Release Day Series Podcast

Cinzia & The Eclipse - From Insecurities to Confidence

Wed, 04 Oct 2023 22:00:00 -0400

In this episode of the Release Day series podcast, Alex is joined by Cinzia, the talented singer/songwriter behind Cinzia and the Eclipse, to celebrate the release of her brand new single, "Back to Being Friends."

As we dive into our conversation, you can feel the sheer joy and excitement in Cinzia's voice. After months of hard work, this release brings a breath of fresh air to her musical journey.

The conversation delves into the story behind "Back to Being Friends," which is about losing someone but still having love for them. Cinzia discusses the balance between being personal and relatable as a songwriter and how this song was inspired by her own experiences of heartache.

Other topics covered include Cinzia's journey as a musician, her collaborations with other artists, her approach to writing and recording music, and the importance of setting goals in her career. The episode also explores the challenges and rewards of making genuine connections in the music industry.

Throughout the episode, Cinzia's passion for her craft shines through, and listeners gain insights into her process as a songwriter. The show ends on an exciting note, with Cinzia teasing an upcoming EP in the spring of 2024 and more music to come.

Topics discussed:

- The post-release work and engagement with listeners
- Balancing personal and relatable songwriting
- Collaboration and growth as an artist
- Overcoming insecurities and embracing uniqueness
- Setting goals and the impact of intentional focus
- Making genuine connections in the music industry
- Finding a balance between promotion and creation
- The importance of being true to oneself

Vodcast version

"Release Day," an ongoing series where we sit down with Canadian musicians of all genres to discuss their latest releases from singles to albums, and their strategy behind releasing it to the world.

https://releasedayseries.com/
https://twitter.com/ReleasedaySrs
https://www.instagram.com/releaseday_series/

Desiree Dorion - A Country Music Trailblazer

Wed, 19 Jul 2023 00:00:00 -0400

In episode 54 of the Release Day podcast, we have a special guest who is sure to captivate your attention from start to finish. Join me as I sit down with the incredibly talented singer, songwriter, mother, and lawyer - Desiree Dorion - for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation that covers everything from her music career to her passion for sustainability, giving us a glimpse into her busy and fulfilling life.

Desiree takes us on a journey through her inspiration for songwriting, revealing how her work in child protection and her love for hiking influence her creative process. She shares her adventures in nature, from foraging for mushrooms and wild asparagus to teaching her kids about food sovereignty and the sacredness of taking a life through hunting.

As we dive into her latest album "That's How I Know" (February 24, 2023), she opens up about her experiences in the music industry, sharing not only the joy and exhilaration of being on TV to promote the album, but also the reality that comes with traveling and preparing for nationally broadcast interviews. It's a great moment where we capture her artistic development, that leads to some words of wisdom for all the developing artists out there.

As the interview was recorded on June 22nd, 2023, we take some time to touch on the importance of Indigenous History Month and the need to celebrate Indigenous culture (every month), highlighting the positive impact that art and storytelling can have on challenging our perspectives. She also shares her role as a Downie Wenjack Ambassador and emphasizes the need for action and education in the journey towards reconciliation.

As we reach the end of our conversation, Desiree shares her excitement for her upcoming Americana album, which represents a shift in her music and allows her to explore new artistic territories. We discuss the risks and rewards of entering a new market and the importance of staying true to yourself as an artist.

It's a journey filled with music, inspiration, and powerful insights that will leave you feeling motivated and eager to embrace your own passions. Tune in now and join me as we dive deep into Desiree's fascinating world. Trust me, you won't want to miss it!

Alex

http://www.desireedorion.com/
https://downiewenjack.ca/

Video Version

Ian Foster - Embracing Change and Finding Inspiration

Wed, 21 Jun 2023 17:00:00 -0400

Hey there, fellow music lovers! In our latest podcast episode, we've got something fresh and exciting just for you. 🎧

In this heart-to-heart chat with singer/songwriter, composer, producer, filmmaker and MusicNL and East Coast Music Award(ECMA) winner Ian Foster, explore the fascinating stories behind his newest project, Close to the Bone (March 29, 2023). Discover how he's journeyed from rocking out with the Ian Foster Band to crafting a deeply introspective solo album, embracing change and pushing the boundaries of his sound. 💭🎤

Relish in the powerful connection music can forge when Ian shares the personal inspirations behind his music. And don't miss the incredible significance behind his track Voyager – the story that's bound to touch your soul. 🎸💫

Go beyond music when we dive into Ian's filmmaking journey and the challenges faced in the industry. Embrace the art of living in the moment, and let Ian remind you of the invaluable joy in creating the music you love, while breaking barriers in the process. 🎥🎵

And finally, we talk about Ian’s brief, but meaningful interaction with the legendary Gordon Lightfoot. 🌟

Don't miss out on this incredible episode packed with brilliant insights, compelling tales, and music’s unique ability to connect us all. 🙏🎧

https://ianfoster.ca/
https://downiewenjack.ca/
https://www.savetorontomusicvenues.com/

Tara MacLean - Song of the Sparrow

Thu, 18 May 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Canadian singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has been an internationally renowned and award winning recording and touring artist for over 25 years, and now she can add BESTSELLING author to her extensive list of accolades. Her debut memoir, Song of the Sparrow, released on March 14th via HarperCollins has been declared a national bestseller. The book is complimented with MacLean's brand new album Sparrow, released Friday, March 31st 2023 (via turtlemusik).

Song of the Sparrow is a daring, heartbreaking and provocative memoir of a life filled with music, told with the same raw, open and elegant poetry that Tara’s fans have come to expect. From her early days in PEI through her teenage years in BC to her meteoric rise in music, Song of the Sparrow reveals Tara’s remarkable strength and shows that a song and a wide open heart are the best weapons for fighting monsters.

Recorded on March 24th, 2023. For those that may be affected by or find it a difficult subject, there is discussion of sexual abuse in our conversation.

Tara's Website
Buy the Book
Watch the Episode on YouTube

Mimi O'Bonsawin - Lean Into Your Roots

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 23:00:00 -0400

Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter from Northeastern Ontario. Through her rhythm and story-driven songs, Mimi embraces the beauty of the land, all the while yielding to her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki roots.

Mimi and Alex discuss her 6th studio album "Willow" that was released on March 3rd, 2023. We discuss her approach to songwriting and what she teaches students of songwriting workshops, what the some of the songs mean to her, the production process with her husband - creating the album with wooden instruments inside their log cabin recording studio, and approaching the release of any of your music with authenticity.

It's a wonderful chat full of amazing tidbits - including the type of medicine that comes from the Willow tree. Thank you for listening.

Mimi's website
Video Version of the Interview

Jenny Mallard - Into the Deep

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 12:00:00 -0500

Canadian Country/Folk - Pop artist Jenny Mallard is a celebrated musician and storyteller who is known for her authentic lyrics and impactful storytelling.

I absolutely loved Jenny's debut album Into The Deep. She takes you on her journey through love and loss, while giving you glimpse into what it's like for her living with Bi-Polar disorder. Jenny's refreshing honesty in sharing her experiences created an incredibly real relationship as a listener, and her bubbly, authentic personality that you will discover in our conversation will turn you into an instant fan.

Jenny and I have a wonderful and honest conversation about the creation of her album, her writing process, funding her project, and collaborating with producer Clint Curtis (Justin Fancy, Jason Benoit) who also mixed, mastered and performed the instruments on the track, Jenny recorded her vocals from home. The single was completed at Sevenview Recording Studios in Springdale, NL.

