Year in Review

Canada's legendary hip hop star Shad joins us for the second time to discuss his new record "Start Anew" and the influence of English singer-songwriter Cleo Sol. A mixture of Neo-soul, R&B, with strong influences from jazz, reggae, and Motown, her second full-length studio album "Mother", explores themes of motherhood, gratitude, and complicated family dynamics.

On the dawn of his latest album, Last Dance at the E Room, Toronto troubadour John Borra joins the Sound Affect to talk about Toronto, post punk, and The Waterboy's seminal classic "This is the Sea".Released in September 1985, This Is the Sea is the third studio album by the Waterboys.  It’s widely considered their breakthrough record and the pinnacle of their long and distinguished career. Blending rock, folk, and Celtic influences with a spiritual and emotional intensity, This Is the Sea was quintessential to what leader Mike Scott called their “Big Music” era…a sweeping, anthemic sound characterized by grand arrangements, spiritual themes, and a sense of transcendence.

Montreal's Mooch pick the stoner-rock/Desert Rock classic "Welcome to Sky Valley" by Kyuss!Despite breaking up in 1995 Kyuss impacted the 1990s musical landscape in so many ways. "Welcome to Sky Valley", Kyuss’ third studio album demonstrates a much more psychedelic and mature sound that has influenced a slew of bands including Black Thorne Productions recording artist Mooch. Ben Cornel (guitar , bass, vocals), Julian Iac (guitar, vocals, bass), and Alex Segreti (drums) join us to discuss their love of the record. Be sure to check out their latest release "KIN". MOOCH have just wrapped up an extensive tour of Canada that was highlighted with a performance at the Yellowknife’s Folk On The Rocks Festival

CLEM LEEK is a British born musician and composer, hailing from Kent, England. He studied performing arts and composition. For the last 10 years, he has produced music professionally for general release, film, TV and is a seasoned performer. His modern classical and ambient soundscapes take inspiration from his surroundings and the experiences that have shaped his life. However, they also take inspiration from fellow Englishman Matthew Nicholas Hales AKA Aqualung, whom Clem discovered through a 2002 VW Beetle TV commercial featuring the song "Strange and Beautiful".The Chicago-based Leek’s latest ep signs is out now.

Gavin McLeod is a 22-year-singer-songwriter from Milton Ontario. Gavin’s raw guitar-based sound is rooted in classic rock and blues as well as the modern sounds of Sam Fender and James Bay, but is - obviously - also influenced by the sounds of Neil Young. He joined the Sound Affect to talk about the impact of Neil's 1974 On the Beach, his fifth studio album and the second in his so-called "Ditch Trilogy" in which he grapples with feelings of alienation and melancholy. Listen and hear how his Grandfather propelled this album to mythic proportions.

Toronto's legendary Change of Heart are back baby! After 27 years, the members of the post-Smile line-up of the band have a new album, In the Wreckage, and are hosting two shows at the end of the month in Toronto! To celebrate this, bassist/lyricist Rob Taylor and Guitarist/Singer Ian Blurton joined us to discuss one of their early influences, The Days of Wine and Roses by California's The Dream Syndicate.

Kitchener's I, the Mountain, pick an album by their kindred souls, Toronto's The Strumbellas.Formed in 2009, they soon picked up residencies at legendary Toronto clubs like The Cameron House and The Horseshoe Tavern before releasing their debut albumMy Father and the Hunter. They then  signed with Six Shooter records and brought on The Lumineers’ producer Ryan Hadlock to make their sophomore releaseWe Still Move on Dance FloorsJoin us as we chat with I, the Mountain, about The Strumbellas, The Red Dog in Peterborough, and community.

25 years ago, the Toronto and Canadian music landscape was turned on its ear with the release of The Russian Futurists’ internationally acclaimed debut, The Method of Modern Love. The album is an unabashed confession of romance built on a bedrock of thrift-store toy keyboards and cheap guitars recorded on a porta studio. The Method of Modern Love won fans in R.E.M's Peter Buck, former Blur guitarist Graham Coxon, and filmmaker Jason Lee. The Magnetic Fields' first two albums, Distant Plastic Trees and The Wayward Bus, were the template for The Russian Futurists and a change in the direction of Canadian indie music!

We at the Sound Affect hope you had a wonderful 2024 and we wish you a great 2025! This episode lists some of of our faves of the year!

In the early days of the new millenium Toronto was alive with new innovative music. This new indie music revolution was spearheaded by one band in particular: Broken Social Scene. And, now, almost 25 years after it began, they are the subject of a documentary. Stephen Chung's IT'S ALL GONNA BREAK unearths the intimate behind-the-scenes footage that shows the creation of Canada's indie-darlings of the early aughts, Broken Social Scene. Founding member and Toronto-indie-rock-darling Brendan Canning joins The Sound Affect to discuss the movie and the band's legacy.