Inside the Music with StereoRuss

This episode is being presented as part of Hamilton Arts Week (running from July 2-9) which includes more than 200 events and activities. Arts week is presented by Hamilton Arts Council with support from the City of Hamilton, and the Government of Canada. Check out all the event listings at theartycrowd.ca   Connect with Hamilton Arts Council & The Arty Crowd https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca...

Superstar Crush are BACK and they're in their WARTORTLE ERA! Fresh off opening for Wolf Parade, the Hamilton group joins StereoRuss for a conversation about Rococo-inspired stage aesthetics, finding your people, and the surreal experience of sharing bills with artists they’ve admired for years. It’s funny, thoughtful, and chalked full of Pokémon evolution metaphors.   Connect with Superstar Crush...

A few days before the Junos, Aysanabee joined me at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton to talk about returning to the awards with two new nominations (which he won by the way)! We got into his approach to live performance, scoring a goal on an NHL goalie, learning with covers from Leon Bridges, Sam Roberts, and Justin Bieber, his self-taught guitar style, and why he’s releasing a stripped-back ac...

I sat down live in-studio with DJ’s Flying Circus, a growing collective of musicians. What started as jam sessions and covers has turned into original music, a rotating lineup, and a full scale live experience they call The Book of Funk. We talk about where it all started, how they balance life's obligations and creativity, and what it means to commit to something when there’s no clear path forwar...

Tiger Balme is a Toronto based indie pop collective reinventing what a band can look (and sound) like. With vibraphone, harp, guitar, drums, and lush three part harmonies, Tiger Balme blends pop, indie, and art rock into something entirely their own. In this conversation, the band dives into their origins as a songwriting collective, how shared leadership shapes their sound, and why no one person...

Jack Stearns-Ley is a Hamilton based singer songwriter exploring the space between lo-fi intimacy and expansive, collaborative sound. Centred around piano but shaped by a rotating cast of musicians, Jack’s music blends singer songwriter roots with jazz, ambient textures, and a sense of organized spontaneity. His latest project, Dottie’s Sketchbook, is as much about process as it is about the songs...

Finbar Wall of The Commune is one of the most compelling voices coming out of Hamilton right now. Fin and I sit down at Catherine North Studios to talk about community, craft, and what it really means to build a band without gatekeeping. From recording their early EP JUMA for the price of pizza, to lugging drywall, to discussing their recent run of shows with Tom Wilson, Daniel Lanois, and Junkhou...

Olivia Brown is the bandleader and bassist of Junestone, for a fun convo on improvisation, songwriting, live performance, and what it really means to trust your band. Recorded at Catherine North Studios, the conversation explores how Junestone blends funk, pop, jazz, and free flowing improvisation, why they prioritize live off the floor recording, and how creating a safe creative space leads to be...

Gareth Inkster is an independent singer/songwriter and pianist for the band Golden Feather from Hamilton, Ontario. Today we sit down for a deep, thoughtful conversation about creativity, authenticity, and what it means to be a musician in a world obsessed with outcomes. We talk about Gareth’s journey through the Hamilton music scene, his role in Golden Feather, and why long form, exploratory music...

Aysanabee is a two-time Juno award winning artist who will be playing at Bridgeworks in Hamilton, Ontario this Sunday December 7 in support of his third and latest album “Edge of the Earth”. In this interview, we dive into the making of "Edge of the Earth", the story behind its album cover, and Aysanabee’s journey through 180+ shows across the world. We also get into his soul and folk influences,...

Mark Furukawa (aka DJ Mark) is the owner of Dr. Disc Records, legendary Hamilton DJ, community builder, and one of the city’s most enduring champions of local music.   Mark has been running Dr. Disc since 1991, outlasting corporate giants like HMV, surviving the Napster era, and navigating the chaos of COVID. We also talk DJ philosophy, the emotional power of physical music, and the joy of creatin...

Danny Miles is the drummer for July Talk, producer, DJ, photographer, and all around creative force. We dig deep into his journey: from touring the world with July Talk, to his solo projects, producing hip-hop inspired instrumentals, and even releasing a photography and poetry book, The Beauty of Vultures.   Credits: Recorded at Catherine North Studios (Hamilton, Ontario) Produced by StereoRuss an...

