates they had to postpone back in 2020.    Befor playing those shows though, they kicked off their Alberta tour with a stop at CKUA studios for this epiosde of Hidden Track Stories!  They shared an insightful, fun, heartfelt conversation about their roots, their latest record, and what drives them to create meaningful music about... stuff.  The Hidden Track Podcast is made possible by the generosity of our donour community. Thank you for your support! Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer

For our first-ever live Hidden Track Session in front of an audience, we really lucked out!  We wanted to do something special that brought artists together with members of the CKUA community for a spontaneous, in-the-moment experience – an intimate and exciting live musical performance alongside a conversation that takes us deeper into the music.  We were hoping to find an artist with deep roots in the community, a vibrant onstage musical presence, oodles of charisma, and some new music to share with the world. And yes, we lucked out huge! We ended up with good vibes, incredible music, a tremendous sense of togetherness, and Major Love.  While they certainly would be considered a supergroup of Alberta talents, Major Love has a sound and an identity that goes far beyond what the sum of these parts can account for.  Drummer Shea Connor, bass player Murray Wood, and guitarist Trevor Mann have been playing together since they were kids. For the past 15 years, they've been a band called Scenic Route to Alaska – taking their name from a well-known sign near their hometown of Edmonton..  The four members of Major Love joined us at CKUA's Edmonton studios, in our Live Performance Space, alongside a room full of CKUA supporters for a session that had our crowd dancing, crying and laughing in turns.  In this episode, we hear from this insightful and ever-charming group of friends – both in conversation, and in the live performance of music from their long-awaited brand-new album Live, Laugh, Major Love. We'll hear three beautiful selections: "One Woman", "Time", and "The More I Know/Mountain Standard Time". This is Major Love - Majorly Live!   The Hidden Track Podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donor community. Thank you for your support!  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Audio captured by Nick Adkisson  Sound mixing by Brendan Cross Special thanks to the CKUA live events team for their help with this Hidden Track Session!

Ever the masterful crafter of musical stories, Corb Lund has just released his eleventh album El Viejo — a new collection that weaves together inventive narratives and introduces us to some compelling characters. On this record we encounter: a veteran card sharp dealing out hard-won wisdom, a down-on-his-luck journeyman MMA fighter, a speed addict trying to kick the habit on the family farm, and on the album's title track, a true-life heartfelt tribute to the recently departed country great Ian Tyson, known to some friends as “El Viejo” — or “The Old Man”.  Listen closely, and you'll hear lots of Corb's own story, too — there are a few tales of adventures and misadventures on the road, and the song “I Had It All” in which he muses about having a “cowboy past and a speed metal future”.  Corb's professional life in music began with a stint in jazz college, followed by a dozen years in a celebrated band who played a blend of psychedelic rock, hardcore punk, and speed metal -- not exactly a textbook beginning to a fruitful career in roots country music.  Corb Lund initially embarked upon his career as a singer-songwriter as an acoustic side project - one that stood out in sharp contrast to the decidedly heavier stylings of his internationally renowned rock band, The Smalls. It allowed Corb to develop his personal sense of expression and storytelling, while also connecting with the roots music that he heard growing up in the rural foothills country of Southern Alberta.  Eventually, The Smalls broke up and Corb's solo project became his primary focus. True DIY success would soon follow with a series of gold records, international tours and meeting personal heroes like Ian Tyson. Throughout it all, he's been determined to walk his own path and to keep his roots at the center of everything he does.  El Viejo takes Corb's homespun philosophy to a whole new level. The first Corb Lund album since the 1990s to feature exclusively acoustic instruments, it was recorded in his own Southern Alberta living room, performed live off the floor in a circle with his bandmates.  The international El Viejo tour saw Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans take a spin through Corb's home province, and he shared an intimate backstage conversation just ahead of soundcheck at his Edmonton show. He reflected on his journey, how he's still bridging the metal/country divide, being outspoken in his advocacy for preserving the Rocky Mountain foothills, the long shadow of his friend and mentor Ian Tyson and finding new ways to be as personal as he can with the art that he creates.   ____________________________________________________________________________________  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer  The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your continued support!

The Bros. Landreth return to Hidden Track for a Season 5 Session!  When they started their band, it was just an excuse to spend time together, given that the brothers David and Joey Landreth were often embroiled in their careers as top–call players in the Winnipeg music scene.   The brothers came together to write some original songs and their first album as The Bros. Landreth was born. Released independently without much fanfare, Let It Lie soon drew them an audience from across the world.  It's somewhat ironic that the album is titled “Let It Lie”, as it did anything but lay down - especially where the Bro's musical careers are concerned! Ten years on, this beautiful album continues to resonate and do astonishing things in the world. For instance – it would have seemed impossible for David and Joey to believe in 2013 that a decade later, they could say that a song on this album has been recorded by one of their all-time heroes, Bonnie Raitt – and that it won a Grammy Award!  It says a lot about the work ethic of the Bros. Landreth that their way of celebrating the debut record's 10th anniversary was no mere victory lap. Instead, they created a whole new version of the album – featuring acoustic re-interpretations of all the songs on Let It Lie – and took it on the road for a gigantic tour. It was during that tour that the band found themselves with a couple days off in Alberta! Between their sold-out concerts, the Bros. Landreth elected to play a free Saturday covers set at a local pub and took a trip down to CKUA's Edmonton Performance Space for this beautiful Hidden Track Session.  Something of an intergenerational affair, this Session features David Landreth on bass (and some harmonica). Then, on acoustic guitars, we have: Joey Landreth, long-time collaborator Murray Pulver, (from hitmaking Winnipeg bands like Crash Test Dummies and Doc Walker); and the band's drummer, Roman Clarke, a great young multi-instrumentalist, who like everyone else in this session, is an absolute monster singer and musician – as well as a kind-hearted, down-to-earth, sincere, and hilarious human being.  This episode is a candid visit with the Bros. Landreth – in conversation, plus live performances of three songs from Let It Lie: "Nothing", "Where Were We", and that Grammy-winning song of theirs, "Made Up Mind".  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Session recording: Scott Zielsdorf | Mixing: Duke Paetz | Video Editor: Jasmine Vickaryous.   The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Subscribe to the Hidden Track podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify. 