Video Version
Jenny's Website

The Flamingos Pink - Heads Full of Gold

Wed, 01 Feb 2023 16:00:00 -0500

The first episode of 2023 brings you the last conversation I had in 2022 with this incredible Montreal based Rock N Roll Duo - The Flamingos Pink. Sacha and Julz are here to talk about their Sophomore album, Free Livin.

The energy and excitement that comes through their riff-heavy music makes it hard to believe they are solely a two-piece thrill ride - and they have easily been one of my favorite musical discoveries since the release of their 2020 record - Outtacontroller.

We talk about how they got started making music together - Julz details the near parallel lives he and Sacha lived before starting the group, how they weathered the last 2 years in the music industry and fought for their independence, and what the title of the album - Free Livin' - means to them.

The Flamingos Pink

Alicia Toner - Making the Most of an Album Release

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 19:00:00 -0400

2022 Canadian Folk Music Award winning singer-songwriter Alicia Toner joins the show this week to talk about making the most of an album release.

Her sophomore album "Joan" (absolutely fantastic) was released on June 25, 2021. Aside from releasing singles and music videos leading up to and following the release of the album, what caught my interest was what she did 1-year later. She celebrated the 1-year anniversary by releasing a new radio-edit from the album as a single, bringing renewed attention to the song and the project as a whole - brilliant! The song "Tonight" A gripping Folk-Americana song about allowing oneself to let go of reservation and leap into love features long time collaborator and JUNO Award winner Joey Landreth.

So often we feel like a project is old or has no life left in it as we move forward to create something new for people to see and hear. Alicia's success in re-visiting the release of her 1-year old album is a perfect reminder that despite the age of our previous work, there is still an audience that has yet to discover it.

Watch the video interview
https://aliciatoner.ca/

David Myles: Songwriting - Why Taking Risks is so Important

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 16:00:00 -0400

David Myles hangs out this week to talk about his new album "It's Only A Little Loneliness" (September 23, 2022). We dive into the album's creation, the risks and fears he had during the songwriting process, how the production of the album differed from previous album recordings, and why he feels the release rollout may be the most successful of all of his albums. We begin the conversation discussing the podcast he started at the beginning of the pandemic "Myles From Home" and what he learned through the his conversations with some incredible Canadian musicians, and cap it off with a great story about a show I saw David at while he was on tour with Classified in 2012.

Theme music composed by @bedroomanticsmusic

Watch the video interview.

David Myles' Website
Myles from Home Podcast

B-SIDE: Leanna Oki - Success with Independent Marketing & PR

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Asian-Canadian artist Leanna Oki joins the podcast to talk about her brand new single "It was all a lie" (September 30, 2022), as well as her successful approach to connecting with music publications and radio stations. Leanna has been featured across Canada by Toronto Guardian, Canadian Beats, Aesthetic Magazine, Ottawa Life, The Permanent Rain Press, The Wire Megazine, and Cashbox Canada, and was aired by CBC Radio, the QUBE 88.9 FM and KOOP 91.7 FM. Leanna also appeared on CTV Ottawa Morning Live for their Morning Jam.

She has done an incredible job of taking what she's learned from working with industry professionals over the years to move her music career forward independently.

Watch the video interview
Leanna Oki's website

Matthew Barber: An Honest Perspective from the 20+ Year Industry Pro

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 22:00:00 -0400

After a 3-month Hiatus I am so happy to be back and sharing a great conversation with juno-nominated Singer-Songwriter Matthew Barber following the release of his EP No Singing Or Dancing (July 2022). Matthew and I have a great discussion about the tracks that make up the EP and how they were created, his longevity in the music industry, consistent revenue streams, writing for a theatrical production of The Graduate with Justin Rutledge, his perspective on streaming numbers and with becoming a new dad (I have two young boys myself), we have a little fun discussing the kind of music that’s REALLY been playing around our homes. It’s a wonderful chat and I hope you enjoy it.

Theme music composed by: @bedroomanticsmusic

Watch the video interview here.

https://www.matthewbarber.com/

Stephen Hero: Creating Raw, Real, Regional Hip-Hop

Thu, 02 Jun 2022 16:00:00 -0400

Matthew Elliott - better known in the Hip-Hop community as Stephen Hero, is from Saint John New Brunswick. In episode 45, we talk about his Gold Collection EP that he released on May 13, 2022.

The EP forms a loose meditation on the self-destructiveness of wage aspirations; the way the poor hold up the rich in the hopes that they might one day join them, therefore maintaining the status quo and enforcing the division.

Having a Hip-Hop artist hasn’t been a common occurrence on the podcast so I’m excited to dive into the production of the tracks and dig around inside the mind of Stephen Hero for a better understanding of what this project is all about.

Watch the video version: https://youtu.be/EcI6MO77Vjw

https://stephenhero.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/stephenhero506
https://www.facebook.com/stephenherointhebooth
https://www.instagram.com/stephenhero506/
https://twitter.com/stephen_hero

The Bros. Landreth: Trauma, Trust, & Truth - The Making of Come Morning

Wed, 18 May 2022 10:00:00 -0400

Episode 44 welcomes Joey and Dave Landreth of the JUNO award-winning duo The Bros. Landreth, to talk about their 3rd album, "Come Morning" (May 13th, 2022).

We dive into the record, taking a look at what went into writing and producing their most vulnerable record to date.

Topics Covered:
Writing
Producing
Track Sequencing
Album Artwork Design
Health and Wellness

https://www.thebroslandreth.com/
http://www.designbyroberta.com/
https://signalnoisemusicmarketing.com/
https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Listen on YouTube with enhanced visuals:
https://youtu.be/PKOXv0enels

We Should've Been Plumbers: How the Duo Produced their Debut EP From Miles Apart

Wed, 04 May 2022 21:00:00 -0400

Trials, tribulations, but ultimately - success. Kim Carson and Jillian Comeau of the Alt-Grunge/Sad Pop duo We Should've Been Plumbers stop by to talk about their debut, self-titled EP, and the efforts that went into remotely producing the record with Kim in Nova Scotia, and Jillian in Vermont.

We talk about what went right, what went wrong, and why they're ready to do it all over again.

https://weshouldvebeenplumbers.bandcamp.com/

Goodnight Sunrise - A Case Study on their Musical Evolution

Wed, 20 Apr 2022 12:00:00 -0400

Toronto based rock and roll group Goodnight Sunrise join the podcast to talk about their new single "Belong" released on April 13, 2022.

We talk about the ongoing battle to feed the social media machine and how they've stayed creative when developing content to promote their new music, how they've evolved visually and sonically as a duo over the 10+ years they've been creating music together, and grammar you should leave out of your band name...

Topics Covered:

Branding / Re-Branding & the Importance of a visual identity
Evolving as artists / musicians
Social Media Creativity

GNSR website: https://www.goodnightsunrise.com/

Video Version: https://youtu.be/kcgWhHONpJk

Sign Up for our bi-weekly newsletter: https://www.releasedayseries.com/newsletter-sign-up-page

Release Day Website - https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Shawna Caspi - How Album Art Can Generate Income

Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:00:00 -0400

On Episode 41, Alternative Folk artist Shawna Caspi joins us to talk about her 5th album "Hurricane Coming" that was released on August 27, 2021. In addition to the music that’s so beautifully put together - Shawna also created the cover art for the album, as well as 10 original paintings, each inspired by a song on the album. What she did with that artwork and how she collaborated with other artists for her music videos - that’s what really caught my interest...

