Inside the Music with StereoRuss

Guitarist and content creator Jordan Wav joins StereoRuss to talk guitar influences, the story behind his viral Frog pedal, and what it takes to build a career as a musician online. From discovering ’80s shred guitar and Japanese city pop to playing with DragonForce’s Herman Li, Jordan shares his approach to songwriting, navigating expectations as an online creator, and why sometimes you just need to stop worrying about gear and play.   Connect with Jordan Wav https://jordanwav.com/ https://jordanwav.com/music https://www.instagram.com/jordan.wav/?hl=en https://www.tiktok.com/@jordan.wav?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYRIBISbgdGK01luLk_MAUw https://fruitfxpedals.com/products/frog-pedal   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.stereoruss.com   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

StereoRuss and longtime friend Ian Butcher take on the massive 28 song Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, ranking every track across four categories: poppy, dreamy, groovy, and raging. They get into the album’s ambitious place in the mid ’90s, its production, Jimmy Chamberlain’s drumming, Billy Corgan’s polarizing vocals, and the songs that have held up (or grown more complicated) with age. Expect strong disagreements, some surprising rankings, and a lot of love for one of the Smashing Pumpkins’ most ambitious records.   Connect with Ian Butcher https://irruptions.bandcamp.com/?fbclid https://www.instagram.com/irruptions.music/   Connect with StereoRuss https://www.youtube.com/@StereoRuss https://open.spotify.com/show/5M4NQUZe1hmhJmv1OOzDK7 https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.stereoruss.com   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives. 

JJ Johnson of Hamilton's Lucky Honey joins StereoRuss to talk about the band's rapid rise, from giving away guitars during COVID to winning Battle of the Bands and landing a spot on the Supercrawl main stage. JJ dives into the band's approach to writing, recording and building an unforgettable live show, including the importance of preparation, spontaneity and simply having fun together on stage. Plus, they get into 90s rock, musical kids, guitar tones, Hamilton's music community, and why getting out there and meeting people might be the most important part of building a career in music.   Connect with Lucky Honey https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@LuckyHoneyBand⁩ https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yluLV1EXBNRKYzprsgJrm https://www.instagram.com/luckyhoneyband/   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

Hamilton indie pop artists Emma Whale (songwriter and producer), Saad Sheik, and Jesse Adams join me for a conversation about songwriting, production, and finding their own paths in the local music scene. We discuss the art of making pop songs shorter and stickier, the challenges of promoting music in the social media era, and why sustainable creativity matters more than chasing the algorithm. We also talk upcoming releases, music videos, jazz gigs, and the power of local music communities.   Connect with Emma Whale https://www.instagram.com/emmawhale_music/ https://linktr.ee/EmmaWhale https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QXYJSKKFGJueoq8Xuzita   Connect with Saad Sheik https://www.instagram.com/saadsheikhx/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/4crMHT22Iy0Z9zi9Aln9l6   Connect with Jesse Adams https://www.instagram.com/jesse_francesca/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/1knZLmZB5hXpLG5mfujbiz   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.stereoruss.com   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

Grammy winning Toronto band BadBadNotGood joins Inside the Music with StereoRuss ahead of their August 20 performance at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario. Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty chat with StereoRuss to discuss how the band's sound has evolved from jazz roots into a genre defying blend of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and indie music. They share stories about collaboration, improvisation, touring the world, balancing technical musicianship with emotion, and what audiences can expect when they take the stage at the RBG. Joining the conversation is Jeremy Freiburger from the Royal Botanical Gardens, who explains the vision behind the summer concert series and why BADBADNOTGOOD was the perfect choice to help introduce new audiences to live music in one of Ontario's most unique outdoor venues. Whether you're a longtime fan, a musician, or simply curious about one of Canada's most celebrated bands, this conversation offers an inside look at the creativity, curiosity, and collaboration that continue to shape BADBADNOTGOOD's music. Get tickets and learn more about BADBADNOTGOOD's August 20 performance at RBG: https://www.rbg.ca/events/concert-badbadnotgood/   Listen to BADBADNOTGOOD https://www.youtube.com/user/BADBADNOTGOOD http://open.spotify.com/artist/65dGLGjkw3UbddUg2GKQoZ https://www.instagram.com/badbadnotgood/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.stereoruss.com   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

