ifitbeyourwill Podcast

Matt Gallaway ’s creative journey unfolds like a carefully crafted album—each chapter a different sound or mood, yet all tied together by a thread of honest self-expression. From basement jam sessions in Brooklyn to publishing acclaimed novels, Matt’s story is a powerful reminder of how art can shape, and be shaped by, personal transformation. In our conversation, Matt shares how Saturnine came to...

Pieter Van Dessel takes us on an unexpected journey from law student to the creative force behind Marble Sounds, revealing how serendipity and persistence shaped his musical evolution. When his wife received a grant to work in Montreal in 2005, Pieter's planned sabbatical transformed into musical opportunity after landing a position at a recording studio. This fortuitous circumstance provided...

What happens when a musician rediscovers their creativity after a 15-year hiatus? Neil Hill's journey with his project SHOPFIRES answers this question with a soul-stirring blend of reverb-drenched melodies and DIY ethos. Unlike many musicians, Neil grew up in a home devoid of musical influence. No parental record collections, no instruments lying around—just the chance encounters with music t...

What happens when toxic furnace fumes accidentally become part of your album's creative process? M Ross Perkins shares this surreal discovery and much more as we delve into his methodical approach to DIY music production. Growing up with a baseball bat as his imaginary guitar and the crushing disappointment of a shattered Chipmunks record, Perkins' musical journey reflects his systematic...

Ever wondered how a great band finds its voice? Sheffield's dream pop trio Pale Blue Eyes offers a fascinating glimpse into the alchemy of friendship, creativity, and musical evolution that shapes extraordinary music. Fresh off their spring UK tour, Matt and Lucy describe how their most recent performances felt like "one big party" with their best mates, culminating in their biggest...

Sibling trio Womb takes us behind the scenes of their dreamy shoegaze sound and shared creative journey. From their childhood musical foundations to the evolution of their distinctive sound, this conversation reveals the beautiful simplicity of creating art with family. Haz and Georgette (GiGi) share the remarkable story of their musical heritage, tracing back to a great-great-grandfather who hold...

What happens when a band decides to record not just one album, but a complete 52-song deck of cards? Ryan Walsh of Hallelujah the Hills takes us deep into his most ambitious creative undertaking yet. "DECK" represents what Walsh calls "revenge creativity" – a defiant response to the pandemic that halted their momentum following their acclaimed 2019 album "I'm You.&quo...

Nick Bendzsa sits down with us to peel back the layers of his musical metamorphosis from synth-pop architect to folk-trap innovator. The Newfoundland native, now based in Montreal, candidly reveals how his sound has evolved alongside his personal journey. Growing up with a music professor father who specialized in experimental and improvised compositions, Nick absorbed the spirit of musical freedo...

When does a musical project truly end? Scott Garred of Super XX Man thought he had written the final chapter when he crafted an obituary for his 30-year-old band. Yet somehow, what began as a nostalgic blog post excavating old flyers and cassettes transformed into an unexpected resurrection. The creative spark reignited when longtime collaborator Allie Wesley reached out after seeing Scott's...

Garage punk with heart and soul? Australian band Delivery proves it's not only possible—it's transformative. When Rebecca Allen and James Lynch first connected romantically eight years ago, they weren't immediately thinking musical collaboration. Despite James gifting Rebecca her first bass guitar and both gravitating toward punk sounds, they maintained separate musical journeys unt...

Meet liz uninvited , an emerging voice in Toronto's indie folk scene whose journey from classical pianist to DIY songwriter reveals the beautiful alchemy that happens when traditional training meets raw creative necessity. Our conversation uncovers how Liz's 12-year classical piano background initially hindered rather than helped her songwriting ambitions. The structured nature of classi...

Ever wondered how music that feels so effortless and dreamy actually comes together? Bill from Darksoft pulls back the curtain on his creative process, revealing the fascinating intersection of mathematical precision and emotional resonance that defines his signature sound. Growing up surrounded by music—with a cellist mother and pianist father who pioneered home recording—Bill's path to beco...

