2 Black Pumas

It is such a thrill to share this conversation with Eric Burton of Black Pumas. A psychedelic soul duo from the U.S. This conversation supplies the foundation of their connection and how their brilliant debut album came to be.

3 Nothing But Thieves

Here's my conversation with Conor Mason and Joe Langridge-Brown of Nothing But Thieves, an English alt-rock band of the highest caliber.

We cover the foundations of NBT and then dive into the creation of their second record Brocken Machine, which is just masterful. We also discuss the impact of their rise on Conor's mental health, and how they grew stronger from the challenges that arose, and then channeled that growth into the album.

4 Jesse Roper

Jesse Roper is such a wonderful soul and cracking blues musician from Metchosin, on Vancouver Island, Canada.

What's in his garden, man? Robins.
What else? Stinging Nettles.
So. Anyone for tea?

5 Shed Monkeys

Shed Monkeys (now Sleepshake) are one of the most exciting modern rock bands on Vancouver Island. We caught up last October to discuss the origins of the band forming after connecting on a dating app.

Nate securing a legendary piece of Jimi Hendrix gear.

And dissect all of their creations on the new ep.

6 Human Kebab of USS

At the start of the pandemic, I started a cheeky live stream series called Live From My Bachelor Pad. One of the first episodes happened to be on my birthday and I HAD to speak with Jason Parsons AKA Human Kebab. We freestyle rap, we deep dive into our friendship and the incredible memories USS has brought us over the years.

7 Jasmin Parkin of Mother Mother

Jasmin Parkin is a multi-instrumentalist and part of the Canadian rock band Mother Mother. She’s also a Yogi and co-owner of North Yoga in Squamish. This was another wonderful conversation from my early pandemic Live From My Bachelor Pad live stream series.

Jasmin and I chat about her new massage course, yoga/grounding techniques, and we even freestyle, with help from my looper, over the phone.

8 Rebecca Sky

After graduating high school, Rebecca set out on a five-year, 24 Country exploration to find herself. She slept in a hammock in the Amazon Jungle, skinny-dipped off the West African Coast, climbed the chocolate hills in the Philippines, and fell in love in Cuba (then again in Brazil, and a final time to a musician from Canada). During her time in Africa, Rebecca was bit by a spider and developed an autoimmune disease which forced her to return home to Vancouver Island, captivated by the world and longing for another adventure.

So she did what every wanderer does when standing still—began writing.
Her work has since garnered over 20 million reads on Wattpad.

Rebeca and I originally spoke in March of 2020.

9 Eric Owen of Black Pistol Fire

Another look back into my conversation vault, haha. This conversation with Eric is from December 2018 ahead of Black Pistol Fire's sold-out show at The Capital Ballroom in Victoria, BC. We talk drummer hacks, independent growth, and his bandmate Kevin's close calls over the years.

10 Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

One of my all-time favourite bands is Billy Talent. From the driving riffs to the powerful lyricism, they captured my heart half a lifetime ago and I've never looked back. That's why it was such a thrill to speak with lead singer Ben ahead of their headlining appearance at Rock The Shores on Vancouver Island in 2014.

11 Jason Verners

Another one from the vault and the "Live From My Bachelor Pad" days early pandemic. I've known Jason Verners for ten years, and I've watched him grow so much. So let's chat about the journey and try and learn some tricks along the way.

12 Menno Versteeg of Royal Mountain Records & Mav Karlo

Menno and I have slowly gotten to know each other through a series of fleeting connections across the last ten years.

He was in a rock n roll band, I was on the radio. Lots of fun was had.

This is another conversation from the vault and the "Live From My Bachelor Pad" days early pandemic. It's also one of my favourite conversations because it's the meeting of years worth of growth leading to the most open and genuine conversation we've had yet.

13 Kid Kapichi

I. LOVE. THIS. BAND. Kid Kapichi is one of the most exciting rock bands on the planet. Their fearless authenticity and raucous energy are palpable. Their debut album, "This Time Next Year", is clinical and quite frankly a must listen. Here's a Conversation With Ben and George of Kid Kapichi.

