We get into the nooks n' crannies with Tim Shia, drummer and creator extraordinaire in this episode of Industry Tactics. Tim leads The Worst Pop Band Ever, who will soon be celebrating their 20th year anniversary in 2025. He's also very active on the Toronto jazz scene. What a joy to discuss family, health, industry nonsense and much more with the …

ZINNIA is the extended art of Rachael Cardiello - a classically trained violist raised in the mountains of Montana who has spent half her life touring performing and recording in Toronto as a session player. ZINNIA can often be found in full band collaboration with Chris Pruden, Kat McLevey and Mackenzie Longpre. ZINNIA's upcoming album Dollar Stor…

Friendly Rich Marsella sits down with his long lost American cousin, Brian Marsella for a deep chat about why we music! Brian fell in love with it at the early age of 3, growing up in Philadelphia and has not looked back. Performing alongside so many greats, including John Zorn, Cyro Baptista, Trevor Dunn and so many more, Brian Marsella has establ…

Such a lovely time speaking with Melissa Boraski, aka Eiyn Sof from Waterloo, Ontario. We get into a rich body of work that spans decades and genres! This episode is full of goodies, we talk comfort levels, muppets, improv, collaborations with Rick White and much, much more. Dig in to this wonderful discussion with an incredible artist, Eiyn Sof.…

Friendly Rich recently sat down with Alex Brownstein-Carter and David Sigler of the band Primpce. They discussed the inspiration for their new recording "The Beauty of Blisterpacks" (Urglehorse) coming out July 26, 2024. We talk about touring, New Orleans, freshly getting married, freshly getting COVID and so much more. Prepare yourselves to get PR…

A delightful saunter through the musical life of Evelyn Charlotte-Joe, from Montreal. We get into the influence of Dr. Barry Harris on their music and even relation to jazz. We talk about gear, performing with Wax Mannequin, even on how to relax. This episode if full of wisdom, so enjoy every moment!…

What a lovely dance through the career of composer and professor Christopher Butterfield. From his creative space in Victoria, British Columbia, Christopher gives us some important reflections on his relationship performing Schwitters' Ursonate over the last 40+ years. Enjoy the ride!Friendly Rich

Live from Grandads Donuts in Hamilton, Canada we get into the original glazed glory of Tor Lukasik-Foss. A lovely chat, where we talk about his work in visual art, music, theatre, community and much more. We will hear fantastic new tracks from his "tiny record" The Devil Will Give You Candy and much more.…

Leah Hennessy is a New Orleans-based musician writing some amazing music both solo and with her trio project, The By and By. A graduate of New England Conservatory of Music, Leah is the interim Executive Director of Music Box Village in New Orleans. Her upcoming EP "before / during / still" is a meditation on separation and longing from the first s…

A fabulous interview with the award-winning musician Charles Spearin (Broken Social Scene, Do Make Say Think, etc). We journey through his storied career in music, and unpack his fascinating new release, "Music For 32 Phones Played Simultaneously". Enjoy the ride!Friendly Rich

In this episode, Friendly Rich speaks with Dutch avant-garde composer and legendary performance artist Jaap Blonk. The talk focuses mostly on Blonk's expertise in performing Kurt Schwitters' seminal 1932 sound poem "Ursonate". Blonk is one of the great masters in performing the Ursonate. We get into it and much more. Enjoy this saunter into the wil…

We kick off 2024 with an inspiring talk from singer, songwriting, coach and overall creative soul, the great Kristine Schmitt. She's worked for years supporting other great artists such as Bob Wiseman (Episode 19), Fiver and more, she's been writing and releasing her own incredible records for over a decade to critical acclaim! A lovely early morni…

He's worked with everybody from The Arcade Fire to The Hidden Cameras to Zoon. In this episode, we go post-cello with the great Michael Peter Olsen. His new record "Narrative of a Nervous System" is out now on Hand Drawn Dracula and it's receiving rave reviews. We talk touring, production, venues, new projects, the value in a good deadline, early d…

We get into epic territory very quickly with award-winning poet and scholar, Christian Bök in this delightful episode. Buckle up as we take a dive into Bök's wondrous career, but also begin our deep dive into the work of Kurt Schwitters and his Ursonate. Pure joyful nonsense, just what the doctor ordered!…

An open discussion with Bry Webb about his new record Run With Me, out November 3rd, 2023 on Idée Fixe Records. We talk about the nine year break between studio albums, the state of poetry, music, venues and much more. So genuine, this is an easy listen hope it goes down as smoothly as this glass of Carlo Rossi Wine!…

Creative mogul and super sweet human Dimitri Simakis shares all that he's learned over a storied career in the arts. One of the masterminds behind Everything Is Terrible, Dimitri unpacks how he has managed to continue living a very creative and collaborative life. Buckle up, everything is wonderful in this here episode!…

Let's talk fire, animals, the Earth's core, libraries, and more with Jeff Mattsson. A member of the legendary group Crash Worship, Jeff's got some stories. He currently runs an incredible arts space in the Bywater neighbourhood of New Orleans, nothing will prepare you for this chat with the legendary Jeff Mattsson!…