The Rural Alberta Advantage's much-anticipated October 2023 album The Rise & the Fall - their first in a half-dozen years - is once again chock full of Albertan references. However, it has also managed to connect with fans from around the world! Renowned UK newspaper The Independent named it one of their Best Albums of 2023, alongside albums by Olivia Rodrigo and Lana Del Rey. Perhaps the most exciting part of this new album, and its subsequent world tour – is that it sees all three original members – and longtime great friends – back in action together.  They are Nils Edenloff (the Alberta expatriate who's the chief singer, songwriter and guitarist in the band), drummer extraordinaire Paul Banwatt and Amy Cole, who does pretty much everything else! Keyboards, bass pedals, harmony vocals – she's an orchestra unto herself! She took a break from the band back in 2016 and returned to the fold just in time for the new album and ensuing tour. Appropriately enough, the tour saw the band take a swing through Alberta, which included a visit to CKUA's studios for this episode of Hidden Track Stories - and what stories they are! In this episode, we hear all about the band's rich history, the Alberta folklore that's fascinated them and their fans for so long, how they keep themselves grounded with family and careers outside of being internationally-celebrated musicians, what it's like to play for 50,000 fans and several dozen NHL hockey players at this season's Edmonton Oilers/Calgary Flames Heritage Classic and - more than anything – the shared love, respect, and chemistry that's gotten them to this point.  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording and mixing provided by Brendan Cross.  The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production and made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support! 

When you think about it, being a YouTuber isn't so different from being a singer-songwriter.  In each case, you need to dig deep, be original, authentic and often get incredibly vulnerable – all while the world is looking on.  Canadian singer/songwriter Haley Blais has proven truly brilliant in both fields! This hit-YouTuber-turned-award-winning-musician shows us exactly why that is on her new album Wisecrack, and furthermore with the performance she shared with CKUA in this beautifully candid Hidden Track Session.  Haley has experienced a unique artistic evolution, to say the very least. Originally from Kelowna, BC, she started off her involvement in the arts as a classically trained opera singer, eventually making the move to Vancouver and cultivating a fruitful career as a content creator. But music has always been with her, and homespun musical performances proved to be hugely successful on her YouTube channel, including one ukulele-accompanied performance of an old pop song from the 1920s - which has received millions of views in the 2020s!  She has continued branching out into new adventures in music and her career as a singer, songwriter and recording artist kicked into high gear with her debut EP in 2016. In late 2023, she released her sophomore full-length album Wisecrack on Arts & Crafts. The album release tour saw her take a spin through Alberta in early 2024 and brought her to CKUA's live performance space for an intimate, funny, heartbreaking and occasionally expletive-laden session on the Hidden Track Podcast.  Hidden Track is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donor community. Thank you for your support!   

Careful of Your Keepers, the sixth full-length album by This Is the Kit, ends with the mantra-like benediction of "Be Okay". It's a beautifully delicate place to land, after ten songs that navigate their way through a world full of actions, their equal and opposite reactions, and the inextricably linked, overwhelmingly human dance between beauty and pain.  It's an album that starts with a goodbye. Or more precisely, it starts with a track called "Goodbye Bite", which carries on with plenty of bite throughout. The lyrics and imagery are are full of teeth and clawing and chewing. As Kate Stables sings on the chorus to the song "Inside Outside" – quoting Ralph Wiggum's celebrated Valentine note to Lisa on an episode of The Simpsons – "Bite off as much as you can chew/ I chew chew choose you."   Kate Stables is the singer/ songwriter/ multi-instrumentalist/ banjo enthusiast at the heart of this project. She grew up and fell in love with music in Winchester, one of Old England's oldest cities. She then moved on to the magical music city of Bristol, also the birthplace of groundbreaking acts like Portishead and Massive Attack. It's been a couple of decades since she moved to the artists' mecca of Paris, along with her husband (and fellow musician/bandleader) Jesse Vernon.  She and her musical collaborators have quietly built a body of work that's seen This Is the Kit become one of the most revered and distinctive creative forces in folk music. Their much-acclaimed 2023 album builds on 20 years of creative evolution, and finds them collaborating with a hero of Kate's from back in her teenage years – Gruff Rhys, who came to fame as the frontperson for Welsh '90s indie rock deities Super Furry Animals.  During the course of a wintertime 2024 tour through Alberta, Kate Stables stopped off at CKUA's Calgary studios to share an illuminating conversation about the elliptical nature of reality, her musical beginnings and creative evolution, drawing inspiration from a century-old banjo discovered in someone's attic, her surprisingly robust connections with Canada and/or Canadian music, working with one of her heroes, and what she always carries in her handbag. 

She's truly a study in contrasts – right from her chosen moniker, Sunny War.  Her story is an utterly extraordinary one, in terms of both her brilliant musical arc and her often-tumultuous life journey. She spent much of her teens and early 20s as an itinerant busker, living where she could, sometimes hopping trains around the States, experiencing trouble with the law, and battling drug and alcohol addiction. All along, Sunny War's lone constant companion – her true lifeline – has been her guitar.  The folk/ punk/ gospel/ blues artist was born Sydney Ward into a musical family in Nashville, steeped in rock, folk, and classical music, and started playing guitar as a child. Moving to L.A., she discovered punk rock in her early teens, which led her to a true DIY musical apprenticeship busking on the streets of Venice Beach. It was there that she began to develop her unique artistic voice, one that utterly transcends genre and era. She cites the influence of everyone from 1930s blues greats like Robert Johnson and Skip James, to 1980s reggae/punk firebrands Bad Brains and current experimental rap artist JPEGMafia.  Her 2022 album Anarchist Gospel was mainly written in the wake of a devastating breakup, in the loneliest depths of the pandemic, just before she decided to pull up stakes and move back to Tennessee. There, she made this album with producer Adrija Tokic (who has worked on albums by folks like Alabama Shakes and Hurray for the Riff Raff) and with collaborators like roots music heavyweights Allison Russell and David Rawlings.  Anarchist Gospel draws on the sense of duality that's at the heart of her work – these are heart-rending songs about romantic pain, family strife, and doomy environmental woes, yet the album overall is somehow strangely uplifting.  We hear that in the songs she shares with us in this episode of Hidden Track: "New Day", "Whole", and "No Reason". She performed them solo in a breathtakingly intimate session, as she travelled through Alberta playing a pair of wintertime music festivals. Travelling solo, of course!  Hidden Track Sessions are produced by CKUA Radio and is made possible by the generous contributions of our donors. Find out how you can get involved at ckua.com/donate! 

