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Geneviève Racette talks about taking a personal experience and writing it into an accessible pop song. Download the lyrics to Common Denominator to follow along. We talked about: Writing from personal experience but making your song open to others Capturing an idea as soon as you can, even if it occurs in your sleep or in the shower Using the bridge as a way to redirect the narrative What's up with long, wordy choruses in modern pop songs?… Read the rest

Singer-songwriter Mark Ippolito talked about his experience with February Album Writing Month (FAWM), challenging himself to write a full album of songs in 28 days. Check out his album on Bandcamp. We talked about: William Shatner to Record a Heavy Metal Album Featuring Covers of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, and Iron Maiden Our Song Talk Meetup The wonderfully supportive community of songwriters at the FAWM website The diversity of genres, instrumentalists, and approaches at FAWM Opportunities for collaborations between lyricists and musicians The organizers propose weekly challenges to prompt individual songs (e.g.… Read the rest

Pop singer-songwriter Emma K talks about rearranging parts of her song to create a clearly structured pop song inspired by Billie Jean. Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked about: Rearranging sections of your song, and ending with the pre-chorus Using the same chords in sections of your songs, and still making them distinct Working with Matte Black Records Toronto to polish off the song Using dance as a songwriting tool, and the interplay between the artforms Songs that have declarative chouses, or not – see our episode How to use Declarative Choruses in your songs About Emma K Emma K is a pop singer originally from Penhold, Alberta.… Read the rest

Singer-songwriter Ursula Hegge joined us to talk about the process behind writing her song I‘ve been writing lots lately. Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked about: Suno, AI Music, and the Bad Future Writing a song that sounds natural but really went through many versions Finding interesting chord progressions on the guitar by accident Using melodic variations in each chorus Recording older songs Why (or why not) you might want to record to a click About Ursula Hegge Ursula Hegge is a singer-songwriter from Toronto who has been writing songs for almost 15 years.… Read the rest

Saska Lammila joined us all the way from Helsinki, Finland, to talk about his medieval-style folk song Suspended, for his band Ravio Jackson. Download the lyrics and chords to follow along. We talked about: Taking inspiration from a years-ago spiritual experience, through a poem, and into a finished song How Saska wrote a poem in Finnish several years ago, and translated it into English for the song Having a 3-verse and coda structure with a blooming, intense ending Writing songs with parts for his bandmates in mind, but that also work for a solo singer-songwriter show About Ravio Jackson Raivo Jackson is a versatile Americana band hailing from Helsinki, Finland.… Read the rest

Our longtime friend of the Song Talk Meetup, Paul Gallagher, joined us to talk about everything he learning getting his latest EP out on streaming services, community radio, and other digital services. Download the extensive and handy documents Paul provided for this episode: 10 Key DIY Release Takeaways DIY Release Detailed Breakdown We talked about: Getting all your ducks in a row before releasing music, including written agreements with your co-writers Capturing a wider breadth of places for your music, beyond typical digital distribution services Registering with SOCAN for both reproduction and performance royalties – see this video about the new live music performance royalties and our episode about registration with Allister Bradley The importance of preparing and submitting metadata to various platforms Make sure your final master recordings are the best they can be How IRSC codes are the unique identifiers for your songs and are needed (and free) for tracking your songs on streaming services Paul also submitted individually to a ton community radio stations, or you can also use the !earshot… Read the rest

Happy new year to all our listeners and supporters! For our first episode of 2026, we had Alex Whorms back on the show to talk about her latest collaboration with Garrett Lajoie and Gavin McLeod. Download the lyrics to Let You Down to follow along.… Read the rest

For our final episode of 2025, we reminisced over the past year, and talked about Neel's ongoing exploration of his songwriting challenge song. We talked about: Some of our favourite episode from 2025 Sync Songwriting with Chris SD Songwriting Tips (mostly) for Beginners Songwriting through writer's block with Dexter Sloan Breaking the rules with intention with Zoe Thiessen Heather Feather: Children's songs with a message Mistakes that “amateur” songwriters make 5 tips that will make your band sound better today Neel's further exploration of his songwriting challenge song Neel plays with a polymeter for his songwriting challenge answer Suno's interpretation of the lyric using the AI prompt “Create an epic orchestral gothic rock song similar to Evanescence using this chord and lyric sheet.”… Read the rest

Canadian singer-songwriter Kaleb Hikele joined us for the third time to talk about writing and producing the first single from his upcoming album in 2026. Download the lyrics for Slowly to follow along. We talked about: Using a simple drone-like chord progression in the verse, and adding more movement of chord changes in the refrain Using metaphors to tell a love song How Kaleb decided to not use a capo for this song Getting inspired by a Beatles riff when producing Embracing the gear in the recording studio to inspire different directions for the arrangement and production Is it a good idea to demo your songs at home before getting into a pro studio?… Read the rest

