The Talk Music Podcast

Hi and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast ! Today’s guest is the kind of artist who reminds you why live music matters in the first place. STEVE POLTZ  (born in Halifax) isn’t just a singer-songwriter—he’s a storyteller extraordinaire and a master of turning the unpredictable into something unforgettable. Whether he’s crafting deeply moving lyrics or spinning hilarious, off-...

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast! Few artists embody the spirit of soul, roots, blues, and storytelling quite like my guest today, SHAKURA S’AIDA. Brooklyn-born and Swiss-raised, Shakura has spent over four decades igniting stages and connecting with audiences around the world. A three-time JUNO Award nominee and internationally celebrated performer, she has to...

Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast! If you love jaw-dropping guitar playing and high-octane rock then listen up, because if you haven’t discovered JACOB DERAPS yet… now is the time. Hailing from St-Georges, Quebec, Jacob has exploded onto the modern rock scene as one of the most electrifying young guitarists out there. His playing blends insane technical pre...

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of  THE TALK MUSIC PODCAST! I recently caught an incredible show featuring Canadian arena rock legends Triumph and April Wine—and I’m still buzzing from it. So I’m especially excited to welcome my guest: guitarist extraordinaire  BRIAN GREENWAY  who’s been a driving force behind April Wine’s sound since 1977!  When you talk about Cana...

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast. With RECORD STORE DAY happening this Saturday, April 18, I’m joined by DERRY GREHAN of HONEYMOON SUITE—this year’s Canadian ambassadors—alongside global ambassador Bruno Mars and Record Store Legend award recipient, Robert Plant. Record Store Day began in 2007 as a celebration of independent record store culture—nearly 1,4...

Hi and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast! What does it take to build a global rock career—from underground scenes to arena stages?  This episode dives deep with  WALLY VAN MIDDENDORP  a powerhouse music executive whose fingerprints are all over the international rock and alternative landscape. Now based in London and working with In De Goot Management as Senior Vi...

Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of The   Talk Music Podcast ! This episode is a particularly special one for me on a personal level, as I take a trip back to my days as an A&R scout for RCA Records in New York —when I had the incredible opportunity to work closely with none other than GENE SIMMONS. During that time, I discovered and signed the rock band GYPSY ROSE out of Sarnia.&n...

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast! In this episode, my guest is founding member MATTHEW GILSENAN as we take a deep dive into one of Ireland’s most remarkable musical exports — The CELTIC TENORS.  For over 25 years, The CELTIC TENORS have been blending classical technique, Celtic tradition and contemporary repertoire, appealing to audiences far beyond the tr...

Hi everyone, welcome back to another season of  THE TALK MUSIC Podcast ! I’m thrilled to announce my first guest is  Ben Wells  from global rock powerhouse,  Black Stone Cherry . Born in the backwoods of Edmonton, Kentucky, Black Stone Cherry have spent over two decades reinventing Southern rock with a vicious breed   of melodic-heavy riffs and soulful grit. Formed in...

This week on The Talk Music Podcast, my guest is the enchanting  CANDICE NIGHT — the radiant voice and creative force behind  Blackmore’s Night , the internationally beloved Renaissance-folk-rock project she co-founded with her husband, legendary guitarist  Ritchie Blackmore (yes —  that  Ritchie Blackmore, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon who when with  Deep &nb...

This week my guest on The Talk Music Podcast is powerhouse vocalist  Rick Hughes — known for fronting Canadian metal titans SWORD.  (METALLICA are such huge fans they personally invited the band to open for them) With a career that blasted off in the 80s metal scene and took him around the world, Rick is now stepping forward with  REDEMPTION,  his first international solo album...

Hi everyone! My Talk Music guest this week is LILY SAZZ— singer-songwriter, bandleader, and now producer of her first solo album! Her brand new record, WHAT JUST HAPPENED, has just been released, and it’s an absolute must-listen! The album features deeply personal songwriting sprinkled with refreshing humour and showcases fantastic performances from a star-studded lineup of special guests — Colin...

This week, my guests on The Talk Music Podcast are  Darcy Ataman , Founder of  Make   Music Matter ,  and  Caitlin Morrison , Executive Director of  Matthew Perry House  and sister of the late actor. Their organizations have joined forces to launch  LIVE LOUD —a bold new partnership harnessing the power of entertainment and celebrity to amplify con...

