radio

What I Have Been Listening To? – S10E08

emmy-the-great

It’s been awhile since we last heard from Emmy the Great. For those who don’t know, Emma-Lee Moss is a singer-songwriter born in Hong Kong and raised in England. My interest caught on from a former host at RTHK Radio 3 and she’s now a producer for Jo Whiley on BBC Radio 2. I had Ryan Bresee of Whatever’s Cool With Me to play some of her songs awhile back.
I can almost relate to Emmy as she has a fondness for Cantopop.

Ever since her 2011 album, Virtue, Emmy the Great has moved to Los Angeles and now to Brooklyn while still making music and writing articles for Noisey.

I haven’t kept up to tabs on her updates through social media as I’m flooded with various tweets from people I know. It wasn’t until last week I found out that she released the music video (posted below) to her new song, Swimming Pool. I didn’t release the song was out in early November.

What I like about Swimming Pool is Emmy’s soft voice and parts of the lyrics just sticks on as it’s pretty catchy. Emmy is joined by Tom Fleming of the Wild Beasts. It’s a nice chill and relaxing song and I would never get sick listening over and over again.
I can never stop singing to this part of the song;

“Love is something that I’ve always thought
I could never go inside
Now I’ve seen you here,
I don’t know how
I even used to be alive
Can I stay here for a while?
Watch you till my heart unwinds
Until I know I won’t forget you
In your swimming pool.”

Compared to the music video, which seems to look dark but listening over and over, the lyrics don’t sound as dark. Aside the fact there was some funny jokes of the hologram use, it’s still a masterly crafted music video.

It makes me want to listen to more new materials from Emmy the Great as she will eventually release a full length album later in 2015. Her EP S will be out on January 27, 2015. You can get the song and pre-order the EP via iTunes.
The question now is whether I really want to jump into a swimming pool?
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A Farewell To Lauren – S09E32

Lauren Goodbye Impossible 2

Trying to hold back tears as the end of April sees friends and people leave Ottawa to various places. It was an opportunity to see Lauren Bridle for the final time on Monday afternoon. She is finished her studies at Carleton University and going back to her hometown of Toronto. It’s been a tremendous four years having you come on as a co-host on my radio show. You got exposed with the Canadian and general indie music that I got to play as well with the classic Cantopop music that I foolishly played within my radio show. I’m glad that you were able to tolerate it. It’s a no-brainer that you got to meet and interview a particular musician and a few bands who are based in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Unfortunately, the photos I used from The Impossible Project didn’t turn out too well. I’m still having trouble setting the bright/dark levels from the Polaroid SX-70 camera. The funny photo shown above was basically a selfie within a selfie. I actually goofed up as I didn’t take the photo from my iPhone. Got to love my Hudson’s Bay phone case by Gelaskin. End the slight shameless plug.

As a parting gift, I gave her a popular Korean drink called Soju. The one I got is called Charm Soju and it’s available at select LCBO locations. You will see a photo from below. I’m not big on drinking and decided to give something unique before she leaves off.

Lastly, all I can say that even though I didn’t get a Journalism degree but felt like I was the teacher when I brought you into wackiness of campus community radio. We also enjoyed the same interests with tea (DAVIDsTEA), a bit of technology (Apple) and a bit of fashion. You did get to meet some great people during our time on radio. We never made our goodbyes on the radio. This blog entry is my goodbye to you.
Good luck to you in your endeavours and we will meet again in the future.

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The Pop Montreal 2013 Wrapup and Basia Bulat Interview – S09E04

WW Vinyl Sept 30

It was a wonderful weekend with to end September as I was in Montreal for Pop Montreal and my expectations exceed for this year because I checked out several bands and went to several venues. It was all in thanks to using Airbnb as the gracious host was accommodating and I was able to use the Bixi bike to get around to places.

The first live music to check out was at Divan Orange and it was Michael Feuerstack. It was unexpected because the place I was staying at was close by. Afterwards was getting to Pop Quarters  to get media pass and later going for two discussion panels. The first was a panel called “Some of the Smartest People We Know Discuss: Musicians, What Are your Intellectual Property Rights Now, and What Do We Want That to Really Mean?” That’s such a long title. It was formative discussion as the panellist consisting of Patrick Watson, Justin West (Secret City President), Susan Abramovitch (entertainment lawyer) and moderator, Reuven Ashtar (new media lawyer). It was quite informative as musicians like Watson need to get money to feed his family and how companies are using music for use as a property.