'Tis the season to be jolly!  This holiday season, CKUA's Hidden Track team busted out the stockings, tinsel and trees, festooned CKUA's cozy music library with festive décor, and invited a few musical friends over for a special holiday episode!  Our guests brought with them some heartfelt reflections on the Yuletide season, some beautiful live performances of holiday songs ranging from ancient to brand-new, and some truly gaudy holiday apparel. Joining us in our Cozy Christmas Corner are CKUA favourites Baby Jey, VISSIA and Hawksley Workman!  Baby Jey share a wintery song from their debut album and a contemporary re-imagining of the traditional British carol "Deck the Halls." VISSIA performs her winter-embracing song Snowed In and Hawksley Workman is joined by his longtime piano accompanist Mr. Lonely for an inspired performance of material from his beloved holiday album Almost a Full Moon.  Plus, our guests spin us tales of gifts, treats, holiday albums, and Christmastimes past.  So... don we now our gay apparel! And sing we joyous, all together. Happy holidays, from all of us at CKUA's Hidden Track!    Credits: Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Craig Taffs & Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer Recording for this holiday session provided by Duke Paetz and Brendan Cross. "Christmas Anticipation" is provided under license by De Wolfe Music. The Hidden Track podcast is a CKUA production made possible by the generosity of our donors. Thank you for your support!  

It's been an amazing Season 4 here at Hidden Track. We've had visits with an astounding array of inspired artists, ranging from local heroes to global greats; from a reigning Polaris Prize winner to a newly minted Grammy Award winner; from hip-hop to hardcore punk to homespun folk. It's been such a wild 2023! So wild, in fact, that we felt the need to do a special episode to wrap up the season.   Given the daunting task of summarizing such an incredible season, Grant decided to call in a little help! For this year-end episode, Grant Stovel is joined by Hidden Track producer Scott Zielsdorf to help share some great stories and songs from amongst this season's 21 episodes.   In particular, this collection of magical moments zeroes in on the idea of connecting to something larger through music -- whether that's connecting with family and friends, with community, with humanity at large, connecting with your own inner sense of humanity, even connecting with your true artistic self. That yearning to connect is often the catalyst that compels musicians to create, to express, to be part of something.   Music can be a vector for connection in amazing ways -- as we hear in this episode! With memorable stories and songs from the likes of William Prince, Tanika Charles, Arlo Maverick, Wendy McNeill, Dan Mangan, F*cked Up, Young Fathers, Aysanabee, Andy Shauf, Kid Koala & Leilani, Alex Cuba, and July Talk.   Thank you for being with us in 2023! And we thank all of our guests for being so generous with their time and their hearts. All the best for 2024, and we can't wait to share Hidden Track Season 5 with you!    Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Music: Doug Hoyer | Graphics: Shaun Friesen   The Hidden Track Podcast is made possible by the generous contributions of our donors. Thank you for your support!  

Made in a basement studio littered with instruments and synth gear, Young Fathers' new album Heavy Heavy was created entirely by the three members of the band - with the exception of a single guest vocal from a friend. The album features layer upon layer of voices and instruments, creating a sonic maelstrom of dynamics, moods and textures. And while the songs do vary widely, and occasionally tackle dark subjects, the overwhelming feeling is one of joy, connection, celebration, and togetherness.  Alloysius Maasaqoui, Kayus Bankole, and Graham Hastings have been together a long time. Hailing from the magical musical city of Edinburgh, Scotland, Young Fathers are a group of friends who met up as teenagers, and who have spun their undefinable blend of post-punk, soul, noise pop, hip-hop, and lo-fi electronica into a unique, compelling, Mercury Prize-winning body of work.  The latest album finds the group embracing a diverse swath of influences and inspirations. Two of the members of the group, Allosius and Kayus, spent parts of their early years in Africa; this album integrates some of that influence in exciting new ways. The band is also inspired by a wide range of global music, from Jamaican reggae to gospel from the American South.  Musical collaborators for more than two decades now, 2023 marked the 15th anniversary of the trio's debut single, plus the release of the band's widely lauded new album. This year also sees the band touring internationally on a bill with one of the most foundational, influential bands in electro pop history, Depeche Mode. The bill brought Young Fathers to Alberta in late 2023, where they took some time to drop by CKUA's music library for a conversation about their stellar new album, their creative journey as perennial pop music renegades and the weight they bring to Heavy Heavy.  The Hidden Track podcast is produced by CKUA Radio and made possible by the generosity of CKUA's incredible donors. Thank you for your support!  Host: Grant Stovel | Recording: Duke Paetz | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

Arlo Maverick seems to be on a mission to ensure that Edmonton takes its place as a destination to be reckoned with on the hip-hop map. An award-winning artist, Arlo is a well-loved pillar of the hip-hop community here in Alberta. He's also toured all the way to the other side of the world and back, winning himself global fans and forging a wide network of collaborators.  More recently, he's achieved renown as a documentary filmmaker and a chronicler of local hip-hop culture and history. Arlo Maverick is truly solidifying himself as an Edmonton hip-hop ambassador to the world.  Now, a library might seem like a funny place for a hip-hop show, but it makes all the sense in the world. For thing, CKUA's legendary music library is the home to music of all kinds, including a vast trove of music by Alberta artists. Plus, artists don't come much more studied about the history and culture of Alberta music than Arlo Maverick. And, as we hear in this episode, his eureka moment as a hip-hop creator happened in church! So maybe a library isn't too much of a stretch.  Just ahead of the release of his new album, Blue Collar, Arlo Maverick and his wildly talented six-piece band set up in CKUA's music library for the first in what we hope will be a series of live music events, featuring a small, select audience of CKUA supporters, staffers, and community members. They rocked our library lunch hour with a superb set, and later on, Arlo also shared generously of his own life story in a wide-ranging and insightful interview with CKUA's Grant Stovel.  The Hidden Track podcast is produced by CKUA Radio and made possible by the generosity of CKUA's donors.  Host: Grant Stovel | Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer Audio engineering for this live studio session was provided by Duke Paetz, with sound assistance from Scott Zielsdorf. 