A lovely chat on a hot summer night with Macula Dog, from their respective studios in Queens and Brooklyn, New York. We talk with Ben & Matt about their recent tour experiences, their process in creating a super-unique sound, and how to stay true to yourself as artists. The real deal, coming at you in stereo, it's MACULA DOG!…

We get into it with one of the greats in American experimental music...Weasel Walter! Centred around his work leading The Flying Luttenbachers, this discussion goes deep into the persistence and struggle that it takes to be an artist in a challenging industry. It's hot outside, spend some time in the underground with Weasel Walter!…

Surprise! Let's get into the story of Vivienne Wilder. This episode unpacks her incredible career to date, from Bach to Lizee to Zeppelin to her own music, Vivienne's musical diet is rich. An open discussion about creativity, the joys and challenges that come with it. We drop some bombs in this episode, including love announcements, preparing fan m…

What a delightful chat with LA-based artist, the funk wizard, CHAKI. We talk about growing up in the valley scene of Los Angeles, his influential musician father, how to pitch a venue, and many more important tactics. Buckle up, and for funk's sake, BE KIND!Friendly Rich

A stellar chat with Cone McCaslin of Sum41. This chat unpacks those early days making "All Killer, No Filler" at Metalworks Studios with producer Jerry Finn, where Friendly Rich acted as a runner. Through to an illustrious career in music, Cone shares openly what he has learned along the way. Prepare to be dazzled!…

Such a lovely talk with Nobu Adilman. The self-proclaimed professional amateur has lived many artistic lives, from hosting ZED on CBC to founding Choir! Choir! Choir! we talk about how he fell in love with creativity, and the influence of his family. We discuss the importance of rejection and ridicule in any career. Buckle up, this one's full of wi…

It's release day! Friendly Rich's MAN OUT OF TIME is now available on all streaming services and vinyl (ships internationally from https://friendlyrich.bandcamp.com/album/man-out-of-time)Go behind the scenes with Rich in this special episode to listen to each track, and some bonus material! Check out live dates at https://friendlyrich.com/tour/…

Rob Higgins is a polymath with a heart of gold. We talk about his band Dearly Beloved, the early days coming up in Change of Heart, a new pandemic record "Walker Park" (Sonic Unyon) and much more. We even talk about Rick Vaive. Enjoy!!!Friendly Rich

A supercut edition of Industry Tactics, dedicated to the memory of Mendelson Joe. This episode features appearances by Selina Martin, Maylee Todd, Trevor Dunn, Dave Clark, The Nihilist Spasm Band, Allison Cameron, R. Murray Schafer, Kid Koala, Bob Wiseman, Annelise Noronha, Nicole Rampersaud, Hawksley Workman, Renaldo & The Loaf, Homer Flynn, Robin…

Described by some as a “Renaissance Woman”, multi-talented Terra Hazelton is a Canadian singer, Genie Nominated actress, and radio personality. Originally from B.C., Terra became involved in professional theatre and comedy at the ripe age of 14, studying with the Internationally acclaimed Loose Moose Theatre Company. It was at that time she made fr…

A lovely little conversation with painter extraordinaire, Gregory Jacobsen. We discuss that beautiful line between visual art and experimental music, which Gregory has explored in such projects as Lovely Little Girls and Ritualistic School of Errors. From gregoryjacobsen.com "The work is absurd, grotesque, and a bit brutal, but I try to bring the v…

What a dynamic discussion with composer, performer, bandleader and lovely human - Sam Shalabi. Sam Shalabi is an Egyptian-Canadian composer, improviser and guitarist living between Montreal and Cairo. Starting out during the late 70s punk era, his work has evolved into an experimental synthesis of modern Arabic Music that incorporates free improvis…

An incredible discussion with composer and musician, Melody McKiver. Melody’s musical work integrates electronics with Western classical music to shape a new genre of Anishinaabe compositions. A proud member of Obishikokaang Lac Seul First Nation, Melody is currently Assistant Professor of Indigenous Music (tenure-track) with the Desaultels Faculty…

Friendly Rich sits with Mr. Let's Paint TV himself, John Kilduff from his studio in LA to talk about independent art and culture. John ran his own live public access show which continues to this day on YouTube and other platforms. He's painted alongside special guests such as Eric André, Zach Galifianakis and more, usually while on a treadmill or s…

A rare live taping of Industry Tactics! From Sept 16th 2022, co-presented by Guelph Jazz Festival and IICSI (International Institute for Critical Studies in Improvisation), this incredible episode expands upon our first chat (Ep. 62) with talented creative force - Nicole Rampersaud. We talk whale music, adjusting to East Coast living, perfect pitch…

From Brooklyn, New York we catch up with composer, guitarist and bandleader Simon Hanes. We talk about pep talks, his chamber ensemble Tredici Bacci, his music education, the mentorship of folks like JG Thirlwell and much more. Get into the wild universe of Simon Hanes!Friendly Rich