Ariana Fig is back on Inside the Music! She is a singer, songwriter, and producer, this time with even more stories, songs, and laughs. Two years after her first interview, Ariana talks with StereoRuss about how her sound and mindset have evolved while creating her soon to be released debut album, So Long Sinner State.   Credits Recorded at Catherine North Studios (Hamilton, Ontario) Produced by S...

StereoRuss goes on location at Into the Abyss Records with Public Health, Hamilton’s latest noise rock quartet. They talk about building community through DIY spaces, pushing sonic boundaries with harsh tones and feedback, and the inspirations that shaped their sound. Topics in this interview: What makes a DIY venue different from a bar How Public Health evolved from psych rock to noise rock The r...

Buddha Abusah is a hip hop artist, producer, engineer, who brings his raw and honest energy for an uplifting conversation about music, fatherhood, and staying true to your path. Buddha opens up about the meaning behind his name, the philosophy of be, do, have, and why he believes creativity should never be compromised by ego, money, or outside expectations. The two talk about the balance between f...

StereoRuss visits the eclectic Tape Studio for conversation with Adam Bentley: musician, producer, and founder of the music marketing company Auteur Research (since recording the company has changed it's name to Echo Myron). Adam opens up about his early days in the Hamilton indie scene, how a fictional label and a MySpace hustle turned into a 15+ year career helping artists reach new audiences, a...

Danny Smart is a producer, musician, and podcast host working out of the vibrant Halo Studio in Hamilton, Ontario. Originally from a small town in England, Danny shares his journey from cruise ship performer to becoming a key player in Hamilton’s music scene. He reflects on his love for country music, his early musical influences (shoutout Johnny Cash), and what ultimately drew him to Canada, and...

Tom Meikle (aka Mappe Of) is a genre bending vocalist, guitarist, and electronic musician. We explore the layered, emotional worlds behind his music and discuss his upcoming album Afterglades which will be released September 19. Recorded at Catherine North Studios, Tom’s creative second home, Tom opens up about his creative process, from guitar-forward songwriting to glitchy modular synth experime...

Will Crann is a producer and co-owner of the the legendary Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario. Will shares his journey to becoming co-owner of one of Hamilton’s most beloved recording spaces. He opens up about his early days playing bass in House Art, how a broken piece of gear led to an internship that turned into studio ownership, and why he's grateful for the people he works with. The...

Robb Cappelletto is back! Robb is a world renowned jazz guitarist who just released his latest album Float with his instrumental jazz-fusion group Re.verse. Robb shares the band’s journey from weekly bar residencies to headlining the Toronto Jazz Festival, and how years of live performance and experimentation shaped the tight, genre-blending sound on Float. He breaks down the balance between compo...

Inside the Music is on location at an elementary school in Dundas, Ontario, part rehearsal space, part recording studio, and emotional headquarters for Hamilton’s rising indie rock band, Superstar Crush. StereoRuss sits down with Marzieh, Sam, Chloe, and Truaxe to talk about their new album Way Too Much, chatting producer Tyler Kyte of Dwayne Gretzky, balancing DIY roots with lush arrangements, an...

Aidan Robson is a producer and tour manager who works out of Hamilton’s legendary Catherine North Studios. Aidan opens up about his musical roots in punk and country, his evolution as a producer, and his recent work with artist Dean James on the road and in the studio. Together, they explore the creative process behind Dean's latest single “Burned It Down,” from remote recording sessions in Omemee...

StereoRuss welcomes back beloved Hamilton singer songwriter Bernadette Connors for her fourth appearance on the show! Together, they dive deep into Bernadette’s journey from Georgina to Hamilton, the emotional evolution behind her songwriting, and the release of her powerful new single “White Magnolia.” With stories of vulnerability, growth, and the importance of community, this candid conversatio...

Jesse Adams is a pop singer and songwriter whose energy is as infectious as her hooks. We chat cats, Fabio, and the ever important question: how many dancers is the correct number of dancers for a live musical performance? It was the best of times, it was the worst of times... it was a great time! Recorded at the legendary Catherine North Studio, this episode is full of fun, flair, and a whole lot...

Orchidae is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist from Gatineau, Quebec, and joins StereoRuss along with the very funky bassist Greggory Clark. We dive into the highs and lows of tour life, the many faces of artistic expression, and the joy of making friends along the way. Not only does this episode feature a live performance, but we also take a call live on air for an unexpected twist in our chat....