What happens when music transforms from an obligation to a lifeline? UK singer-songwriter Sophie Jamieson takes us on her remarkable journey from classical training to authentic self-expression in this deeply moving conversation. Growing up with piano lessons and orchestral bassoon playing, Sophie never truly connected with music until she discovered songwriting in university. During a period of m...

Dive into the creative world of Brooklyn-based indie artist Caroline Strickland as she unpacks the emotional journey behind her latest EP "Martha's Calling." From humble beginnings playing her father's guitar at age 13 to forming her high school band "RIP ROX" (named after her drummer's deceased lizard), Caroline's path to songwriting authenticity reveals th...

Musicians often speak of finding their voice, but for Zoya Zafar, that journey has been both literal and metaphorical. The Orlando-based indie folk artist takes us through her evolution from a shy child who couldn't sing in front of others to a songwriter whose dreamy, atmospheric compositions have drawn comparisons to Mazzy Star and Cat Power. What makes Zafar's story particularly compe...

A conversation with Stella Birdie feels like stumbling upon a secret diary—intimate, raw, and unexpectedly illuminating. Speaking from her candlelit porch in Australia as dawn breaks, Stella reveals how songwriting became her way to process emotions too complex for everyday conversation. "I want to ruminate on things much longer than most people want to," she confesses, perfectly capturi...

Owen Ashworth returns to the podcast to discuss his latest Advance Base album "Horrible Occurrences" and the beautifully human stories woven throughout its tracks. Rather than rehashing his origin story (covered in our previous episode), we dive deep into his current creative approach and the emotional weight of performing these vulnerable new songs. The conversation takes us into Owen&a...

Ever wonder how the humming of air conditioners could inspire an entire album? Tim Rutili, the creative force behind Califone and former member of Red Red Meat, takes us deep into his unconventional musical world where everyday sounds become extraordinary compositions. Rutili's musical journey reveals a fascinating evolution from his early punk roots to his current experimental approach. &quo...

What happens when lifelong musical appreciation finally transforms into creation? In this candid conversation, Brooklyn-based musician Avery Friedman reveals the surprisingly recent journey that led to her debut album "New Thing," set for April 2025 release. From her earliest memories singing alto in her Ohio school choir to becoming a devoted music fan and reviewer in college, Friedman&...

Fionn Montague from the Dublin-based band Bedrooms takes us on a journey through their musical evolution culminating in their 2024 album "Perfectly Still." The conversation opens with memories of childhood weekends filled with disco, soul, and ballads—musical foundations that unconsciously shaped his approach to songwriting and melody. Meeting vocalist Dev in high school (coincidentally...

Danny Bateman's musical journey unfolds like a richly textured composition – beginning with classical piano at age seven, where he discovered the profound connection between player and composer. "I'm experiencing what Mozart's body feels like 200 years later," he reflects, highlighting how this early training built the foundation for his innovative approach to songwriting....

Dive deep into the indie rock world of French band EggS with frontman Charles Daneau, who joins us from Paris to unpack the band's musical evolution and creative philosophy. Charles reveals how discovering American lo-fi bands like Guided by Voices and Beat Happening fundamentally shaped his approach to music, showing him that expression matters more than technical perfection. The conversatio...

Carolina Chauffe, performing as Hemlock, has spent the past year and three months as a musical nomad, never staying in one place for more than two weeks. Transmitting from Chicago between tour stops, she describes this lifestyle as a delicate balance of the "miraculous and exhausting" — finding empowerment and community connection while sacrificing stability and proximity to loved ones....

From punk rock venues in Edmonton to London art galleries, Alan D Boyd's creative journey spans decades and continents while remaining true to his Canadian roots. The musician, filmmaker, and sonic explorer shares the winding path that led him to form Movieland in early 90s Vancouver—a band whose unreleased recordings have found surprising new life through 604 Records' Decades imprint. B...

Returning guest Zach Keim takes us behind the scenes of his stunning sophomore album "Battery Lane," revealing how a street address in Bethesda, Maryland became the cornerstone of his musical reinvention. With characteristic openness, Zach shares the fascinating origin story of his hit single "Canyon" — recorded as a voice memo while delivering Uber Eats during the pandemic — a...