For this special episode, Neel shared his answer to the songwriting challenge from Song Studio to write a song based on the word “shadow.” Download the lyrics and chords to Silence, absence, stillness to follow along. We talked about: Replies from our listeners to their featured songs on our songwriting challenge to write a song in an odd time signature Use Newsletters spam test by mail-tester.com… Read the rest

We showcased and reviewed songs from Dan D'Agostino, Lynn Moe, and Steve Johnson as answers to our Songwriting Challenge 2025, to write a song in an odd time signature. Dan D'Agostino shared his song October Morning.  Download the lyrics, including the time signatures, to follow along.… Read the rest

Phil shared his answer to our songwriting challenge for 2025, to write a song in an odd time signature. He played around with 7/8 time, for the first time ever! We talked about: The #1 Country song on Billboard's Digital Songs Chart is generated by AI How much of a challenge it is to play a riff in 7/4 naturally How Phil glued together a 4/4 beat and a 3/4 beat for his verses, but made a true 7/8 drum part for the chorus How Phil is still playing around with the lyrics, the key (to find the sweet spot in his voice), and maybe adding a bridge Stretching outside your comfort zone (is a good thing) Working on a song until it “lights a fire” for yourself and you consider it better than “good enough” … Read the rest

We showcased and reviewed songs from Old Wooley and Paul Gallagher, as answers to our Songwriting Challenge 2025, to write a song in an odd time signature. Old Wooley shared his song Driving Through The Desert. Download the lyrics, including the time signatures, to follow along.… Read the rest

Rachel Cousins joined us to talk about writing prolifically and from inner feelings. We also talk about AI in songwriting. Bravely redefining her sound, Canadian singer-songwriter Rachel Cousins steps into new artistic territory with her fourth studio album, What Hasn't Killed Me.… Read the rest

For Neel's answer to the 2025 songwriting challenge, he wrote a baroque-esqe song using multiple time signatures and polymeter sections. Download the lyrics to Vice and Rack to follow along. We talked about: The song Cup of Coffee by Garbage and how they used a polymeter (which Neel incorrectly labelled compound time) How Neel incorporated four different time signatures in his song, including a polymeter of “3 against 4” (3/4 and 4/4 simultaneously) Using a 7/4 time signature with alternating 3+4 and 4+3 emphases The appearance of odd time signatures in classical Indian music How Neel's approach to the bridge resulted in a modulation for the final chorus How Neel used a metronome and selectively muting tracks to compose the polymeter section … Read the rest

For this special in-the-family episode, we talked about recent changes to artists terms at Spotify, the breaking news about Canadian rock band Rush, and how we're progressing on our songwriting challenge answers. We talked about: The changes to artist terms with Spotify – and it ain't good… Recent news about Rush going on tour in 2026 and playing with a new drummer How Neel and Phil are progressing on their songwriting challenge answers to write a song in an odd time signature … Read the rest

Singer, songwriter and keyboardist, Alex Whorms stopped in to talk about writing her latest song “Wrong”. Download the lyrics to follow along. We talked about: Our episode Mistakes that “amateur” songwriters make and feedback from a listener Using syncopation and misalignment of lyrical phrasing and melody to introduce tension Editing your song through iterations to make it better Writing your bridge just in time for the recording session Writing with a producer mindset Writing the lyrics as the last thing Our songwriting challenge for 2025 to write a song in an odd time signature.… Read the rest

Sherry Jacoby is a Newmarket, Canada–based singer-songwriter who brings personal stories to life through song. Blending acoustic pop/rock with indie folk, she crafts music for the romantic heart, drawing inspiration from Sara Bareilles, Ingrid Michaelson, and Colbie Caillat. Her musical journey began with piano lessons from her mother.… Read the rest

For this special theme episode, we reacted to the Song Town podcast video “10 Mistakes that Peg You as an Amateur Songwriter.” We were pleased to have singer-songwriter Jessica Stuart join us as co-host. We covered a few of the mistakes, but be sure to check out the entire Song Town episode below for more. …

Sean Bertram is a Canadian singer/songwriter, guitar prodigy, multi-instrumentalist, and audio engineer. He graduated at the top of his class from Humber College's prestigious 4-year music program, has won numerous awards including Best Song in North America from the Intercontinental Music Awards for his song “Against My Will”, and has garnered millions of streams on …

