Lyrically Speaking

30 // Rebekah Hawker Craves Connection And You Do Too

The marvellous alt-country songwriter REBEKAH HAWKER stops by Lyrically Speaking to talk about a couple songs off her debut EP Careful Women (out August 23rd). We talk songwriters from Kathleen Edwards to Carrie Underwood to Feist and get into her process of building shells for songs between music lessons. We also talk about the complicated intersection between feminism and romantic dedication and what it feels like to be confident and secure when people want to see you as damaged. Learn more about Rebekah’s adventures at rebekahhawker.com.

29 // Moonfruits Bring Their Imaginary Town Into The Real World

This week, Ottawa-based art-folk bilangue superforce Moonfruits! These must-see performers chat about high school peer Leif Vollebekk encouraging their early songwriting, fostering empathy through characters, and what it means to let an imaginary town speak for itself. We listen to a song from that town (Ste. Quequepart, translated as “Saint Somewhere”), and delve into how this town can help facilitate kitchen table conversations around income inequality and other vital social issues. Alex also gets heated on what could become new podcast, “classically speaking.” Check out Moonfruits’ latest work & upcoming tour dates in Ontario at moonfruits.ca and remember: “there are no wrong notes – it just matters what comes after them.”

27 // Gillian Nicola Is A Very Loyal Person

The lovely Gillian Nicola joins me in the Toronto apartment to discuss three tracks off her first full-length record, Dried Flowers! Jillian joyfully takes us through a journey, from belting classic rock covers at 13 to songwriting at the Banff Centre. Tune in to also hear a tale of escaped chickens. Her powerful LP will be out on May 3rd! Listen to the single Half-Way now and catch Gillian on tour this May. All the details can be found at her website: https://www.gilliannicola.com/.

26 // Run Coyote Gets Noir

Sam Allen of Run Coyote invites me into his lovely Toronto home to discuss two irresistible tracks off the new record, In Shadowlands! We discuss how we all desire a hero in anxious times, how writing in images works well within the film noir genre, and the peculiar joys of working with your family in a band. Listen to the new Run Coyote record on April 26th (out on So Sorry Records), and check out their tour dates at runcoyotemusic.com.

25 // Citizen Jane Remind You To Feel Compassion For Yourself

Indie folk-poppers CITIZEN JANE join me in the Toronto apartment for a heartwarming chat with this underlying message: brie-lieve in yourself. We discuss their leap of faith, moving from Vancouver to Toronto by train. We talk about the vulnerability of learning new things as adults, the inspiration we take from young people demanding change, and coping with war-time destruction through musical creation. Download the new Citizen Jane single, “High Tide”, on Bandcamp now, and listen to their LP In The Storm while you’re add it. Tour dates and other treats are at citizenjanemusic.com!