Surprise!

Well folks, we made it to 130 episodes, just barely, and there’s no one else I’d rather finish off the run of Inside the Artist’s Studio with than Alberta’s own Mike Plume. Mike is one of Canada’s hardest working musicians, and we chat about the ups and downs of his career, filled with over 3000 live shows and hundreds upon hundreds of songs. Mike is on tour right now, and you can catch him and his band in Saskatoon tonight, September 6th, in Edmonton on September 7th, and in Moose Jaw on September 9th with Corb Lund and Lindi Ortega.

Recorded on Feburary 5th, 2023
Featured Track: “Looking for You (A Travelogue of Sorts)”
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On episode 119 of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean talks to Edmonton singer-songwriter Sammy Volkov about his new record Be Alright. They talk about working with Harry Gregg at Riverdale Recorders, skin diseased Californian cars, and slinging pizza in Grand Central Station.

Recorded on December 6th, 2022
Featured Track: “Replacement” from Be Alright
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean and guest Amy Nelson discuss the best Sled Island venues, collaborating on music, and morality in video games. They go in deep on Amy’s fantastic 2019 record Educated Woman, and talk about how and why Amy conceals her dark and morose lyricism behind a jaunty country exterior.

Recorded on June 23rd, 2022
Featured Track: “I Hate It” from Sled Island Lemonade Stand
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Kristian North swings by the Cups N Cakes studio to discuss his debut solo record and the status of his former band Babysitter. Then he tackles the rapid-fire questionnaire and shares his love of Neil Young and Miles Davis while also sharing his distaste for Moby.

Recorded May 26th, 2018.

Track used with full permission from Kristian North.

https://kristiannorth.bandcamp.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Steven Lind and Thomas DiNinno of Freak Heat Waves join Jeff to discuss their new album and it’s lengthy writing/recording timeline. Then the rapid-fire answers inform us of their musical influences, best cities to play and that everybody gets unwanted advice on their art.

Recorded May 3rd, 2018.

Track used with full permission from Freak Heat Waves.

https://freakheatwaves.bandcamp.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Listen as I sit down with Miesha Louie & Sean Hamilton to talk about making the new record, where the unlikely name for it came and how far Canada’s music scene has come in terms of gender equality. Then share our laughs with stories like when Sean signed a penis or Miesha stole beer from the Buzzcocks which led to drummer Danny Farrant producing this new album.

Recorded April 14th, 2018.

Track used with full permission from Miesha & The Spanks.

https://mieshathespanks.bandcamp.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Amelia Aspen & Doug Organ stopped by the Cups N Cakes studio for a chat before they left for sunny California. They discuss the move to L.A, their forthcoming album and the fate of Edmontone Studios. The duo is then put to the test with the Cups N Cakes rapid-fire questionnaire which brings up discussions on NextGen, The Spin Doctors, Hector the puggle and how Michael Bublé is music for people that don’t like music.

Recorded March 19th, 2018.

Track used with full permission from Le Plaisir.

https://leplaisir.bandcamp.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Jeff sits down with Lyle Bell who is the principal songwriter for The Wet Secrets. They discuss why the new album ended up getting released under the radar and how The Wet Secrets plan to begin promoting it harder. Then the rapid fire questions bring up Lyle’s love for Pigbag and awful stage moments such as falling, vomiting and accidental destruction of gear.

Recorded April 1st, 2018.

Track used with full permission from The Wet Secrets.

http://www.thewetsecrets.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Kris Burwash drops by the Cups N Cakes studio to talk with Jeff about his ambient electronic project k.burwash. Tune in to hear them chat about Burwash’ history in Edmonton’s music scene and learn some fun facts about his debut album Moonlanding. Then find out how he fairs with the famed “Rapid Fire” questionnaire. 

Recorded Mar 28th, 2018.

Track used with full permission from k.burwash.

https://kburwash.bandcamp.com/releases

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Tim & Sage from Shred Kelly join Jeff to discuss their new album Archipelago, their love for music videos and the pro and cons to being a band in the small town of Fernie, BC. Then they dive into the rapid-fire and we learn about Tim’s pyromanic E.T. toy and Sage’s blown encounter with Win Butler.