We talk about Topics covered:

Becoming a songwriter
Co-Writing
Government Funding
Album Artwork designs
Music Videos

Shawna's Website: https://shawnacaspi.com/
Shawna's Music videos: https://shawnacaspi.com/video/

Video version of the episode: https://youtu.be/agREXGIsm7U

B-SIDE: Sleeping Bees - Behind the Trio's Independently Produced/Released Single "Rest"

Sun, 27 Mar 2022 08:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Release Day Series Podcast: B-Side - I am joined by Toronto-Based folk trio "Sleeping Bees" to talk about their latest single - "Rest" - that was released on March 20th, 2022. The song represents an exciting new direction for the band, as it was entirely independently written, recorded, produced, and mixed by the band members themselves.

We get into the recording process of the song and why they felt the final product came together as beautifully as it did.

Sleeping Bees Bandcamp - https://sleepingbeesband.bandcamp.com/

Video version of the episode - https://youtu.be/XzXQyY6_3Wk

Release Day Website - https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Mountain Head - How to Stand out on Social Media

Wed, 23 Mar 2022 14:00:00 -0400

Returning to the show is Electro-Pop duo Mountain Head to talk about their debut EP Backseat - released on March 18th, 2022. Their creativity knows no bounds and they truly know how to embrace their originality. We chat about how their songs for the EP came together, they used crypto-currency to pay for the media rollout behind their Billboard Canada Charting track - Let It Out, how building a community behind your music is way more important than going viral and holding yourself accountable to staying creative on social media in a way that is unique to you as an artist.

Mountain Head website: https://www.mountainheadmusic.com/

Video version of the episode: https://youtu.be/0f1YLpx5DtI

Release Day Series Podcast: https://www.releasedayseries.com/

B-SIDE: Tamara Grace - Leaving the Past Behind

Fri, 11 Mar 2022 15:00:00 -0500

Young Canadian Pop artist Tamara Grace joins us on Episode 2 of the Release Day Series Podcast: B-Side to talk about her song "Autumn Tears" - released on February 11, 2022.

Tamara teamed up with her dream duo to see “Autumn Tears” through to its final product. The song was produced by Dominique Messier (Céline Dion) and mastered by Marc Thériault who boasts an impressive portfolio of working with top musical talent including Céline Dion, Charlotte Cardin, Sia and Eric Clapton. “Autumn Tears” is a musical representation of the advice Tamara wishes she could have told her younger self and an encouraging reminder to learn from the past and persevere.

Watch the Vodcast version: https://youtu.be/NhfHfZZvKRU

Connect with Tamara Grace:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tamaragracemusic
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/5htEPpLG7TqKG3PY8Dzhgw?si=2VGlc6qKRBKsXQCQA6q9ag
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamaragracemusic/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/realtamaragrace
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfmrNXENCUmCWPhkSEQRC9Q

Release Day Website:
https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Raine Hamilton - Making Live Music More Accessible

Wed, 02 Mar 2022 12:00:00 -0500

On episode 39, we are joined by Winnipeg based, chamber-folk musician Raine Hamilton to talk about their album Brave Land, released on January 21st, 2022.

We discuss the creation of the album, performing a song in latin, creating the album artwork with good friend Sarah Thiessen & Roberta Landreth. We also talk about the creation of the incredible shadow puppet music video for their song Eclipse.

We also touch on accessibility in the live music space. Raine is a believer that music is for everyone, and that we all have something to share, they offer workshops in songwriting and fiddle-tune writing, and offers concerts with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation, to help make live music and the community that comes with it more accessible to the Deaf community.

Raine's website: https://www.rainehamilton.com/
Eclipse music video: https://youtu.be/u7ps_kEHwFQ

Video Version of the episode: https://youtu.be/UtghgjAoME4
Release Day Website: https://www.releasedayseries.com/

B-SIDE: Alex Southey - The Musicians Evolution

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 20:00:00 -0500

Alex Southey joins me to discuss his latest EP "My Nights on the Island" - released September 17th, 2021. We discuss his experimentation with the Mellotron on the project, his evolution as an artist, and his success with College radio airplay.

Release Day "B-Side" is a new addition to the Release Day Podcast Series.

Alex Southey Website: https://www.alexsouthey.com/

See Alex Live: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/alex-southey-kalila-badali-band-and-jasper-payne-the-horseshoe-tavern-tickets-255292505757

My Nights on the Island (EP): https://alexsouthey.bandcamp.com/album/my-nights-on-the-island

Video Version of the episode: https://youtu.be/-4kdLXcKdGw
Release Day Series Website: https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Ann Vriend: Inspired by Her Inner City Neighbourhood

Wed, 16 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0500

Joining me today is two-time Maple Blues Award songwriting recipient and two-time Edmonton Music Award recipient Ann Vriend, to talk about her 7th album "Everybody Matters" (February 4th, 2022) and the inspiration her inner city neighborhood played in creating this powerful body of work.

Ann Vriend website: https://www.annvriend.com/
Everybody Matters Music Video: https://youtu.be/UoaEGqRB4S8

Video version of the episode: https://youtu.be/MtxqpDNy-Eg
Release Day Website: https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Re-Branding Release Day & Finding Creative Inspiration w/Producer Bedroom Antics

Wed, 02 Feb 2022 12:00:00 -0500

Graham's back! We discuss the process of re-branding the visual identity of the Release Day Series podcast. We also get into how Graham - also a lo-fi beats producer known as Bedroom Antics - kick-started his creativity to begin 2022, by challenging himself to create and share 1 beat-per-day for the month of January - which he successfully completed. It was through his beat-per-day project that I discovered what would become the new theme music for the podcast.

Bedroom Antics - https://my.bio/bedroomantics
Release Day Website - https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Chastity - Building A Loyal Community & Inclusive Spaces Through Their Music

Wed, 19 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0500

Community is undoubtedly one of the main reasons music is so important to our mental health. When you discover a song where you feel as though the artist is singing to you, or the instrumental is the perfect soundtrack at that very moment - you get this feeling like someone understands you, that you’re not alone. With so many artists focused on being present and relevant on social media and within the algorithm of streaming services, this is an element that gets lost on so many indie artists. Whitby, Ontario Based punk rock band Chastity have recognized the importance of creating community through their music. On January 13th 2022, the band released their 3rd full length album Suffer Summer - with many listeners singing its praises - myself included. Joining me today is the architect behind the project - Brandon Williams. Brandon and his band have toured Europe, parts of the united states with PUP the band, had most recently been opening for the Dirty Nil, has opened for City and Colour and Alexisonfire which likely won’t be the last time either - and has signed to one of the most iconic independent Canadian labels in Dine Alone Records, while Deathwish records handles their international distribution. Upon the release of the album Chastity have been featured on billboard in the heart of Toronto at Yonge-Dundas square, and as of the time of this recording - is the face of the Ready to Rock Spotify playlist.

Brandon and I have a unique connection in that he and I share the same hometown of Whitby. We talk about how Chastity has been a vessel for creating a community and safe space for fans of his genre of music in a city ruled by sports arenas, and his plans for pitching the municipality on creating a more permanent venue to support an arts community that has been largely disregarded.

