Inside The Artist's Studio

Surprise!Well folks, we made it to 130 episodes, just barely, and there's no one else I'd rather finish off the run of Inside the Artist's Studio with than Alberta's own Mike Plume. Mike is one of Canada's hardest working musicians, and we chat about the ups and downs of his career, filled with over 3000 live shows and hundreds upon hundreds of songs. Mike is on tour right now, and you can catch him and his band in Saskatoon tonight, September 6th, in Edmonton on September 7th, and in Moose Jaw on September 9th with Corb Lund and Lindi Ortega.Recorded on Feburary 5th, 2023Featured Track: “Looking for You (A Travelogue of Sorts)”Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 119 of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean talks to Edmonton singer-songwriter Sammy Volkov about his new record Be Alright. They talk about working with Harry Gregg at Riverdale Recorders, skin diseased Californian cars, and slinging pizza in Grand Central Station.Recorded on December 6th, 2022Featured Track: “Replacement” from Be AlrightIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 128 of "Inside the Artist's Studio", Sean talks to multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Chris Murphy of the legendary Canadian rock band Sloan. They chat about the Chrysler Dynasty, the recording and release of the band's new record Steady, and about the post-Nirvana goldrush for rock bands in the early 1990's. Recorded on November 11th, 2022Featured Track: “Nice Work if You Can Get It” from SteadyIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 127 of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean talks to Eliza Niemi about her cozy new record Staying Mellow Blows. They talk about collaborating over long distances to record the album, Eliza's work with Mauno, and how to incorporate sweet potatoes into a pasta dish.Recorded on October 19th, 2022Featured Track: “Trust Me” from Staying Mellow BlowsIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 126 of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean catches up with Daniel Romano before his show at the Starlite Room in Edmonton, AB. In their chat, they talk about the writing and recording of Romano's new record La Luna, and how to ‘legally' get free cans of oil as a touring band in Canada. Recorded on October 20th, 2022Featured Track: La Luna - Part 2 from La LunaIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 125 of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean welcomes Olivia Street from King of Foxes back to the show to talk about the band's new record Twilight of the Empire. They chat about how, for the first time, Olivia co-wrote songs for this record, and they dive deep into her songwriting philosophy and technique.Recorded on October 13th, 2022Featured Track: “Never Mine” from Twilight of the EmpireIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this special Purple City edition of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean talks to Edmonton expat Ella Coyes, of Sister Ray. Prepare yourself for a deep dive into Ella's songwriting practice, hot cribbage tips, and F1 racing.Recorded on August 28th, 2022Featured Track: “Good News” from CommunionIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

