I Quit My Job: A Podcast About Songwriting

There’s no doubt that Patrick Krief has “made it.” Guitar player in Canadian indie-rock legends The Dears, Patrick also has a prominent solo career under the name ‘Krief.’ Derek and Patrick sit down to have a chat about his upcoming double-album release Automanic and the perils of putting economic gain over the creation of good art. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Toronto songwriter Jay Pollock is a man of balance. He loves playing and performing music, but it is far from the only important thing in his life. In a refreshing turn from a lot of our conversations, Jay took issue with the myth that one has to quit their job in order to be a true artist and talked a lot about how his mindset for songwriting has changed since he’s become more financially solvent. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Toronto singer-songwriter Erika Werry can pump you up with an anthemic rock hit or induce goosebumps with a heartfelt folk song. She has made a name for herself by consistently writing great songs and putting on an honest and energetic live show with her band Erika Werry & The Alphabet. Her introduction to music came through classical and modern dance and she’s been releasing records for more than a decade. In one of the more process-focused episodes to date, Derek and Travis sat down with her to talk about allowing yourself to evolve as a songwriter and to learn as you go. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Stage fright nearly grounded Kira May’s music career before it even got underway. Now her stage presence is a big part of her appeal. Kira sat down with Derek and Travis to talk about overcoming her fears, discovering how to use her voice as her instrument, and the inherent risks in live performing with intricate looping. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

For a man who finds himself a member of one of the most established and successful rock bands in Canada, Big Sugar’s Kelly “Mr. Chill” Hoppe is eminently humble. Not only is he one of the country’s best harmonica players, he’s got some real songwriting chops and is steeped in the country and gospel tradition. The Windsor native sat down with Travis for a look back on his career which didn’t get underway until well into his 20s and didn’t become his full-time gig until well into his 30s. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

With Delta Will’s new record Weathering, hot off the press, Derek and Travis sat down with its front man Charles Tilden in the living room of the Toronto home he shares with future guest Kira May. In one of the podcast’s more emotional conversations, Charles opens up about the tragedy that struck his former band Parks and Rec, about how that event shaped his musical career, and about the sonic evolution of Delta Will. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Corinna Rose started in folk music as part of a unique ensemble band in an all-girls private school, but didn’t start making a true go of it until she was in her early twenties. She has since quit her job and is a rare full-time musician. She sat down with Derek and special guest co-host Rachael Cardiello to talk about the role of academia in songwriting, how Corinna came about her distinctive songwriting style, and the relationship between performance and mental health. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Brendt Thomas Diabo is both an established actor and an established singer-songwriter steeped in the country and blues tradition. By way of the Kahnawake Reservation on Montréal’s south shore, Diabo now resides in Toronto where Derek and Travis caught with him to talk about, among other things, the songwriting process, what makes a good character-driven song, and his uncanny ability to write anywhere. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Max Marshall has undergone no small transition over the last few years. From trying to make a go of songwriting in Toronto, to studying folklore at Memorial University in Newfoundland, to becoming a father and moving back to the Windsor area, he’s grown as a person and a musician. Derek sat down with Max in his quaint Essex County home after a meal of steak and lobster to discuss authenticity in songwriting, pursuing art while raising a family, and folk music’s lack of place in contemporary culture. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

The first time we sat down with Ron to record an interview over a year ago, we caught him between construction shifts, exhausted, and frustrated with balancing those things and a music career all at once. The interview never aired and we promised we’d come back to it when the time was right. That time is now as Travis sat down with the consummate career songwriter for a do-over in his Windsor apartment. Ron opened up about the precariousness of working construction and trying to maintain a music career, transitioning back to music full-time and getting to work on his third full-length album with producer Andy Magoffin. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Chances are, you’ve never heard of Kevin Head, but there are few songwriters in Canada who’ve accomplished what “The Original Salt Cod Cowboy” has. The Nova Scotia native been writing and recording music for nearly forty years and has performed alongside some of the best musicians in the country. Derek sat down with Kevin at The Tranzac Club in Toronto to talk about the challenges of making music and art your full-time job, the many hats songwriters must wear to do this, and how playing live music has changed over the years. After the interview, we preview next week’s episode with Ron Leary by playing clips of an interview we did with him last year that we never aired. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Award-winning songwriter Graydon James finally made it to the IQMJ studio after a long courtship. The front-man and songwriter for The Young Novelists talked to Travis and Derek about the unlikely circumstance of being a full-time musician who owns his own home, spending 12 years as a mail carrier, and playing in a band with his wife Laura Spink. In this episode, Graydon also provides some insight into the challenges of collaborative songwriting, touring in Canada, and maintaining a home and family while pursuing a career in music. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

