Women In The Music Industry

Welcome to the episode 33 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest today is none other than singer, songwriter, and one half of the multiple award-winning Vancouver-based alternative rock band “DEAR ROUGE”, Danielle McTaggart! For over 10 years now Dear Rouge, the alternative rock duo of Drew and Danielle McTaggart, have been winning fans over consistently and hitting new career heights. Following their major label debut record, Black To Gold, the couple picked up multiple Top 10 radio hits, a SOCAN Songwriting Prize, and a Juno for Breakthrough Group of the Year. Dear Rouge continued their upward trajectory with their sophomore album PHASES (Deluxe) which included the lead single Boys & Blondes and the #1 Alternative Rock hit, Live Through The Night. Along the way, they opened for artists like Phantogram, Lights, and Our Lady Peace, and wowed crowds on festival stages from coast to coast with their energetic and dynamic live performances. The band continued to solidify their presence in the Canadian music landscape with their third full length record Spirit. The record spawned the #1 hit Fake Fame, and the band picked up an Indie Award for Group of the Year at Canadian Music Week, before a packed summer of touring that included opening for Vance Joy and a tour supporting Canadian legends Metric. All the tracks from Spirit, along with the band's previous singles have seen heavy recurrent radio airplay, leading to Dear Rouge being the most played Canadian band on alternative radio in 2022. The band then returned to the studio with acclaimed producer Gus van Go (The Beaches, The Stills). The duo's new single Goon is out now. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @daniellemctaggart & @dearrouge Web: www.dearrouge.com

Welcome to the episode 32 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest today is none other than critically acclaimed Cinematic Dark Pop Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist Tess Posner! Tess is one of the nicest people in the music industry, and is also known for taking the listener on a journey into the realms of the subconscious to shine a light on the hidden parts of ourselves left behind.  Her revelatory lyrics and enchanting sonic landscapes invite the listener on a journey inside to self-discovery and healing. She weaves together mesmerizing piano, ethereal synths and dynamic orchestral elements together with her lush vocal harmonies that lay over a bed of deep-sounding drums and bass. Her 2023 release “Alchemy” has climbed to over 500,000 streams on Spotify and surpassed 1 million views on TikTok, and Volcano was a finalist in both the USA Songwriting and Songwriters Universe competitions.  Her song Feral Child was a semi-finalist in the International Songwriting Competition. Tess says that Alchemy “represents that process of transmuting painful parts of our past and feelings into a kind of “gold” that fuels meaning and healing.”   Tess Posner's past projects have clocked over 3.5 million streams on Spotify to date, with one single "Ocean" hitting over 1 million streams. Her past releases have garnered significant press including the Clash Magazine, Earmilk, Yahoo! News, Tongue Tied Magazine, Popmuzik, Pop Dust, The Digital Fix, The California Herald, Tonspion, Surviving the Golden Age, Queen City Sounds, and The Girls at the Rock Show.  She's been featured and charting high on multiple radio stations across the US and Canada. She has played San Francisco venues and festivals including Serenity Festival, the Lost Church, the Knockout and performs weekly for her global community on the live-streaming platform Twitch. Tess has a background working in nonprofits that focus on gender and racial equity. In 2024, she also co-founded VENUS Music Showcases in 2024 to highlight women and gender expansive individuals in the music industry. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @tessposnermusic Web:  www.tessposnermusic.com  

Welcome to the episode 31 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest today is none other than critically acclaimed UK R&B Soul Singer / Songwriter / Recording Artist Terri Walker! Terri shares her incredible journey, from being musically inspired as a young child while listening to records with her mother, to having a life changing moment while singing at her biological father's funeral, to being the first female signed to Def Jam UK, to releasing multiple albums to critical acclaim. Terri is also celebrating the 20th anniversary of her well loved 2003 album, 'Untitled', with the release of her highly anticipated new album 'My Love Story', out now via “Wings of a Hummingbird Records/Believe UK”.  The album is a testament to Terri's growth as an artist over the past two decades. “My Love Story is an album that I made for myself. It has been one of accountability, and ownership – no blaming or assumptions. It's an album where I didn't worry that it didn't meet my, or other people's expectations.” If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @iamterriwalker Web:  www.terriwalker.co.uk  

