Sour Notes – Details, episodes & analysis

What happens inside a musician’s mind while they're on stage, in the studio, or sitting alone with their instrument?

Sour Notes is a podcast about the inner monologue of performers - from stage fright to flow states, from self-doubt to creative rebirth. Through intimate conversations on the internal struggles often unspoken, it explores how artists create, cope and carry on. 

Hosted by Roxanne Potvin, a JUNO-nominated singer-songwriter, podcast producer, and mental health speaker based in Nova Scotia, the show is a space for vulnerability in a perfectionist industry. 

Today’s guest is Erin Costelo, soulful songstress from the beloved East Coast, celebrated record producer and now radio producer as well. Erin is a longtime friend on the scene and in this conversation, we discover what a shapeshifter the inner critic can be.

Where to find Erin Costelo online:

Website https://www.erincostelo.com

IG @erincostelo

FB erincostelomusic

X @erincostelo

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/c/ErinCostelo

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Today I sit down with someone who has been immensely helpful on my own journey to taming the self critic. Certified Neuro Somatic Coach, Somatic Experiencing Practitioner and singer Elise Besler. In this conversation, we delve into what might actually be going on behind those anxiety loops.

Where to find Elise Besler online:

Website https://elisebesler.com

IG @Elisebesler

FB elisebeslercoaching

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/@elisebesler

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

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Today’s guest is veteran east coast blues guitar player Carter Chaplin. Carter toured the blues circuit for 3 decades playing with legends of the Canadian blues scene like Dutch Mason, Rick Jeffries and many more. In our conversation, you’ll hear a few hilarious road stories and some wise words on the power of pursuing your creative interests.

Where to find Carter Chaplin online:

IG @carterchaplin_

Youtube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7mBrkoYthvMJKpNCP92yOg

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

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Our guest today is Aphrose, a Toronto-based Soul music songwriter and singer who’s album Roses was nominated for a JUNO award in 2025. Aphrose, aka Joanna Mohammed, talks about the pressures of navigating the industry as an independent artist, all while becoming a mom in the midst of a global pandemic in 2020, and the massive shifts brought on by this new role.

Where to find Aphrose online:

Website https://www.aphrose.com/

IG @aphrosemusic

FB @aphrose

X @aphrosemusic

Youtube Aphrose

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

Thanks for listening.

Follow Sour Notes on Instagram @sournnotespod

Today, I’m very pleased to have a chat with Laura Merrimen. A staple of the songwriter scene in Nova Scotia, as well as an accomplished painter and Reiki practionner. In this conversation, we talk about staying connected with your truth through the challenges of a creative life!

Where to find Laura online:

Bandcamp lauramerrimenmusic.bandcamp.com

IG @lauramerrimen

FB @lauramerrimen

Youtube @lauramerrimen

Books mentioned in this episode: The Artist's Way - Julia Cameron, The War of Art - Steven Pressfield,

Some nervous system calming exercises to try:

Breathing technique: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEfo4mpS742/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=YjZ1dnc5c3lvN2Iy (check out Dr. Kennedy's content on anxiety, it helped me a lot)

Simple tapping exercise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=085w1xlrGnU

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

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Today I’m talking with JW-Jones, a blues based guitarist, songwriter and singer from Ottawa. JW has been steadily growing his career for more than two decades as an independent artist. In this wide-ranging conversation, we talk about staying true to yourself, moving on from hardship, defining success, finding work/life balance and straight up business advice. 

Where to find JW-Jones online:

Website jw-jones.com

IG @jwjonesblues

FB @jwjonesblues

X @jwjonesblues

Youtube JWJonesblues

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

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Today, you’ll hear my conversation with Matt Andersen. Matt is a blues and roots based singer-songwriter and guitarist from the East Coast. His career spans 20 plus years, world wide tours and many recognitions, but playing live remains at the center of it all. We chat about his new album, why he loves co-writing, pre-show rituals, reading a room and what music really means to him.

Where to find Matt Andersen online:

Website www.stubbyfingers.ca/

IG @mattandersenmusic

FB @mattandersenofficial

X @matt_andersen

Youtube mattandersenmusic

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

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Today’s guest is Leanne Hoffman, a Nova Scotia based multi-disciplinary artist, songwriter, and producer. In this episode, we talk about navigating intense bouts of performance anxiety and allowing time to let us grow and gain experience.

A couple of notes on this episode:

The "Erin" mentioned a few times in the episode is Erin Costelo, our previous guest and also the producer of Leanne's latest album The Text Collector.

This interview was recorded in June 2025 so the reference to the St. Vincent show in July is now passed, but I felt the content was still relevant to the topics we covered, so I left it in.

Where to find Leanne Hoffman online:

Website https://www.leannehoffman.com/

IG @hmleanne

Tik Tok @hmleanne

Youtube @leannehoffman

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

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Today I’m thrilled to share my conversation with a very dear musical friend and collaborator for many years, a painter of lap steel swells and soundscapes, a quiet force, and one of the most humble and wise people I know, Christine Bougie. In this episode, we talk about how to stay in constant dialogue with the many parts of ourselves at play in the creative process.

Where to find Christine Bougie online:

Website https://www.christinebougie.ca/

IG @christinebougie

Youtube @christinebougie

Soundcloud https://soundcloud.com/christinebougie

Before you go, don't forget to rate and review the show!

Thanks for listening.

Follow Sour Notes on Instagram @sournotespod