David Bowie’s impact on songwriting and performance is nearly unparalleled. His death, although tragic, has allowed us to review his life’s work and soak in his legacy. Derek and Travis sit down with Will Whitwham, Skye Wallace, and Shawn William Clarke for a discussion about Bowie’s significance to them as songwriters, the presence of death in art and the importance of leaving a legacy. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Welcome to Season Two! Derek and Travis return from their break and start 2016 off with a guestless episode. Just as they did for the very first episode, our hosts sit down with one another and get meta by discussing the podcast itself and how it has changed them as songwriters and where they think it’s headed in the coming year. Then for the very first time, you’ll hear Derek and Travis sing their own songs and talk about their own process and evolution as songwriters and the difficulties of avoiding the dreaded slump. Season Two promises to be an excellent one so stay tuned in the coming weeks for brand new guests. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

The first time Derek and Travis ever toured together they were opening up for Megan Hamilton. Now based in Kingston with her young family and supporting a new record with parent-friendly matinee shows across Ontario, our hosts caught up with her at Phog Lounge in Windsor. Recorded on location in the same place they met all those years ago, this episode features Megan discussing the challengers of balancing a family and an independent music career, the process of putting together a cohesive album, and the way priorities shift as you get older. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

The youngest of six, Andrew MacLeod is one of only two among his siblings born in his late father Alistair’s homeland of Cape Breton. Inviting Travis and Derek to the West Windsor family home still inhabited by his mother, Andrew spoke to them of the angst of being the youngest, the ties he feels to Cape Breton and Nova Scotia, and the pressures of playing in a band when you should probably have grown up by now. As the frontman for Years of Ernest, sporting a brand new full-length record, Andrew shares some wisdom about the value of working with people you trust and putting your heart into every show. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

All of David Newberry’s friends are folk musicians, but he can’t stand folk music. Still, fans and music critics have aligned him with the Canadian folk scene, perhaps because of his voice and lyric-driven, often political songs. David visited Travis and Derek to talk about his new record Replacement Things (which has barely an acoustic instrument in sight), the west coast folk scene, the city of Toronto, workplace injuries, and why it’s easier to write music for kids. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Bryce Jardine has been pursuing a career in music since playing in a high school rock band in London Ontario. Now living in Toronto and fresh from quitting his job, Bryce visited Travis and Derek at their Bloor St. studio to talk about making records, overcoming nerves, touring in the Canadian winter and the good, the bad and the ugly of working with venues as an independent touring musician. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

James Oltean-Lepp grew up in Harrow, the same diminutive town as Derek. His band, James OL & The Villains have been at the centre of a revitalized music scene in Windsor and are the purveyors of what Derek calls “Colch-wave,” a cobbling together of various genres into a unique musical blend emblematic of the sound James has crafted over many years. We sat down with James on a humid evening in Windsor to talk about his process as a writer, his willingness to play with genre, and connecting with people through his music. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Bowen Island native Sarah Jane Scouten proves that Canadian folk music isn't lame. Via Vancouver and Wales, Sarah ended up meeting Derek and Travis while living in Montreal and joined our hosts in Toronto before embarking on her second tour of the UK. After lunch they sat down for on a long chat about folk traditions, the transmission of songs for one person to another, and learning how to make a record. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Since forming in Toronto in July 2009, The Wilderness of Manitoba has worn many hats, with the only throughline being the presence of principal songwriter Will Whitwham. Fresh from playing a show together at the Harrow Legion, Will joined Travis and Derek in the latter's family home to talk about alternative music venues, the post-Nirvana wasteland of the late 90s, quitting your job, and the evolving nature of one's own songwriting and voice. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Windsor-born-and-bred, Tara Watts has always had a restless soul, from travelling the world at a young age, which brought her life to a turning point in a Buddhist temple in Nepal, to her aspirations to take her music on the road full-time. She welcomed Derek and Travis to her Walkerville home to regale them with stories about blowing bubbles in Andy Magoffin’s sink, wearing coasters as shoes, making records, and how writing a new song can often be the silver lining to a difficult or painful experience.

