Background Noise

It's not a lizard, it's not a bird, it's Lizard The Bird the band from Halifax Nova Scotia. We chat with ALL the members of the band about their debut EP First Clutch, their latest single Coming Undone, and so many maritime bands we've apparently been sleeping on. They share with us some of their NS favourites (which were very difficult for them to narrow down to only 3), but we hear some tunes from North of Nowhere, Verry Gerry, and Dogpile.I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

Today's episode is not your normal episode...we are chatting with Wiesinger (From Season 3) but not about Wiesinger! We are chatting with them about the amazing arts and music festival they put together every year in Barrhead, Alberta. This year, they've grown the festival to be a full week from March 17th - 22nd, and include local artists, filmmakers, and a full day of music featuring over 35 musical acts. We talk all about the festival and play tunes from a handful of the artists who will be playing at the festival. For tickets and full details, check out https://pembinaartsfestival.com/ . I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

It's time to get weird...in the best way possible with Edmonton's Bailey Sutton! Bailey tells us all about her deep love for Weird Al, learning to make music just for fun, and her latest single Weird On My Birthday (which has an equally weird and wonderful music video). We also chat about her 2025 album Tooth Music, an album for all those people going through tooth pain. Bailey shares with us some of her favourite YEG artists as well, including Homophonik, Jananie, and Caylie G. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

Now this is a band to flock over...Barrie Ontario's newest rock and roll trio The Ravens Haven! We chat with Quinn and Carter, the two brothers behind the band about their journey in music, their whole discography, and what we should be keeping an eye and ear on them for. They also share with us some of their favourite local Barrie band, Kill/Death Radio!, Dead Mechanics, and Cudbear. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

He's the bowtie folk/rock guy of YEG...he's Von Bieker! We talk about his love for Edmonton's music scene, songwriting, his latest album "Dumb Hope", and all the little things. He shares with us some of his favourite local bands, Lucette & Mariel Buckley, John Hewitt, and Joe Nolan & Coulou. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

From the land of 50 below...RaytheNihilist shares his stories of humble beginnings and his day ones with us in this episode of Background Noise. The Saskatchewan (Treaty 6) based indigenous hip-hop artist has shifted his focus to writing introspective raps about his journey, his community, and real-world issues. We chat about his latest EP, "BLKFT BOI", all the collaborations with other artists he does, and so much more. Ray shares with us some of his favourite local musicians as well, Micsmith, The North Sound (previously featured on Season 3 of the show), and Junk. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

Grab your pirate hats and goth girl friends, it's getting heavy with the theatrical metal band from Edmonton, Daniel Martin & The Infamous! We chat about their latest album "Gone Days of Silence", how all goth girls DON'T look the same, and their upcoming year-end show at Bunkers in YEG. They also share with us some of their favourite Edmonton bands, Forsaken Rite (with which they share a drummer), Famous Strangers, and a brand new to the scene band...Trick Of The Light. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

It's jazzy, it's groovy, it's dancy...it's KALLISTO! Today, we chat with Jossee from the psychedelic, Middle Eastern, jazz, rock group Kallisto out of Montreal, Quebec. Jossee gets influence from all over the world and across genres and blends them with unique timings and instruments to create tunes that just get you moving. We chat about her latest album "Khevre" which marks the start of Kallisto's new sound. We also chat about their live album "Live in Montreal" and dig into some of their older songs. While they couldn't make it to the interview, we spin a couple songs from the other projects of Kallisto's Bass Player, Decoy Proxy, and their Guitar Player, Antione Bens'. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

We are kicking off Season 4 with the YEG musical legend Mallory Chipman. From soft beautiful folk songs, to angsty protest rock, to classical jazz Mallory has it all in her discography. We chat about her 2024 album "Songs To A Wild God"...one of the more folky albums, some of her songs based on bird calls, and her experimental rock project "Mallory Chipman and The Mystics". With all her work in the Edmonton music community, Mallory has had the opportunity to connect with tons of other artists in the city and she shares with us some songs from Brett Hansen, Cynthia Hamar, and Loud In The Pines. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

It's that time of year again where one season ends...and another begins. THIS IS THE SEASON 3 FINALE OF BACKGROUND NOISE! Clocking in at over 3,150 all-time downloads across the world, I can't thank you enough for tuning in over the past 3 years. This show is proud to air on Big E Radio, so for today's special episode, we chat with fellow curator and YEG Classical Music legend, Tammy Jo. Of course, we chat about Tammy's show, Maple Infused Classical Breakfast, which airs on Big E Radio every Saturday Morning at 11 AM MST, but we also talk about the work she does with various ensembles and choirs around Edmonton. Over the summer, she held concerts at her local church featuring The Mbira Renaissance Band, Jessica Heine, and Maria Dunn... which we hear a couple of tunes from. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