Chastity Website - https://www.chastitysongs.com/
Chastity in 6 Minutes and 66 Seconds - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cv9XnNow87Y
Dine Alone Records - https://dinealonerecords.com/
Deathwish Label and Distribution - https://deathwishinc.com/
Release Day Website - https://www.releasedayseries.com/

Catherine MacLellan & Good Lovelies - Christmas Special

Wed, 15 Dec 2021 14:00:00 -0500

Well here we are - the final episode of 2021 and our very first Christmas Special! In this episode I am excited to share two conversations with you. My first is with JUNO Award winning Singer/Songwriter Catherine MacLellan. On November 26th 2021, Catherine released her debut Christmas EP - “Holiday”. Consisting of 3 beautiful renditions of holiday classics and 1 original Christmas song that Catherine wrote during the winter of 2020, we talk about why this was the time to record and release her first Holiday project, a collection of songs she self-engineered and self-produced. We get into the production timeline for the music and accompanying marketing material when putting the holiday project together in order to have successful Holiday release, what being a JUNO award winner has done for her musical career, and why nearly 55 years later, Catherine and her family are re-releasing her father - Gene MacLellan’s debut record.

After that, I will be joined by the JUNO Award winning trio - Good Lovelies, for an incredibly fun conversation that includes discussions about their annual Christmas tour which includes as stop at the newly renovated and recently reopened Massey Hall, the secret to writing an original Christmas song - of which they’ve written many - and some holiday traditions they look forward to every. It’s a great way to cap off a wonderful year for the podcast.

If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!

Theme music composed by Evan Denley.

Reference Links:
Catherine MacLellan website - https://www.catherinemaclellan.com/
Gene MacLellan website - http://genemaclellan.com/
Good Lovelies Website - https://goodlovelies.com/
Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/
Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEw
Release Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

The Fretless - How the string quartet took collaboration to another level in 2021

Wed, 01 Dec 2021 16:00:00 -0500

On episode 34, Ben Plotnik from the JUNO Award winning string quartet, The Fretless, joins me to talk about their latest, collaborative album “Open House”, released on October 22nd, 2021. "Open House" is a 10 song album and the first project that sees The Fretless feature vocals on all the tracks and in such a prominent role. Working with artists like Celeigh Cardinal, Nuela Charles, The Bros. Landreth, Dan Mangan and more.

We talk about the process of interpreting and re-arranging songs from Bruce Cockburn, Steely Dan, Feist, and Alessia Cara - to name a few - for the the fiddle/viola & cello, and what they needed to do in order to clear the songs for publishing on the album.

A supergroup of celebrated solo artists, The Fretless has been creating a singular and signature sound that dares to expand the idea of what a string music quartet can be—transforming fiddle tunes and folk melodies into intricate, beautiful, high-energy arrangements that have quickly gained a dedicated following and accolades from around the world. Within what appears to be a simple construct — two fiddles, a viola, and a cello — The Fretless has created a sound that is distinctly rich, multi-layered, and uniquely percussive. This tonal quality is pushing traditional music to new heights, producing a completely fresh approach to Folk music.

If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!

Theme music composed by Evan Denley.

Reference Links:
The Fretless website - https://www.thefretless.com/
Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/
No Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast with Brent Jensen: https://nosleeptilsudbury.libsyn.com/
Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEw
Release Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Daniel James McFadyen - How a Musician Overcame the Pandemic Identity Crisis

Wed, 17 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0500

Hello and welcome to the release day series podcast, I'm your host Alex Huard, joining me today from the east coast of Canada in Nova Scotia, is singer songwriter Daniel James McFadyen to talk about his debut album August, I’m Yours that he released on October 8th, 2021. In our conversation we really dig into the inspiration behind the songs on the album, learning more about what they mean to Daniel and the circumstances under which many of the songs were written. We also talk about the process of booking his tour from Halifax to Toronto while the pandemic carries on, and what the response has been from venues and his audiences. A couple familiar names pop up as well, names that you might recognize from the wonderful music they write, or from the podcast itself...small world.

At the start of 2020, McFadyen had just recorded and released an EP. He had a hit song going viral on YouTube and he was ready to start a summer-long tour across Canada. Then the world shut down, the tour was cancelled, and he needed money. With no shows on the horizon, McFadyen found himself on a plane to Ontario, going to work construction for his brother-in-law to pay off his debts. Between the lost tour and the lost money, he started to question if should return to music at all, or just stick to a safe day job. It was the typical pandemic identity crisis. But it was short-lived. Conceived, written and recorded in a time of worldwide and personal uncertainty, August, I’m Yours is an album about change, letting go, and, ultimately, coming home. Daniel begins our conversation taking us through the events that would play significant role in his music career, leading up to the pandemic.

If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!

Theme music composed by Evan Denley.

Reference Links:
Daniel James McFadyen's website - https://danieljamesmcfadyen.com/
Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/
No Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast with Brent Jensen: https://nosleeptilsudbury.libsyn.com/
Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEw
Release Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Adrian Sutherland - When the Magic Hits

Wed, 03 Nov 2021 13:00:00 -0400

On episode 32, joining all the way from northern Ontario in Attawapiskat First Nation on the James Bay, is Adrian Sutherland. The indigenous singer-songwriter, who might be best known as the frontman of the band Midnight Shine, released his debut solo record, When the Magic Hits on September 17th, 2021.

We go into detail about how Adrian adapted to the pandemic to get the album recorded and visual identity of the record put together. This includes; building his studio out of a sea container to record out of, working remotely with award winning producer Colin Linden of Blackie and the Rodeo Kings and JUNO-Nominated producer Tim Vesely of the Rheostatics. Working with his wife as his photographer, and self-producing his own music video consisting of 1600 selfies.

We also touch on his songwriting session with Serena Ryder, playing hockey with Jim Cuddy at the JUNO Cup, and how building industry relationships can make all the difference in forging ahead in your musical career.

If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!

Theme music composed by Evan Denley.

Reference Links:
Adrian Sutherland's Website https://adriansutherlandmusic.com/
Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/
No Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast with Brent Jensen: https://nosleeptilsudbury.libsyn.com/
Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEw
Release Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

The Hello Darlins - From Session Musicians to "North" Americana Supergroup

Wed, 20 Oct 2021 21:00:00 -0400

I am so excited to share my conversation with Candace Lacina of the "North" Americana Supergroup The Hello Darlins, to talk about the band’s debut album Go By Feel, released on June 11, 2021. Formed by Candace and her husband Mike Little - both seasoned songwriters and musicians in their own right, the two have been working as session musicians for artists you may have heard of; Shania Twain, the late B.B. King, George Canyon, and The Road Hammers - to name just a few. In our conversation we talk about what it’s been like going from session musician into the spotlight, what they’ve learned about recording, songwriting, and the release process during their many years in the music industry, and what their experience has been getting back to live shows in 2021

If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.com

Thank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!

Theme music composed by Evan Denley.