14 Calva Louise

Calva Louise is one of the most exciting modern alternative bands on the planet. I have played the shit out of them since launching WWTR a little over a year ago, ha. Stand-out songs are Belicoso, Camino, and Nine Lives.

15 Alan Cross

I first heard Alan Cross when backpacking in Canada over twelve years ago. I moved here chasing the dream of rock radio and up until mid-2020, I worked at The Zone @ 91-3 in Victoria. During my ten years there Alan and I crossed paths a couple of times, and he became an ally in my lust to grow as a broadcaster. Now I'm independent, I had to pick his brain over his practice and successful career.

Alan Cross has been in Canadian broadcasting for 40 years this year.

"In October 1980, I got my start at CKUW at the University of Winnipeg, which, at the time, was a closed-circuit station. Our broadcast range was limited to one hallway and one cafeteria."

16 Zach Gray of The Zolas

Another from the Live From My Bachelor Pad Vault, and thus originally live-streamed in April of 2020, here's my conversation with the lead singer of Vancouver-based rock band, The Zolas.

We cover his love of Britpop and its inspiration on their latest record, "Come To Life". His love of Ultimate (Frisbee), Chorus/Flange effects, two cats, and the tall guy at the back of the show (himself).

17 LOSER

"Stadium dreams on a bedroom budget." LOSER is a rock band from Melbourne, Australia. Their second record, All The Rage, was one of my favourites of 2021, and it was such a thrill to speak with lead singer Tim and bass player Craig. I adore open and authentic conversation. We could have spoken all day, ha.

18 Pep Squad

Near two years ago I stumbled across Pep Squad and was instantly hooked. There was refreshing energy to their music, and not in the sense of what they're making, as to that they're making it in the first place. These are three experienced performers and creators with a clear edge to this collective sound. I was fascinated and excited to pick their brains. Here's A Conversation With Pep Squad.

19 Sophisticated Dingo

These two best mates thrash, sweat, and have as much fun as possible and that energy hits me hard. I adore the quirky storytelling and relentless momentum they create. One of my favourite lines Lewis has penned is, “It’s like buying steak knives when you haven’t cooked a day in your life”.

Here's A Conversation With Lewis of Sophisticated Dingo.

20 The Tazers

The Tazers are a psychedelic rock band from South Africa. My first introduction was care of the good old YouTube algo three years ago, and the utterly brilliant Love Machine. It was such a wonderful chat that covered so much ground from quirky recording and mixing techniques to the impact of streaming services, and how the rock scene is a true passion affair in Johannesburg.

21 Softcult

Mercedes and Phoenix Arn-Horn signed to a major label deal when 16, but a decade later are now free to create on their own terms and the results are a collection of unapologetic and politically aware songs that I cannot stop listening to. They have no fear in shining a light on disturbing contemporary themes, like in BWBB where they address gender violence, and the double standard and hypocrisy of the “bro code”.

Their second EP Year Of The Rat is released in February 2022, and while they only have a handful of songs out in the world at this moment, each one is compelling and powerful. Across all their releases you will find grunge meets shoegaze of the highest quality showcasing tender yet barbed vocals, delightfully expansive crunchy guitars, and a precise booming drum kit. I adore songs that have purpose through every step of creation, and Softcult are filled with an awful lot of passion and ability.

22 Bexley

This band seemingly has an innate ability to produce thunderous walls of sound that deeply impact me, because coupled with the openness and self-reflecting lyrics and its delivery from Amanda, they create extremely powerful art. Their self-titled record is as delicate as it is destructive. Here's A Conversation With Amanda and Steve of Bexley.

23 BRKN LOVE

Justin Benlolo knew from a very young age what he wanted to do, and with the incredible backing of his family and friends, he has thrown himself full force into as many growth opportunities as possible in the last decade. With that, he has learned at a very young age how fickle and intriguing the music industry can be.

The self-entitled debut album didn’t get a former label’s seal of approval, but I’m so thankful all involved enabled its release because it’s an astonishing record. The full-length debut is hook-filled and powerful, vocally rich and raw. It’s my kind of stand-and-deliver rock n roll.