Hi everybody, I’m incredibly delighted to welcome  STEVE HACKETT  as my guest for this episode of  The Talk Music Podcast. Steve is one of the most innovative and influential guitarists to emerge from the progressive rock movement. Born in 1950, he spent a year in Vancouver at the age of seven before growing up in the UK, eventually rising to prominence as a member of  GENESIS...

Hi, everybody!  I’m thrilled that my guest for this episode is Mark “WEISSGUY” Weiss, one of the most iconic rock photographers of the past four decades, whose lens has helped define the visual language of rock and metal! From capturing the raw energy of bands like Guns N’ Roses, Kiss, Metallica, Mötley Crüe, Bon Jovi, Ozzy Osbourne, Van Halen, Twisted Sister, Aerosmith and countless oth...

Hi everyone! My fascinating guest this week is  Michael Bishop , a.k.a.  Blöthar the Berserker  from the legendary band  GWAR !  Formed in Richmond, Virginia in 1984, GWAR is known for outrageous sci-fi/horror costumes, over-the-top theatrical shows, and a wild intergalactic warrior backstory. They’re infamous for spraying audiences with fake blood, elaborate props, a...

Hi everyone! I’m really excited to share the latest episode of The Talk Music Podcast featuring one of the top concert promoters in the world —  Nick Farkas . Nick is the Senior VP of Booking, Concerts & Events at Montreal-based  Evenko , where he oversees an incredible 1,600+ shows a year — from intimate club gigs and major sporting events to large-scale concerts and seven flag...

Hi everybody, I’m thrilled to announce my guest this week is  pianist, composer, arranger, and producer-extraordinaire BILL KING , whose recording and production credits include hundreds of releases across his five-decade career. Bill is a  three-time JUNO nominee , and the list of artists he’s worked with is remarkable:  Janis Joplin  (as Music Director and keyboardist),&...

Hi everyone! My guest on this episode of The Talk Music Podcast is  John Corabi , lead vocalist of the powerhouse rock band  The Dead Daisies , and former frontman for  Mötley Crüe  from 1992 to 1996. The current Daisies lineup is a who’s who of rock legends: Doug Aldrich  (Whitesnake/Dio),  Michael Devin  (Whitesnake),  David Lowy  (Mink/Red Phoenix),...

Hi everybody, I’m thrilled to have as my guest this week singer-songwriter JULIAN TAYLOR.  For over 25 years, Julian has been steadily building a strong reputation with his roots-driven sound, earning a devoted following and a catalogue of critically-acclaimed albums along the way. Back in 1996, he co-founded the rock band Staggered Crossing, and by 2001 (with the help of publisher Frank Davi...

Hi everybody, I’m thrilled to do a deep dive with this week’s guest—Juno Award-winning singer-songwriter extraordinaire, film composer, author, and actor  IAN THOMAS . Ian’s music has become part of the foundation of the Canadian musical landscape, a legacy recognized with a  SOCAN National Achievement Award for Songwriting . He first made waves with his breakout hit  “ Painted Ladi...

Hi everyone! I’m really thrilled to announce that my guest this week is  Gavin Rossdale  from  BUSH ! With over a  billion streams ,  20 million albums sold , and continued sold-out shows around the world in iconic venues and massive arenas, BUSH has truly earned their place in rock history. Since their explosive debut back in 1994 with  Sixteen Stone —which sold six...

Hi everyone, I’m thrilled to welcome a very special guest to this episode of The Talk Music Podcast —the  twice   GRAMMY - nominated  flautist,  RON KORB . Ron’s extraordinary music transcends genres, weaving together elements of Instrumental, World, Crossover, Classical, Latin, Soundtrack, and New Age. Deeply rooted in the cultural richness of his Asian-Canadian heri...

Hi everybody, This  Talk Music episode  is a  VERY  special one for me personally.  I am a Massive  Pat Metheny  fan, and  vocalist extraordinaire DAVID BLAMIRES  who sang and performed with Pat from 1986-1997 is my guest.  David, for his vocal chops, took home  2 GRAMMY Awards  for the albums  Still Life (Talking)  (in my top 5...

Hi, everybody! Here’s PART 2 of my interview with  RIK EMMETT , recorded live in the cozy confines of his studio loft. We take a deep dive into his legendary career as the songwriter, vocalist, and guitarist extraordinaire for Canadian rock icons  TRIUMPH ! Our conversation kicks off with Rik’s early days in Toronto, his decision to pursue music over sports, and his fateful first meeting...