For the last episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio” coverage of Sled Island 2022, Sean has Winnipeg quartet Living Hour on the show to talk about their brand new record Someday is Today. They have a lively discussion in the Sled Island artist's lounge about their collaborative process, how the pandemic proved to be a productive time for the band, and they answer the age old question posed to them by Motherhood's Adam Sipkema: what's the ugliest part of your body?Recorded on June 25th, 2022Featured Track: “Feelings Meeting” from Someday is TodayIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 122 of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean chats with Vancouver band, housemates, and gas station coffee lovers Winona Forever. They chat about the trials and tribulations of living and touring together, their love hate relationship with the recording process, and why every library has a secret bedbug oven.Recorded on June 24th, 2022Featured Track: “Never Enuff”Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean and members of housepanther discuss what they've been up to between their last blockbuster Sled Island performance, and the 2022 festival. They chat about the creation of the band's excellent 2018 debut record Club Soda Lows, working towards releasing new music, and working at the box factory.Recorded on June 24th, 2022Featured Track: “17% wine” from homewreckerIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean and guest Amy Nelson discuss the best Sled Island venues, collaborating on music, and morality in video games. They go in deep on Amy's fantastic 2019 record Educated Woman, and talk about how and why Amy conceals her dark and morose lyricism behind a jaunty country exterior.Recorded on June 23rd, 2022Featured Track: “I Hate It” from Sled Island Lemonade StandIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Our second episode of our Sled Island 2022 series features Anishinaabe supergroup and all around swell fellas Adam Sturgeon and Daniel Monkman from OMBIIGIZI. Adam, Daniel, and Sean chat about reflecting on where you grew up, novel bannock recipes, and tokenism, with one very loud fire truck showing up as a featured guest on a sunny Calgary morning in the park. The band also correctly answers the age old question posed to them by Motherhood: how many people should be in a band?Recorded on June 25th, 2022Featured Track: “Ogiin” from Sewn Back TogetherIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On the very first Sled Island 2022 edition of “Inside the Artist's Studio” perennial Cups N Cakes favorites Motherhood join Sean to talk about the creation and release of their brand new record Winded. They talk about using the pandemic as a means to get caught up on the unforgiving “release-then-tour” cycle, figuring out what's important, and the band answers an extremely convoluted rapidfire question posed to them by future “Inside the Artist's Studio” guests Winona Forever.Recorded on June 24th, 2022Featured Track: “Crawly I” and “Crawly II” from WindedIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Samantha Savage Smith joins Sean for a chat in the back alley of the Aviary on this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”. She talks about how taking time away from music and learning to have fun writing again led to the creation of her brilliant new record Fake Nice, and also bonds with Sean about their shared childhood memory of eating Good Host iced tea powder by the spoonful. Folks, this one goes places.Recorded on May 27th, 2022Featured Track: ”Siren” from Fake NiceIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean has songwriter Adrian Teacher from Apollo Ghosts on the show to talk about the band's excellent new record Pink Tiger. They dive deep into the writing and recording of the record, as well as the concept behind the double record's ‘cleaved-in-two' nature. Along the way, they talk about Adrian's career as a teacher, and his excellently named first car, the Renault “Le Car”.Recorded on April 26th, 2022Featured Track: “Spilling Yr Guts” from Pink TigerIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Winnipeg's country fusion superstar Boy Golden joins Sean to talk about meditation, drum machines, and Dodge Grand Caravans. They go in-depth on his 2021 record Church of Better Daze, and his childhood hatred of country music, that has come around to a full-on love affair with the genre as an adult.Recorded on April 24th, 2022Featured Track: “Something to Work Towards” from Church of Better DazeIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean interviews Steven Lambke, and premieres the title track from Lambke's upcoming album “Volcano Volcano”. They go through Lambke's upbringing in Cambridge, Ontario, his work with the Constantines and You've Changed Records, and how he incorporates all elements of his life into his creative practice. Along the way, they talk office temp jobs, Volkswagen Rabbits, and everything and the kitchen sink muffin recipes.Recorded on April 17th, 2022Featured Track: “Volcano Volcano” from Volcano VolcanoIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio” (Winteruption Edition!), Sean talks to Montreal based psych band TEKE::TEKE. They chat about touring and writing music with a 7 person band, the influence of Takeshi Tarauchi on their music, and their relationship with their new label Kill Rock Stars. Along the way, the band touches on the power of decaf coffee, billowing black smoke coming out of their cars, and voice acting for Ubisoft.Recorded on April 3rd, 2022Featured Track: “Meikyu” from ShirushiIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of "Inside the Artist's Studio", Sean interviews Victoria, BC based dance rocker, songwriter, and pomodoro expert Art d'Ecco. They talk about the sanctity and magic of demos, a new and as of yet unnamed LP that's coming up, and about stepping away from his costumed on-stage presentation. Art d'Ecco is also playing at Big Winter Classic at midnight on April 2nd/3rd at the basement of Broken City, and at Winterruption in Edmonton on April 1st at 11PM at SOHO.Recorded on March 23rd, 2022Featured Track: “Palm Slave”Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Canada's best kept secret and all around great person Charlotte Cornfield joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”. They talk about their shared childhood love of “Weird Al” Yankovic, meeting Jeff Tweedy, and coffee making technique. They go in depth on Charlotte's writing and demoing process, and talk about her fantastic 2021 record “Highs in the Minuses”.Recorded on February 1st, 2022Featured Track: “Pac-Man” from Highs in the MinusesIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean talks to Janette King about her 2021 LP What We Lost, and the release of her brand new music video for “Ooh Yeah” (also the featured track on this episode). Along the way, they talk about songwriting technique, music education, and growing up in Vancouver.Recorded on February 15thFeatured Track: “Ooh Yeah” from What We LostIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On episode 109 of “Inside the Artist's Studio” Sean talks to Saskatoon based singer-songwriter Ellen Froese about COVID-19, “The Artist's Way”, and about some new music she's been working on with produced Sam Corbett. Along the way, they touch on her childhood obsession with Elvis Presley, their shared prairie Mennonite roots, and the hot fancy moms of Instagram.Recorded on December 13th, 2021Featured Track: “Did You Have a Love Before Me?”Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Sean talks to Bria Salmena and Duncan Hay Jennings about Cuntry Covers Vol 1. The duo talk about how the project started as just a way to have fun making music, the appeal of nostalgia, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on their work on tour and in the studio. Bria and Duncan are also both members of The FRIGS and Orville Peck's touring band, and they talk about what is next for those projects, and when we can expect Cuntry Covers Vol 2.Recorded on December 18th, 2021Featured Track: “Buffalo Ballet” from Cuntry Covers Vol. 1Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