Reference Links:
The Hello Darlins Website: https://thehellodarlins.com/
Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/
No Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast with Brent Jensen: https://nosleeptilsudbury.libsyn.com/
Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEw
Release Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Dropout Entertainment - How the Canadian Indie Music Publication has created a worldwide audience

Wed, 06 Oct 2021 13:28:27 -0400

Well am I excited to say this is episode 30 of the podcast, and joining me are Jesse Read and Ben Gibson - the creators and curators of the online Canadian music publication Dropout Entertainment. The reason these guys are special - aside from doing great things for the Canadian music community, is they’re the reason the release day series started in the first place!What I love the most about Dropout is their focus on truly independent musicians, artists you’ve likely never heard before but are deserved of the spotlight and recognition. Jesse and Ben open up about the creation of the publication, their mission to highlight undiscovered talent, and the great additions to their platform to continually elevate and broadcast Canadian music through their SOCAN certified online radio station and podcast.While Dropout Entertainment has been reaching hundreds of thousands of readers and listeners online - they’ve also gone beyond the digital platform, creating Canada’s first Independent Music Video Awards show - now 3 years running - and held their very first music festival in 2021, hosted by Canadian music icon Ed the Sock.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Dropout Entertainment: https://dropoutentertainment.ca/Contact Dropout: info@dropoutentertainment.caDecolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Good Kid - How the indie rock band got their music into Fortnite

Wed, 22 Sep 2021 15:19:17 -0400

On episode 29, I am joined by Jacob Tsafatinos of the band Good Kid - who’s latest EP - Good Kid 2 came out on November 6, 2020. This band is one of my favourite musical discoveries of 2020, with a sound reminiscent of The Strokes and Tokyo Police Club, with a little Fallout Boy or Panic at the Disco in vocals for good measure. What I love about the band is the visual and creative identity they have developed for themselves based on their passions and interests that lie outside of the music world, from video games to anime. We talk about the character the band has created called “Nomu” who is embedded in all of their album art - like Eddie from Iron Maiden - generating what they call “fan art friday”. We get into the creation of the band's very own 8-bit side scrolling video game called Good Kid - Ghost King's Revenge, and it's accompanying 8-bit soundtrack of their music - that they created themselves. We also talk about how they got their song “Witches” added to Fortnite radio on the ever popular video game - Fortnite.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Good Kid Website: https://goodkidofficial.com/DMCA: https://www.dmca.com/News from Twitch RE: DMCA: https://www.dexerto.com/entertainment/twitch-reaches-new-agreement-to-protect-streamers-from-dmca-strikes-1658617/Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

F. Scott and the Nighthawks - How the band has created a true Rock N Roll ethos

Wed, 08 Sep 2021 15:58:41 -0400

On episode 28 I am joined by Scotty Taylor, the leader of the Canadian outlaw, country rock and roll group F. Scott and the Nighthawks to talk about their debut album, and one of my favourites of 2021 - Hold on to Your Heart, released on August 13, 2021. One of the things I love the most about this album is how the tracks are sequenced, the flow from one song to the next feels absolutely perfect to me. Scotty gets into the details of the production of the album, and how the combined musical influences of the band members helped to create such a cohesive mix of Americana and punk to create an album that can ultimately be defined pure and simple - as rock and roll.We talk about how their image aligns with the music, opening up sponsorship opportunities...but Scotty also gets into the hard realities they have faced as a band through the pandemic, the impact it’s had on their release process and the opportunities they had lined up but never fulfilled.It’s a conversation that I believe many artists, especially bands at their level can relate to. And it’s a perspective that I appreciate Scotty felt comfortable enough to share.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:F. Scott and the Nighthawks Website: https://www.nighthawksofficial.com/Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Hideout Legacy - How creating remix versions of your singles can enhance your release schedule

Wed, 25 Aug 2021 12:12:15 -0400

On episode 27 I am joined by Alex Arthur, the drummer for alternative rock band Hideout Legacy to talk about their singles Game Changer, released on February 19th, and Drive Me Wild, released on May 14th. These guys have had a really cool approach to releasing their music that includes creating remixes of their singles to not only give a little more life after the songs initial release, but how it gives them an opportunity to take a new musical approach to the song and reach a wider audience.We also get into their rebranding process and how they took themselves from their initial band name Total Runout, became Hideout Legacy and worked with their manager Jeannie Reid to develop their visual identity.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Hideout Legacy Website: https://hideoutlegacy.com/Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Tennyson King - Embracing His Chinese Heritage Through Music

Wed, 11 Aug 2021 01:02:56 -0400

On episode 26, I am joined by singer songwriter Tennyson King to talk about all manner of things music, from international touring, to grant writing - but most importantly his latest releases, Sheng Ming De Jin Du and Zi Zai - the first songs he’s ever released in cantonese. In light of May being Asian Heritage Month and the events regarding anti Asian racism in Canada and around the world, Tennyson decided it was time he shared more of his Chinese heritage through his music. Shing Meng Di Jin Du, was released on May 21 2021, and Zi Zai on June 24, 2021.We talk about what the songs mean, where the ideas for them were conceived, along with process of writing and translating the songs from english to cantonese, we also dive into his experiences touring internationally and the work it took to set up his own tours in Australia and China, and then we finish up our conversation talking about his latest single Life on Shore (Carry me away) that will be released on August 13 2021, just days after the release of this episode.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Tennyson King Website: http://tennysonking.com/Life on Shore (Carry Me Away) Pre-save link: https://backl.ink/147490166Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Kari Zalik - Why Hire a Publicist?

Wed, 04 Aug 2021 12:00:25 -0400

My guest for episode 25 is publicist Kari Zalik - founder, owner and operator of Bad Parade PR - a music publicity firm focused on bringing musical talent to every corner of Canada.If you are a musician listening to this episode and you have heard of a publicist but unsure of what they do - this episode is going to lay it all out for you. If you’re a musician and you know about PR, but you’ve been reluctant to hire a publicist - perhaps this is the conversation you need to hear to push you in one direction or the other. And if you’re just listening to this podcast not as a musician but for the sheer joy of just listening to the stories we have to share...thank you.We talk about the role a publicist plays on your team, when it’s the right time to hire one, and the impacts working with a Publicist like Kari can have on your release.Kari's clients have included: Steve Earle, Alex Cuba, Sharon Jones, Charles Bradley, Jocelyn Alice, JD McPherson and have appeared in top media including the Globe and Mail, National Post, CBC q, Exclaim!, Indie88, NOW Magazine, and many more.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Bad Parade Website: https://www.badparade.com/Decolonial Clothing - https://decolonialclothingco.ca/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Twin Flames - Ultimate Fan Engagement & Canada's journey to Reconciliation

Wed, 14 Jul 2021 02:20:20 -0400

Today we are revisiting a conversation I had for our video series with the award winning Indigenous rock duo Twin Flames. I sat down with Chelsey June and Jaaji on September 21st, 2020 to discuss their timely, and absolutely incredible album ”Omen”, which was released August 28th, 2020. Twin Flames had one of the most engaging, and entertaining ways of taking their fans on a journey behind the making of their music leading up to the release of their album. We discuss how they went about creating what they called the 12 days of Omen, the story behind creating their phenomenal version of Grace Too by the Tragically Hip, and progress our country has been making towards reconciliation, and recognizing the history of our first nations people.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Twin Flames Website - www.twinflamesmusic.comTwin Flames video interview: https://www.releasedayseries.com/twin-flamesSummer Solstice Indigenous Awards: https://summersolsticefestivals.ca/music-awards/Downie Wenjack #215Pledge: https://www.215pledge.ca/Indian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca/On Canada Project: https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeactionCCMAs Original Digital programming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrhyUzDFzXbCSy8Cj6CpLA/feedRelease Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Electric Gas - How their fans played a key roll in the release of their music