Welcome to the episode 30 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest today is none other than New England fiddler, folk singer & recording artist, Lissa Schneckenburger. Over the last several decades Lissa has made music that has showcased everything from traditional New England dance tunes, to original songs inspired by her experience as a foster and adoptive parent. To date she has released 12 albums worldwide.  Her latest album “Falling Forward” has blended her love of traditional music with her love of writing, in her first fiddle forward album in over a decade. Raised in a small town in Maine, Schneckenburger grew up with music. She began playing fiddle at the age of six, inspired by her parent's interest in folk music. In 2001 she graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in Contemporary Improvisation. She has been writing, performing, and teaching music around the world ever since. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @lissafiddle Web:  www.lissafiddle.com  

Welcome to the episode 29 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest today is none other than Live Sound Engineer, Singer, Songwriter & Artist... Joie. Joie is a compelling presence in the music industry, merging talents as a singer-songwriter with technical prowess in live sound. Their musical journey, which took a professional turn in 2022, is marked by a lifelong engagement with music, culminating in a multifaceted career that spans performing and live sound engineering. Interestingly, Joie hadn't initially considered a career in live sound. The decision came after a friend highlighted the need for greater diversity within the field, emphasizing the importance of representation for women, people of colour, and LGBTQ+ individuals in Toronto's music scene as audio technicians. This insight propelled Joie to explore the technical side of music, aiming to fill the gap and bring a fresh perspective to the industry. Over the last year, Joie's work in live sound has taken them across Toronto Canada, working in venues such as The Rivoli, Burdock Brewery, and The Cameron House. Their technical role complements their identity as a singer-songwriter, where they craft songs that weave personal narratives with universal themes, resonating with a broad audience. Joie's transition into music and live sound engineering not only highlights their adaptability and dedication to their craft, but also positions them as an advocate for inclusivity within the music industry. Their story reflects a commitment to personal growth, diversity, and expression through music, making Joie a standout artist in Toronto's vibrant music community. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @earthtojoie  

Welcome to the episode 28 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest today is none other than the current CEO of Music Publishers Canada, Margaret McGuffin. Margaret's career has focused on research and policy development related to the creative industries as well as strategic change management.  She has worked with a large number of music industry trade organizations and collective management organizations, and currently sits on the boards of Theatre Museum of Canada, and on the Advisory Committee at MusiCounts.  She recently left the board of Work In Culture. Margaret is always happy to talk about copyright or how music publishers are leading the way in making sure Canadian songs are heard around the world.   She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Western University and an MBA in Arts, Media and Entertainment Management from the Schulich School of Business.   Margaret is an incredibly busy individual as you can see, and we are more than delighted that she said yes to being on this podcast! If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @canmusicpub Web: www.musicpublishing.ca  

Welcome to the episode 27 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest on this episode is none other than my good friend, and music industry legend, Charmain Dennison.  With over 22 years of dedicated service at Yamaha Canada, Charmain's journey from a traditional conservatory piano student, to becoming Yamaha Canada's Digital Musical Instrument product specialist, and eventually assuming the role of Yamaha Canada's Keyboard Marketing Manager, is a testament to her incredible resilience and unmatched passion. As a music industry trailblazer, and one of the few women in her role, Charmain emphasizes the importance of breaking down barriers in the music industry.   She is currently managing the largest grossing category in the business for Yamaha Canada, which is Keyboards, Digital Pianos and Synthesizers. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps.

Welcome to the episode 26 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest on this episode is none other than one of my favourite songwriters, an excellent musician and very successful troubadour hailing all the way from the Netherlands... Anouk Balins Anouk has been performing for many years for weddings, anniversaries, business events, birthdays and garden parties.  Her extensive repertoire consists of music from different decades in different styles such as rock, pop, easy listening, and Dutch music. Her unique style of songwriting has been making waves over the last few years, inspiring all that have heard it.  Her lyrics go well beyond the traditional, and venture into the unexpected yet satisfying. She is also a good friend of mine, and a beautiful soul.  You won't want to miss this emotional and heartfelt episode! If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @anoukbalins Web: www.soundcloud.com/anouk-balins