Dan Mangan is fond of summing up his whole approach to a creative life in music with a simple axion: "It's cool to care."  Dan models that approach in everything he does. Whether he's starting his own label, Madic Records, or co-founding community concert platform, Side Door Access; acting as a longtime vocal advocate for the de-stigmatization of discussions around mental health; or through his countless epic live performances over the years and seven albums to date... it's very clear that Dan cares, and he doesn't mind who knows it.  Ever since he first burst out of the Vancouver scene with his debut album, nearly two decades back, Dan's been deeply interested in trying to involve people in not just his music, but what music can do; drawing people into that shared experience. Sometimes he's bringing his dynamic range all the way down to whisper-quiet, making audiences lean in closer. Sometimes - as on the giant Going Somewhere tour which brought him to Alberta in Fall 2023 - it's sending out a phone number to fans and asking them to text him their song requests before the shows. The point is, he cares about those moments of real human connection, and he hopes that you think it's cool to care, too.  Dan's latest Juno-nominated and Polaris Prize-shortlisted album Being Somewhere is a distillation of his whole ethos. And this autumn, he brought some of that music to CKUA.  Amidst the stacks of vinyl and shellac in CKUA's legendary music library, Dan shared an insightful and occasionally hilarious conversation, and performed beautiful, intimate, solo acoustic versions of two songs: Being Somewhere standout "Fire Escape" and as his latest, a single called "Say When." The Hidden Track Podcast is produced by CKUA Radio and made possible by the generous contributions of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer  Sound mixing for this Hidden Track session provided by Brendan Cross. Videography assistance from Bailey Richards. 

Many first knew Ariel Posen as the mind-bendingly gifted guitar player with fellow Winnipeg act, The Bros. Landreth. Over the years, he's lent his six-string talents to a wildly eclectic array of artists, ranging from John Mayer to Tom Jones. Ariel Posen's international stature as a rising guitar star became so substantial that it came as something of a surprise to many when in 2019, he put out his own debut album as a singer-songwriter, How Long.  Ariel's solo career, which initially began as a side project for this guitar ace, quickly became his full-time occupation. His work as a recording artist combines his guitar wizardry with a penchant for biting, heart-on-sleeve lyrics and a sweet, soulful voice. Over the course of several solo LPs and EPs now, Ariel's unerring knack for timeless grooves and melodies has continued to evolve and his music now connects with audiences around the world. The September 2023 release of his third full-length album Reasons Why sees him headlining tours all across North America and Europe. The autumn leg of this trek was kick-started by a massive show in Los Angeles, where Ariel was among the luminaries playing at Eric Clapton's legendary all-star guitar-centric concert series Crossroads.  And from there, the tour took Ariel straight to Alberta, where he took some time to drop by CKUA studios, guitar in hand, to talk about his meteoric rise, sharing the stage with guitar gods, and his inspired brand-new album. In this solo session among the stacks of records in CKUA's storied music library, Ariel shared a wide-ranging conversation and very intimate, stripped-down performances of songs from the new record.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer  Sound mixing for this session provided by Duke Paetz. 

It's a testament to the connection and chemistry this band have built together over more than twenty years that they were able to pull off a unique feat of artistic daring for their latest album, 2023's much-acclaimed One Day. Each band member, on their own, composing and recording an entire album's worth of instrumental parts in a 24-hour span, then passing it down the line to the next band member, for them to add their own inspired contributions to the brew.   For a band that's been known to spend literally years crafting elaborate, sprawling, world-building concept records, this is perhaps the most radical and adventurous idea they've ever undertaken. The resulting album is heartfelt, brilliant, and full of the musical imagination and raw emotional power that's made F*cked Up one of the most beloved bands in hardcore punk rock over the past two decades.   As a band, they go all the way back to when these musicians were not much more than kids, growing up in turn-of-the-century Toronto, and falling in love with the punk scene. F*cked Up are now, as then: singer Damian Abraham, bass player Sandy Miranda, drummer Jonah Falco, guitarist Mike Haliechuk and fellow founding member and touring guitarist, Josh Zucker. The artistic challenge on their new album is just as epic as ever, but they've gone from macro to micro. For this one, their ever-present big, bold artistic scope is more extreme close-up, rather than wide-angle lens. They're a band that loves a good challenge, and they continue to challenge themselves to find innovative paths toward artistic evolution and reinvention, over and over again. On the Alberta leg of their album release tour earlier in 2023, bass player Sandy Miranda and lead singer Damian Abraham stopped by CKUA studios to share a characteristically hilarious and candid conversation with Grant Stovel. On this episode of the Hidden Track Podcast, we hear some of the band's stranger-than-fiction stories and what it was like trying to distill their entire artistic essence into One Day.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

This year marks the silver anniversary of the barn-storming acoustic country music juggernaut known as Old Crow Medicine Show. They're a group that traces their roots to busking all across Canada and the United States. Since then, Old Crow Medicine Show has gained commercial success with their distinctively contemporary spin on old-school traditions. The band's song “Wagon Wheel” became certified Platinum in 2013, and is one of the best-known and most oft-covered roots music songs of this century. Old Crow Medicine Show's 25th anniversary is being suitably celebrated in Summer 2023 with the release of the band's 10th studio album, Jubilee.  Founding member Ketch Secor has remained a constant of the band through the last 25 years, and remains the band's lead singer, songwriter and fiddle player. In his early childhood years, Ketch's parents moved him around the country, opening up a series of schools in many different pockets of the United States. It awoke in him a lifelong love of travelling, and of learning. As a teen, he earned himself a scholarship to an illustrious prep school in New England - which is where he first got serious about old-time string band music. Ketch Secor and three other members of Old Crow Medicine Show dropped by CKUA's Edmonton studios just ahead of their headlining set at the 2023 Edmonton Folk Music Festival. They gathered around a single vintage microphone to share live renditions of two songs from Jubilee. Additionally, Ketch joins CKUA's Grant Stovel for an in-depth conversation that's just as wide-ranging, authentic, and full of delightful surprises as the band's music. The Hidden Track Podcast is produced by CKUA Radio and made possible by the generous contributions of our donors. Thank you for your support!  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer  Session Engineer: Brendan Cross

