Music Buddy

Lucy Rose Cash is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter. Her debut album— Windswept Perfectionist—is a 7-song outpouring of tender emotion and compassionate insight. Produced by José Miguel Contreras (By Divine Right), the songs capture beautifully the rawness of a budding self-awareness and the fragility of relationships.

Lucy has been surrounded by creativity from birth. Her father (Andrew Cash) is a musician/songwriter, an...

Yvonne Matsell is a celebrated music booker and long-time friend of the Canadian indie music scene. As the live music talent buyer for clubs like Ultrasound, Ted's Wrecking Yard, The Horseshoe Tavern and The Reverb Room, Yvonne gave countless indie bands their first decent gigs, and watched as many of them went on to become success stories and musical household names. Just a few of the bands and artists that flourished as a re...

Internationally-acclaimed and award-winning singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith first sang and strummed his way into the hearts of music lovers in the early-mid 1990s. At that time, the distorted fuzz and raw angst of grunge bands dominated the airwaves, and most "folk" singers watched from the sidelines, clutching their acoustic guitars and cursing their lack of effects pedals - but not Ron. Amidst the dense and glorious swir...

Stephen Stanley is not just a gifted musician and singer/songwriter, but also a wonderful storyteller. His song introductions are almost legendary, and for anyone who witnessed his facebook live shows during the height of the pandemic, you'll know how skilled he is at not just playing and singing, but also communicating with an audience, even when the audience is invisible.

Stephen honed his craft through the 90s and...

It's the most Buddy-ful time of the year! Welcome to the 2nd Annual Solstimas episode.
Once again, we asked friends of the podcast to send us their thoughts on winter and the holidays, and to suggest a favourite seasonal song. 
A huge thank you to all our guests, whose talents and kindnesses continue to warm our hearts and blow our minds.
A big shoutout to our "Music Buddy Christmas Office Party" guest,...

Andrew Rucklidge is an award-winning Canadian visual artist, whose paintings have shown all over the world, and can be found in collections from Toronto, to London, to Dharemshala, India. Andrew is also a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter, who has played in several bands, including Farmer in the City (Martin Tielli), John Southworth, The New Romantic Portal, The Linoleum Falcon, Cactus Club, and—currently—Dopamine Dream.  He als...

Annelise Noronha is an award-winning audio engineer, producer, composer, musician, singer/songwriter, and actor.

In the early days of her career, Annelise found herself honing her production skills at Manta Sound—her first big studio job—where she worked on studio recordings for the likes of Oscar Peterson, James Brown, and Jennifer Lopez.

Since that time she has gone on to work with music professionals at the t...

Lori Yates is an award-winning musician, singer-songwriter, photographer and writer. Her bands—The Last Resorts (late 70s), Rang Tango (80s), and Hey Stella (current)— each attracted a dedicated fan base, and Lori's raw talent and endless dedication have resulted in her working with some of the Industry's best. 

From Queen Street's cow punks to Nashville's country music bigwigs, Lori has shared stages ...

Lillian Allen is a Jamaican-born, Toronto-based writer, performer and activist.  She is a 2-time Juno Award winner, and is considered the godmother of Canadian rap/hiphop, dub, and spoken word. Lillian was recently appointed as the city of Toronto’s 7th Poet Laureate - a position she’ll hold for 3-years. 
A trailblazer, ambassador, professor, and creative force of nature, Lillian's insights into music, literature, society,...

Dave Bidini is a musician, songwriter, author, journalist, publisher, and sports enthusiast. Most people know Dave as the beloved front man of Canada's art rock darlings, Rheostatics. His super-fuelled stage presence is a wondrous thing to behold, and his ability to deliver a song with focused fervour—in addition to the superb musicianship of the band—has captivated fans since the late 80s. But, take a closer look at Bidini&ap...

Starting in the mid nineties, Eduardo Ottoni and James Ong were the drummer and keyboardist in the band Spygirl, a group that was founded by singer Koralee Tonack and (Music Buddy host) Jane Gowan.  The group embodied the spirit of collaboration, and the members developed a deep bond that created a safety net of creative and personal freedoms.

Over time, Eduardo and James’ focus turned from being bandmates to being business partners...

Blair Deptuck is a guitarist, singer, and songwriter. His band New Driver is a group of all-star musicians based in Nanaimo, BC.

Blair's passion for music and commitment to his craft is admirable, and he has managed to balance music-making with raising a family and running his own contracting company. Despite a full and busy life that pulls him in all directions, Blair's desire to rock out is ever-present, and i...

Musician/entrepreneur Dave Ullrich is someone whose independent spirit and DIY talents have forged him a fruitful and fascinating career in and around music and the arts.
 
Dave started the much-loved indie rock duo The Inbreds with his high school friend Mike O'Neill (Trailer Park Boys, Tuns). Much revered for their originality and minimalist approach, the Inbreds became Canadian indie rock favourites in the 90s.
...

Why are there so many pianos being given away, or—worse—sent to the dump?

One day, while searching for vintage finds online, journalist, podcaster, and multi-media artist Kelly Crowe discovered that there are hundreds of unwanted pianos out there, many of which end up in landfills, keeping company with old carpets and mattresses and all the other discarded items of human consumption.  Kelly's discoveries about the co...

Rich Aucoin is a Halifax-based multi-instrumentalist, composer, and actor. His live shows are legendary as being multi-media dance and sing-along extravaganzas, and he's well-loved for his ability to connect with his audience in ways that create a feeling of community and also mutual trust and respect.

Rich's most recent project is an ambitious undertaking of massive scope: a quadruple album entitled Synthetic: ...

From punk to rock to roots; from the gritty and exhilarating Queen Street scene of the 1980s, to the intrigue of European street culture; from Toronto Subway stations, to a US tour opening for the Tragically Hip...musician/songwriter/producer John Borra has lived the poetic and storied existence of a true artist - a journey rich with good music, loyal friends, and unforgettable experiences.

John's latest album—Cassett...

Don Kerr is a drummer, singer, songwriter, cellist, composer, and producer. He's also a pacifist/activist, who believes strongly in the power of positivity and the value of community. A much-sought-after sideman and bandmate since the 1990s, he has performed with Rheostatics, Ron Sexsmith, Bahamas, Dan Mangan, The Weather Station, and many others.

Don's own band—Communism—is a super-charged power trio, renowned ...

Seth Akira Feldman is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter, who works tirelessly on many aspects of his craft. His primary musical project is called To The Fields. He released the album Distance in 2021, which he recorded entirely on his own in his home studio, working around his day job work hours. Seth also creates and records with his father, Steve Alan Feldman. Together, the father-son team have released 2 full studio albums, work...

Singer Songwriter Jerry Leger is the real deal. His combination of authentic humility and spirited self confidence is a rare thing to witness. He possesses a deep understanding and respect for the great songwriters and performers of our time, while forging ahead with his own style and delivery.

Since his teenage years, Jerry has worked relentlessly on his craft - releasing at least one album a year, always with another gi...