Stereo Embers: The Podcast

"You Deserve A Bath" That sentiment may be comprised of just four words, but in life so many of us forget to recognize that in the constraints of our daily existences some self-care--like the simple pleasure of taking a bath--is deserved. In this conversation the Juno Award-winning singer/songwriter Rose Cousins talks to Alex about stillness, self-care and, to borrow a phrase from her new album, the benefits of being alone. They also chat about the supportive Halifax music scene, how to handle small talk and what to do if you see one of your fans at a pet store.

"Shooting Free Throws And Playing Guitar" You may not realize it, but there's an intersection between playing sports and playing music. In fact, there's really no difference between playing guitar and shooting free throws--both take time, discipline, commitment and concentration. The Georgia-born Josh Kelley grew up playing golf in Augusta and while a golf scholarship landed him at Ole Miss, he'd been hard at work playing music since he was 11. His passion for writing songs overtook his passion for golf and before college was over Kelley had landed a record deal. In our first episode of 2020 Kelley talks to Alex about the intersection between sports and art. He also chats about the power of manifestation, how fatherhood informs creativity and why the first person he plays his new music for is his wife. PHOTO CREDIT: Justin Hackworth

"The Theory Behind Our Last Episode Of The Decade" Okay, there's no conspiracy theory behind the fact that this our last episode of the decade. We meant that above sentence literally--like, SUPER literally. The decade is coming to a close in a few days, so there's that and helping us put a button on it all is Theory bassist Dean Back. The Canadian musician talks to us about his band's new album Say Nothing, dressing up in a Spaceballs costume for Halloween and how Theory critiques their performances by laughing at their mistakes. Great chat, great guy, great decade! See you in 2020!! PHOTO BY GEOFF TISCHMAN

"For Our Christmas Episode We Couldn't Get Jesus Of Nazareth So We Got Dan Of Nazareth Instead" Okay, to be fair Dan McCafferty left the legendary Scottish band back in 2013 but worthy replacements aside, he will always be the voice of Nazareth. After 45 years fronting the internationally acclaimed outfit, McCafferty stepped aside due to health reasons. Recharged, revitalized and sounding better than ever, McCafferty is back with his third solo album--and first since 1987. In this conversation he chats with Alex about his collaboration with the Czech instrumentalist Karel Marik, why he's never planned anything in his life and why the easiest people to talk to are fishermen.

"All You Have To Do Is Do The Dishes" Sounds simple, right? Well, that's because it is. And, according to singer/songwriter Emerson Hart, that act of contributive collaboration is is the key to a lasting relationship. Hart has had a lasting relationship with music and his artistic evolution has been a joy to follow. Over the course of his career with Tonic and his marvelous solo work, including his new album 32,000 Days, Hart has been one of the most affecting singer/songwriters out there. In this conversation he talks to Alex about seeing U2 in France in 1987, the stillness of Paul Simon and the inspiration he found in the life of his step-father.

"F. Scott Fitzgerald Was Wrong..." Well, to be fair, F. Scott Fitzgerald was right about a lot of things, but he was certainly wrong about his assertion that in life there are no second acts. For example, you ask? Limahl. The former Kajagoogoo singer has not only just released an instant holiday classic with "London For Christmas" interest in the charismatic singer has never been greater thanks to his songs showing up on popular programs like "Stranger Things" and "American Horror Story." With his profile back in the spotlight, Limahl is finishing off 2019 with his Christmas single and planning a full-fledged comeback in 2020 with new music on the way. In this conversation Limahl talks to Alex about escaping a job working in the mines, the power of networking and how to eat pudding and stay fit at the same time. They also talk about leaving home to follow your dreams, the '80s confederacy and why the story of an artists life really is never ending....

"Throwing Curveballs At The Moon" That's how The Pop Group's Mark Stewart describes the creative process and it might also very well be the perfect description of the Pop Group's career. Unconventional, ferociously innovative, and delightfully idiosyncratic, The Pop Group have never cared about what's happening in the mainstream and instead adhered to the rhythms and sounds that they wanted to make. In this whirlwind of an interview, the Bristol-born Stewart talks to Alex about UFO's, having tea with Sun Ra, The Sex Pistols, and how music bridged the racial divide in his town in the late 70s. He also talks about why he likes to hang out with oddballs, the avant-garde New York scene and a fight he once had with Allen Ginsberg.

“Should Only People Who’ve Been To Space Dress As Spacemen?” Well, it’s certainly a good question. In this follow-up to his wildly popular episode wherein he offered an explanation about Brexit, singer/songwriter Owen Vyse is back and this time he’s tackling cultural appropriation, intentionality and gender bias. A discursive chat that starts in a construction zone in Bangkok and ends at an early ‘90s Halloween party where Owen’s costume is inspired by Shaft and P-Funk, this is one of those conversations you won’t want to miss.

"The Atmospheric Drinking Game" If you were to check out the reviews of All India Radio's discography you'd find that pretty much at one point or another every music journalist has described this Melbourne band's sound as being atmospheric. In fact, if you were to take a drink every time you ran into the word, you'd be drunk pretty fast. To be fair, All India Radio's sound IS atmospheric, but it's also so much more. The band's new long player Eternal is a textured blend of bewitching soundscapes that sound like music that comes from dreams you haven't even had yet. In this engaging interview with All India Radio's braintrust Martin Kennedy, Martin talks to Alex about transitioning from his indie pop outfit Pray TV into All India Radio, the endless rigors of the creative process and what goes into the mix to create the complex sonic layers of his band's sound. "You're after the secret sauce," he laughs. A discursive chat about life, music and art, Kennedy also talks to Alex about working with Steve Kilbey of the Church, dodging the PledgeMusic bullet and why he keeps chasing the elusive element of perfection.

"The Eighth Child Was The First One Born In A Hospital" ....and that eighth child was Crystal Gale. The Kentucky-bred Gale was the only one of her seven siblings to be born in a hospital and perhaps that ended up being a metaphor for her career. While her mother eschewed a homespun homebirth for Gale, the singer/songwriter later eschewed traditional country music by imbuing it with a little pop. The Grammy-Award-winning Gale's remarkable career as an international superstar has landed her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and for good reason. In this interview Gale talks to Alex about her love of Amy Winehouse, why her son became her producer and the roots of her first new album in 16 years, the marvelous You Don't Know Me.