She's always had a way of finding those human stories that make us feel connected to some of the very big themes and questions that she tackles in her songs. Wendy McNeill's music often deals with the epic, the mythic, the unknowable, the elemental... but in an artfully narrative, poetically detailed way that draws the listener right into the very human emotions at the heart of it. And with her new album, First There Were Feathers, those very human emotions are evoked by 17 songs that are all about birds.  Whether she's wielding a guitar, a kalimba, a looping pedal, or her trademark accordion, Wendy McNeill's been crafting a sound all her own throughout her acclaimed discography, ever since she started her recording career more than a qurter-century ago now.   Her art has always been global in nature -- both in the sense that she contemplates issues that affect us all, ranging from ecological concerns to the mysteries of the human heart; as well as in the way that her noirish folk music draws on influences that seem to know no borders. And you can add "globe-trotter" to that description, as well, as she long ago branched out from her Alberta roots to live in various culturally rich locales in Scandinavia and Europe, making her home these days in Spain.  The place that she lives is along the flightpath of many migratory birds travelling between Africa and Northern Europe; after massive wildfires in both her adopted Spanish home and her old Albertan stomping grounds, she began to wonder how those birds were impacted by the fires. Digging into both the scientific and the poetic sides of this question, she created her new album as a means of exploring how birds could bring us stories, messages, and wisdom about the perilous situation that humanity is currently facing. "A wild wisdom wrapped in verse," as she says in the album track that she'll spin for us, "The Language of the Birds." Along the near-hour of music on her new album, we meet many different bird characters and narrators, as they share a diverse range of elevated perspectives. They relate tales from Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Oscar Wilde, and Greek mythology, as well as many stories that spring from Wendy's own boundless imagination. During a visit to Alberta in the wake of the album's release, Wendy came to CKUA studios and brought along a song to spin for us, her captivating stories and wit, and of course, her trusty accordion, Ruby.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer  With additional recording assistance from Brendan Cross and Duke Paetz.

Considering how much he shares of himself through his frank, tender songs, and how down-to-earth and open he is in live performance and in conversation, Doug Paisley has always seemed to be a bit of an enigma.  For one thing, his music seems so truly timeless. It's like the Toronto troubadour's lastest album Say What You Like could just as easily have been released in 1973 as in 2023. His unique blend of the cryptic and plainspoken - along with the specific, cinematic details - gives the sense that he's on a distinct creative journey of his own, seemingly unrelated to trends in the larger musical world.  And yet, there are plenty of luminaries from that larger musical world that have collaborated with Doug on his greatly-acclaimed albums. In the past, Doug's records have been graced by contributions from revered artists like Mary Margaret O'Hara and the keyboard genius from The Band, Garth Hudson. On his new album, Doug's evocative songs, expressive guitar playing, and beautiful tenor voice are treated to some stellar production help from his old friend Afie Jurvanen and his band, Bahamas.  On tour through Alberta in summer 2023, Doug Paisley stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to serenade us with a pair of songs, and to trace his one-of-a-kind creative career. He told us about his musical beginnings with buck-a-Beatles LP buys; the lasting lessons learned in his early onstage experiences, ranging from bluegrass to reggae to performance art; the influence of everyone from outsider folk great Bonnie “Prince” Billy to ‘70s AM country's “Gentle Giant” Don Williams; the way Afie's and Bahamas' support helped unlock the creative breakthrough of Say What You Like; and how writing songs and playing guitar are a great release for the feelings that move you when, as the title track says, “those bygone times come back to visit.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer | Sound Engineer: Duke Paetz  This episode of Hidden Track features live performances from Doug Paisley. Music is used with permission from the artist. 

Jose Louis Modabi is the given name of Colgolese-Canadian artist Pierre Kwenders, the exceptionally innovative music-maker behind the Polaris Music Prize-winning album, Jose Louis and the Paradox of Love.  Bridging the gaps between musical worlds, the traditional and the future-leaning, his hometowns of Kinshasa and Montreal, and between the profoundly personal and the universally human, Pierre Kwenders is a one-of-a-kind musical visionary. Drawing on jazz, Congolese rhumba, pop, electronica and disco, and singing or rapping in five languages -- Lingala, Kikikongo, Tshiluba, French, English – he constructs a whole sonic universe on his latest album. There are meditations on love, lust, spirituality, home, family, freedom, culture, and music; all of it deeply centred in his unique, highly personal aesthetic. The expanded Deluxe Edition of Jose Louis and the Paradox of Love released June 30,2023, further deepening the album's artistic sweep of styles, textures and perspectives with bonus tracks and re-works.  In this episode of the Hidden Track Podcast, Pierre Kwenders tells us about his musical background: from growing up singing in church choirs as a kid in the Congo, to discovering the underground music scene in Montreal, where he moved as a teenager. He discusses the formative influence of Congolese musical heroes like Lokua Kanza and Papa Wemba, the importance of matriarchs on his life and how he takes his artistic moniker from his grandfather's name. We'll discover more about Pierre Kwenders' birth city of Kinshasa, which “vibrates with music”, plus his personal vision for a globe-spanning, era-mashing Black futurism and his guiding philosophy that “love never dies on the dance floor.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer   

They've always been musical alchemists -- melding worlds and traditions together, taking on the big questions, and crafting bold musical narratives. On greatly-acclaimed previous albums like Guesthouse and Line of Light, they've created poetic anthems addressing mortality, embracing our shared humanity, and, of course, longing for love. And they've done it while fusing everything from roots-Americana to psychedelic rock to Mexican folk traditions.  And yet somehow, the new album by David Wax Museum sees the band achieving a whole new level of depth and dimension, of scope and scale. Fittingly enough, it's called You Must Change Your Life.  Suz Slezak and David Wax are the creative couple at the heart of Charlottesville, Virginia's David Wax Musuem. Their heartfelt, deeply personal approach to songcraft is matched by a sound that's all their own, and by a wildly inventive, boisterous live show. They've been building a hardcore fanbase over their nine albums and countless miles on the road.  Mid-2023 saw the release of what they call their "magnum opus" -- a Latin term that literally means "great work", and which in the ancient world of alchemy signifies transformation and transcendence. They describe You Must Change Your Life as "an openhearted manifesto -- a collection that embodies, then transcends bedrock elements of the band's 15-year career."  David Wax Museum fans can rejoice that their magnum opus is finally out in the world, just released in spring 2023 via Nine Mile Records. And they can also be glad that David Wax himself is here to savour the moment, too; as he and Suz will tell us, an unexpected and terrifying health concern interceded in the band's journey, just as they were on the verge of this album's triumphant release.  Suz and David joined us for a heartfelt conversation from their barn/studio in Charlottesville, Virginia, to talk about how they became a band, then a couple, and eventually a family; and how their creative journey has led from Harvard University to folk music studies in Mexico, from what seemed like a never-ending tour, to their backyard barn, and eventually to the syncopated truths conveyed on this truly transformative album.   To paraphrase the chorus from the song ‘Luanne', this new record is a shape shifter and a fate twister; constructing a colourful, multi-layered dream world which speaks to both the most earthly and the most ineffable sides of our human existence. As David sings in ‘Summer Wrapped in Gold':  "My heart still beats to that syncopated truth.”  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