24 Raavi

It was such a thrill to kick back and converse with Raavi Sita (vox) and James Duncan (bass) of Raavi.
Admittedly this was in February of 2021, and I have no excuse for why it's taken so long to release it to the world, ha.

25 Sophia Fitch

"In 2017 Sophia Fitch left her New York band and drove across the country while six months pregnant. She returned to her home town of Berkeley, CA, to have her baby and start making music independently."

Skip forward to the start of 2021 and my partner Jody discovers her music, and then features her in What was Jyoti? (Wednesday evenings at 9 PM PT). After noticing Jody's social posts, Sophia reached out to say thanks. That organic connection led to this very conversation.

26 The Lazy Eyes

The key to the brilliance of The Lazy Eyes is they’re not trying to impress you. They’re not trying to impress themselves. They’re just doing what they love with literally no strings attached, and it’s really special.

They’ve written the soundtrack to my end of day 420 steps. They transport me to a world of grounded jubilation and fascination. This is a fuzzy psychedelic adventure, and the magic of their self recorded and self-produced work lies in that simplicity. Tune-up, find that natural tone, lay it down, don’t mess with it too much in post, and bam. I spoke with them for over an hour in late 2021, initially live on Twitch, and they’re such wonderful souls.

27 Electric Enemy

I wrote the following for my Best of 2021 blog, and I'm going to cheekily use it here too, haha.

Where Do We Go From Here? was my introduction to Electric Enemy and in turn, I became utterly obsessed with them. The rich guitars, the brilliant choral backing vocals, and that cheeky whistle accent in the first verse add a bit of unpredictable flair when it comes to their song creations. It’s always the small details that hook me, intrigue me, and leave me yearning to learn more about the creators.

This song was inspired by the mixed emotions lead singer Jim experienced when attending his Grandfathers funeral. After his initial glance at the flowers, he looked back to read his own name (He and his Grandfather share the same name). This in turn sparked a variety of thoughts regarding his and the worlds impending doom.

The band had spent the year prior to the pandemic preparing their debut album, but when the world hit the pause button they took a step back to do as many artists have had to, re-plan and reshape their future and go with a new ever-changing flow. This in turn saw them record more songs, split some of the planned work into a variety of single and EP releases, and keep honing their craft.

28 Jane n The Jungle

I spoke with Jordan, Brian, and Mrs White last February in the early days of WWTR.

Their bio reads:

"In 2013, childhood friends from Phoenix, AZ. Jordan White (lead vox) and Brian Dellis (guitar), began writing songs together. Years later these songs turned into them forming Jane N’ The Jungle. After high school, White travelled with Up With People and graduated in 2011 with a BFA in Musical theatre from AMDA in Los Angeles and New York City. Dellis is a self-taught guitar player that grew up in punk rock bands. Bryan Dague (bass), also known as “Big B”, a CRAS graduate, joined the band in 2018 after recording for “Concrete Jungle” at Gravity Studios in Chicago, IL. Jane N’ The Jungle has a 90’s alternative vibe with female powerhouse vocals. The band’s writing reflects their raw emotion through story-telling. Together the band combines influences that vary between Tori Amos, Brandi Carlile, Third Eye Blind, Brand New, and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club."

29 The Matchstick Skeletons

Hypnotic and haunting. Thought-provoking and hip shake-inducing. Fuzzy dessert guitars, and one of the most charismatic drummers on the planet. I adore The Matchstick Skeletons. Neu and Matty have spent over a decade on the road and working on their growth, and it led to locking themselves in a room and creating what they’ve always wanted to when a project ended a few years ago. Neu must have linked me to a hundred songs as they started to chip away and formulate debut album Change the Channel. I wasn’t much help because there wasn’t much baggage, just an awful lot of promise I’d love to hear fleshed out, ha. Neu will sarcastically tell you he’s just doing the best he can, and that’s what makes him so brilliant. With Matty by his side, you have a pair of musicians that play their instruments unlike anyone else I’ve ever seen, and together, it’s extremely special.