An inspiring chat with Italian composer, performer and scholar, Luciano Chessa. We discuss his music education, his professional career and of course, the Italian Futurists. Chessa wrote the renowned book "Luigi Russolo, Futurist: Noise, Visual Arts, and the Occult", we discuss Russolo and the Futurists at length. Let's get noisy with the mastic tr…

We sit down with jazz legend Brodie West to unpack some of his early jobs, his music education and even a phone call from his father. What a career in music, from studying noise (and jazz) at the Amsterdam Music Conservatory with Misha Mengelberg, to musical encounters with percussionist Han Bennink as well as The Ex -- Brodie has led such a rich m…

A talk with a true creative polymath, Keram Malicki Sanchez. We talk about his unique musical path, working with such artists as Alex Lifeson (Rush), Carmine Rojas (David Bowie) and much more. This episode certainly celebrates longevity in the creative arts. From his early days acting on the hit television series Catwalk, through to running a recor…

A great chat with Jay Pennington (aka Rusty Lazer), a New Orleans-based musician and organizer. He’s best known as the live DJ and creative partner of Sissy Bounce rapper Nicky Da B, and as the onetime manager of Big Freedia. In 2006 he co-founded the artist-driven nonprofit organization New Orleans Airlift. He helped create the Music Box Village, …

A lovely late-night chat with multi-instrumentalist Aurora Nealand from New Orleans. We unpack Nealand's 2017 masterpiece, "The Monocle" and much more. Whether you're a searcher or a believer, believe this: Aurora is a heavy-hitter who will leave you smiling. Get into it!Friendly Rich

From Rhino Party HQ we catch up with their fierce leader, Sébastien CoRhino. We not only talk about some inside party tactics, we also unpack his career in music with the collective LE GGRIL out of Rimouski, Quebec. Sébastien does a COVID test during the episode, and pure chaos oozes from nostril from there: including an historic appointment, a thi…

We get to talk with an accordion legend, Michael Ward-Bergeman a passionate performer, songwriter and composer. In 2011 he launched his GIG 365 project, which saw him performing at least one gig for every day of 2011. Performances took place at an incredibly diverse range of venues in over thirty-five states and nine countries. Highlights included …

Friendly Rich catches up with the great experimental artist Vicky Mettler, aka Kee Avil from her hometown of Montreal. They discuss her process and what led to her upcoming release "Crease" which comes out next Friday March 11, 2022. You get a sneak peak today into the wacky world of producer, guitarist and artist extraordinaire -- Kee Avil. Enjoy!…

From his bunker in San Francisco, we catch up with the godfather of weird, the elder statesperson of experimental music, the reason for the season -- none other than Homer Flynn.Homer Flynn is an American artist, graphic designer and businessman who is a founding member, co-owner and President of The Cryptic Corporation; the management firm who hav…

We go cross-continental on today's episode from Berlin to Brampton, with the great John Kameel Farah. We talk about his unique path to music, his one-of-a-kind compositions, with a side order of barbershop magazines, Bramalea bullies, and more!Friendly Rich

In this episode, we talk with jazz legend Richard Underhill of his early days coming up in Toronto, co-leading The Shuffle Demons, touring, promotion, even running for mayor!! Get on the right path with sax great, Richard Underhill. Enjoy the ride!Friendly Rich

The ever-evolving Aiyun Huang enjoys a musical life as soloist, chamber musician, researcher, teacher, and producer. In this episode we talk about her amazing career to date, and how she found her voice as an artist/educator. Bon appetit!Friendly Rich

This talk with Hugh Marsh goes all over the place, from his work on the Armageddon score to 3am phone calls from Robert Palmer. Hugh Marsh has had some incredible adventures in music, playing with everybody from Loreena McKennitt, The Rheostatics, Bruce Cockburn and more. Hugh shares some very important tactics in this episode, as he prepares to re…

Suzie Vinnick unlocks the secret level of Industry Tactics, where we talk Hyundai Touring, Ellen McIlwaine, growing up in Saskatoon, with a side order of Tim Hortons jingle work. Dig in to a DIY feast, served fresh from just yesterday with the great Suzie Vinnick!Friendly Rich

An uplifting chat with the Professor Emeritus, Casey Sokol. We talk about piano performance, music education, improvisation, early days in Toronto and a hell of a lot more! This episode pairs nicely with episodes 129 (Lisa Conway), 19 (Bob Wiseman) and 71 (D Alex Meeks). Let's connect the dots!Friendly Rich

Shanika Maria is a queer Black singer-songwriter, producer and creator currently based in Toronto. Her lyrics are contemplative and introspective. She is influenced by music across genres, borrowing sounds and ideas from country, folk, jazz, classical, latin and electronic music. She is interested in integrating new styles and ways of creating musi…

On his way to Nova Scotia to start afresh, we catch up with trombonist, composer and producer, Tom Richards about his incredible musical career to date. We go from Moosejaw, to Boston, to Toronto, to Nova Scotia! His "Unfolding River" a ten-year ongoing series of 81 compositions based on the Tao te Ching of Lao Tzu is a work of true beauty that we …