William Prince's rich baritone voice resonates with amazing warmth, light, and wisdom. Along with the poetic songs and stories that it delivers, his voice just seems to have a way of instantly finding a place in people's hearts. It's no wonder that William's voice and songs have taken him all the way from the small Manitoba community where he grew up, to great acclaim all across Canada.  In a way, William Prince has spent his whole life exploring the ways that music can be a source of connection, communion, and healing. As a kid growing up in Southern Manitoba's Peguis First Nation, he played guitar with his father, who was as singer and songwriter in a gospel/country vein. After that up-close apprenticeship, he embarked upon a career of his own. He hit home almost immediately with his powerful 2015 debut album Earthly Days, which won him a Juno Award right out of the gate, signaling the arrival of a major new figure on the singer-songwriter scene. In the years since, he's garnered increasing international recognition for his work with his sophomore album Reliever, and an homage to his dad and his roots with Gospel First Nation.   Spring 2023 sees the release of Stand in the Joy, a triumphant collection of bittersweet yet hopeful songs. It's an album that William says, "acknowledges pain but does not give it power. What I hope comes through are feelings of love, peace, and strength."  On tour through Alberta, William Prince stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios for a visit, bringing his guitar, his brilliant songs and, of course, that incredible voice.  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

Vivek Shraya is a constantly churning force for creativity. She's an author, playwright, filmmaker, a professor of English Literature, a poet, an active champion of BIPOC, women- and femme-identifying artists though initiatives she's launched, and she's an absolute joy on social media.  Vivek's new album is Baby, You're Projecting, out now via Mint Records. Her debut label release offers a brilliantly crafted, heart-on-sleeve glimpse into her own personal experiences and perspectives. It traces deeply felt, masterfully created musical stories that ring so true, we can probably all see ourselves in them somewhere; they feel like they have something important to say to all of us.   Vivek's been writing songs since age 13 and crafting albums for a good 20 years now. Always at the core of her art is personal experience, offering a wide range of often very frank, unflinching perspectives. Being an Albertan of South Asian heritage, growing up queer, being trans, making pop music into her 40s - all are experiences which have in some way inspired or informed her creativity over the years.   Some songs on her latest album are responses to societal issues like pervasive toxic masculinity and sexism, ongoing colonial attitudes, and the takedown culture fostered by of our extremely online current moment. Other songs on the record are simply about friends, family, and heartbreak.   While some moments do feel heartbreaking, others are powerfully affirming, even anthemic! She and longtime collaborator/producer James Bunton have hit a whole new level of sophistication in crafting this album, and Vivek is digging deeper than ever. The album is also accompanied by a companion short film that weaves some of these musical stories into a larger, visually spectacular arc.  This is Vivek Shraya | Singing Free and Loud!  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

"Hey, you! Come and gather round!"  That's one of the lyrics from “Things Are Gonna Change,” Lealani's collaboration with Kid Koala on his new album, Creatures of the Late Afternoon.  It's a song about coming together, about engaging with one another, sharing a common pursuit, and pushing toward something new and exciting.  For both Kid Koala and Lealani, their work as artists—musical, visual, and otherwise—is always about gathering around: humans joining together, in shared experiences, creating something new.  For decades, Kid Koala's ethos has been all about togetherness. When he first burst onto the scene back in the '90s, he was bringing people together on the dance floor. His astonishing skills as a turntablist could instantly spark dance parties, as he joyfully spun funk, ska, jazz, and spoken word records into something new altogether.  In addition to that, Kid Koala's albums have always incorporated more to engage with, beyond the music: visual art, a hand-cranked cardboard turntable, a chess set, a graphic novel. His projects are often wildly ambitious—the Space Cadet Headphone Concert, an interactive Turntable Orchestra, a theatrical puppetry presentation. His latest album is a double LP that also happens to fold out into a playable board game.  Among his many featured collaborators on Creatures of the Late Afternoon is Lealani, a young art-pop firebrand who's very different from Kid Koala, yet a kindred spirit in many ways. Each one is a creative polymath and DIY dynamo.  He lives in Montreal; she's from Los Angeles, and there are decades between them, but artistically, they complement each other perfectly. And as we hear in this episode of Hidden Track, it turns out that these two one-of-a-kind artists can trace all kinds of surprising connections to one another.  They have many adventures together coming up, including a big summer 2023 tour. However, their first-ever jaunt out on the road together saw them play Calgary's Block Heater festival back in February.  The duo took time between their soundcheck and headlining show at Block Heater to come join us in CKUA's Calgary studios for a marvelous conversation. Between the ambient sounds of downtown Saturday night traffic, a band sound checking down the hall, and the wildly wide-ranging discussion, it almost felt like being inside a Kid Koala album. This is "Kid Koala x Lealani | Gather Round."  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