30 Spiral Drive

This band is the closest I’ll come to feeling like I’m smoking a blunt on Mars. They’re psychedelic transporters who warmly welcome you on board and then despite the extreme force required to blast into space and hurtle across the galaxy, somehow you don’t feel a thing. It’s like you never left the couch. Their creations have such a freeing motion to them. The haunting tones, the fuzzy guitars, the hypnotizing rhythm section. They keep asking where I’ve gone, I’m just blissed out at the back waiting to land, thoroughly lost in enjoyment and dodgy dance moves.

31 LOWLIVES

LOWLIVES are a stand-and-deliver rock band that I cannot get enough of.

It was an absolute delight to speak with Lee and Luke. Consider reading my thoughts on them in my Best of 2021 list.

32 Alex of Lady Bird

This was a really special conversation with Alex of Lady Bird. An urgent and sharp three-piece from Tunbridge Wells, England.

33 Jack McEwan of Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

I remember taking Mushrooms in Amsterdam many years ago and shortly thereafter subsequently believing the toilet bowl changed into Flipper the Dolphin as I was relieving myself…That was an amazing trip with my best friends. Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a similar gathering was taking place, though I’ve no idea if Flipper showed face. Regardless, that trip led to the formation of one of the most prolific and exciting rock bands to walk the rock we call Earth.

What a thrill it was to converse with band leader Jack McEwen.

34 - DWI

Dwi is another one of those souls I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know due to my former role in modern rock commercial radio. He decided at the start of the pandemic that it was time to flex some new muscles. He’s been the rock of The Zolas on bass for years now and has spent most of his life in music, but never made any of his own. It was time to change that.

Very quickly the words and compositions flowed and before you know it he’s written and recorded an entire record with the support of Light Organ Records, who work with several world-class artists you should scout out.

The result is an extremely quirky adventure as he grows into learning and developing his voice, a journey that is clear throughout Mild Fantasy Violence. Good Friend was recorded after the other eight songs as Dwi had gained some traction with early singles On The Weekend and Freak N Out and wanted to create a song that captured all the best of his growth through the process.

35 Bonnie Fraser of Stand Atlantic

Australians Stand Atlantic will release their third album 'F.E.A.R. [fuck everything and run]', on May 06 via Hopeless Records.

Lead singer Bonnie Fraser said in the press release: “It’s a fuck you to the conventional bullshit Hollywood-style story that musicians tell you fell out of their ass. If you think I am a creative or a visionary, I am not. I refuse to be immortalised as anything other than a collection of erratic, irrational, and oxygen-starved emotions I wrote on a page just to be able to breathe.”

What a thrill it was to chat with her and gain more understanding of her creative flow and how the record came together.

36 Blood Red Shoes

Blood Red Shoes have been making music together for seventeen years and since their debut in 2008 have grown into such a force. Ghost on Tape is their sixth album and it’s covered in mysterious rich fuzz, a sound these two are so at ease in.

37 GGGOLDDD

This band are clinical and so captivating.

I’m late to the party, a decade late at that, but what a thrill to discover Dutch creators GGGOLDDD.

I usually deep dive into researching all the context I can and dissect songs ahead of a conversation. For this one, however, I just wished to go in cold and see if the energy I picked up on sonically, became reality. It did so and more.

38 Like A Motorcycle

I adore this punk rock band from Halifax. What a delight to speak with two sweethearts, founder Kim, and guitarist Dave.

39 Stone Broken

These Brits are celebrating a #1 album currently on the UK Rock Charts, charting #27 overall a few weeks ago. I had such a wonderful conversation with Rich and Robyn about the challenges they set themselves for the third record and the pride that came in making it.

40 Bongloard

Bongloard are a frantic three-piece from Holland that I cannot get enough of.

They’ve only released three songs thus far, and each is utterly bonkers and exhilarating. Make sure to also check out Whoo Yeah and I Want It Now.

Here’s what the band had to say via their press release ahead of their debut album, People Overreacting To My Behavior. You may recognise that primal feeling of being completely at your wits' end. All you can do is simulate a nuclear explosion overhead as an expression of that utter despair. Bongloard is something of an extension of that in the form of a band. The trio of Jannes van Kaam, Ties Bogers and Jan Van Asch fires razor-sharp noise-punk/garage rock projectiles with demented fury. According to band-founder Van Kaam, debut LP People Overreacting To My Behavior is about the act of “falling face-first”, a musical torrent of piss that arises from the sheer need to vent the most persistent of frustrations.