JEEN (aka Jeen O'Brien) joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio” to discuss her brand new album, Dog Bite. Her 2020 self-titled record was featured on the Cups N Cakes “Best Albums of 2020” list, and Sean talks to her about starting to put together the follow-up during pandemic times. Along the way, they take a deep dive into JEEN's songwriting technique, her collaborations with producer Ian Blurton, and why a squirrel is the worst animal to be reincarnated as.Recorded on December 7th, 2021Featured Track: “Average Psycho” from Dog BiteIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Sean talks to to tenured Calgary duo Dragon Fli Empire about their 20 years as an Alberta based hip-hop act. They touch on COVID era livestreams, tasting beer for the first time, and their shared love of local and global travel. Recorded on November 2nd, 2021Featured Track: “Inspiration ft. Gassam” from To Be Continued/InspirationIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Sean talks to Hayden Menzies from Ontario punk trio METZ about the band's ups and downs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They chat about their upcoming tour to finally play their latest record Atlas Vending (unfortunately released in late March 2020), and about their new live record Live at the Opera House. In the rapid-fire, Hayden touches on how difficult it is to choose your favorite music and his extremely dicey first car. Recorded on November 1st, 2021Featured Track: “The Mirror (Live)” from Live at the Opera HouseIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “Recorded on October 22nd, 2021Featured Track: “R.M. of Wolverine” from Get Thee to a Nunnery
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Sean sits down with Saskatoon surf-trio The Garrys. They chat about their new record Get Thee to a Nunnery, which was recorded the week that the COVID pandemic took hold around the world. They talk about the bizarre experience of mid-lockdown recording sessions, how surf music reflects the prairies, and the morbid interests that they use to fill their spare time.Recorded on October 22nd, 2021Featured Track: “R.M. of Wolverine” from Get Thee to a Nunnery
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind “

Sean hosts siblings Contra and Eboshi, the minds behind Calgary's Cartel Madras, for their second “Inside the Artist's Studio” appearance. They talk about their new EP “The Serpent and the Tiger”, how they collaborated during the COVID-19 pandemic to make the project happen, and why they're putting off releasing a debut LP for as long as possible. In the rapidfire, they talk about the ideal festival line-up, being paid to stick Excel gum stickers in bars, and we hear the first episode of Sean and Contra's Hollow Knight-centric podcast-within-a-podcast.Recorded on August 15th, 2021Featured Track: “MOON DRILLE (feat. Shiro Jackson)” from The Serpent and the TigerIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind“

Daniel Monkman, the mastermind behind Zoon, joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio” to talk about his Polaris Prize shortlisted record Bleached Wavves. They talk about Daniel's upbringing in Selkirk, Manitoba, and about how finding a Beck CD in a thrift store as a kid got Daniel thinking that he could be a professional songwriter. This episode dives into some heavy topics, as Sean and Daniel talk about small town cycles of poverty, addiction, and violence. At the end, Daniel talks about some exciting collaborations that he's been working on since releasing Bleached Wavves, and when we can expect to hear some new music from him.Recorded on August 13th, 2021Featured Track: “Bleached Wavves” from Bleached WavvesIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind“

Owen Davies joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio” to talk about his new EP Pasta on the Moon, with backing band “The Evangelists”. The songs were recorded in 2015, and so Sean asks Owen about the idea of recorded music as a time capsule, and what it's like to come back and work on the same material after leaving it for a few years. Along the way, they touch on Owen's newly launched record label, the Gatekeepers of Love, the blueberry harvest in Newfoundland, and the cross generational appeal of David Duchovny.Recorded on September 9thFeatured Track: “Duchovny Day” from Pasta on the MoonIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind“

On this extra special 100th episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Dan Mangan joins Sean to talk about his long and storied career as one of Canada's best songwriters. They talk about quitting caffeine, They Might Be Giants, foosball, and how to cook the perfect scrambled eggs. Dan also talks about Side Door: a company he founded with Laura Simpson to help touring artists book house shows around the world, in a mission to foster a thriving middle class of songwriters and musicians.Recorded on August 13th, 2021Featured Track: “Peaks and Valleys” From - More or LessIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind“

Cayley Thomas joins Sean a couple days after her performance at Purple City, the most recent edition of the Up+Downtown music festival in Edmonton, AB. They cover Cayley's upbringing in Edmonton, and talk about how good it feels to be able to attend and perform live music again. Along the way, they chat about Cayley's songwriting process, musical theatre, and some unfortunate mishaps from Cayley's foray into gardening during the pandemic.Recorded on August 9th, 2021Featured Track: “Two Minds” - How Else Can I Tell You?Intro/Outro Music: “Nuthin' On My Mind“ - Laundry Week