Recorded Feb 15th, 2018.

Track used with full permission from Shred Kelly.

http://www.shredkelly.com

Background Music:

Atlantis Jazz Ensemble - Undercurrents

Used with permission from Atlantis Jazz Ensemble and Marlow Records

http://www.marlowrecords.com

Our second episode of our Sled Island 2022 series features Anishinaabe supergroup and all around swell fellas Adam Sturgeon and Daniel Monkman from OMBIIGIZI. Adam, Daniel, and Sean chat about reflecting on where you grew up, novel bannock recipes, and tokenism, with one very loud fire truck showing up as a featured guest on a sunny Calgary morning in the park. The band also correctly answers the age old question posed to them by Motherhood: how many people should be in a band?

Recorded on June 25th, 2022
Featured Track: “Ogiin” from Sewn Back Together
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On the very first Sled Island 2022 edition of “Inside the Artist’s Studio” perennial Cups N Cakes favorites Motherhood join Sean to talk about the creation and release of their brand new record Winded. They talk about using the pandemic as a means to get caught up on the unforgiving “release-then-tour” cycle, figuring out what’s important, and the band answers an extremely convoluted rapidfire question posed to them by future “Inside the Artist’s Studio” guests Winona Forever.

Recorded on June 24th, 2022
Featured Track: “Crawly I” and “Crawly II” from Winded
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Samantha Savage Smith joins Sean for a chat in the back alley of the Aviary on this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”. She talks about how taking time away from music and learning to have fun writing again led to the creation of her brilliant new record Fake Nice, and also bonds with Sean about their shared childhood memory of eating Good Host iced tea powder by the spoonful. Folks, this one goes places.

Recorded on May 27th, 2022
Featured Track: ”Siren” from Fake Nice
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean has songwriter Adrian Teacher from Apollo Ghosts on the show to talk about the band’s excellent new record Pink Tiger. They dive deep into the writing and recording of the record, as well as the concept behind the double record’s ‘cleaved-in-two’ nature. Along the way, they talk about Adrian’s career as a teacher, and his excellently named first car, the Renault “Le Car”.

Recorded on April 26th, 2022
Featured Track: “Spilling Yr Guts” from Pink Tiger
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Winnipeg’s country fusion superstar Boy Golden joins Sean to talk about meditation, drum machines, and Dodge Grand Caravans. They go in-depth on his 2021 record Church of Better Daze, and his childhood hatred of country music, that has come around to a full-on love affair with the genre as an adult.

Recorded on April 24th, 2022
Featured Track: “Something to Work Towards” from Church of Better Daze
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean interviews Steven Lambke, and premieres the title track from Lambke’s upcoming album “Volcano Volcano”. They go through Lambke’s upbringing in Cambridge, Ontario, his work with the Constantines and You’ve Changed Records, and how he incorporates all elements of his life into his creative practice. Along the way, they talk office temp jobs, Volkswagen Rabbits, and everything and the kitchen sink muffin recipes.

Recorded on April 17th, 2022
Featured Track: “Volcano Volcano” from Volcano Volcano
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio” (Winteruption Edition!), Sean talks to Montreal based psych band TEKE::TEKE. They chat about touring and writing music with a 7 person band, the influence of Takeshi Tarauchi on their music, and their relationship with their new label Kill Rock Stars. Along the way, the band touches on the power of decaf coffee, billowing black smoke coming out of their cars, and voice acting for Ubisoft.

Recorded on April 3rd, 2022
Featured Track: “Meikyu” from Shirushi
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of "Inside the Artist's Studio", Sean interviews Victoria, BC based dance rocker, songwriter, and pomodoro expert Art d'Ecco. They talk about the sanctity and magic of demos, a new and as of yet unnamed LP that’s coming up, and about stepping away from his costumed on-stage presentation. Art d’Ecco is also playing at Big Winter Classic at midnight on April 2nd/3rd at the basement of Broken City, and at Winterruption in Edmonton on April 1st at 11PM at SOHO.