Dave Dubois is known for many things, from being the frontman of The Locusts Have No King and a stalwart of the Windsor music scene to being a lifetime staffer of Taloola Café and an all-around sweet dude. As our first Windsor-based guest, Travis and Derek can’t help but picking his brain about that city’s role in the Canadian music scene as well as what makes Windsor’s scene distinct, while also covering the realities of touring in Canada, the state of the music industry, and the birth and growth of his band and the sound and scene it has formed.

Born in London Ontario, Barzin spent his childhood in Iran and has since lived in Guelph and Ann Arbor, but since moving to downtown Toronto over a decade ago he hasn’t been able to fully escape the city’s gravitational pull. Travis and Derek sat down with Barzin in his writing studio to talk about how all these locales shaped his songwriting, how his lyrics are always the centerpiece of his art, and how he feels like he spent his entire career trying to make his latest record, leaving him at a loss as to what to do next. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Montana-native Rachael Cardiello honed her songwriting chops in the "velvet rut" of Victoria BC, surrounded by some of Canada's finest songwriters. She sat down with Derek & Travis for what turned out to be a very emotional interview, opening up about depression, spending time in a mental hospital, and writing songs as a way of coping, and how from such turmoil she has come to front the soulful and joyous rock band Warm Electric Winter in Toronto and engage in a plethora of side-projects including the James Burrows Band and the Dead Dads Club. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Taylor Ashton comes from the idyllic community of Mayne Island, BC, where he met the other four-fifths of his band Fish & Bird. Just before taking their fourth album to England, Taylor made time to sit down with Travis and Derek for a two-part interview. In this, the second part of the interview, he tells us about about being a self-taught musician, how Fish & Bird became the collaborate five-piece it is today, the challenge of writing songs for multiple projects, and the problems with using the term "folk music" to describe the band, or to describe anybody's music. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Taylor Ashton comes from the idyllic community of Mayne Island, BC, where he met the other four-fifths of his band Fish & Bird. Just before taking their fourth album to England, Taylor made time to sit down with Travis and Derek for a two-part interview. In part 1, they talk about busking, being inspired, striving to live up to your influences, whether songwriting can ever be truly honest, and using music to try to connect with people. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Derek and Travis welcome Kitchener-based singer-songwriter Luke Michielsen into the studio (in this case Travis' kitchen in Windsor, ON) to talk about guilt, testicular cancer, Keswick Ontario, making a record, and songwriter is used to process negative experiences into good art. He tops it all off with with a beautiful performance of the crown jewel of his latest album Oh Surround Me, a song called "Pine Needles". Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

Derek and Travis welcome Kitchener-based singer-songwriter Luke Michielsen into the studio (in this case Travis' kitchen in Windsor, ON) to talk about guilt, testicular cancer, Keswick Ontario, making a record, and songwriter is used to process negative experiences into good art. He tops it all off with with a beautiful performance of the crown jewel of his latest album Oh Surround Me, a song called "Pine Needles". Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

In this introductory episode of the podcast, Derek and Travis talk about what they want to accomplish with I Quit My Job and about how they perceive the craft of songwriting in their own work and in the work of other songwriters. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com

In this introductory episode of the podcast, Derek and Travis talk about what they want to accomplish with I Quit My Job and about how they perceive the craft of songwriting in their own work and in the work of other songwriters. Theme Music: “I Quit My Job” by Old Man Luedecke, courtesy of True North Records www.oldmanluedecke.com www.TrueNorthRecords.com