Award-winning Scots-Canadian singer-songwriter, David Leask, is a celebrated writer and performer, known for his emotionally resonant songwriting, soulful voice, and deep musical craftsmanship that flows freely between genres. Throughout his three decade long career, Leask has performed over 3,000 shows and earned accolades across multiple genres. Described by SOCAN's Words & Music Magazine as an …

Rogan Mei is an indie folk singer-songwriter based in Barrie, Ontario. His music blends northern storytelling, raw emotion, and a deep connection to nature, shaped by his background as a wildland firefighter and smokejumper. Earlier this year, he recorded his upcoming EP Dickies Green Plaid Jacket in the house he grew up in, capturing themes …

John Pittman has been a member of The Heavyweights Brass Band since the release of their sophomore album “Brasstronomical” in 2014. He is a trumpet player and composer for the band who just released their fifth full length album “Knockout” in June 2025. John shared the Heavyweights Brass Band's instrumental song Greater Good. Blair Packham …

Daniela Soltero is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter who over the years, developed skills in songwriting, playing guitar, and singing. In just two years of performing publicly she has gotten to play on stages such as “The Horseshoe Tavern” and “Supermarket Bar and Variety, including many other venues, festivals, and songwriter rounds. Daniela's genre of music is …

Marichka is a Ukrainian-Canadian singer and human rights advocate, winner of the Amnesty International Prize and creator of the folk music website, https://folk-ukraine.com. She has performed at top venues around the world including Carnegie Hall in New York, The Barbican Centre in London and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and was the former lead singer with …

Zoe Thiessen is a singer/songwriter, guitarist and violinist now based in Toronto after years of living abroad. Her finely crafted songs always have a hint of the fairy tale about them, and she delivers them with a warm alto that has a timbre all its own. She released her first album ‘The Lives of Saints …

In this short show, Phil talks about 5 of the most effective tips he has learned from a lifetime of playing in bands to get everyone sounding better together. Take a listen and let us know the tips you've learned.

Canadian children's artist, Heather Feather, is pleased to announce her second studio album, Together, out on June 27, 2025. The 2025 ECMA “Children's Artist of the Year,” award recipient holds a PhD in Music Theory from McGill, a Bachelor of Music from Memorial University, and is a fearless disability advocate, recently partnering with international advocacy …

Joining us today is rising Canadian country artist Cam Brown, hailing from Barrie, Ontario. Fresh off opening for Dean Brody at this year's Troubadour Festival in his hometown, Cam is making waves with his original music. His debut single Pretty Lime Margarita recently climbed to #1 on the Canadian Indie Country Countdown and is now …

Natalie Reis is an independent folk singer/songwriter whose music is caught between bittersweet narratives and soaring melodies. Following her debut EP ‘Bones on Fire' in 2020, Natalie has released six singles that have evolved her storytelling-lyricism and solidified her sound as a distinctive emerging artist. In the past year, she has had the opportunity to …

In this special episode, Phil and Neel talked about cadences, or the different ways to bring resolution to your chord progressions. We talked about: The Nashville numbering system and why it's important to understand and use when talking about cadences Modally interchanging chords – e.g. flipping minor and major chords in your chord palette Cadences …

Toronto-based guitarist, songwriter, vocalist and koto player Jessica Stuart (aka JESSA) has made a music career writing and performing harmonically adventurous, and devastatingly honest indie-jazz-rock tunes around the world. Stuart is also a rare professional female guitarist, with dozens of side-player credits ranging from Mirvish Productions' SIX to Classic Albums Live to Idioteque, and loves …

Dexter Sloan has built his sound around a blissful blend of intimacy and introspection, celebrating the deep connections between nature and humanity. Imbued with fables and folktales, he delivers truth like a puppet show, often playing characters to protect his privacy. A device Sloan has no doubt carried with him from his time as a …

“This song is intended to remind us that the love we have for each other is stronger than our pride. Love takes work. If we can overcome our egos, we can remember why love is the most powerful gift we can experience.” – Brent Jackson, Sunshine Makers Brent shared his song Rock With Me. Download …

For this special episode, Phil and Neel talked about their favourite apps and resources for songwriters and musicians. Let us know what yours are! We talked about: Our songwriting challenge to write a song in an odd time signature. We've added a resource about the theme song to the show Yellowjackets. Rhyme Genie and Tunesmith …

For this special episode, we talked about a collaboration Neel did with Mike Rudquist, a singer-songwriter he met at the At Home Songwriting group for a songwriting challenge. Mike Rudquist is a songwriter from Red Wing, MN who writes songs in Americana, pop/rock, and country. He has a solo album called “Albuquerque in the Morning” …

