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Some Thoughts On A Sunday

Some Thoughts On A Sunday

It’s been a good year for self-growth. I’ve accomplished some things that I’m pretty proud of, and made some solid progress on things that matter to me. But at the same time it’s been a frustrating year. I’ve taken advantage of some specific moments to stand up and ask the universe for things I really want, and to my disbelief and disappointment the universe said “no, you’re not ready”.

But f*ck…

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What's Next? (How to use stress now to fight off boredom later)

What’s Next? (How to use stress now to fight off boredom later)

Isn’t it ironic that I’m sitting here about to write a blog post titled “What’s Next?”, and yet the page remains blank? How could I possibly figure out what actually comes next? Classes are finished, summer is on the horizon, and I (like quite a few other people) am in that strange in-between period called “change”, where I have a moment to breath before diving into the next thing. I’m trying…

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New Albums to Look Out For this Year

New Albums to Look Out For this Year

Fleet Foxes – Crack-Up (June 16, 2017) Finally, this album comes off of like 6 years of no music from the Fleet Foxes. I listened to the album preview (below) and so far every song sounds amazing. Super excited for this to come out, super bummed I won’t get to see them play this year. It’s a mix of vintage sounding, folk-y music with incredible reverberating harmonies and instrumentation.…

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Using Music to Study

Using Music to Study

Here’s a list of some of my favourite instrumental music to listen to while studying or getting work done: Music For Studying Pigarette – Pointsettia //bandcamp.com/EmbeddedPlayer/v=2/album=3755109431/size=large/bgcol=ffffff/linkcol=0687f5/tracklist=false/artwork=small/ Smooth math-y guitar riffs over R&B rhythms. It’s a little excited and busy sounding at times, but the guitar playing is so…

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A day in the life of JM, set to "Glory", by The Acorn

A day in the life of JM, set to “Glory”, by The Acorn

Had so much fun shooting and editing this for a school assignment. The song is “Glory” by The Acorn. Pretty sure I got it from doing a USB swap with Emily Sideen when we met in high school (which is honestly my favourite thing to do). I love the the feel, and the instrumentation of this song. The clang-y percussion, simple guitar part, and deep grinding cello (as you may know, I’m always a sucker…

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(Re)Claiming Space and Music: Why you should do more to support underrepresented musicians

I attended a panel of 4 incredible artists discussing representation and the state of the music industry this week called “(Re)Claiming Space and Music”. I’m so thankful I got to listen in and hear some of their ideas, stories, and music. Something Madeleine Roger said really stuck with me. She explained how frustrating it can be to try and perform your music while knowing that someone already…

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The Future of Media? Total Immersion

The Future of Media? Total Immersion

As decades go by I think we’ll see media continue towards deeper and deeper immersion. More practical, and realistic feeling virtual reality is going to go very mainstream as soon as the technology starts to rev its engine. We’ll have the stuff of Chuck Palahniuk’s Rant, like “neural transcripts” where you plug into the back of your head to experience a film, tv show, or advertisement. You’ll be…

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"A Deadly Wandering" is a Must-Read, and a Testament to Thorough Journalism

“A Deadly Wandering” is a Must-Read, and a Testament to Thorough Journalism

A Deadly Wandering is an investigative journalism piece by Pulistzer Prize Winner Matt Richtel about the death of two rocket scientists in a car crash caused by a young man named Reggie Shaw’s texting and driving–and the dialogue that it helped open up in America. I have to preface this by saying that even as I sat reading, I started to realize how eery it was for my phone to continue buzzing and…

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A Fan Letter for the Lumineers

A Fan Letter for the Lumineers

Dear Wesley, Jeremiah, and Neyla, I have 12th row seats for the Lumineers show here in Winnipeg tonight and the timing is perfect. I got into your band in 2015, three years after the self-titled album and the performance at the Grammys–which seemed like kind of unfortunate timing because the Lumineers, for all I knew, went into hibernation. Indefinitely. I bought your first studio record off a…

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Swearin's 2012 self-titled album is still one my all-time favourites

Swearin’s 2012 self-titled album is still one my all-time favourites

(Photo by Jesse Riggins, taken from the Swearin’ Facebook page) I don’t even remember how or when I heard about this band, but after a couple listens of their self titled album I was completely hooked. It’s got a sense of rawness and honesty that I think so much indie rock is missing these days. It’s moody, sarcastic, and cynical punk music that manages to stay optimistic and thoughtful all the…

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Why you should be listening to albums front-to-back

Why you should be listening to albums front-to-back

  You’re probably aware that the music industry is – in some ways – struggling to evolve in the digital age. People just don’t want to buy physical CDs, records are getting more popular but demand is still low, places like HMV are closing their doors. I could sit here typing about the value of physical albums all day, but hell my MacBook doesn’t even have a CD drive. I think part of the problem…

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Adventures in DIY Recording

Adventures in DIY Recording

I’ve been recording my own music here and there for at least a few years, all on a shoestring budget with minimal gear. If I’m being honest, I would consider what I do to be on a pretty amateur level. But in the grand scheme of things, you can make some pretty decent sounding music that’s relatively passable on a very small amount of money. These are my suggestions for a cheap, DIY recording…

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Let's Talk Looping

Let’s Talk Looping

Last week I played my the third show under the stage name Sun Gaze, where I go up on stage with a guitar, a pedal board, a microphone, a snare and a floor tom. If you’re wondering how or why I use all of those things on stage, I don’t know either. But I do it.  If you’re unfamiliar with how looping pedals work, it’s basically like a mini recorder on your pedal board (to put it in the most simple…

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BIG FUN in the afternoon

BIG FUN in the afternoon

Made it to a couple of BIG FUN shows and tried my best to get some photos in. It’s nice having a winter festival in the city to get me out of the house and actually doing stuff on the weekend. Bartley KnivesHaitiaGood Will Hangover Show, featuring amazing break-y tacos from “Have A Nice Day”Lev SnoweIansucks (but he really doesn’t)  

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Country doesn’t suck, you’re just listening to the wrong country.

Country doesn’t suck, you’re just listening to the wrong country.

I used to be way more close-minded about the music I listen too, but over the past few years I’ve started to realize that basically every genre of music has something surprisingly good to offer. How many times have you heard someone say that they absolutely never listen to country? And how many times have you heard someone say that they exclusively listen to country? (Usually on a dating profile…

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MP3 Million is a godsend for broke music lovers, but is it legal?

MP3 Million is a godsend for broke music lovers, but is it legal?

This post is for the brave few who still don’t use streaming services to listen to their music. Maybe you can’t afford the data, or you’re a radio connoisseur, or a CD junkie (God forbid)–or you’re like me. I still own an iPod Classic with the original iPod click wheel, a faulty 1/4 inch headphone jack, and 120 GB of open musical ocean. Another disclaimer: I may take some heat for what I say…

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Sun Gaze – We Are Set Free (Live Session) Filmed a live session in my basement for my solo project "Sun Gaze". It's a loop heavy, slow-dreamy kind of song.