Welcome to the episode 25 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest on this episode is none other than composer, producer, musician and artist extraordinaire EmmoLei Sankofa, whose work spans music, visual media, and fine art.  EmmoLei's original music can be heard on the stand-out comedy, “Three Ways” on Hulu, Season 3 of STARZ's “Step Up” series, Lizzo's Emmy-Award winning series, “Watch Out For the Big Grrrls” on Amazon, Shudder/AMC's horror anthology film “Horror Noire”, and 2023's smash series on Hulu, “The Other Black Girl”.  These are just a few of her incredible credits!  Emmolei is a 2021 Sundance Composers Lab Fellow, where she worked closely with Film and Television composers on her craft. The creative advisors for the intensive included Kathryn Bostic, Laura Karpman, Blake Neely, Heather McIntosh, George S. Clinton, Mychael Danna, Jeff Rona, and Christopher Willis.  EmmoLei has also collaborated with some of the best emerging and award-winning filmmakers, including Jamal Dedeaux, Zandashé Brown, Rhea Dillion, Jonathan Lewis, Imani Dennison, Sekani Solomon, Ajiri Akpolo, and more.  Her original music has been married to films screened at HBO, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation, Lionsgate, Warner Bros, the Oakland Museum of California, and film festivals in Miami, Martha's Vineyard, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, Savannah, Las Vegas, London, and beyond.  EmmoLei has also worked with top brands like Nike, Vans, Buzzfeed, Pandora, Kamala Harris for the People, Pulse Films, and more via her creative audio company, Bèl Son. EmmoLei's discography encompasses over twenty-one independently released albums, EPs, and singles collectively, and embodies a mixture of genres but often integrates soul, jazz, classical, and rhythm & blues. Her single, Don't Fight, was included on Adult Swim's OPUS compilation album. As a musician, she has performed with Nelly, Ella Mai, Kurt Schneider, and more, and had her debut performance as a solo act on Mobley's “Devil in a Daydream” Virtual Tour. An alum of The Recording Academy's 2021 NEXT program, EmmoLei is an emerging talent and active voice among the next generation of music industry leaders. EmmoLei and her work have been featured on various platforms, including Lyrical Lemonade, LANDR, Saint Heron, OC Weekly, The Recording Academy, Gender Amplified, Billboard, and more. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @emmolei Web: www.e-sankofa.com

Welcome to the episode 24 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. My guest on this episode is none other than New York City based DJ, Songwriter and Versatile Electronic & Dark Synth Artist BANGS. Previously known as Georgi, BANGS quickly became a rising DJ, playing over 150 shows her first year worldwide. After a few years in the DJ scene, Bangs decided to focus on making her own music, following her passion as a songwriter. Known for her distinctive style, BANGS loves to draw inspiration from the 90's punk scene.  She currently has two singles released through labels “Negative Gain” and “Revealed Recordings”, which you can find on all streaming services. The coolest thing about doing this episode, is that BANGS and I are about to start working together on her next single, and this is my way of getting to know her a little bit better! If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @bangsafterdark

Welcome to the episode 23 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features Toronto's own vocal powerhouse, songwriter, and actor extraordinaire, Martina Ortiz Luis. Martina has held a reputation as a dynamic live performer. Dazzling audiences all over the country, she's performed at local live-music venues like Toronto's famous El Mocambo to Scotiabank Arena, where she became the first official anthem singer in Toronto Maple Leafs history, holding the position for six seasons (2016-2022).  As an actor, she's made appearances as a series regular in the People's Choice Award-winning series, Wynonna Earp and starred in CBC Gem's musical series “Topline”.  Martina has recently wrapped a 3-month shoot in Northern Italy, joining an exciting young cast as a supporting lead in “Verona”, a new pop-musical feature film based on Shakespeare's “Romeo and Juliet”.  Her new series “Most Dangerous Game: New York”, where she co-stars alongside Christoph Waltz, David Castañeda, and Anna Gunn, was released earlier this year and is now streaming on Roku.  Her original songs can be found on all music streaming platforms, including her newest single, “Mad At Myself” (and so much more to come!).  If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @martinaortizluis Web: www.martinaortizluis.com