The second panel I went was definitely the one I wanted to check as it was The Polaris Music Prize Salon. Finally got to meet Polaris founder, Steve Jordan. The funny thing was that he thought I would be at the Ottawa salon as I was away to Toronto. The Montreal salon was one of the surprises to appear and it was a way to make up to missing out the Ottawa salon. Jordan was joined by Montreal jury members, Pierre Landy (CBC), Christine Fortier (CISM) and Erik Leijon (freelance/Montreal Gazette)

It was days after Godspeed You! Black Emperor! won best album for the 2013 edition. All were in support of GYBE winning and still being a good album. The band’s statement on their win and criticizing Polaris still left a lot of debate and discussion.
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Continuing to Shoot Polaroids and New Music – S09E02

WildWorks Sept 16 Polaroid

As you noticed that I’ve been shooting and showing instant film photos from Polaroid and Instax cameras. This week’s photo has another silly picture of me and it was taken by Lauren. Towards the end of the show, Lauren and I talked about analog photo looking nicer than on digital photos. As we all know that film is getting less and less used as digital cameras and smartphones have become more convenient. The thing I brought up was that I hope I’m not being a trendsetter with shooting instant film photos. I did not think of a hipster way.
The Polaroid camera currently being used is having some problems because it takes so long to get the photo because as a young kid, I was fooling around with the camera and it’s missing a piece from the shutter button. All in all, it still works but there’s a delay in getting the photo as you see from the picture posted above.
Another issue with instant film is the price. The ones done by The Impossible Project costs over $25 for 8 sheets while Fuji’s Instax costs $25 for 20 sheets. It’s tough choice because you have to shoot wisely.

Radio Show
On the radio show, there were new music as bands are coming out with new albums this week. The Naked and Famous, The Darcys and Said The Whale are releasing new albums. It’s an exciting time to hear a lot of great music.
There was a new song by Ottawa rapper, The Joynt. It’s called “What I Do” and it has an important and inspiring message as it deals with bullying and stuttering that the rapper experienced when being at schools.
Also on the show was a theme of Summer officially ending and Fall arriving next week. There were moon songs as a way to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. I finally had Lauren listen to the classic Sailor Moon theme as the cartoon is soon to be returning in Winter. We talked fondly about the Anime and and a funny part where I told her which character she dressed up as, which was Sailor Jupiter. It’s funny to still have the knowledge of Sailor Moon.
You can check the playlist over at this link.

The Wild 10 Countdown is back and you can check it over at this link.

Have a great week and I’m off to Toronto for a couple of days.
You can listen to the show (link below).

Season Nine – Interview with Leif Vollebekk, The Return of Lauren and Shooting Polaroids (S09E01)

WildWorks Vinyl New Season-1

It’s a brand new season of WildWorks. Nine seasons, I can’t believe it’s going on for pretty long. The radio show is now onto its fifth season. I know it’s confusing to track what season is what for the blog and radio show.
To start off the ninth season, I had the opportunity to check out the 2013 edition of Ottawa Folk Festival. It was a privilege to see some of the musicians and bands again. Just great to see The Belle Game and Leif Vollebekk.
In kicking off the new season of WildWorks on CKCU-FM, I aired the interview with Vollebekk as he came out with a new album in early 2013. It’s been awhile I have seen him in Ottawa as he’s mostly residing in Montreal and touring around. You can listen to the interview below the entry.

Also returning was Lauren as she was away for over nine months and due to a change in the co-hosting positioning earlier this year and the change in the scheduling for this season.
It was awesome to have her back as the new Arcade Fire song was unexpectedly leaked prior to the 9/9/9pm release date. All I have to say that the new song, Reflektor is a catchy and funky track. I mentioned on-air that it feels like “Sprawl II” all over again.
It was a good show as new music from The Darcys, Stars, Basia Bulat and Jenn Grant were played. There are new albums being released next week (September 17th) and onto October. It’s an exciting time for any music fans around.
You can check the September 9th show’s playlist over at this link. The audio is posted below.
Programming note, as with the schedule change, The Wild 10 Countdown will now be separate. Expect a split on the audio. The expected return for the Wild 10 will be around next week.