Wed, 30 Jun 2021 00:47:54 -0400

On episode 23, we're joined by Chris Dallan and Jay Carraro - aka the folk-rock duo Electric Gas - based out of Guelph & Kitchener Ontario. On June 4th, 2021 - Chris and Jay released their first full length album “The Scars Stay”. With the majority of the album recorded live off the floor, the record showcases the immense professionalism, musicality, and years of experience the two have writing and performing. We have a great discussion about the writing process and relationship Chris and Jay have that allow them to work together effectively as a duo, why they chose to release the album during the pandemic, the success of the album’s virtual listening party prior to it’s release, and how they presented their fans with the opportunity to determine their lead single.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Electric Gas Website - https://www.electric-gas.com/Decolonial Clothing Company: decolonialclothingco.ca/CCMAs Original Digital programming: www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrhyUzD…bCSy8Cj6CpLA/feedDownie Wenjack #215Pledge: www.215pledge.ca/Indian Residential School Survivors Society: www.irsss.ca/On Canada Project: oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeactionNo Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast: brentjensenmusic.com/home-2/Release Day Spotify Playlist - open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5Y…1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - releasedayseries.com/

James Clark Institute - The importance of working with people you trust

Wed, 23 Jun 2021 07:48:41 -0400

On episode 22 we're joined by James Clark of the James Clark Institute to talk about his great power-pop album “The Colour of Happy”, released on May 7th, 2021. James and I talk about his journey to becoming the musician and songwriter he is today, working with producer Moe Berg from the iconic band The Pursuit of Happiness to create his distinctive sound, and how James has surrounded himself with creative professionals that he can trust to help bring his vision to life, and in the ears of the listeners around the world.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:James Clark Institute website: https://www.clarkinstitute.com/Clartoons: https://www.clarkinstitute.com/clartoonsDecolonial Clothing Company: https://decolonialclothingco.ca/CCMAs Original Digital programming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrhyUzDFzXbCSy8Cj6CpLA/feedDownie Wenjack #215Pledge: https://www.215pledge.ca/Indian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca/On Canada Project: https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeactionNo Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast: https://brentjensenmusic.com/home-2/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Ken Tizzard - How the musician remotely produced an album with over 44 musicians during the pandemic

Wed, 16 Jun 2021 00:00:43 -0400

On this week’s episode we’re joined by folk singer songwriter Ken Tizzard as we dive into the production of his latest album “All Together Now” that was released on May 18th, 2021. The album is a collection of 13 cover songs with Ken’s own personal spin that make it’s an incredibly unique listening experience. The epic project involved some 44 guest musicians contributing parts from all over the continent from bands like Nickelback, Hedley, The Lowest of the Low and Ken’s old band The Watchmen.We talk about how Ken and producer Mike Turner worked remotely to bring the instrumentation together for every song to piece each track together, and how his livestream Wednesday night, know as Whiskey Wednesday, has evolved from being broadcast on a single phone, to a high-end multi-camera operation for one of the best produced, weekly livestream shows.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Ken Tizzard's website: https://kentizzard.com/Summer Solstice Indigenous Awards: https://summersolsticefestivals.ca/music-awards/Declonial Clothing Company: https://decolonialclothingco.ca/CCMAs Original Digital programming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrhyUzDFzXbCSy8Cj6CpLA/feedDownie Wenjack #215Pledge: https://www.215pledge.ca/Indian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca/On Canada Project: https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeactionRelease Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Justine Tyrell - How the RnB Singer/Songwriter created & marketed her debut EP

Wed, 09 Jun 2021 01:05:00 -0400

Our guest today is the incredible RnB Singer/songwriter Justine Tyrell to talk about her debut EP “While You Were Sleeping” that she released on April 23rd, 2021.Justine’s infectious personality and creative energy is a driving force behind this conversation. We talk about the importance of working with a PR company (Bad Parade) that truly loves your music, what benefits can be had when working with the right publicist, personally writing her own grant applications and securing money through FACTOR and the province of Alberta, and how the BLM movement of 2020 had an impact on how she visually interpreted her song "Worthy".If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Justine Tyrell's website: https://www.justinetyrell.com/Justine Tyrell's unboxing site: https://www.justinetyrellunboxed.com/ECMAs: https://www.ecma.com/festival/Summer Solstice Indigenous Awards: https://summersolsticefestivals.ca/music-awards/CCMAs Original Digital programming: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbrhyUzDFzXbCSy8Cj6CpLA/feedDownie Wenjack #215Pledge: https://www.215pledge.ca/Indian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca/On Canada Project: https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeactionDani Sherman (visual artist) website: https://www.idkartco.com/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Kristen Martell - How a mentorship program led to her single "Photograph of Secrets"

Wed, 02 Jun 2021 00:00:53 -0400

Today on the podcast Alex is joined by singer/songwriter Kristen Martell. On Thursday April 29th, Kristen released her new single “Photograph of Secrets” following up the song’s release with a behind-the-scenes music video on May 13th.The song is a collaborative effort between Martell and award-winning artist Gabrielle Papillon, along with award-winning Producer Dan Ledwell. We talk about the mentorship program Kristen enrolled herself in to make recording with the award-winning pair possible, her 10 years hiatus from the music world, and what brought her back to recording her ECMA nominated album “Coming Home”.We also take a moment to recognize the colonial history of Canada following the discovery of a mass grave containing the bodies of 215 indigenous children beneath a former residential school. Please see links below for we can better educate and take action towards reconciliation. We have a VERY long way to go.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Kristen Martell's Website: https://kristenmartell.com/homePhotograph of Secrets Music Video: https://youtu.be/N2Ju0z2wlcsIndian Residential School Survivors Society: https://www.irsss.ca/On Canada Project: https://oncanadaproject.ca/settlerstakeaction

Craig Cardiff - 100M+ Streams, 100% Fan Powered

Fri, 28 May 2021 10:53:52 -0400

On today’s episode I am joined by JUNO Nominated singer/songwriter Craig Cardiff, who on Friday, May 14th 2021 released his album “All This Time Running” - his first album of new songs in six years, and his debut on the iconic Canadian label, True North Records.Craig and Alex talk about the writing process for the album, the virtual concert he and his team organized for the release of the album that includes 100+ cities in support of local venues and music arts groups, and what he believes is one of the best songs he’s ever written.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Craig Cardiff's website - https://www.craigcardiff.com/All This Time Running Music Video - https://youtu.be/iqj5WrAezm8True North Records - https://truenorthrecords.com/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Queens & Kings - DIY Royalty

Wed, 19 May 2021 00:55:19 -0400

On March 26th Queens & Kings - aka Alissa Klug & Brendan Albert released "Going Through Hell", the third single from their forthcoming album. The song not only feels timely in a sense that - thanks to the pandemic, we have all felt like we’re going through hell - but it paints a vivid image of the ups and downs that any kind of relationship may bring with it. Accompanied with the song is the music video, edited by Alissa - her first kick at editing a music video of any kind - that brilliantly takes you on the rollercoaster journey that she and Brendan have been through over the 10+ years they’ve known each other. We talk about the process of creating the video, and how the true team effort between the two of them has led to developing an unmistakable visual, and sonic identity.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Queens & Kings website - https://queensandkingsmusic.com/Going Through Hell Music Video - https://youtu.be/8LMmh54cOGMBreakout West Nominees - https://breakoutwest.ca/blog/2021-western-canadian-music-award-nomineesBreakout West Nomination announcement https://www.facebook.com/breakoutwest/posts/3993511574073511IndieWeek 2021 - https://www.indieweek.com/"All This Time Running" Craig Cardiff - https://youtu.be/iqj5WrAezm8No Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast - https://nosleeptilsudbury.libsyn.com/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Justin Rutledge - The Journey to his 9th Album "Islands"