Scared of the Dark? There's no need to be with the Vancouver Indie-Pop Icon Lila Gray! Singer, Songwriter, Musician, Audio Producer/Engineer...Lila does it all, and she tells all. We chat about her latest album, Scared of the Dark (You Should Be Too), collaborations with other artists, and music videos. Lila shares with us some of her favourite local artists, and we hear a couple of tunes from Grace Clark, Ralph, and Haleluya Haliu. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

CAUTION: THIS EPISODE MAY CAUSE A MOSH PIT TO OPEN UP IN YOUR LIVING ROOM! We chat with the extreme metal band from Vancouver, Thirteen Goats. Their riffs are heavy, and so is the lore they have created about their mascot, "The Shepard" and his demonic goat disciples. We talk all about that and their latest album, "Capricorn Rising", and of course, the origin story of the band itself. Frontman Graham shares with us a couple of his favourite indie metal bands as well...The Morgellons, Omniesia, and Stalwart. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

It's a little bit of this...a little bit of that...and all rock and roll! Today we chat with Nathan from the BC band, Crones, about their 2024 album "Human Error" (which is currently available on vinyl), all the musical inspiration behind it, some of their older tunes, and their live shows. Nathan also gives us a couple of songs from his favourite BC bands, Britt A.M., Danny Bell and His Disappointments, and Scribbens. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

I dare you NOT to sing along to the bird song...it's harder than you'd think. Pete Moss, the Ontario Nature-Folk Children's (but also for adults) musician, combines his love of birds, plants, and all things nature into catchy, educational, and inspirational songs. We chat with him about his latest single, "Hey Bud", and both his albums, "Birds Rock" and "Plants Rock". Pete also shares with us a couple of his favourite local children's artists, "My Friend Christopher " and "Land Heart Song". I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists.

What does the North sound like? Sounds a lot like a hard way to make an easy living. So dust off those cowboy boots and get ready to work with Forrest and Nevada Eaglespeaker, the two hearts behind The North Sound out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. We chat with the couple about their latest album "What It Takes" and how one song changed the whole direction of and almost complete album, their 2020 album "As The Stars Explode", and about what it takes to be musicians and a family. We also hear a few songs from Forrest and Nevada's favourite Saskatoon artists RaytheNihilist, Gunner & Smith, and Former Lovers. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

The weather may be cool up in the Yukon...but these guitar riffs are even cooler. Today, we chat with the Whitehorse vocal powerhouse, Hendrika, about her music, her part in Major Funk, and the exciting things she has coming up this year. We also hear songs from Wyatt C. Lewis, Malory Chipman, Billie Zizi, and of course Major Funk. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

From hosting open mics and kids' TV shows to recording songs and playing in numerous bands around the Victoria area, Glenn J. MacDonald is a man of many talents and great stories. We chat about his music, both new and old, the many bands he's in, and the projects he's currently working on. We also hear songs from KSAR and Baby Boy & The Earthly Delights (which Glenn is a part of) and Braden Gates (who Glenn doesn't play with formally but is a dear friend of his). I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

She's soul, she's R&B, she's whatever she wants to be...she's APHROSE! We chat with the YYZ Vibe Queen herself about her latest album "Roses" (a homage to her late grandmother), the deep cuts that can only be found on CD now, and her unique way of coming up with great song titles like "YaYa" and "Bobby Daba". We also hear a few songs from her favourite local acts Claire Davis, Francois Klark, and Jessie Reyez. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

It's an episode full of fun music for fun people, written BY fun people. Today we sit down with Justin and Chelsea from the Alberta-based pop/rock duo, Wiesinger. Their lyrics are deep, their stories are inspiring, and overall their music just sounds fun. We chat about all of that, their origin stories, and the epic music showcase/festival they are putting on at The Roxy Theater in Barrhead on April 26th, 2025 (tickets on sale now). We also hear a couple of songs from Eric Kane and Cab'Ral. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights are to the respective artists

Get ready for an epic journey into your mind...and the minds behind the Nova Scotia space rock duo Earth Altar. In this special episode, we listen to all four parts of their album, Inter Terra Solis, that they did with Sun Below, dive into the lore behind the songs, and chat about Earth Altar live shows. We also hear a couple of songs from East Coast powerhouses, Conductor, Plural, and FLUKE. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyrights is to the respective artists

Cross your legs and chill out in a field of daisies with Vancouver trio, Stone Poets. They tell us about what it is to be human, their mission to spread peace and good vibes, and their 2024 album "HUM∀N". We also hear a couple of songs from Bruce Coughlan and Maxwell & Thain. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

YIP YIP! It's time to ride off with Kue Varo, the Calgary musician infusing music, magic, and storytelling. We chat with Kue about her album Cowboy Witchcraft, her journey as a musician, and we hear a brand-new unreleased single. We also spin songs from Shane Ghostkeeper and Jolene Marie. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