He's currently traversing the continent, along with a band and a production that are so big, they won't all fit on just one tour bus. He's selling out dozens of shows at concert halls that seat thousands of people. And what's he playing? Pretty much exclusively his own original roots, folk, and blues songs; and a handful written by some good friends of his. Matt's whole music career has always been exceedingly homespun and genuine. In fact, a bunch of his best friends are in his band!  How is this kind of success possible? In this day and age? Well, it's incredibly rare. But it certainly helps if you have the soul, grit, presence, work ethic, humility, smarts, and sheer mind-boggling talent of New Brunswick powerhouse Matt Andersen.  Matt's new album The Big Bottle of Joy is also the name he gives to his eight-piece band of brilliant musical pals. On their way through Alberta in April 2023, Matt generously shared some of his precious off time with CKUA. And he brought his guitar!  Matt popped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to tell us about his musical beginnings in the tiny town of Perth-Andover, New Brunswick; how he's crafted a stellar international music career in the true time-tested way, through an endless application of blood, sweat, and tears over more than 20 years; how his friends, family, and heroes have always kept him grounded and inspired; and how the songs and the giant band on the new record were products of these difficult past three years – the one time in his life he's ever stopped for a moment to catch his breath.  On top of his touching, hilarious, and wide-ranging conversation, Matt offers us a pair of exclusive performances. Given the size and scope of the band sound on the album, it's absolutely astounding to hear Matt Andersen pour his larger-than-life musical soul into an intimate, solo acoustic performance of two songs from The Big Bottle of Joy: "Only an Island" (written by his friends in the band Port Cities) and album closer "Shoes" (a song Matt wrote with Donovan Woods).  Producer: Scott Zielsdorf | Host: Grant Stovel | Graphics: Shaun Friesen | Music: Doug Hoyer 

CONTENT WARNING: This episode of Hidden Track contains multiple references to childhood trauma and sexual abuse. Although the content does not go into explicit details, some listeners may find these topics of discussion uncomfortable.  "Looking back, I am astonished at times by what I have done in search of love, and just to survive."  Over the course of her astounding life story, Tara MacLean has been an international hitmaker; a survivor of horrific childhood abuse; a lifelong student of art, music, and philosophy; a performer everywhere from Lilith Fair to Late Night with Conan O'Brien; a mother; a creative collaborator; a theatre creator; and now an author. At her core, though, Tara MacLean sees herself as... a sparrow.  In the title track to her new album Sparrow, Tara MacLean sings passionately of her need to "trust the wind and the open sky". And, to be sure, she's spent her life navigating a staggering series of soaring highs and gut-wrenching lows. Tara is a songbird by nature; songs are her way of expressing and grappling with life's often incomprehensible joys and sorrows. And her stunning new memoir Song of the Sparrow recounts her heartbreaking, inspiring, fierce, stranger-than-fiction life journey. In the pages of her book and the lyrics of its companion album, she brings us inside moments of horrifying trauma, transcendent triumph, unthinkable loss, and cosmic good fortune. Of what she's learned from walking this jagged road, she writes, "I propose that love has no opposite. It's all love in this messy, sad, heartbreaking world."  From her earliest childhood years in the wilds of Prince Edward Island, she was surrounded by the performing arts and music.  Also surrounding her from an early age, however, was horrific sexual abuse. As a child, she taught herself to cope with her tumultuous existence by pouring her heart into writing and singing songs. Her life as a singer-songwriter began as a raw, elemental urge to express and create. However, it set her on a path that saw her ascend onto the world stage in the late 1990s, just at the very tail end of a golden age for the music industry, in the moment of blazing glory just before the online music phenomenon popped that bubble.  In this free-spirited, open-hearted conversation Tara tells us about the dizzying journey she's been on, including a hippie 1970s PEI upbringing; being "discovered" while jamming on the top deck of a ferry; being mentored early in her career by Sarah MacLachlan; playing her songs during touchstone moments of '90s culture, ranging from the Lilith Fair tour to the movie Coyote Ugly; the need to retreat and revitalize after years of working herself nearly to death on the road; summoning the courage to confront the demons in her life; her devotion to family, the loss of loved ones, and being a mother; discovering an urge to share her story on the printed page with this new book; how on this new album, she reinterprets songs she wrote decades ago, alongside  perspectives offered in the record's three fresh new songs; and the unforgettable moment that began this whole sparrow's journey, when a 9-year-old Tara stepped onto a county fair stage, and fell in love with sharing her music with the world. 

At times, the protagonist of Andy Shauf's new album Norm might strike you as a charming, shambling sort of fellow. Norm likes getting high, he watches The Price Is Right, he's been known to lock his keys in his car, he seems excited when Halloween is coming up. Those moments all seem innocuous enough, and it's certainly easy to get lost in just how flat-out gorgeous the songs on this record are. But listening carefully, it starts to become clear that there's something a whole lot more sinister going on here.  There's a lot to process and ponder. Andy gives you just enough detail that you can begin to put the plot's puzzle pieces together, but he also masterfully maintains a great deal of space in this story. It's a space where your imagination can wander, where you might find yourself reflecting on some big questions, and which becomes increasingly unsettling as the album unfolds.  Andy's previous album-length narratives like The Party and The Neon Skyline have garnered him Juno Award nominations, and landed him on the Short List for the Polaris Music Prize. And although this is another beautiful-sounding, long-playing yarn... well, he's going in a dramatically different and darker direction with Norm. It's a bit like a chilling, slow-paced novel; or a sinister movie; or a true crime podcast that involves divine intervention. It's certainly an album like no other.  Norm was released February 10th, 2023, via Anti- and Arts & Crafts. Originally from Estevan, Saskatchewan, Andy Shauf returned to the Canadian prairies in March of 2023 as part of an international album release tour. While preparing to play a big concert hall show at The Winspear Centre, he generously made space in his busy schedule to spend some time at CKUA's Edmonton studios - and he brought his guitar!  In this episode, he shares intimate solo acoustic performances of two songs from Norm: "Halloween Store" and the album's title track. And in a wide-ranging conversation, he tells us all about the record; he relates how a scrapped disco album was part of the process; the way a borrowed synthesizer reinvigorated his songwriting, and fired his imagination for this project; what it's like to have gone from playing small clubs to concert halls in the matter of a few years; why a pop-up Halloween store in Regina, Saskatchewan, holds such special fascination for him; and how he considers himself a storyteller who happens to use music as his medium. 