Brian Borcherdt talks to Sean from his home in the Maritimes about his new record with Dusted, III. Brian talks about his pandemic year move back to the East-Coast, his work in Holy Fuck, and how he demos and edits new material. In one of the most buck-wild rapid-fire sessions to date on “Inside the Artist's Studio”, Brian reveals his ill-fated career as a clown in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, his lemon-yellow Toyota Corolla, and his teenaged heist of fake plants to furnish said Corolla.Recorded on July 14th, 2021Featured Track: Not Offering - IIIIntro/Outro Music: Nuthin' On My Mind - Laundry Week

Songwriter and actor Christo Graham joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artists' Studio” to talk about his impeccable new record, “Turnin'”. They talk about recording on a 4-track reel-to-reel that Christo inherited from his grandmother, and his journey from playing shows in a small town restaurant as a teenager, to living in Toronto, to settling down in his current home in Lansdowne, Ontario. Along the way, they talk church bake sales, opening for magicians, and family bands. Graham is also announcing some new music in the next week or so as part of a pretty special new project, so if you like the featured track this week, keep an eye out!Recorded on March 10th, 2021Featured Track: Lucky Me - “Turnin'”Intro/Outro Music: Nuthin' On My Mind - Laundry Week

JS Truchy from Montreal based experimental rock veterans Fly Pan Am joins Sean on this episode of "Inside the Artist's Studio” to talk about the band's new record, “Frontera”. They talk about the album's conception as the score to a contemporary dance piece of the same name (created by Dana Gingras and her dance troupe, ‘Animals of Distinction'), and stop along the way to talk about taking joy in the process of making coffee, what makes music transgressive, and Little Richard's greatest hits.Recorded on April 11th, 2021Featured Track: Grid / Wall - FronteraIntro/Outro Music: Nuthin' On My Mind - Laundry Week

VISSIA (aka Alex Vissia) joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist's Studio” to talk about her new record “With Pleasure”, which came out on April 30th, 2021. Along the way, they chat about TikTok, Tarot, and what popularity has to do with pop music.Recorded on April 21st, 2021Featured Track: My Wom - “With Pleasure”Intro/Outro Music: Nuthin' On My Mind - Laundry Week

Canadian country music superstar Corb Lund joins Sean on this episode of Inside the Artist's Studio. Corb talks about the new deluxe edition of his 2020 LP “Agricultural Tragic”, and Sean and Corb reminisce about the time they both spent in MacEwan University's music program. They also talk about why Corb has taken a stand against the Alberta Government's slap-dash changes to coal development policy, which would open up the Eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains to coal mining.Recorded on March 25th, 2021Featured Track: “Old Men” - Agricultural TragicIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin' On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Cadence Weapon joins Sean via Zoom to talk about his new record, Parallel World, which came out on April 30th, 2021. Along the way, they chat about chugging coffee to work the early shift at HMV, drawing inspiration from video game music, and the social responsibility he feels artists have, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.Recorded on April 6th, 2021Featured Track: “Connect”, from Parallel WorldIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

Alexa Dirks from Begonia joins Sean via Zoom to talk about the The Fear Tour (Live), a live recording of her 2019 album Fear that was recorded over a 5 day sold out run in Winnipeg in February 2020. Along the way, they talk Jon Brion stories, the enduring appeal of The Legend of Zelda, and the difference between being a solo act and being in a band.Recorded on February 19th, 2021Featured Track: Juniper (Live) from The Fear Tour (Live)Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