We are going on a field trip to the Church of Better Daze with the Minister himself...Boy Golden. We chat with him about his latest album For Eden, the lore behind Boy Golden, and his work behind the board in the Manitoba music scene. Boy Golden shares with us some of his favourite up-and-coming artists Wyatt C. Louis, Secret Beach, and FONTINE. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

Get in the car losers...we are listening to a kick-ass punk band from Edmonton, The Carpoolers! We chat with Maddy and Hunter, the brother-sister duo behind the band about what it's like being in a 6-piece band, their live shows, and their debut EP Revenge Porn. We also spin a few songs from YEG legends Bad Communicators, Re-Form, and Misfortune Tellers. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

Bask in the warmth of the tropical vibes no matter where you are with Tobago/Vancouver Island's Island Soul...Caleb Hart. We chat about about his live performances, poetic lyrics, music videos, and so much more and he shares with us some of his favourite songs from some up-and-coming artists like Poncho, Jayden Brown, Tk The Artist, Marc Micu, Golden Ganga, Tugstar, Djkemo, and Jonelle. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

If you like crunchy guitar tones and soothing vocals...this episode is for you! HotKid is the dream-pop alt-rock project of Shiloh Harrison out of Ontario. Starting out as just a 2 piece band in the early 2000s and now grown to a full 4 piece, we chat with Shilo about her latest EP Downtown and the work she's doing with her and her husband's indie record label Fortune Steller. We play a few other songs from bands on her label, Ace of Wands, By Divine Right, and Mad Ones. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

There's a new group of cowboys in town and their name is The Orvald Wayne Show. After supporting his friends in the YEG music scene, Ty Orvald Wayne Lindberg got the itch to get on stage himself. He's been playing shows around the city since early 2024 and this past September released a 3 song EP. We chat about his journey so far in music, the songs he's released so far, and what else he has in the works. We also hear a couple of songs from You, Me & Zack (who also double as his backing band) and Carter Felker. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

All rise for the Saddie-Baddie queen herself...Justine Tyrell! We chat with the Calgary-based R&B rising star about her 2024 singles Devotion and Ghost Town, an upcoming album, and some of her other favourite Calgary artists. Also in the mix, we hear songs from Kaeyae Alo, Wyatt C. Louis, and TEEINTHEAM. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

They say to reach for the stars...The Skystar! Welcome to the first reggae artist to be featured on Background Noise...Mr. Ainsworth Rose AKA Skystar out of Edmonton. Originally born in Jamaica, Skystar brings the dancehall vibes to the world. We chat about his latest album "Sky's The Limit", some of his older tunes, and all the people he has worked with. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

We are kicking off Season 3 of Background with style....Uncle Strut style. We chat with all 3 dudes from this vibey Vancouver band about their latest single "Quarter Mile", their upcoming album, and they drop the date and location for the release show (listen to the episode to find out). Uncle Strut also introduces us to some of their favourite local bands, 538 Street, Nick Stone, and Haley Ahonen. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

WOW! I can't believe another year of Background Noise has gone by. A big thank you goes out to all the artists we've talked to in season two and of course, YOU who tune in and have contributed to the over 2,000 downloads this show has had over the past 2 years. Like the Season One Finale, I'm mixing things up a little in this episode and today we chat with Todd Crawshaw, fellow Big E Radio Curator and Executive Director at The Yardbird Suite. We talk about Edmonton's roaring Jazz scene, some of Todd's favourite YEG Jazz artists, and the magic of community radio. We hear songs from The Hutchinson Andrew Trio, PJ Perry, Jim Head, and The Mbira Renaissance Band. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

The final artist feature of season 2...Alberta's own Mister Bird. Gareth Bruce is a singer and storyteller who shares his journeys and love for nature through his bluesy folk songs. We chat about his newest album "Moving Mountains" which dropped in July, his 2024 EP "Reflections", and he shares with us 2 of his favourite local artists Bretty Cassidy and Justin Hill. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

From golfer to musician Manitoba (currently living in Toronto) Garrett Neiles has songs to sing and life lessons to share. We chat with the 80's pop-infused artist about his latest single "Lipstick", a confidence-boosting feel-good song as well as take a deep dive into his older work. Mixing things up a little bit we also listen to some live recordings and talk about his "27" EP release at the Park Theater. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

We've got all ears on Mattmac and his latest album "All Eyes On Us". Today we are chatting with Indigenous rapper and producer Mattmac out of Manitoba, his new album is all about community and collaboration showcasing several other Indigenous artists. We chat about these collabs, music videos, and some of his older songs as well. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

