Refolkus

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,...