Welcome to the episode 22 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the unstoppable and relentless Ebonnie Rowe - Founder & Executive Director of PhemPhat Entertainment Group & Producer of The Honey Jam Emerging Artist Development Program for young female artists of all cultures and musical genres.   Founded in 1995, they provide promotional, mentoring, networking, educational and performance opportunities. Artists such as Nelly Furtado, Melanie Fiona, Jully Black, Savannah Re, Haviah Mighty, LUKALA, Jordan Alexander, Leila Dey and many others performed early in their careers.   Ebonnie has organized impactful experiences for these artists, such as songwriting camps, industry workshops, mentor cafe's, tickets to major artist concerts, opportunities to attend the Polaris, Juno and Grammy Awards, and sessions to learn from major artists such as Jessie Reyez, Estelle, Fefe Dobson, Marsha Ambrosius, Melanie Fiona, LeToya Luckett, Elle Varner, Erykah Badu, Janelle Monae and more.  The program creates a welcoming, supportive sisterhood and a safe space for young women to be vulnerable, to learn, to build self esteem and long-lasting relationships. Ebonnie has participated in or moderated panels for CMW, Collision, RPSM Talks, Indie Week and more.   Her work with Honey Jam has been profiled on CBC, e-talk, Global TV, Canada AM, Muchmusic, ET Canada, MacLeans, The Toronto Star, National Post, Globe & Mail and many other publications and media outlets.   She has been featured in books such as  “Canada 150 Women - Conversations with Leaders, Champions, and Luminaries”, and "Put Your Dreams First, Handle Your Entertainment Business". Additionally, Ebonnie has received many awards including the prestigious “Roy Thompson Award of Recognition”, “CIMA's Trailblazer Award” and the “YWCA Woman of Distinction Award”. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @thehoneyjam Web: www.honeyjam.com

Welcome to the episode 21 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features my dear sweet friend, International Music Publisher & Songwriting Coach, Suzan Koç! Her career in the music industry started as an intern at Warner Chappell in Paris in 1989 after meeting Nesuhi Ertegun, co-founder of Atlantic Records with his brother, the legendary Ahmet Ertegun. In 7 years she worked her way up to be the Director of International Creative and signed rising Swedish pop group Ace of Base (50 million records sold). In 1996, she moved to New York, where she was VP of Creative for Hit & Run Music (Phil Collins, Genesis) where she met songwriter Shelly Peiken (“What A Girl Wants” (#1), “Bitch (#2)) and landed cuts with Reba McEntire, Brandy, and *NSYNC. She then became the VP of Writer Development at BMG Publishing in 2001.   Since 2008 she has mentored songwriters through individual online workshops (see suzankoc.com). Notable alumni include MILCK (whose song “Quiet” was the anthem of the 2017 Women's March and garnered 15 million views in 48 hours).   She also teaches music publishing, songwriting, and creativity classes at UCLA Extension and Musician's Institute. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @suzkoc Web: www.suzankoc.com

Welcome to the episode 20 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the insanely talented, driven and super kind lead singer & guitarist of the Metal band "Kittie", Morgan Lander! With a career spanning 3 decades, Kittie has pioneered the metal genre and are arguably one of the most influential early torch bearers for female representation and acceptance in modern metal.   Formed in 1996 by sisters Morgan and Mercedes Lander, Kittie has 6 full length albums and one gold record in the US under their belt, with over 2 million in tangible album sales during their career, and tens of millions of streams annually.   Their career-spanning documentary Kittie Origins/Evolutions is available on Prime and was released in 2018 to critical acclaim. The band has recently become active again after a 10 year hiatus and plans for new music are forthcoming. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @officialkittie Web: www.kittieonline.com

Welcome to the episode 19 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the one and only Nina Woodford... an award winning and incredible songwriter for the likes of James Morrison / Leona Lewis / Idina Menzel / Tom Jones / Sugababes. Come hear her story of how she got from Point A to Point B.  Learn about the story behind the creation of James Morrison's massive single "Broken Strings".  Hear about how a song she wrote for Leona Lewis ended up helping a woman who was wrongfully convicted survive in the system.  Discover how she sang vocals on one of Britney Spears' biggest albums, and how Nina herself learned about the things you can and cannot write for Elmo of Sesame Street to sing about.  A fantastic episode from beginning to end! (Nina is also my lovely sister in law!) If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @ninawoodfordwells

Welcome to the episode 18 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the one and only Q-Benjamin!  Q is a Juno Award winning R&B/Soul artist, rapper, scholar, speaker and faith advocate. Come listen to Q's inspiring story of growing up as a biracial Canadian in western Canada, discovering a love of music through her Pakistani and Jamaican roots, winning music contests, recording hit songs, winning Juno Awards, finding out it's not all that it's cracked up to be, and taking a break to truly discover the real reasons why she wants to be an artist releasing music in this day and age.  A lot of great life and music industry lessons can be learned by listening to all of the things Q has uncovered along the way in her personal and career journey. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram / X (Twitter) / TikTok: @itsqbenjamin