"What's your name?"   On the stunning debut album by Oji-Cree singer-songwriter Aysanabee, we hear his grandfather pose that question at the end of the song "Nomads". It is a voice that is woven through the entire album; and so is that fundamental idea of reconnecting with identity and truth.  Aysanabee's much-acclaimed November 2022 release Watin tells the story of his grandfather, Watin Aysanabee, who, as a child, was taken away from his family and sent to McIntosh Residential School in Northwestern Ontario, where he was forced to change his name and put aside his language, culture, and traditions. After many painful years, not only did Watin survive his traumatic residential school experiences, but he also met his eventual life partner; together they began a new life and a family of their own. Watin's story is a powerful one and now, more than half a century later, it has inspired a stunning work of art.   During long phone calls in the pandemic's initial stages, Watin shared these tales with his grandson, an aspiring singer-songwriter who worked as a professional journalist under his birth name, Evan Pang. Though the original objective of those long sharing sessions was to record this important family history, these tales gradually began finding their way into songs that his grandson was writing, and later some of those recorded phone calls were woven into the resultant full-length album.  Aysanabee's debut LP is a heartfelt tribute to his family and his roots; and so is the artistic moniker that he took on, which is a reclaiming of his family's name. On tour through Alberta in early 2023, Aysanabee stopped by CKUA's Edmonton studios to share intimate, live in-studio performances of two songs from Watin: "Nomads", a song of gratitude to his grandfather for being a guiding light and one who has "passed the fire”, and "River", which relates the sweet story of how his grandparents escaped together as youngsters, against all odds, embarking upon a new destiny.  In this gracious and candid visit, Aysanabee also shared some of his own amazing life's journey: growing up in Northern Ontario and Manitoba; humble musical beginnings and diverse early influences; being a soft-spoken person who's blessed with an absolutely thunderous singing voice; working these days with Ishkōdé Records, a visionary new label led by renowned Indigenous women; finding himself suddenly thrust onto the biggest stage in this country, performing for the 2023 Juno Awards gala telecast; and the unique path that led to the creation of his breathtaking, triumphant debut album. 

He is without a doubt the only winner of a Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album ever to make their home in the northwestern B.C. town of Smithers, population 5,316. Alex Cuba originally hails from Artemisa, Cuba; but he's called Smithers, BC home for two decades now. He first visited CKUA 20 years ago, back when he was known as Alexis Puentes, one half of the Juno Award-nominated Puntes Brothers, along with his twin brother Adonis. In the years since then, he's been digging deep into his astounding array of musical abilities and interests, challenging himself creatively at every turn and crafting a solo discography that's touched the hearts of music lovers across Canada, the entire Latin diaspora and across the globe. Over his remarkable career arc, Alex's music has won him two Junos, four Latin Grammys, and in 2022, his album Mendó garnered him a Grammy Award, the most revered accolade in the whole music world. In this episode, Alex returns to CKUA for a spirited in-studio visit to reflect on his rather mind-boggling musical journey, and to share fascinating stories and insights in his characteristically charismatic style. He tells us about how his whole life changed the moment he met the Canadian woman who would become his lifelong partner; what drives him to create his unique, highly personalized form of musical expression; why artificial intelligence will never be able to replicate the raw human beauty that's distilled in music; and what it's like to win a Grammy Award for an album that that he created almost entirely by himself -- writing, singing, producing, and playing all the instruments himself, at home in his small northwestern BC town.

At home in Canada, Tanika Charles is a multiple nominee for both the Juno Awards and the prestigious Polaris Music Prize. She's also a sensational success in Europe, where she's been building an enthusiastic fan base for many years. Looking at Tanika's successes in the lead-up to her latest album, you might be forgiven for being surprised that this internationally-renowned R&B artist felt the need for a kind of transformation. But as she tells us, "rebirth, transformation and transition" are what her acclaimed latest album, Papillon de Nuit, is all about. In this episode, Toronto-based Tanika Charles pays a visit to CKUA studios in her old hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. In a warm, candid and insightful conversation, she traces the surprising path she took to a life in music; spirituality and the way she manifested her dreams into reality; searching for realness and resonance in the music and emotion that we hear on Papillon de Nuit; and the oddly inspiring insect that became the central symbol of this album's creative journey.

For a dozen years and four albums now, July Talk has been relentlessly working toward a more just, humane, compassionate world, via the medium of their uniquely cathartic brand of groove-laden epic rock'n'roll.   Juno Award-winning band July Talk is Ian Docherty on guitar, bass player Josh Warburton, and double drummers (double Dani/Dannys, in fact) Danny Miles and Dani Nash. And at the centre of the maelstrom are lead vocalists Leah Fay Goldstein and Peter Dreimanis.   Leah and Peter are on a unique and fascinating creative journey together as artists. Each of them grew up steeped in vibrant artistic environments and, from early on, became passionate about pursuing music and visual art.   Peter grew up here in Alberta. He's from the Edmonton neighourhood of Riverdale, an artistic enclave where Peter came up alongside a whole wave of young musicians who've since gone on to become internationally celebrated. Leah comes from a family of renowned Toronto artists; a family whose artistic environment, aesthetic and story continue to inform her own artistic pursuits. In fact, as we'll hear, it's a legacy that's been massively inspirational and influential for July Talk's work.   We'll hear these two insightful, funny, amazingly candid artists share stories of their roots, how they came together over a decade ago, what people so often get wrong about the whole July Talk project, and the way their artistic dynamic (and their voices) have grown together in astounding ways on Remember Never Before, July Talk's brilliant fourth full-length album, released via their own label, Danuta, on January 20th, 2023.

CKUA's Hidden Track Podcast returns for Season 4!    Kicking things off in 2023 is (currently) Manitoba-based folk rock duo Whitehorse! Composed of husband-and-wife duo Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland, Whitehorse's sound spans from folk/americana to groove-driven pop rock. Doucet and McClelland have always been talented musicians, and both had successful solo careers before joining forces as Whitehorse.    Released on January 13, 2023, the duo's eighth studio album, "I'm Not Crying, You're Crying", marks a tonal shift to the melancholic sounds of hurtin' classic country. Spurred on by feelings of loneliness and isolation due to the pandemic, I'm Not Crying, You're Crying has been described as a "breakup album with the world." Songs like If The Loneliness Don't Kill Me and 6 Feet Away serve as a cry for human connection, written during a time when those connections were increasingly hard to find.    In our first episode of Hidden Track Season 4, "Whitehorse | Breaking Up With Society", Luke Doucet and Melissa McClelland join CKUA's Grant Stovel from their Manitoba home to discuss the inspirations behind their latest album, how it feels to be touring again, the duo's musical origins (including a story of 14-year-old Luke's blues band) and so much more!