Witchpolice Radio

If you heard episode #886 , which came out earlier this month, you know what this is.  It's the second collection of interviews I did for the now-defunct YouTube show ' Mom's House ', which was a project by local DIY filmmaking collective Young Media .  This episode features three interviews I conducted as a guest host (plus live performances) for the show, featuring Colour by Numbers -- a band th...

Synthesizer enthusiast C. Samms  has an imminent new LP, ‘ Bouquet ’ (out May 3), so we sat down to talk about the album — the first C. Samms release in five years or so. This episode features our conversation about adding a human element to machine sounds, releasing the new album on cassette (and vinyl), converting the songs to a live setting, and more! This episode brought to you by our pals at ...

Remember Solhounds ? It’s been a minute, but the 'heavy metal grunge' outfit is back this month for their first show in five years or so ( April 26 at the West End Cultural Centre ). They’ll be playing two sets: one of original music, and the other… heavy versions of music from the Shania Twain songbook. Here's our conversation about the reunion gig, what the future holds, the WHY?!?!? of the whol...

I'm not the only one out here interviewing local artists. Beginning in 2017, a group of DIY filmmakers who operated as a collective called Young Media put out a YouTube show called  'Mom's House'.  The short-lived channel featured a bunch of guest hosts, and I was lucky enough to have hosted a total of six episodes. ' Mom's House'  is long-defunct, and while the videos are still out there on Young...

The reason Quinton Blair is one of my favourite guests on the podcast is the same reason he’s one of my favourite local songwriters: dude can tell a story. I caught up with Q on the road outside a truck stop somewhere in Alberta. Here's our conversation about his new music, weekend jaunts out west, learning a songbook and a half of country covers through osmosis, pop radio maintaining its strangle...

Instrumental trio (drums/bass/Rhodes) Compost recently put out an excellent debut tape of “nutrient rich music for a healthy body and mind” — inspired by ‘90s hip-hop beats, jazz, electronic music, etc. Stay tuned for a conversation about their improv-heavy writing and recording process, future plans, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at  Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to e...

Although a global pandemic threw a wrench into their initial reunion plans four years ago, reggae/soul/rock n’ rollers SubCity are coming back for one night only at the Park Theatre April 13. Here's my conversation with Darryl (sax) and Johannes (vocals/guitar) about next month’s show — their first as SubCity in a dozen years — the band’s history and legacy, whether they’re a ska band and how to d...

This one's a little different. It's part of a series of episodes I'm doing in collaboration with local rapper  Ezoman 's  Creative Side Entertainment  for this year's 'Future of M"you"sic' competition, which is a six-month long showcase of up-and-coming local artists at the Limelight. Here's the first episode, which is similar to my old Quick Hits format (remember that?), and it features a clip of...

I sat down with Glenn and Wyatt of grunge-pop outfit Gladly to talk about the fundraising campaign for their new record, balloons, wanting to start tabloid-style feuds with other local bands, the proper BPM for pogoing, and much more. Need more Gladly in your life? Check out episode #646 (Dec. 2021), which features a 'quick hit' interview with Glenn! This episode brought to you by our pals at  Dev...

I caught up with alt-rock solo artist Jared Adams  to talk about his new electronic-tinged long-player, ‘Mystic Humanism’  (which just dropped today if you're listening right when the episode comes out)! Here's our conversation about the loose concept album’s focus on technology (for good or ill), the use of A.I. In promoting the record — and whether or not it will one day destroy us all — plus mu...

Guitarist Ronnie Ladobruk may be atop many people’s ranking of local guitar wizards, but the man himself says he still has work to do. On Ronnie’s return to the podcast, we had a conversation about guitar (of course), splitting his time as frontman of Ronnie Ladobruk and the Electric and sideman with the Holly Davidson Band , learning from stripped-down acoustic shows, the upcoming Guitar Night (M...

Bassist Mike Downes is one of Canada’s most accomplished jazz musicians, who has performed and recorded alongside a murderers’ row of top international talent. Although he’s based out of Toronto, Mike was born and raised right here in Winnipeg! Here's our chat about his new record, ‘ The Way In ’, loving King Crimson, making a record without drums, and much more! This episode brought to you by our...