Welcome to the episode 17 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the one and only Lee Aaron... a 2023 Inductee to Canada's Walk Of Fame/Rock Of Fame, a Juno Nominated Artist/Songwriter/Producer, and a massive inspiration to females worldwide as she helped pave the way for women in rock, metal and pop. Come listen to her amazing story of how hard work and determination made her an instant household name, a source of incredible music (17 albums and counting), and a person who took the reigns and controlled her own sound by learning how to produce her own records from a very young age. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @leeaaron.music Web: www.leeaaron.com

Welcome to the episode 16 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the incredibly talented and humble songwriter to the stars, Kasia Livingston - an American songwriter who began writing songs at the age of 10. She has since gone on to write for many of the world's top artists, and her music has been nominated for Grammy and Soul Train Awards. Hear how she was discovered by record producer David Foster, and went on to work with artists including Britney Spears, Whitney Houston, the Pussycat Dolls, New Kids on the Block, Flo Rida, The Wanted, Jessie J, Big Time Rush, Jordin Sparks, Jessica Simpson and Toni Braxton, as a songwriter and a background vocalist... all while being one of the nicest people in the world. Kasia also joined the Los Angeles College of Music faculty in 2012 as a songwriting instructor. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps.

Welcome to the episode 15 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the incredibly powerful, award winning, indigenous singer-songwriter iskwē (short for waseskwan iskwew, meaning "blue sky woman").   iskwē is more than just an artist, she is a teller of stories that have impacted our past and will inform our future. iskwē's music allows her creativity to soar as she explores a range of ambient sound effects and beats. Her spine-tingling vocals anchor the myriad of sounds, blurring the lines between sources and styles, as well as between the actual, ideal, real, and imagined.  Transporting listeners into a world of electronic rhythms and Indigenous sounds as she draws upon her Cree Métis roots, iskwē's genre-bending catalog includes three full-length albums that span a spectrum of emotions and is powered by resilience. Her debut 2017 album The Fight Within speaks to self-love in the face of hate and 2019's acākosīk calls out the systematic abuses against Canada's Indigenous peoples and features the JUNO award-winning song “Little Star.” Meanwhile, the collaborative 2022 project Mother Love with Tom Wilson is a reflection on the nature of love and culture as the pair's individual contributions blend together seamlessly. Known for her impactful stage presence as she incorporates dance and multimedia to present a completely engulfing and cathartic experience, iskwē has performed hundreds of shows around the world at iconic locations including New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park's SummerStage, Ottawa's Parliament Hill, and London's Border Crossing Origins Festival in addition to performing for the King and Queen of Sweden. Continuing to mesmerize listeners with her truly incomparable sound, iskwē has received media support from the likes of NPR, Billboard, VICE, and Entertainment Tonight Canada along with CBC who have named her “one of the most powerful performers in the country.” iskwē is gearing up to share the next chapter of her career where she offers a look into the gut-wrenching roller coaster that has been her recent life.  Stay tuned for new music from iskwē coming this year. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @iskwe Web: www.iskwe.com

Welcome to the episode 14 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the incredibly talented and versatile West End Musical Theatre Actor & Singer... Cilla Silvia! Cilla's life journey spans from the shores of Sri Lanka to her adoption in Sweden, to her current base in the vibrant city of London. Her theatrical journey has led her through many diverse genres such as "We Will Rock You" and “American Idiot”, to her involvement in the iconic "West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein and “Sweeney Todd” by Stephen Sondheim. Recently, she sang opera from "La Traviata" as part of the "Pretty Woman" rendition at The Savoy Theatre in London's renowned West End. Hear how Cilla went from being inspired by a violin performance in church as a little girl in small town Sweden, to being blown away by "Mama Mia" in New York City in her early twenties, to attending prestigious performing arts schools, to gracing some of the world's most impressive stages as a world class actor, dancer and singer. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @cillasilvia Web: https://smyrna.org.in/about/child-page-1

Welcome to the episode 13 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the ultra talented and driven keyboardist, composer, performing artist and teacher Kait Dunton.  Having released 8 incredible albums since 2008's "Real & Imagined", Kait takes us on her musical journey from growing up in Pasadena, California, to studying with the great John D'Earth at the University of Virginia, to obtaining her masters of music in the jazz program at the prestigious University of North Texas' College of Music. From there, she has deservedly exploded on the jazz music scene, having had millions of streams on both Spotify and Instagram.  Her work has been featured on "Mister Rogers' A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood", "Lego Movie 2", and "ABC's Little Mermaid Live"... and she's only just beginning.  Kait is a fantastic example of what it takes to get your best music out into the world, while taking the reigns of the business side of releasing and performing music at the same time. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps.  Instagram: @kaitdunton Web: www.kaitdunton.com

Welcome to the episode 12 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode is incredibly inspiring as we have the one and only Tara Shannon - an unstoppable force in the music industry. Tara is a recording artist, a songwriter, coach, label owner, speaker, and author of the informative and inspiration book "You And The Music Business: Empowering Independent Artists: A Self-Care Guide to Finding Balance and Joy in Today's Music Industry". Come listen to her unique story of how she started experimenting in songwriting, her journey so far in the music industry (including 8 albums as a solo artist), her unique approach and love for the business side of music, and how she now coaches and guides artists at the beginning of their journey - right up to signing them on her own record label that acts as a musical co-op where all of her artists also work at the label in various positions! If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @jointarashannon Web: www.jointara.com

Welcome to the episode 11 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features an absolute force of all things pop music... the unstoppable NIIVA. Recognized as iHeart Radio's "Future Star", KiSS RADiO's "One To Watch", and Amazon Music Canada's "Breakthrough Artist", NIIVA soared to success with her Billboard charting hit single "Friends," reaching the high heights of CHR Radio. Her new single "That Song" has just been released to all streaming services. Come listen to her inspiring story of how she went from living in Bulgaria, to England, to Canada, to songwriting with her heroes, to dominating Canadian airwaves and having her image everywhere, to writing a #1 WORLDWIDE SMASH SINGLE for the K-POP pop-power girl-group "aespa"!!! All of this... and so much more! If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps. Instagram: @itsniiva Web: www.itsniiva.com

Welcome to the episode 10 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the incredibly talented and driven Meaghan Smith, a Canadian singer/songwriter/artist/illustrator who has overcome many odds to completely dominate the sync music scene, having had her music appear in hundreds of TV & Film placements. Listen to her powerful story of having it all, having it all disappear, and having it all again through sheer love and determination to chart a new and extremely successful career path in the music industry. If you are enjoying this video series, please rate/review/subscribe/tell everyone about it. Every little bit helps.  Instagram: @themeaghansmith Web: www.meaghansmith.com

Welcome to the episode 9 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features the one and only Maria Christensen - Multi-Platinum, Award-Winning Songwriter & Artist, whose many credits include the worldwide smash with Jennifer "J-Lo" Lopez, "Waiting For Tonight". Come listen to her incredible story of how she went from songwriting with friends in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to writing some of the biggest anthems the world has ever heard, including songs for Celine Dion, N'Sync and Disney. Instagram: @mariacmusic

Welcome to the episode 8 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode is an absolute must listen for anyone wanting to be an artist in the industry... as the one and only & super knowledgeable Kara Purto takes us through what it was like for her starting out as an artist, and what it's now like for her while working at 604 Records with signed artists non-stop. Kara is a Sr. Project & Sync Licensing Manager for 604 Records, Light Organ Records and Simkin Artist Management. She has previously worked for Open Road Recordings/RGK entertainment, Tanjola Brands, ole Media Management and JRS Productions. With over 15 years in the entertainment industry, Kara has worked in music marketing, music publishing, artist management, music licensing, video production, and Foley. Kara is an honours graduate of Harris Institute for the Arts' Management and Music Production programs. Instagram: @karapurto

Welcome to the episode 7 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today's episode features Scotland's own ridiculously taltented Hannah Howie... multi-genre singer, cruise ship artist / entertainer & vocal coach. Hannah is a singer and vocal coach who hails from Edinburgh, Scotland.   She has toured the UK and the seven seas entertaining audiences with her soaring soprano, comedic characters and thrilling performances for over a decade.   Most recently supporting Michael Ball OBE, Hannah has starred in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel, Lesley Bricusse's Scrooge the Musical, Charles Dickens Hard Times as well as working with Strictly Come Dancing's and Oliver-award winning director, Karen Bruce, in the creation of a production show for Princess Cruises.    Hannah trained with Scottish Opera, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and also has a Bachelor of Sciences (Psychology) from Durham University.   She also set up a singing school in 2015, and has taught hundreds of people how to use their voices with more confidence.   Her headliner shows are all about variety - from Musical Theatre to Pop and Rock, Scottish Folk music to Operatic arias, Hannah does it all with aplomb showcasing her huge vocal range and fantastic wit through her repertoire, stories, and some original songs.   Instagram: @misshannahhowie Website: www.hannahhowie.com

Welcome to the episode 6 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today I get to speak with Montreal based 3X Juno Award Winning Singer & Performing Artist Kim Richardson. Ontario Canada born Kim has been singing for over 35 years.   She sings (almost) anything! Rock, pop, R&B, jazz, gospel, country and has even performed some classical pieces with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.   Her musical travels have taken her across Canada as well as parts of the US, Europe, Africa and South America.   Among her latest appearances, Kim has sung the national anthem for the Montreal Alouettes, sang on the French dubbing of the Cinderella movie, participated in the Commemoration of HRH Queen Elizabeth II, performed in a Christmas concert with the Metropolitan Orchestra for 3 sold out shows at the Maison Symphonique de Montréal and finished in the final 4 in the TV show “Zenith” on French CBC.   Her recent single called “No Mountain Too High” with singer/songwriter and musician extraordinaire Jason Lang, is available on most music platforms. Instagram: @karmah65 Website: www.kimrichardson.com

Welcome to the episode 5 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today I get to speak with Nashville based, Grammy Nominated Music Producer, Songwriter & Musician Extraordinaire, Karen Kosowski. Karen produced and played on the majority of Mickey Guyton's Grammy-nominated album “Remember Her Name” (Capitol Records Nashville); she is also a co-writer on several tracks, and mixer on two tracks. The album received three Grammy nominations including “Best Country Album”, and was hailed by NPR as “one of the standout country-pop works of the modern era”. Karen arranged, produced and played piano with Guyton for her live performance of the Star Spangled Banner at Super Bowl 56. Previously, Karen produced the majority of The Washboard Union's “Everbound” album, which was awarded Roots Album Of The Year at the 2020 Canadian Country Music Awards and contained the Certified Gold, #2 Canadian Country Radio single “Country Thunder”. She produced, mixed and co-wrote the six-week #1 Australian Country Radio single, APRA award nominated “Memphis T-Shirt” for Melanie Dyer and has two more Canadian Gold Certifications, a Platinum Certification, and a #1 Canadian Country Radio single for songwriting cuts with Tim Hicks (“What A Song Should Do”) and Brett Kissel (“Anthem”, “She Drives Me Crazy”). Instagram: @karenkosowski Website: www.karenkosowski.com

Welcome to the episode 4 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today we feature the incredible Tara McLeod - one of the world's best touring and session guitarists, a kick-butt songwriter AND an app developer who's helping touring musicians make their life a whole lot easier.  Tara McLeod is also an absolute gem of a person, and is here to share her journey (so far) through the music industry. Here's a little background on Tara: In 2005, she joined acclaimed metal band "Kittie" and has toured the world AND recorded three full length albums with them. In 2017, she joined indie art pop band "No Joy" and has since recorded two albums with them. Tara has toured with award-winning musicians including "Shawn Desman" and "Fefe Dobson". She joined multi award-winning Canadian country music band "Nice Horse" in 2018 and rock group "One Bad Son" in 2021. She continues to write and record with all her projects. Instagram:  www.instagram.com/tara__mcleod Bandie App: https://www.bandieapp.com/ Nice Horse: https://www.nicehorsemusic.com/ One Bad Son: https://www.onebadson.com/

Welcome to the episode 3 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today we feature the lovely and talented Pam Sheyne - Multi-Platinum Selling Songwriter, Vocal Producer, Singer and Mentor. She will tell us all about coming up with her first melody as a child, writing "Genie In A Bottle" for Christina Aguilera, and learning how to do the world's best whistle solo. Based in Los Angeles, New Zealand born Pam Sheyne is a multi-platinum selling songwriter, singer and mentor.  Her song writing career has achieved success on a global scale and includes international hit records and song placements in numerous films and TV shows.  With 50+ million record sales, 100+ platinum sales, she is also a prestigious Ivor Novello Award winning songwriter.   As a singer, Pam has performed and recorded with many high profile artists including; Elton John, Celine Dion, The Pet Shop Boys, Cindy Lauper, Tom Jones, Laura Pausini, Lulu, Daryl Hall, and Dave Stewart.    Pam is best known for co-writing the global hit and Billboard #1 single, “Genie in a Bottle” for Christina Aguilera. Other artists who have recorded Pam's songs include: Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo, Jessica Simpson, Dream, Seal, Corrine Bailey Rae, Cece Winans, Tina Arena, The Backstreet Boys and Camila Cabello who earned international recognition and platinum status in the USA as well as a top 10 UK hit for her single “Crying In the Club”.   In the TV and film world, Pam has written end titles for “The Princess Diaries”, “Confessions of A Teenage Drama Queen” and Golden Globe nominated film “The Young Victoria”.  Pam's songs have featured in TV Disney films “Camp Rock” 1 & 2,  “Jump In”, “Hannah Montana”, “Sonny With A Chance” and numerous others.   Pam additionally co-wrote and sang the theme tune to the NBC series “Dance Your Ass Off” and appeared as the songwriting mentor in the first series of BBC TV's “Fame Academy”.     Pam served on the board of  SONA, (Songwriters of North America), she is advocate who fights to protect the value of songs and songwriter rights. SONA was one of the advocacy organisations, instrumental in lobbying for the Music Modernization Act, which passed unanimously in 2018.   Pam and her long time collaborator partner, Richard Harris launched SongWriterCamps in 2018. They offer songwriters mentoring through camps and workshops on both the craft of songwriting and songwriting for sync. www.pamelasheyne.com  www.songwritercamps.com www.wearesona.com   https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/pam-sheyne-songbook/pl.1a265b7d31f44add9b3966ac75f3dc5c

Welcome to the episode 2 of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Today we feature the incredible Kim Temple - a Juno-nominated musician who wears a few different hats in the Canadian music industry.  Kim is head of the publishing and sync division at Six Shooter Records, a 23-year-old women-owned and women-led company based in Toronto.  She is President of High Priestess Publishing, a joint venture created in partnership with Six Shooter whose core values are firmly aligned with those of the LGBTQ2S+ and racialized artist communities. Kim is also Senior Manager of Programming & Industry Relations at Music Publishers Canada which is the non-profit national trade association for music publishers. In her role there she oversees the Women In The Studio national accelerator, designed to support and uplift female-identifying, non-binary and gender fluid producer-songwriters. She also leads international song camps and B2B trade missions in key export territories. She currently sits on the music advisory committees for City of Toronto and Ontario Creates. Earlier this month she was presented with two awards at the Guild of Music Supervisors Sync Awards:  Best Indie Label Sync Team and Sync Artist of the Year for Tanya Tagaq.

Welcome to the first episode of "Women In The Music Industry", a podcast that shines a spotlight on the remarkable women who are breaking barriers and making their mark in an industry that has long been dominated by men. Our first guests is none other than Juno & ECMA nominated Singer, Songwriter and Performing/Recording Artist Shobha. Sit back and enjoy as she tells you how she went from singing in her bedroom in Halifax Canada to writing songs for today's worldwide pop artists - including a story of how she once performed an x-ray on Alex Lifeson from Rush. Shobha is an award winning Juno & ECMA nominated singer/songwriter/performing & recording artist based in Canada.  She is one half of the writing/production team The Fourth Floor with producer/songwriter Rob Wells. Since debuting on the music scene in 2008 with her first album "Work in Progress", Shobha's music has been garnering attention from around the world. Signed to a world-wide publishing deal with Sony Music Publishing, Shobha has been busy writing for today's top artists including Ria Mae, The Heist, Bobby Bazini, Tep No, Crystal Kay, Victoria Duffield, Kiki Rowe, Tyler Shaw, Theo Tams, Kolton Stewart, W Darling, Wild, Ana Golja and many others. Shobha has contributed to the soundtrack of Degrassi Next Class on Netflix with 5 new songs including the main theme as both artist and songwriter. Shobha's singles "Lost at Sea", "Traitor", "Not Gonna Let You Love Me" and many others can be heard on all streaming platforms. Accolades include: Top 10 Hit with “After Love – First Boyfriend”, by Japanese pop star Crystal Kay (Epic Records) Top 40 Hit with "Dizzy" by Tyler Shaw (Sony Music) Best R&B Soul song, Best R&B Soul female artist and Best R&B Soul Album (Toronto Exclusive Magazine Awards) Toronto Independent Music Award for “Best Urban" Winner of numerous singer/songwriting competitions, including being a finalist in the 2021 International Songwriting Competition Grand prize winner of Astral Media's "Canadian Radio Star" #26 on Billboard's Emerging Canadian Artists National airplay led by CHUM-FM   Instagram: @shobhamusic