Inside the Music with StereoRuss

Hamilton indie pop artists Emma Whale (songwriter and producer), Saad Sheik, and Jesse Adams join me for a conversation about songwriting, production, and finding their own paths in the local music scene. We discuss the art of making pop songs shorter and stickier, the challenges of promoting music in the social media era, and why sustainable creativity matters more than chasing the algorithm. We also talk upcoming releases, music ...

Grammy winning Toronto band BadBadNotGood joins Inside the Music with StereoRuss ahead of their August 20 performance at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.

Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty chat with StereoRuss to discuss how the band's sound has evolved from jazz roots into a genre defying blend of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and indie music. They share stor...

This episode is being presented as part of Hamilton Arts Week (running from July 2-9) which includes more than 200 events and activities. Arts week is presented by Hamilton Arts Council with support from the City of Hamilton, and the Government of Canada. Check out all the event listings at theartycrowd.ca

Connect with Hamilton Arts Council & The Arty Crowd

https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/

https://theartycrowd.ca/

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Superstar Crush are BACK and they're in their WARTORTLE ERA!

Fresh off opening for Wolf Parade, the Hamilton group joins StereoRuss for a conversation about Rococo-inspired stage aesthetics, finding your people, and the surreal experience of sharing bills with artists they’ve admired for years. It’s funny, thoughtful, and chalked full of Pokémon evolution metaphors.

Connect with Superstar Crush

https://www.instagram.co...

A few days before the Junos, Aysanabee joined me at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton to talk about returning to the awards with two new nominations (which he won by the way)! We got into his approach to live performance, scoring a goal on an NHL goalie, learning with covers from Leon Bridges, Sam Roberts, and Justin Bieber, his self-taught guitar style, and why he’s releasing a stripped-back acoustic album. He also shared ...

I sat down live in-studio with DJ’s Flying Circus, a growing collective of musicians. What started as jam sessions and covers has turned into original music, a rotating lineup, and a full scale live experience they call The Book of Funk.

We talk about where it all started, how they balance life's obligations and creativity, and what it means to commit to something when there’s no clear path forward. There’s a lot ...

Tiger Balme is a Toronto based indie pop collective reinventing what a band can look (and sound) like. With vibraphone, harp, guitar, drums, and lush three part harmonies, Tiger Balme blends pop, indie, and art rock into something entirely their own.

In this conversation, the band dives into their origins as a songwriting collective, how shared leadership shapes their sound, and why no one person stands at the front of the stage. W...

Jack Stearns-Ley is a Hamilton based singer songwriter exploring the space between lo-fi intimacy and expansive, collaborative sound. Centred around piano but shaped by a rotating cast of musicians, Jack’s music blends singer songwriter roots with jazz, ambient textures, and a sense of organized spontaneity.

His latest project, Dottie’s Sketchbook, is as much about process as it is about the songs themselves. The album ...

Finbar Wall of The Commune is one of the most compelling voices coming out of Hamilton right now.

Fin and I sit down at Catherine North Studios to talk about community, craft, and what it really means to build a band without gatekeeping. From recording their early EP JUMA for the price of pizza, to lugging drywall, to discussing their recent run of shows with Tom Wilson, Daniel Lanois, and Junkhouse this conversation digs into the ...

Olivia Brown is the bandleader and bassist of Junestone, for a fun convo on improvisation, songwriting, live performance, and what it really means to trust your band.

Recorded at Catherine North Studios, the conversation explores how Junestone blends funk, pop, jazz, and free flowing improvisation, why they prioritize live off the floor recording, and how creating a safe creative space leads to better music both on stage and in the...

Gareth Inkster is an independent singer/songwriter and pianist for the band Golden Feather from Hamilton, Ontario. Today we sit down for a deep, thoughtful conversation about creativity, authenticity, and what it means to be a musician in a world obsessed with outcomes.

We talk about Gareth’s journey through the Hamilton music scene, his role in Golden Feather, and why long form, exploratory music still matters. Gareth also s...

Aysanabee is a two-time Juno award winning artist who will be playing at Bridgeworks in Hamilton, Ontario this Sunday December 7 in support of his third and latest album “Edge of the Earth”.

In this interview, we dive into the making of "Edge of the Earth", the story behind its album cover, and Aysanabee’s journey through 180+ shows across the world. We also get into his soul and folk influences, the Indigenous o...

Mark Furukawa (aka DJ Mark) is the owner of Dr. Disc Records, legendary Hamilton DJ, community builder, and one of the city’s most enduring champions of local music.

Mark has been running Dr. Disc since 1991, outlasting corporate giants like HMV, surviving the Napster era, and navigating the chaos of COVID. We also talk DJ philosophy, the emotional power of physical music, and the joy of creating space for local musicians to...

Danny Miles is the drummer for July Talk, producer, DJ, photographer, and all around creative force. We dig deep into his journey: from touring the world with July Talk, to his solo projects, producing hip-hop inspired instrumentals, and even releasing a photography and poetry book, The Beauty of Vultures.

Credits:

Recorded at Catherine North Studios (Hamilton, Ontario)

Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media

Production Assist...

Ariana Fig is back on Inside the Music! She is a singer, songwriter, and producer, this time with even more stories, songs, and laughs. Two years after her first interview, Ariana talks with StereoRuss about how her sound and mindset have evolved while creating her soon to be released debut album, So Long Sinner State.

Credits

Recorded at Catherine North Studios (Hamilton, Ontario)

Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media

Produ...

StereoRuss goes on location at Into the Abyss Records with Public Health, Hamilton’s latest noise rock quartet. They talk about building community through DIY spaces, pushing sonic boundaries with harsh tones and feedback, and the inspirations that shaped their sound.

Topics in this interview:

• What makes a DIY venue different from a bar

• How Public Health evolved from psych rock to noise rock

• The recording process of...

Buddha Abusah is a hip hop artist, producer, engineer, who brings his raw and honest energy for an uplifting conversation about music, fatherhood, and staying true to your path.

Buddha opens up about the meaning behind his name, the philosophy of be, do, have, and why he believes creativity should never be compromised by ego, money, or outside expectations. The two talk about the balance between family and art, how to maintain your...

StereoRuss visits the eclectic Tape Studio for conversation with Adam Bentley: musician, producer, and founder of the music marketing company Auteur Research (since recording the company has changed it's name to Echo Myron). Adam opens up about his early days in the Hamilton indie scene, how a fictional label and a MySpace hustle turned into a 15+ year career helping artists reach new audiences, and why the title “Dreamcrushe...

Danny Smart is a producer, musician, and podcast host working out of the vibrant Halo Studio in Hamilton, Ontario.

Originally from a small town in England, Danny shares his journey from cruise ship performer to becoming a key player in Hamilton’s music scene. He reflects on his love for country music, his early musical influences (shoutout Johnny Cash), and what ultimately drew him to Canada, and to Hamilton.

The two dive int...