Stepped out of my comfort zone on this episode for a conversation with 'Winnipeg’s most dangerous performer',  Brett Oddly ! Brett is a sideshow/freak show performer, escape artist, magician, stuntman, etc. He’s part of the upcoming Punk Circus, also feat. local punx Yer Mum and Suburban Hypocrites (hear a few songs by each on this episode as well). Settle in for our conversation about the event (...

I sat down with guitarist Paul Rowsell, a/k/a PDR , to talk about his imminent EP of instrumental music, finding the heaviness in acoustic sounds, loving campus/community radio, and more. Paul's ' Moods and Motives ' record drops Sunday, March 3! This episode brought to you by our pals at  Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on  Patreon . You can help out for as...

Winnipeg’s premier Ukrainian folk/punk fusion outfit, Zrada , is back with a new EP and a revamped lineup! I sat down with two-sevenths of the new-look band — which includes a strong franco-manitobain contingent — to talk about the new release, and much more! Need more Zrada in your life? Check out episode #611 (Aug. 2021) This episode brought to you by our pals at  Devine Shirt Company. Huge than...

Feb. 12 marked the tragic death of Cayden Carfrae, better known to local hip-hop fans as Caid Jones . He was only 24 years old.  While I didn't know Caid well, I had the chance to talk to him on the podcast back in April of 2021 -- at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic -- and I found him to be a very passionate, insightful, inspiring artist, who was also very involved in activism and advocacy for...

Good times on this one talking to multidisciplinary artist and musician Leigh Lugosi about the Góra project, making ‘ambient country’ music, being inspired by wolves (werewolves as well as just regular wolves) on the new tape, The Quivering Green Music of Animals , and so much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at  Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast o...

Long-running local hard rockers Ash and the Arsonists  sat down to talk about their upcoming single (Feb. 23!) and EP, a gig at Festival du Voyageur , shredding and the comeback of the guitar, making a 'big ol' potpourri' of sounds, and much more! (Note: sometimes when I have this many people on the show at once, a few guests' voices can get a bit warbly, depending on their connection, but it defi...

I caught up with Dusty From and Dylan Buchkowski of long-running blues project D.B. + the Deadbeats for a quick chat about the writing for their next release, 'three chords and the truth, upcoming shows -- including back-to-back blues festivals in Regina and Winnipeg and a local benefit show later this month -- and much more! Need more Deadbeats in your life? Check out episode #759 (Jan. 2023). Th...

Juno-nominated local folk duo Burnstick  are set to release the follow-up to their acclaimed debut this spring. Here's our conversation about the upcoming record, writing cinematically, playing intimate shows vs larger festivals, further honing their sound as a duo, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals at  Devine Shirt Company. Huge thanks to everyone who supports the podcast on ...

She’s relatively new to the local music scene, but indie-folk-pop singer-songwriter Jennifer Machado has packed a lot into just a few years. Here's our chat about her debut EP (‘ The Retrospective Heart ’, recorded at House of Wonders ), high-profile gigs including the Winnipeg Folk Festival's young performers' program, loving concept albums, and much more! This episode brought to you by our pals...

Alt-rock four-piece Toy Sun  are ostensibly a new band, but although they’ve only played a handful of shows in their current guise, the members have almost 15 years of experience perfoming together on the covers circuit. Here's our conversation about launching the project during the pandemic, playing original music vs being a cover band, their upcoming gig Feb. 9 at Park Alleys (with, um, themselv...

I caught up with experimental guitarist Curran Faris to talk about his latest release as Greenhouse , ‘ Sacrifice Zones ’ — which was one of my favourite local records of 2023 — and more! Here's our chat about his current projects, including a collaboration with Cole Peters  as Seracs, as well as reflecting emotion through atmosphere, approaching the guitar as a 'sound source' rather than an instr...

It was great to catch up with vocalist and educator Adele M. Wilding  for another chat on the podcast — this time focusing on her upcoming ‘ Music of the Caribbean ’ vocal workshop at the Manitoba Conservatory of Music and Arts  for Black History Month! Stay tuned for a conversation about her own roots, the impact the music of the West Indies (reggae, calypso, soca, ska, and beyond) has had intern...

Good chat on this episode with indie rock/post-punk/shoegaze/'genre salad' artist Tired Cossack about his new(ish) ‘ I Know, I Guess ’ album and its sonic and thematic shifts from its predecessor, songwriting, “janky guitars”, and so much more! Need more Tired Cossack in your life? Check out his previous appearance on episode #652 (Jan. 2022) This episode brought to you by our pals at  Devine Shir...