Since the Summer, I have been shooting photos through instant film. It’s becoming a fun way to shoot photos and in a way, I feel like it’s becoming a bucket list on who to take photos with. You’ve been seeing the photos over the Facebook Page, Instagram, Flickr and the blog. You’ll be seeing more photos from the Instax and Polaroids. I can’t say that I’m being a trendsetter with shooting instant film photos. Although, people are astounded seeing the cameras as everyone is used to shooting on digital camera. Instant films and Polaroids have been making a slow comeback because of its quality and feel of the photo.

Lastly, I had a great time on Sunday night as an old friend was in Ottawa for a wedding. We met over at El Camino as it’s a popular spot for good tacos in the Nation’s Caption. It was a privilege to meet his wife and baby son. I already posted the photos on Instagram.  All in all, what a great way to start the new season.

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Summer Special 2013 – The Social Media Summer Series #1

WildWorksSMSInstax1

It’s back for another year. The Social Media Summer series is an alternative program for my radio show on CKCU-FM. It’s a spotlight on people who are using social media and how it’s become very useful to one another. It started with the dynamic duo of Nat & Marie last year and this year, it’s going local and trying to get guests live on the show to talk about their use of social media. Another topic to bring up on the SMS series is the importance that Ottawa is not a boring city. Letting the listenings on getting the better perspective of Canada’s Nation’s Capital. There are a lot of interesting places and things to check out in Ottawa.

The first guest for the 2013 is Nick Bachusky. He’s a mortgage agent but he’s a host of a podcast series called Lunch Out Loud Ottawa. Aside from that, Bachusky is an avid music fan. You can listen to the audio below or on the playlist at CKCU-FM’s website.
Hope you enjoy the interview with Nick Bachusky and the playlist from the live show can seen over at this link via CKCU-FM.
Also on the show, myself, along with Summer guest co-host, Katarina and Nick went through some of the nominees for the Polaris Music Prize Short List. I forgot to add Colin Stetson on the live show. It was used on the podcast part of the show.
On the Wild 10 Countdown, Louise Burns is still number one for the second week. You can check summary at this link.

Have a great week and stay cool from the hot weather.
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Wrapping Up Season Eight & The Interview with Born Ruffians – S08E46

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Born Ruffians ODBF Vinyl

I can’t believe the blog has gone on for eight seasons and as usual, it’s that time to wrap up the blog and radio show (currently on season four) for the Summer. On this week’s show, there was the interview with the Toronto band, Born Ruffians as they were in Ottawa on the weekend for the Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. You can listen to the interview below the entry. Note: The version on the blog is a full version as we discussed about social media. The radio show version was edited.
Apologies for the image as I forgot to get a photo with the band members.

Also on the show was the conclusion to the tribute to Beyond’s Wong Ka Kui as June 30th marks the 20th anniversary of his death. The song choices for the Cantopop segment are the well-known Beyond tracks. One track I played was unusual choice and it’s an English song called Long Way Without Friends. Another classic song played which had significance back in 1990 and it was about Nelson Mandela. That song is 光輝歲月, which is translated as Glorious Days. We’ve been hearing about Mandela’s health in the news recently. It’s just fitting to play that song one more time as it’s another tribute to a fearless leader.

Due to the length of last week’s entry, I’m reposting the interviews with Chris Ho and Crissi Cochrane. In case you weren’t able to find it. They are posted alongside the Born Ruffians interview.
Maestro Fresh Wes takes the number one spot for this week to end the month of June on The Wild 10 Countdown.
The playlist from the June 26th radio show (season finale) can be seen at this link.

Still having a bit of NXNE/Toronto withdrawal and if you kept up to date on my Facebook page, I posted a link from the CBC Music Presents The Beetle Roadtrip Sessions where there was a finale party in Toronto. Yes, I appear in the video. If you’re wondering why I have been wearing an aqua coloured vintage adidas jacket, it partly due to attending the 2012 edition House of Paint. I decided to wear the track jacket and wore it during my high school days in the 1990s, which still fits me.

Last thing, this ends the blog for another wonderful season. I know it’s confusing that it’s season eight and the radio show is season four. A big thanks goes out to Candice So as she helped out and contribute for the blog. We also had a great time interviewing bands and musicians. You’ve been awesome!
Another shoutout goes out to Lauren Bridle in joining me for the first half of season four of the radio show on CKCU.
The blog will be back in the Fall for season nine but expect a few Summer specials on the blog.

Have a great Summer.
NOTE: I will not be doing any music interviews for the Summer. They will return in the Fall.
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