Tue, 27 Apr 2021 23:40:21 -0400

On March 26th, 2021, Juno award winning singer-songwriter Justin Rutledge released his 9th studio album Islands (via Outside Music) - a retrospective album where Rutledge not only revisits songs but moreover the process that brought them to life. We talk about what went into selecting the songs for the album and how they were recorded, how his covers of The Tragically Hip songs introduced the iconic band to his listeners, and what it’s like to be backed up on vocals by Jim Cuddy.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Justin Rutledge Website - https://ffm.bio/justinrutledgeOutside Music - https://www.outside-music.com/Allan Slaight Juno Master Class - https://www.junomasterclass.ca/No Sleep Til Sudbury Podcast - https://nosleeptilsudbury.libsyn.com/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Bad Buddy - How to Plan A Music Video & YouTube Marketing Success

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 00:09:19 -0400

On July 17th 2020, Bad Buddy released their debut, self-titled album, hitting #1 on !earshot distro, and is a collection of songs that has an energy and honesty to it that leads me to believe their live show is absolutely incredible. We have an extremely fun, and lively conversation about how the album came to life, the serious narrative behind the peppy riff-laden surf punk sound, and how their recently released music video for their song Fine Hunniez went from 10k views, to 90k views in a month.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Bad Buddy Website - https://www.badbuddy.band/Fine Hunniez Music Video - https://youtu.be/Qm2b-fiiGacEarshot Distro - https://www.earshot-online.com/Breakout West - https://breakoutwest.ca/Climate Live - https://www.climatelive.org/Release Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=SJmaVXHXQNOwed8CYp48mARelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

Alex Southey - How to Invest In Your Music & Calling Attention to Previous Releases

Wed, 14 Apr 2021 00:16:29 -0400

Joining us today on episode 14 is singer/songwriter Alex Southey. On March 31, 2021 Alex released his third album ...And the Country Stirred. Alex utilized email campaigns to connect with his audience during the release process, not only giving them the opportunity to hear his songs first, but asking them to help him determine what his next single should be leading up to the album’s release.We talk about results of that approach, and why he’ll continue to let his listeners in on that process with musical releases going forward, and why it was the right time to hire a PR company to assist in the album’s promotion. Alex also has a really great idea for bringing attention to older releases in the form of B-Sides to new releases.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Alex Southey's Website - https://www.alexsouthey.com/CFMA - https://folkawards.ca/The Gilberts - https://thegilbertsband.com/homePharis & Jason Romero - http://www.pharisandjason.com/Big Little Lions - https://www.biglittlelions.com/CBC Searchlight - https://www.cbc.ca/music/searchlight/#/welcomeStranded Fest - https://www.facebook.com/StrandedFestRelease Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=l0sbbP1ARnaWaDbFRVzpEwRelease Day Website - https://releasedayseries.com/

LambLion - How to Embrace the Moment

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 00:00:52 -0400

LambLion is the indie folk/Americana project of husband and wife duo Oliver and Danka Pigott. Over the course of 2020, LambLion released 5 singles that would make up their debut EP - Only The Brave - released in February of 2021. The order of tracks on the E.P. reflects the order they were released throughout the year and depicts their journey through the changing tides of 2020.We talk about producing their songs with Thomas McKay, & Marc Copely, recording in Lukas Rossi’s home studio, how they determine the visuals behind their music videos, and creating in a time of COVID while raising twin boys.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:LambLion Website - https://lamblionmusic.com/homeMarc Copley (producer) - https://www.marccopely.com/Thomas McKay (producer) - http://exetersoundstudios.com/Stranded Fest - https://www.facebook.com/StrandedFestIndie101 - www.indieweek.comCanadian Folk Music Awards - https://folkawards.ca/cfma-2021-charlottetown/Release Day Website - www.releasedayseries.comRelease Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=40r7Q_ELSlCOerTgSiGZtQ

Brent Jensen - Surpassing 200 Podcast Episodes

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 00:01:00 -0400

On episode 12, we're joined by Brent Jensen; author, music critic, radio personality & host/creator of his podcast "No Sleep Til Sudbury." Discussing the "music that makes your skin vibrate" Brent's guests have included musicians like Kim Mitchell, Julian Taylor & Kevin Comeau of Crownlands, as well as a handful of original MuchMusic VJs in Erica Ehm, Christopher Ward and Tom Jokic. We discuss how the show came to be, his preparation prior to each episode, and his production process. He also shares how Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" is an emotional sweet spot for Hockey Night In Canada's Ron Maclean.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Brent's Website - www.brentjensenmusic.comCo.Lab Sessions - https://open.spotify.com/show/3JVBVnjzUXt3FfQDs7ipgr?si=J4jbl146T0SoCw4-RsrJ2QDarryl Talks to Bands: https://open.spotify.com/show/5IfALTc9VjchpLvK214Apn?si=EqZNDy55RmOyZfkOBeF4XADOMINIONATED: 20 or 20 - https://open.spotify.com/show/1pCiLeMugeQpLU3tEpk3oU?si=uoazF4rtTsuvOqQ2rZRwGQRelease Day Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=LcLtwlIOQCG1megTL1Rn-ARelease Day Website - www.releasedayseries.com

Peach Luffe - Building loyal/dedicated followers & Daniel Ek was right...

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 00:40:49 -0400

On this week’s episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jong Lee, the founding member of Peach Luffe, about how he leverages the power of social media to gain loyal followers and dedicated listeners by interacting with anyone who leaves a comment or sends him direct messages. Not only does Jong understand the importance social media plays in connecting with his fan base, but he also recognizes the times we’re living in when it comes to attention spans...and if you need me to tell you...they’re short. Very short. Jong is playing the Spotify game as well as an indie artist I know, constantly producing and releasing music to feed the algorithm.To give you an idea of how well his method has worked - following the surprise release of his song “Tangled” on March 4th, Peach Luffe has jumped from 30,000 to 50,000 monthly Spotify listeners, while tacking on an additional 3,000 followers on instagram in the same 3-week time period to take him to over 13,000 followers...If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Peach Luffe website - https://www.peachluffe.com/Ice Walk GoFundMe - https://gofund.me/778a34f4Lennox Island - https://experiencelennoxisland.com/Indepreneur - https://indepreneur.io/podcast/IndieWeek - https://www.indieweek.com/Release Day website - https://www.releasedayseries.comRelease Day Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=Ls1xga-HQ2W-GeaxIuejNA

Mountain Head - Creating a visual identity & Ideas on how to brand your next release

Wed, 17 Mar 2021 00:01:03 -0400

On episode 10 of the Release Day Series Podcast, we revisit our conversation with Electro pop duo Mountain Head from April 2020. The brothers caught our attention because of the level of attention and detail they put into each of their releases.From album artwork and music videos to merch, each single release has been treated as if it were an album launch. We talk about the creative process behind their singles only approach, working with world famous tattoo artist David Peyote, their award winning music video "Soul Stain" and how a shaman experience helped to create their visual identity.Catch our short video version of this interview here: https://youtu.be/jo6lBD1HA8kIf you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference Links:Mountain Head - https://www.mountainheadmusic.com/Soul Stain Music Video - https://youtu.be/SGu1lyhxRTgDavid Peyote - https://www.davidpeyote.com/Unison Benevolent Fund - https://unisonfund.ca/CLMA - https://canadianlivemusic.ca/Dropout Entertainment - https://dropoutentertainment.ca/Stay (at home) Fest - https://strandedfest.com/Release Day Webstie - https://www.releasedayseries.comRelease Day Series Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=axm4sn93QmqeRgMbqiHWyw