David Schellenberg from the Winnipeg based hardcore band Tunic joins Sean on Inside the Artist’s Studio this week to talk about the band’s new record Exhaling. Sean asks David about the record’s juxtaposition of brand new songs and songs from previous releases, and David explains what makes the perfect veggie burger. David also talks about some of the thoughtful ways that he’s connected with fans during the pandemic in the absence of the band’s high energy live show.Recorded on April 1st, 2021Featured Track: Invalid, from Exhaling (Read our “Pick of the Week review here!)Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to good friend of the Cups N Cakes Network, Eamon McGrath. Eamon is one of Canada’s hardest working musicians, and he hasn’t slowed down one bit during the the COVID-19 pandemic. He’s been staying sane by writing an enormous amount of music that he’s itching to release, collaborating with musicians from across Canada from his home base in Toronto, Ontario. They talk about his relentless drive, transit in Edmonton and Toronto, and things get a little bit political in the rapid-fire.Recorded on April 13th, 2021Featured Track: AprilIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Edmonton-based electronic composer, Mathew Cardinal. Mathew put out his first record, Asterisms, in October of 2020, through Arts & Crafts. The record plays like an audio journal, with each song simply titled after the day that it was recorded. Sean and Mathew talk about the improvised, spur of the moment nature of the recordings, building sounds with modular synthesizer, and about the unique beauty of Edmonton’s best nightlife spot, Steel Wheels.Recorded on January 14th, 2021Featured Track: July 23rd, from AsterismsIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Edmonton trio Fitness about their sophomore record “Full Well”, which came out on March 5th, 2021. In the rapid-fire, the band talks about their wariness about social media, the beauty of Gasoline Alley, and how they get their caffeine fix. After that, they cover how the band got started and the benefits of not recording your own songs, before ending the show with a discussion about “Priest’s Feet”, an excellent cut off of their new record, and this week’s featured track.Recorded on February 27th, 2021Featured Track: “Priests Feet” from Full WellIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Vish Khanna about how he went from doing interviews for magazines and radio to starting his own successful interview podcast, Kreative Kontrol. Vish moved to Edmonton just a couple months before the COVID-19 pandemic began, and Sean asks him about getting settled in the city, about booking spectacular guests for his show, and about crashing your first car. Be sure to check out the 600th episode of Kreative Kontrol, which comes out Wednesday, March 10th, 2021.Recorded on January 14th, 2021Featured Track: The Neutron Stars - “So Many Times”Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Arlo Maverick about starting his career in Politic Live, transitioning into a solo act, and how he approaches mentorship in the Edmonton music scene. In the rapid-fire, Arlo talks Jamaican rum cake, trusting yourself, and working long hours holding a sign outside of a Dominos Pizza.Recorded on July 29th, 2020Featured Track: “Rainy Days”Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to the husband and wife team behind The Besnard Lakes, Jace Lacek and Olga Goreas. They chat about their sprawling and lush new LP, The Besnard Lakes are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings, and at the end of the episode, we highlight the equally sprawling title track from that LP. Before that, Sean, Jace, and Olga talk about the band’s move from longtime label Jagjaguwar to Flemish Eye, about concept records in the era of streaming, and coffee, restaurants, and washrooms in the European style.Recorded on January 26th, 2021 (via Zoom)Featured Track: “The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings” from: The Besnard Lakes are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm WarningsIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Rudiger and Rick from Edmonton 5-piece country band The Denim Daddies. This episode was the first one recorded after our COVID hiatus way back in June 2020, and Sean talks to the band in his backyard over precisely three beers (all cracked open on mic, of course), and a couple cigarettes. They talk about what makes a good country music character, what alcohol goes best in either coffee or tea, and they bring a demo that is potentially going to be featured on an album they have planned for post-COVID times.Recorded on June 19th, 2020Featured Track: “Gunslinger,” from a forthcoming release.Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Aladean Kheroufi about his work as a bassist, producer, and songwriter who is deeply entrenched in the Edmonton independent music scene. He’s played on countless record for Wares, The Velveteins, Baby Jey, and more, and has released two EPs of soulful solo material this year that are both full to the brim with anachronistic charm and analog warmth. In the rapid-fire, Aladean talks about his favorite podcasts, opening for Curtis Mayfield, and getting all of his friends jobs at the same liquor store.Recorded on September 29th, 2020Featured Track: “Any Other Way” from Beauty Beyond GriefIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Mallory Chipman about her new record Aquarian with Mallory Chipman & The Mystics. They talk about Mallory’s background in jazz music, the similarities between jazz and prog, and the best Ethiopian restaurant in Edmonton.Recorded on July 27th, 2020Featured Track: “Fruits” from AQUARIANIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to all four members of Bad Buddy, one of Edmonton’s finest rock bands. They put out their very first (self-titled) record this past July, and Sean talks to them about the long road to a great record, and what makes Bad Buddy different from the many other projects they’re all involved in. This one is a hilarious and wild ride from start to end, and of course, no interview with an Edmonton band on this podcast would be complete without a shout-out to Sepp’s Pizza in the rapid-fire (please sponsor us, Sepp’s).Recorded on June 23rd, 2020Featured Track: “Speak for Yourself” from Bad Buddy.Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”

On this episode of Inside the Artist’s Studio, Sean talks to Cassia Hardy, bandleader and songwriter for Wares. The band is coming off a big year, which included the release of their second album, Survival, and the absolutely glowing reception it has received nationwide, including a place on the Polaris Prize long-list. Sean and Cassia talk about her journey from starting out playing opens stages to having to cancel a nationwide tour because of the ongoing pandemic.Recorded on Aug 6th, 2020Featured Track: Survival from SurvivalIntro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind”