Refolkus

ReFolkUs is back with a special pre-conference drop, where we will be releasing four episodes prior to the Folk Music Ontario Conference being held in London, Ontario on October 12th-15th. One-on-one meetings, also known as pitch meetings or speed meetings, are a dedicated time for two people to meet - at Folk Music Ontario, we call them ‘Lightning Talks’. They take place online pre-conference and...

In this week’s episode of ReFolkUs, we dive into the world of wellness for musicians, with special guest Anna Ruddick, a renowned bassist, and passionate advocate for musicians' mental, physical, and financial well-being.  Navigating the intricate landscape of a creative career can be a daunting task for anyone, but musicians face unique circumstances that demand a specialized approach. Anna’s ext...

In this episode Rosalyn sits down with Ben Whiteley, a talented bassist and multi-instrumentalist from Toronto. Ben comes from a family of professional musicians and has an impressive career performing with renowned artists such as Basia Bulat, Julia Jacklin, and Sarah Harmer. He has also made appearances on NPR's Tiny Desk concerts and various international festivals.  Ben dives into his musical...

In this episode, Rosalyn sits down with Saskia Tomkins, as they discuss the invitations for vulnerability that can come with the highs and lows of living in a post-pandemic age. Tune in, as they consider concepts of self-discovery, creative expression, and having the courage to take the lead in sharing your story; as Saskia also offers listeners her reflections on how she navigates the connection...

Late night gigs. Recording Sessions. Touring. The erratic schedules of working musicians make work-life balance a tough thing to achieve. Add a partner and a growing child to the mix, and finding that balance gets even tougher! In this episode, Rosalyn sits down with Moonfruits Alex Millaire and Kaitlin Milroy, as they share their experiences, insights, and lessons learned while balancing the dema...

Embracing your Entreprenurial Self with Jenny Whiteley Today we sit down with multiple JUNO Award-winning folk singer Jenny Whiteley, to explore her unique journey growing up in a “working-musician” family, to coming into her own as an entrepreneur within the music industry. Now, Jenny is running a successful series of music camps, along with continuing to write and perform. Join us as we discover...

Today we have the honour of sitting down with the multi-talented singer-songwriter, Julian Taylor to explore the challenges he faced and the strategies he employed to build resilience and achieve artistic growth.  Julian's career has been a testament to the power of perseverance. From his early days as a fully DIY musician to his current status as a celebrated artist, Julian has weathered the stor...

As creatives, we often feel more comfortable telling other people’s stories rather than our own. What facts should you include? How do you ensure you sound humble, articulate and interesting without seeming egotistical? Just like any art form, there’s a combination of art and science that goes into writing your bio, and our guest, No Depression editor Hilary Saunders, has mastered the combination...

It’s a fallacy to believe that if you  love to perform, that you won’t get nervous… Or that if you’re working in your passion, that you won’t feel anxiety. The truth is actually anything but, and musicians and artists, like any humans, can feel stressed before, during and after performances (i.e. at any time in life!). But don’t let the truth about stress get you down. The path forward to creating...

Folk has been described as music  “by the people, for the people” but does that include all people? In today’s episode, we chat with Folk Recovery Executive Producer, Kejo Buchanan, who walks us through their thoughts of how the future of folk is being defined by Artists and Community.  We chat about the different ways in which gatekeepers still prevail in this genre, and celebrate the ways in whi...

With free social media platforms easily accesible to everybody, what are the advantages to keeping a website up and running? Today, we talk with Bandzoogle's Learning and Development Coordinator, Joseph Longo to analyse the digital landscape, and how to optimize your online calling cards. Learn tips on designing your website, how to properly market yourself online, and ways to harness online tools...

A Banjoist's Guide To Marketing with Chris Coole What if we told you that to be successful in marketing your music, you did not have to be on social media?  So many musicians struggle to keep up with the content creation process, but what if it wasn’t completely necessary?   In today’s episode, we talk with Chris Coole, and discuss how he has successfully run marketing for his business with nothin...

Learning a new instrument can be a daunting task for anyone, especially when it’s an instrument that isn’t seen regularly in the Western World. Our guest today, Sophie Lukacs did just that in her early twenties when she was first exposed to the kora. After studying with various teachers in Burkina Faso, Paris and Mali she got out of her comfort zone and started improvising during performances. Thi...

Have you ever thought about what it takes to get started in the ever-expanding world of live-streaming? In this mini episode, successful Twitch streamer, Danielle Allard, joins us to give a quick rundown on how you can easily start to test the waters of live streaming too! Listen in as she highlights the basic requirements needed to get started, as well as some tips to get you off on the right foo...

“The show must go on!”  That was Danielle Allard’s thinking when the pandemic suspended all of her live in-person performances for the foreseeable future.  Wanting to continue to perform, write and grow, Danielle turned to Twitch, where she began to build an online audience by live streaming her writing and recording sessions. Now, she has a Twitch community of almost 20K followers who tune in to...

Whether it’s through lyrics that resonate, musicality that moves emotionally, or stage performances that build incredible memories, building a connection with their audience is an artist’s highest aim. After all, music has a special place in the human experience. Once you’ve formed a connection - a memory - tied to music, just hearing that song can bring you back to that special time and place.  M...

It’s a feeling folks know all too well: the inner dread that sets in as tax season approaches. After all, you got into a creative field for a reason, and the thought of pivoting to accounting and balance sheets can be incredibly daunting. But fear not, sole proprietors, artist entrepreneurs, and creative CEOs; today we are joined by Sondra Gold, CPA, who breaks down the keys to filing fast and fil...

You may not know the term ‘stagecraft’ when you read it, but when you see a musician who takes this term to heart, you can definitely see the results. JUNO-Award winning Angelique Francis, is one of those artists.  Her live shows are a thrilling mix of musicianship and choreography, but what goes into the planning of a truly energetic and captivating live show?   This week, as we dive into her car...

Two years ago, our guest left a successful career doing what she loved in one of the most sought-after industry jobs: Music Supervision.  Why? Burnout.  Today, we speak with Dondrea Erauw, the author of Bye Bye Burnout , a newsletter dedicated to providing insight and tips on how to avoid unhealthy work habits, and turn burnout into creativity. Working a job in the music industry can be wonderfull...

Artists can experience some of the highest highs and lowest lows while they ride the emotional rollercoaster that comes with life in the music industry, and it can be overwhelming to switch between these vastly different feelings both on and off the stage. While positive and negative periods can be (mostly) out of our control, our guest today, Cindy Doire, is here to share strategies to manage emo...

Full-disclosure, Kaia and I don’t get to talking about Composing for Film and Television until about 20 minutes into this conversation. We start by discussing the early stages of her career learning clawhammer banjo from the legendary Mitch Podolak, attending various Old-Time music camps in West Virginia, and growing up in Canada’s Folk Festival scene.  Then, in 2018 after 2 years of extensive tou...

Introducing ReFolkUs. A new podcast by Folk Music Ontario, for folk artists and music industry professionals who want to learn how to make money, find their creative community, and stay grounded and healthy in this intensely stressful but heart-centred industry.    Each episode, we tap into the most inspirational minds from every corner of the music industry and discuss how to build your business,...