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Ep. #205: Nick Ferrio

Nick Ferrio is a heartfelt singer and songwriter based in Peterborough, Ontario. A member of the humourous and wise folk-rock band the Burning Hell, Ferrio has emerged as an artistic force in his own right, releasing two seven-inch singles and now two full-length albums that have each been acclaimed by critics, as vibrant contributions to folk and country music in Canada. His latest album is entitled Amongst the Coyotes and Birdsongs, it’s out now via Headless Owl and Shuffling Feet Records, and has prompted Ferrio to play select tour dates, including one at the Hillside Festival in Guelph on the weekend of July 24. Here, Nick and I chat about sweating in Peterborough, touring with the Burning Hell, European trains versus Canadian trains, Mike O’Neill and Go Trains, the ferociousness of love, relationships, what’s going on on Amongst the Coyotes and Birdsongs, Steven Lambke’s songwriting, Mathias Kom and the Silver Hearts and the Burning Hell, country music as a fashionable state of mind, Geoff Berner’s song “Phony Drawl,” growing up in Sutton, Ontario, Nevermind and The Lion King, seeing Dinosaur Jr. opening up for Alanis Morrissette, Wayne Regretzky, the Great One’s cottage, why he’s no longer the Artistic Director of the Peterborough Folk Festival, The Burning Hell getting snubbed in Peterborough, playing the Hillside Festival, the new Burning Hell record, the song “At My Window,” and then Nick stopped loving Vish today.

Related links: nickferrio.com hillsidefestival.ca vishkhanna.com

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News Podcast

Ep. #204: Michael Franti

Michael Franti is a musician, filmmaker, and humanitarian currently based in California. Emerging as a founding member of Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy more than 20 years ago, Franti has cultivated a loyal and large following for his nuanced and positive solo work, fronting his own band, Spearhead. His latest album is 2013’s All People, but he has just released a new single and video for the 2015 song, “Once a Day.” Franti is headlining the Main Stage on Friday July 24 at the Hillside Festival in Guelph and here, we discuss San Francisco weather, living in Edmonton at 15 years old during the winter, opening for U2’s Zoo TV Tour in 1993, the Ed, when U2 was cool, Primus, expressing a range of emotions, music as a form of inspiration, positivity and cynicism, meeting the Dalai Lama, Unrestricted Monk, the song “Once a Day” and how it reflects a health scare involving his son and the love it inspired, the new album, the lowdown on a new documentary about himself tentatively called 11:59, the song “Once a Day,” and that’s it.

Related links: michaelfranti.com hillsidefestival.ca vishkhanna.com

©Jay Blakesberg

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Categories
News Podcast

Ep. #203: Elaquent

Elaquent is a hip-hop artist and producer based in Guelph, Ontario. An underground hero among beatmakers and rabid fans, Elaquent is renowned for his infectious, soulful but off-kilter compositions that recall aspects of Dilla and DJ Premier but are still wholly unique. Endlessly prolific, Elaquent’s brand new album is called Good Karma, it’s out now via Huh, What & Where, and it’s prompted him to play live, including solo and collaborative sets in his hometown at the Hillside Festival between July 24 and 26. Here, Elaquent and I discuss being rusty, making up your skillset on your own, plant pathology, Spanish and French, the Spanish student becomes the computer teacher, Meek Mill and Drake and ghostwriting/producing in hip-hop, Dr. Dre is a heartbreaker, Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift, Action Bronson and Ghostface Killah, pro wrestling, Good Karma and positive vibes, living in a town like Guelph, playing the Hillside Festival for the first time, jamming with Daniel Lanois, Nels Cline Singers, BADBADNOTGOOD, Lee Reed, and Jason Wilson & Pee Wee Ellis, the song “You’ve Changed,” and that was that.

Related links: elaquent.com hillsidefestival.ca vishkhanna.com

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