Mark Ippolito is a proud member of Seattle's vibrant community of singer-songwriters and regularly performs his original songs in venues throughout the Pacific Northwest. His debut full length album “New Moon” is steeped in equal measures of folk, roots, jazz and rock and reflects Mark's abiding interest and celebration of the interconnectedness, both physical and …

Few names carry the weight of Danny Marks in the Canadian blues and roots scene. From his early days as a founding member of Edward Bear, opening for the likes of Led Zeppelin and Humble Pie, to his decades as a torchbearer of the blues with BLUZ FM and beyond, Marks has remained a perennial …

Our songwriting challenge for 2025 is to write a song in an odd time signature.  Award-winning composer and educator Frank Horvat joined us with his pick of odd-time-signature songs. Thanks Frank! We talked about: Our re-discovered Patreon Page – thanks for your support! Juno Awards 2025: Congratulations to our previous guests Julian Taylor and Aphrose …

Toronto's own Steve Harmony emerged from the heart of Regent Park, navigating a life surrounded by challenges to find his true calling in music. With his smooth blend of R&B and gritty hip-hop influences, Steve's music reflects his personal journey through repentance, recovery, and redemption. As a mental health advocate, he combines his passion for …

Roger Beckett is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer, community builder and artist manager from Pickering, Ontario. He has written and had songs released in various genres, “Fade Away” (Country), “7 Billion” (Pop), with Canadian and US songwriters and artists. He has also performed at various venues in Toronto and at the Bluebird and Commodore in Nashville. …

Nationally celebrated for his modern Country sound, Jason Kirkness has established himself as a standout figure in Canadian Country music, capturing audiences with two acclaimed albums. Awarded Male Artist of the Year title at the 2023 Manitoba Country Music Awards, Kirkness gained impressive traction on the Canadian Billboard Top 50, where his single “Anywhere the …

For this special episode, Boston-based singer/songwriter and music educator Susan Cattaneo joined us to talk about the article How to Write a Song for Beginners: 7 Tips | Disc Makers. We discussed the following tips; be sure to check out the full article on the Disc Maker's blog. The first rule of songwriting Tip #1:How …

Emma Della Rossa is a Toronto-based singer, songwriter, flutist, and educator. She is inspired by exploring the deeper level of seemingly ordinary experiences and expressing them musically. As a singer-songwriter, Emma's original music combines influences from indie-pop, folk, and alt-pop genres, tied together with layers of vocal harmonies and introspective lyricism. Inspired by the vibrant …

JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter Desiree Dorion unveiled her seventh studio album, “Remember Your Name” in the Fall of 2024, stepping beyond her signature Country roots to explore the rich and soulful landscapes of Roots/Americana. Blending vulnerability, strength, and personal growth into every lyric, Dorion's latest project marks a bold evolution in her musical journey, finding a new …

Chris started off in a band that, after its dissolution in 1996, transitioned into music production. In 2000, Chris launched his career as a music producer by building his first home studio in Ottawa, where he began recording his friends for beer. Some of his early recordings garnered Juno Award nominations, which compelled him to …

Recognized for her vibrant, creative flair, Canadian Alternative Pop sensation Elena Erin crafts a striking fusion of Alternative, Electronic, and Dance influences, underscored by her emotionally resonant storytelling. Her breakout single, “Build A Ship,” soared to #2 on the CBC Top 20, propelling her onto the international stage and inviting over four million streams across …

Colm Gavin has always been hugely inspired by the great American Songbook – particularly: Jerome Kern, Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael and their brilliant love ballads. Lyrically, Colm wanted this to be playful and honest. “While I'm someone of simple means, goes wild for the finer things, a Paris balcony with a view, I'm more an …

Blending folk-rock and rhythm & blues, there's something for every music fan to love about singer/songwriter Matt Zaddy. A storyteller at heart, Matt's music speaks to the soul, with tales of life, love, hardship, and redemption. Having shared the stage with artists including K'Naan, Tom Cochrane, Jim Cuddy, The Trews, Cowboy Junkies, 5440 and Sam …

The fourth and final batch of listener and guest songs for our songwriting challenge 2024 to write a holiday song. Nico Rizzuto shared his song Shooting Star. Download the lyrics to follow along. Writing a clear hooky chorus complete with a melismatic melody Sometimes a one-line bridge is enough Writing a song about loss, but from the …

The third of four batches of listener and guest songs for our songwriting challenge 2024 to write a holiday song. Gerben Westerveld shared his song Christmas Love. Download the lyrics to follow along. Writing a nice clear chorus Maintaining focus on your song being a love song Does your song need another verse or bridge? John White …