Music Buddy

Music releases dopamine, and dopamine makes us feel good! It’s a scientific fact. We get happy when we listen to music. Who doesn't love going to see their favourite band live, or singing along to a treasured album, or staring out the car window with the perfect road song on the radio. But there's so much more to it than that... In her remarkable debut book Wired for Music: A Search for...

Alan Matheson is a much-admired jazz composer, trumpeter, pianist, and educator. He is an expert in jazz history, and leads his own big band, nonet, septet and trio. Alan has performed with the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra,  Louis Bellson, and Phil Woods, and has taught at several music programs in the Vancouver area, including Vancouver Community College, and UBC. In this episode, Alan talks abou...

Tim Vesely is a bassist, guitarist, songwriter, composer, and sound engineer. Best-known as a co-founder (with Dave Bidini) of the much-revered Canadian art-rock band Rheostatics , Tim has also recorded 2 albums and an EP with his own band The Violet Archers .  Tim is the House Engineer at Blue Rodeo's Woodshed Studio in Toronto's Riverdale neighbourhood. Tim and Jane have worked togethe...

Steve "Lips" Kudlow and Robb Reiner aka "The Hungo Hammer" have been bandmates and rock 'n roll co-conspirators since the 1970s. Their band Anvil had massive success in the 1980s after the release of their now-classic album, "Metal is Metal".  Bands such as Anthrax, Slayer, and Metallica all credit Anvil with having influenced their sound.  Due to forces beyond t...

Gill Deacon is a much-loved radio broadcaster and host of CBC Radio’s Here and Now . She is also a best-selling author, a hard-working Mom of 3 boys, an advocate for green living, and a dynamic singer and entertainer. A 2-time breast cancer survivor, Gill has bravely spoken and written on the topic of her diagnosis and treatment. In this conversation, Gill talks about the joy of playing in bands (...

Andy Maize and Josh Finlayson are the founders of Toronto’s much-loved roots rock band, Skydiggers. In this conversation, they offer up insight gained over a successful 35+ year career, one fuelled by hard work, passion, creativity, love, and good humour.   Andy and Josh discuss the art of songwriting, the secrets to surviving on the road and staying focused on stage, and how recording their upcom...

Koralee Tonack is a gifted singer and long-time bandmate of Music Buddy host, Jane Gowan. As musical collaborators in the 90s and early 2000s, Koralee and Jane developed a unique but accessible sound, first as the acoustic folk/pop duo Time Waits, then gradually evolving to form Spygirl, a 6-piece power pop group. Enjoy the conversation between two good friends as they talk about the joys and chal...

In this episode, Director and Producer Mike Downie sits down with Jane for an in-depth conversation that will transport you onto a documentary film set, then backstage at a Tragically Hip concert (with alter-ego Buddy Scrotts), then to a Legacy School in Edmonton, then back in time to an epic rock show in the 1970s, before landing you in the alley behind Toronto's Legendary Horseshoe Tavern....

Stephen Stanley is a veteran of the Canadian indie rock scene, a stellar singer-songwriter, a prolific storyteller, gifted guitarist, and a radio DJ,. He was a founding member of the alternative rock band Lowest of the Low , with whom he toured extensively for many years, and also released 4 albums, including 1991’s much-loved, Shakespeare My Butt .  He now records and performs as The Stephen Stan...

Wayne Stewart is a Musician, Actor, Emcee, Stage Manager, and much more.  He can work up a crowd like nobody's business, and compose a montuno in minutes. In this episode, Wayne reveals how to get a  jazz audience to chill and chuckle, what Wynton Marsalis taught him about mic-ing a band, and how a toxic social climate permeated the lives of so many jazz legends.  He also talks about the thri...

Paul is a seasoned sportscaster and play-by-play guy, having called games all over the world. In addition to an illustrious career in radio and TV, he’s also a writer, teacher, voice-over artist and podcaster. His podcast The Walrus Was Paul is a fabulous deep dive in  to the music of The Beatles, where various Canadian musical guests unpack their favourite Beatles’ album, track by track. In this...

Andrew Cash is a musician, singer-songwriter, journalist, politician, and lifelong social justice advocate.   In this episode, Andrew talks about growing up Catholic in Scarborough, starting a band in the 80s, playing at the infamous Edge Club, singing with his brother Pete Cash, befriending Andy Maize of the Skydiggers, living in Kensington Market, running for office, serving as NDP MP for the ri...

Author and journalist Tim Falconer loves music with a passion, especially the sound of the human voice, breaking into song. However, Tim is tone deaf, a condition formally known as "amusic". His 2016 book Bad Singer   candidly reveals the bold and emotional journey he took to uncover his amusic diagnosis. In this episode, Tim shares personal stories about his relationship to music, why t...

In the late 1990s, Marnie Grey developed "Music with Marnie" - a unique method of teaching music and movement to young kids. Using props, puppets, dance moves and sing-alongs, she delighted young audiences.  Before long, parents were lining up around the block to register for classes, and kids were filling gyms to attend her concerts. In this episode, Marnie talks about how it all starte...

Following two concussions, teacher and music lover Lisa Sabino developed tinnitus and hyperacusis. In this episode, Lisa speaks openly about how she navigates life with sound sensitivity, and the various ways in which she's working to get back to her concert-going self. Lisa's Learning Centre: Kaleidoscope Learning Munk Hearing Centre https://www.munkhearingcentre.ca/ To make a donation...

Steve Wright is a singer, songwriter, rocker, composer, sound enthusiast, and teacher.  He created the Sound Space, an all-ages music-making and learning hub, on the Sunshine Coast in British Columbia, Canada. In this episode, Steve talks about creating music with seniors, learning from teens, and rocking out every day. MUSIC BUDDY SESSION: "Write To Me", by Steve Wright Performed by Ste...

Musician, singer, songwriter and actor Ryan Myshrall (a.k.a. Chuck Phillips Jr.) talks about growing up the son of a DJ, playing music with life-long pals, moving to the country, recording his newest album "Ramblin' Roll" and weird things that can happen at the gym. More about Ryan: Chuck Phillips Jr. on Apple Music Oldies 990 The theme song "Human Stuff" is written by Jan...