Refolkus

Today, we are releasing the fourth episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Louis Robitaille, the Artistic Director of Lunenburg Folk Harbour Festival in the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage town of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Louis discusses the format of the festival, which includ...

Today on ReFolkUs, we chat to Aysanabee. We discuss the incredible trajectory of his career — from his roots as a journalist to a fulltime music artist. He also delves into how he became the first artist signed to Ishkōdé Records, reflects on his experience performing at the 2023 Juno Awards and discusses why he feels every musician should be attending music conferences. Buy/Listen to Aysanabee’s...

Today, we are releasing the third episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to James Keelaghan, the Artistic Director of Summerfolk Music and Crafts Festival in Owen Sound, Ontario. James chats to us about what he looks for when programming the lineup and booking artists for the fe...

Today on ReFolkUs, we chat to Janice Jo Lee about the interplay between identity and creativity. Janice discusses how her Korean identity informs the narrative of her creative expression, and how music and art that is rooted in personal identity evoke both empathy and connection. Janice also fills us in on her latest album, Ancestor Song and discusses the themes that are present within. Buy/Listen...

Today, we are releasing the second episode in our series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Carly McFadden, the Artistic Director of Folk On The Rocks Music Festival in the Northwest Territories. Carly chats to us about what the experience is like both attending and performing at the festivals...

We're excited to kick off the first episode in a series titled ‘The Art of Booking’ where we speak with Artistic Directors of music festivals from across Canada. In this week's episode, we chat to Kerry Clarke, the Artistic Director behind the renowned Calgary Folk Festival and its winter counterpart, Block Heater. Kerry walks us through her process of curating the festival lineup and shares insig...

This week on ReFolkUs, we chat with Just Prince about his musical influences from both Eastern classical and Western music. Through his superb musicianship and artistry, he weaves these influences together to create a distinctive sound that is uniquely his own. Just Prince also discusses his ambitions for the future as a music artist, his strategies for overcoming self-doubt and discusses his rece...

In this week’s episode of ReFolkUs, we chat with Barbra Lica about the urgent need for a more sustainable music industry. Focusing on the value artists bring and the importance of prioritizing joy in music-making, Barbra offers a unique perspective on the hurdles confronting artists within the industry and ideas for overcoming them on both a personal and collective level. Buy/Stream Barbra Lica’s...

In this week’s episode of ReFolkUs, we chat to entertainment lawyer Byron Pascoe, a partner at Edwards Creative Law, about the world of entertainment law and the important role a lawyer plays in a musician or creative worker's career.  We delve into negotiating contracts, knowing your rights, and how the right lawyer will serve as both an advocate and advisor to help navigate the complex landscape...

Welcome back to season 2 of ReFolkUs. We have a very exciting season ahead where we chat to artists and music industry professionals about building sustainable careers as creative workers, with a focus on folk. This week’s episode is a recording of a live listening party and conversation with folk legend Sylvia Tyson that took place at this year’s Folk Music Ontario Conference. We chat to Sylvia a...

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. In this week’s episode, we chat to Melanie Brulée, the Executive Director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC). Melanie shares her recommendations and what to expect when attending a music conference wh...

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. Named after Estelle Klein, a long-time advocate of Canadian Folk music and one of the initial founders of the Folk festival scene, the Estelle Klein Award honours the work of an individual or group that has made...

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. Named after Estelle Klein, a long-time advocate of Canadian Folk music and one of the initial founders of the Folk festival scene, the Estelle Klein Award honours the work of an individual or group that has made...

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...