This episode is being presented as part of Hamilton Arts Week (running from July 2-9) which includes more than 200 events and activities. Arts week is presented by Hamilton Arts Council with support from the City of Hamilton, and the Government of Canada. Check out all the event listings at theartycrowd.ca   Connect with Hamilton Arts Council & The Arty Crowd https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/ https://theartycrowd.ca/   ~~~~~~~   Please enjoy this special Hamilton Arts Week conversation with Hamilton singer-songwriter and founder of the Femme Rising Showcase Series, Melissa Dutch, premiering as part of the Hamilton Arts Week launch. Ahead of Femme Rising at Mills Hardware on Sunday, July 5, Melissa shares the inspiration behind the showcase series and her vision for creating spaces that celebrate women, queer artists, and community. She also discusses her powerful new single, "Skinny," and the importance of self-care in sustaining a creative life.   Connect with Melissa Dutch https://www.instagram.com/melissa.dutch https://melissadutch.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@melissadutch https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bDScM4GIAu8diQ6OXFyQy https://www.instagram.com/femmerisingca   Produced and Hosted by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.youtube.com/@StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Production Supported by Emma Whale https://www.instagram.com/emmawhale_music   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

Superstar Crush are BACK and they're in their WARTORTLE ERA! Fresh off opening for Wolf Parade, the Hamilton group joins StereoRuss for a conversation about Rococo-inspired stage aesthetics, finding your people, and the surreal experience of sharing bills with artists they’ve admired for years. It’s funny, thoughtful, and chalked full of Pokémon evolution metaphors.   Connect with Superstar Crush https://www.instagram.com/superstarcrushband/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/29MNW2JE94Rb07rdS5tWFB https://www.youtube.com/@SuperstarCrush/videos   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss   Become an Inside the Music Insider https://www.stereoruss.com

A few days before the Junos, Aysanabee joined me at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton to talk about returning to the awards with two new nominations (which he won by the way)! We got into his approach to live performance, scoring a goal on an NHL goalie, learning with covers from Leon Bridges, Sam Roberts, and Justin Bieber, his self-taught guitar style, and why he’s releasing a stripped-back acoustic album. He also shared stories from the road, including a chaotic live reverb moment, and how he thinks about connecting with audiences through storytelling. Thank you to Aysanabee and his team for taking the time to chat. I hope you all enjoy!   Connect with Aysanabee https://www.instagram.com/_aysanabee_/ https://www.aysanabee.com/tour https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jbEBKJhX4rRmHD6xW6ve5 https://linktr.ee/Aysanabee   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss   Support Inside the Music with StereoRuss https://ko-fi.com/stereoruss   Become an Inside the Music Insider https://www.stereoruss.com   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

I sat down live in-studio with DJ’s Flying Circus, a growing collective of musicians. What started as jam sessions and covers has turned into original music, a rotating lineup, and a full scale live experience they call The Book of Funk. We talk about where it all started, how they balance life's obligations and creativity, and what it means to commit to something when there’s no clear path forward. There’s a lot in here about community, about figuring it out as you go, and about choosing passion even when it makes life more complicated.   Follow DJ's Flying Circus: https://www.instagram.com/djs_flying_circus/ Follow StereoRuss https://www.instagram.com/stereoruss/

Tiger Balme is a Toronto based indie pop collective reinventing what a band can look (and sound) like. With vibraphone, harp, guitar, drums, and lush three part harmonies, Tiger Balme blends pop, indie, and art rock into something entirely their own. In this conversation, the band dives into their origins as a songwriting collective, how shared leadership shapes their sound, and why no one person stands at the front of the stage. We talk uniforms, identity, harmony arranging, odd time signatures, and the realities of playing everything from vintage shops to Union Station. The band also reflects on reimagining their song “Short Fuse (Embers)”, collaboration over competition, and building trust as a creative unit. Connect with Tiger Balme https://www.instagram.com/tigerbalme/?hl=en https://ffm.to/tigerbalme https://tigerbalme.bandcamp.com/track/short-fuse-embers https://linktr.ee/tigerbalme https://www.tiktok.com/@tigerbalme Tiger Balme Mailing List: https://tigerbalme.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe   Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/   Edited by Mike Monson and Monco Film + Sound http://moncofilmandsound.com/ https://www.instagram.com/moncofilmandsound/   Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss   Become an Inside the Music Insider https://www.stereoruss.com   Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.