41 illuminati hotties

I adore the quirky brilliance of Sarah Tudzin's illuminati hotties. It was such a pleasure to dive into her mind and process.

42 Wine Lips

I recently discovered Wine Lips and have fallen head over heels for this quirky Toronto punk band. Cam and Aurora were so warm and wonderful, even when I had a few bouts of anxiety during our conversation.

43 Graham Wright of Tokyo Police Club/Girlfriend Material

Oh my goodness I was so energized in this conversation, haha. Here's another one from the Live From My Bachelor Pad days (March/April 2020).

44 Ali Siadat of Mother Mother and Naoist

Ali is a clinical drummer, a wonderfully warm and quirky soul, and out of nowhere early in the pandemic released an electronic album as Naoist.

45 Spare Parts For Broken Hearts

It was such a pleasure to converse with Sarah Green of Spare Parts For Broken Hearts. This band is ferocious and this is what I adore about getting the chance to chat with creators. Learning so much about their unique view of this fickle thing we call earth, and how they go about creating.

46 Cale Gontier of Saint Asonia

Saint Asonia recently released their new EP, "Introvert". It was such a thrill to chat with Cale Gontier (bass). He's been in the industry for over 25 years, whether guitar teching for Three Days Grace, to joining Thornley, and then Art of Dying (on hiatus).

This was lovely.

47 Spielbergs

These three from Norway just blow my mind, I simply cannot get enough of them. They create such intense and rich soundscapes that pull you in like a hug from a loved one that seems like it’s never going to end, and you’re OK with that, you love hugs with this loved one. I simply adore Spielbergs.

48 PLAIINS

Massive riffs, infectious energy, and unrelenting drive, equals my kind of rock and roll.

They’ve only released three songs. But you need to get to know this band, ha.

49 Stuck On Planet Earth

Stuck On Planet Earth was formed in high school near 15 years ago. One of my favourite records of 2020 was their debut album, "Beautiful Nowhere". I've been looking forward to conversing with them for over a year and this was as lovely as I'd hope and then some.

50 standards

Marcus Mena is one of the most incredible guitar players on this planet. What a thrill to discuss how he goes about creating his incredible math rock.

51 Marc Labelle of Dirty Honey

Dirty Honey are simply incredible and it was such a thrill to converse with lead singer Marc Labelle.

Their press kit states the following bonkers achievements in just a few years:

- John Notto (Guitarist) was named one of Guitar World’s “50 Hottest New Guitarists” at #24 in their new September 2022 issue.

- The band’s track “When I’m Gone” was the first-ever track from an unsigned band to reach the No. 1 spot on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Airplay chart.

- Dirty Honey’s 14-track debut release, "Dirty Honey" was released on May 20, 2022

- The band announced a 28-date EU/UK tour for this summer including dates supporting Guns N' Roses, KISS, and Rival Sons, headline shows and festival slots.

- In January of this year the band performed for the NHL Winter Classic on a frozen lake in Minnesota with a cover of Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy”. - The band has over 45.5 Million Streams and 337K Monthly Listeners on Spotify.

52 Kim Churchill

We've been friends for a decade and caught up backstage at the Capital Ballroom in Victoria, B.C. ahead of his show that night. We discuss his solar-powered home/gig van, his covers ep where he tackled Post Malone and the Aladdin soundtrack. As well as a whole lot of life catch-up chatter.

53 Jeen

Jeen O’Brien is utterly brilliant, she’s also extremely prolific, releasing five records since 2015. She has also helped create tunes for a slew of great Canadian artists including Serena Ryder, Hawksley Workman, and Great Big Sea, and has had her music featured in everything from Google commercials to Degrassi.

This was an incredibly honest conversation about her mental health battles and musical career that has spanned over 20 years.

54 The End of Season 1

It's been an incredible two years of growth personally and business-ly, ha. Here are my closing thoughts on Season 1 of A Conversation With. Thanks for being here, Jon