Small Sins - Emerging from a 10-Year Hiatus

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:38 -0500

On episode 9 of the Release Day Series Podcast, Alex Huard speaks with JUNO Nominated producer/engineer Thomas D'Arcy as he returns to the music world as an artist with his project, Small Sins, following a 10-year hiatus.We discuss his reasons for shelving the project with no intention of bringing it back, why he did, quarter/mid life crises, and the importance of the artists visual identity.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference links:https://www.smallsinsmusic.com/ - Website (Small Sins)http://thomasdarcymusic.com/ - Website (Thomas' projects)https://youtu.be/o3-7omQeja0 - Full album lyric videohttp://indieweek.ca/ - indie101https://www.ecma.com/ - ECMAshttps://dropoutentertainment.ca/ - Dropout CIMVAswww.releasedayseries.com - Release Day Websitehttps://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=DsELmsj2TPGtb0Y4Ke6mPw - Release Day Series Spotify Playlist

The Motorleague - Dischordia, Finding your sound & 17 different band members

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 00:00:42 -0500

This week on the Release Day Series Podcast, we're joined by Don Levandier of New Brunswick based Rock and Roll band "The Motorleague" to talk about their latest single "Dischordia" (Jan 2021) featuring Brian Byrne, formerly of I Mother Earth.Don and Alex talk about where the song came from, the recording process and how the project was funded (it's a wild story) as well as the experiences that have helped to shape the band and their sound over 15+ years they've been in the business - this includes cycling through band members in the double digits and working with JUNO & Grammy award winning producer Eric Ratz.We were also lucky enough to score the original demo of the song that we'll play a clip of after the interview.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Reference links:The Motorleague website - https://www.themotorleague.ca/Eric Ratz website - https://www.ericratz.com/The Parity Hack - https://medium.com/solidified/parity-hack-how-it-happened-and-its-aftermath-9bffb2105c0The 50th JUNO Awards - https://junoawards.ca/Dropout Entertainment 3rd annual CIMVA's - https://dropoutentertainment.ca/dropout-canadian-independent-music-video-awards-2020/Release Day Website - https://www.releasedayseries.comRelease Day Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=bwoULqGMQNe8YTJV3M0FcA

Julian Taylor - Releasing Independently, It's all Rock and Roll, A Post-Pandemic Music Industry

Wed, 17 Feb 2021 00:03:20 -0500

Today we revisit an interview we did in May of 2020 with Julian Taylor for our Release Day video series. If you haven’t heard it by now, Julian’s latest solo record “The Ridge” is one of the greatest folk/Americana records to be released in 2020. We talk about the benefits of releasing this record independently, how release day has changed over the decades, and his thoughts on how the music industry could evolve post-pandemic.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Resource links:Julian's Websitehttps://juliantaylormusic.ca/Indie 101: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/screenxscreen/484304#Unisonhttps://unisonfund.ca/SHINEhttp://shineconcert.ca/Follow our Spotify playlist!https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=QsijG4MjS3mhCrdAKoLbkg

Julie Neff - A Strong Message, Radio Airplay, Artist Branding

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 01:45:01 -0500

On January 27th, 2021, Indie-Pop artist Julie Neff released “Over It”, a 6-song EP she describes as a “project that shines a light on the open heart needed for vulnerability while planting one’s feet firmly on the ground to create the healthy boundaries we need in our lives.” We have a great conversation about music, the design process of branding the project, and how her experiences and exposure to different cultures from living abroad have had an influence on her music promotional strategy.But we also get into some pretty tough conversations about dealing with toxic co-workers, toxic environments, and the continued existence of sexism in the music industry. Julie’s first hand experience with these encounters are a driving narrative within the songs on her beautifully constructed EP.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Resource links:https://julieneff.ca/http://www.screenxscreen.com/https://www.winterfolk.com/https://www.softcult.band/zineFollow our Spotify playlist!https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0GbiC5YorhQObK1n3FndhJ?si=QsijG4MjS3mhCrdAKoLbkg

Terra Spencer - Writing what you love, Government Funding

Wed, 03 Feb 2021 00:00:28 -0500

On November 13th, 2020, Nova Scotian Artist Terra Spencer released her album "Chasing Rabbits". This album is as warm and comforting as a fireplace on a winter’s day. Described as “a collection of songs set against the backdrop of the Canadian winter”, there really is no better way to put it. Terra and I talk about how she began writing this project, acquiring funding through Music Nova Scotia, and the intricacies of co-producing an album through the pandemic in time for it’s winter release.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley.Resource links:https://terraspencer.ca/https://www.factor.ca/https://www.indieweek.com/https://gem.cbc.cahttps://friends.ca/explore/article/black-history-month-2021/https://www.cbc.ca/music/events/searchlight

ROOKS - Branding, Virtual/In-Person Release Shows, Power of Community

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 00:01:07 -0500

On this week's episode it was a pleasure to speak with Jay Bowcott of the Calgary based rock and roll band ROOKS about the release of their debut album “The High Road” on November 6th.These guys took just about every facet of this release into their own hands, from producing the record in their home studio, to creating the music videos, album artwork and setting up their combined live with virtual release show. Jay and Alex dive into the details of how everything came together to help promote their debut album during the pandemic. Listen to ROOKS' debut album on: https://www.wearerooks.com/Tickets to the SCREEN X SCREEN Festival: www.indieweek,comTickets to the Million Dollar Unicorn Show: https://sidedooraccess.com/shows/NRzZhWP8lI9mdpdyPXUPRead the latest edition of Canadian Musician Magazine: https://www.canadianmusician.com/ If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley

Justin Fancy - Remote Production, COVID Safe Release Show, Years of Hard work

Wed, 20 Jan 2021 00:00:09 -0500

On episode 3 of the Release Day Series Podcast, Alex Huard speaks with Newfoundland Country artist Justin Fancy about his debut album "Sure Beats a Good Time". We talk about how the album was produced remotely, and the increased planning and decision making that went in to hosting a release party under strict government public gathering guidelines during the COVID pandemic.Listen to Justin's debut album on his website: https://justinfancymusic.ca/If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley

Stephen Stanley - Releasing a live album

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 00:00:20 -0500

In 2020, Stephen Stanley released his live album "Live Static Roots", recorded in Germany in 2018. We discuss why it was the right time for it's release, and how an album of this nature can serve as a rich addition to an artists discography.Watch Stephen's video interview on our website www.releasedayseries.com.If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley

Meet The Team - Release Day Series Podcast

Wed, 06 Jan 2021 00:01:26 -0500

In our inaugural episode, series creators Alex Huard and Graham Bieri introduce themselves and how they met through the Toronto music industry, how Release Day came to fruition, and what to expect from the series.As always, you can find all of our short form video interviews and links to our social media channels on our website: www.releasedayseries.com. If you have music you would like us to hear, or have a great release day rollout plan you want the world to know about, send an email with your EPK and release plan to: contactreleaseday@gmail.comThank you so much for listening, and Welcome to Release Day!Theme music composed by Evan Denley

Release Day Series Podcast Trailer

Sun, 04 Oct 2020 10:04:48 -0400

Welcome to the Release Day Series Podcast!Behind every release there is a story, and with more than 50million tracks now available on Spotify, and growing by close to 40,000 daily, having a release strategy and a plan for your music is absolutely essential in giving an artist the best chance to be seen and heard. “Release Day” sits down with Canadian musicians of all genres to discuss their latest releases, and the efforts that go into making release day a reality.Theme music by Evan Denley