Recorded on March 23rd, 2022
Featured Track: “Palm Slave”
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Canada’s best kept secret and all around great person Charlotte Cornfield joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”. They talk about their shared childhood love of “Weird Al” Yankovic, meeting Jeff Tweedy, and coffee making technique. They go in depth on Charlotte’s writing and demoing process, and talk about her fantastic 2021 record “Highs in the Minuses”.

Recorded on February 1st, 2022
Featured Track: “Pac-Man” from Highs in the Minuses
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On episode 128 of "Inside the Artist's Studio", Sean talks to multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Chris Murphy of the legendary Canadian rock band Sloan. They chat about the Chrysler Dynasty, the recording and release of the band's new record Steady, and about the post-Nirvana goldrush for rock bands in the early 1990's.

Recorded on November 11th, 2022
Featured Track: “Nice Work if You Can Get It” from Steady
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean talks to Janette King about her 2021 LP What We Lost, and the release of her brand new music video for “Ooh Yeah” (also the featured track on this episode). Along the way, they talk about songwriting technique, music education, and growing up in Vancouver.

Recorded on February 15th
Featured Track: “Ooh Yeah” from What We Lost
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On episode 109 of “Inside the Artist’s Studio” Sean talks to Saskatoon based singer-songwriter Ellen Froese about COVID-19, “The Artist’s Way”, and about some new music she’s been working on with produced Sam Corbett. Along the way, they touch on her childhood obsession with Elvis Presley, their shared prairie Mennonite roots, and the hot fancy moms of Instagram.

Recorded on December 13th, 2021
Featured Track: “Did You Have a Love Before Me?”
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Sean talks to Bria Salmena and Duncan Hay Jennings about Cuntry Covers Vol 1. The duo talk about how the project started as just a way to have fun making music, the appeal of nostalgia, and the ongoing impact of COVID-19 on their work on tour and in the studio. Bria and Duncan are also both members of The FRIGS and Orville Peck’s touring band, and they talk about what is next for those projects, and when we can expect Cuntry Covers Vol 2.

Recorded on December 18th, 2021
Featured Track: “Buffalo Ballet” from Cuntry Covers Vol. 1
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

JEEN (aka Jeen O’Brien) joins Sean on this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio” to discuss her brand new album, Dog Bite. Her 2020 self-titled record was featured on the Cups N Cakes “Best Albums of 2020” list, and Sean talks to her about starting to put together the follow-up during pandemic times. Along the way, they take a deep dive into JEEN’s songwriting technique, her collaborations with producer Ian Blurton, and why a squirrel is the worst animal to be reincarnated as.

Recorded on December 7th, 2021
Featured Track: “Average Psycho” from Dog Bite
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Sean talks to to tenured Calgary duo Dragon Fli Empire about their 20 years as an Alberta based hip-hop act. They touch on COVID era livestreams, tasting beer for the first time, and their shared love of local and global travel.

Recorded on November 2nd, 2021
Featured Track: “Inspiration ft. Gassam” from To Be Continued/Inspiration
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Sean talks to Hayden Menzies from Ontario punk trio METZ about the band’s ups and downs throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They chat about their upcoming tour to finally play their latest record Atlas Vending (unfortunately released in late March 2020), and about their new live record Live at the Opera House. In the rapid-fire, Hayden touches on how difficult it is to choose your favorite music and his extremely dicey first car.

Recorded on November 1st, 2021
Featured Track: “The Mirror (Live)” from Live at the Opera House
Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

Recorded on October 22nd, 2021

Featured Track: “R.M. of Wolverine” from Get Thee to a Nunnery


Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “

On this episode of “Inside the Artist’s Studio”, Sean sits down with Saskatoon surf-trio The Garrys. They chat about their new record Get Thee to a Nunnery, which was recorded the week that the COVID pandemic took hold around the world. They talk about the bizarre experience of mid-lockdown recording sessions, how surf music reflects the prairies, and the morbid interests that they use to fill their spare time.

Recorded on October 22nd, 2021

Featured Track: “R.M. of Wolverine” from Get Thee to a Nunnery


Intro/Outro Music: Laundry Week - “Nuthin’ On My Mind “