DIY rock group from Hamilton Ontario is as resilient as the tardigrade they named themselves after. We chat with Tom and Alex from Water Bear about their latest single "Thrive" off their new album that will be coming out soon "Home Recording Volume 3", all their old songs, and what they have coming up. We also hear a few songs from some other great Ontario Hardrock/Punk projects, Wordplay, Hysterics, and The Doctor is "IN". I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

Wake up and pack your tent we are heading to the Rocky Mountains with one of Edmonton's cutest folk music couples! Jed & The Valentine are just two kids who love making music, writing songs about camping, being together, and capturing that outdoor Alberta vibe. We chat about their debut album "Awake", their live shows, and we listen to a few songs from some of their favourite local artists, Major Love, Travis Matthews, and Tayler Grace. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

This ain't no diet rock...this is guitar riffin', hair throwin', yellin' and screamin' rock-and-roll. We chat with Joan Smith out of Ontario about her current self-fronted project "Joan Smith & The Jane Does", their live shows, recent singles, sick music videos, and some of the awesome musicians and producers they've gotten to work with. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

These guys aren't your average cup of tea...Teacup Romance is a post-hardcore emo band from Edmonton with powerful vocals and a kickass sound. We chat with Ryan, the bass player, about their live shows, latest singles, and killer music videos. We also hear music from Forester, Asleep In Traffic, and Wayfinder. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

0stella takes us on a ride with her music and stories. The Alt-Rock Irish Fusion musician currently living in Edmonton promoted her album Pendulum State with a cross-Canada bike tour on a mission to get to Europe with the least amount of air miles. We play songs from both sides of the pendulum and hear from some other Alberta artists, Gone Cosmic, Skye Wallace, and Local Felon. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

From folk-rock to synth-wave Kele Fleming is the genre-bending artist from BC whose love and concern for the environment serve as a running theme with many of her songs. We chat with Kele about a bunch of her songs both new and old, and her decision to collaborate with DJs from around the world and re-release her songs as EDM remixes. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

This man has been on a journey and he shares his lessons and stories through his music...and with us in this episode. We chat with Nelson Little, a country musician out of Manitoba about his latest single "Just Make It Happen", he drops hints to a new album, and we deep dive into a bunch of his older songs. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

Dust off your boots and saddle up your horses, we going on a majestic ride with one of the cutest couples in folk/country music. We chat with Nadia and Jason, who make up the Indigenous Folk duo Burnstick, about their upcoming album, latest singles, and a film project they worked on. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

He's taken us on journeys around the world, and now he is taking us on an adventure with his music. Les Stroud (commonly known for Survivorman) tells us the story behind his career as a musician, his inspiration, and how his work as a filmmaker has led him to make some killer music videos. All that and more, in this extended episode of Background Noise. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

This is what cool sounds like...Meet multi-instrumentalist Malcolm from Calgary, Alberta. We chat about his latest project 'I Think I'm Ok' and the extended edition which is available now on all streaming platforms, his live shows, and we check out a few songs from other members of his live band. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

From singing on AV's front porch, to singing on stage, to now singing in the studio AV & The Inner City is out here singing their hearts out. This 6-piece all-female funk/soul group from Edmonton is a vocal powerhouse, with only 2 recorded songs out as the group (more to come) this is a very LIVELY episode, where we will listen to some of their performance from the 2022 Blues Summit in Toronto, plus their 2 recorded songs. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

Now it's time to chill out and relax with The Moon and I, the Montreal-based moody electronic project. I chat with Eric about this project and his latest EP "Apperception". I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

Wondering what all the commotion is about? It's THE Commotions, a 12-piece funk band out of Ottawa, Ontario. They recently dropped their third album, "Volume III" and it's as groovy as ever. Sit down with Brian and I as we chat all about this album and spin a few of our favourite tracks. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

We are hitting the ground and running with the first episode of the year featuring indigenous Hip-Hop Duo, Violent Ground. Brothers Chris and Allan Nabinacaboo from The Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach released their 2nd album, "Disarranged" in November 2023, featuring a ton of other indigenous artists on their songs. We chat about some singles off the latest album, music videos, and more. I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists.

The ultimate support man goes solo(ish) with his latest project Booker Diduck And His Cribbage Club. Booker has played in multiple bands in the city of Edmonton, and we hear songs from some of them like the 'Denim Daddies' and 'Carter Felker', but he is putting out his own album at the end of January 2024 and he tells us all about it. Tune in to hear some of his unreleased songs off his upcoming album "Heritage Classic". I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists

Sleepy Jean is capturing the sounds and intensity of the Wild West out in Ontario in her most recent album "Shoot Me In A Dream", We chat all about her latest album, that spaghetti western vibe she was going for, and the awesome black and white music videos shes done for some of the songs. We also chat about her debut album "Idel Hands", and she introduces us to "The Feverish Lemons" and "Flwr Girl". I do not own any of the rights to the music played and used. All copyright is to the respected artists