The Talk Music Podcast

Hi, and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!I’m thrilled to welcome JUNO Award–winning Canadian blues guitarist STEVE STRONGMAN as my guest. We recorded this most entertaining chat on my back porch on a beautiful afternoon, so listen closely and you'll hear some birds chirping in the background.Steve is one of Canada’s top blues artists/guitarists, and his recording journey actually began back in 2004 with the album Honey, which I released successfully on my indie label via A&M Records. Reminiscing about that time working together made this conversation extra special and fun for me. Since then, Steve has built an incredible discography, including his 2013 JUNO-winning album A Natural Fact. His records highlight talented artists such as Harrison Kennedy, Jessie O’Brien, Crystal Shawanda, Rob Szabo, Dave King, Steve Marriner and many others. He’s also an acclaimed producer, having co-written and co-produced Struck Down by Kim Wilson and The Fabulous Thunderbirds—a GRAMMY-nominated project featuring Bonnie Raitt, Keb’ Mo’, Taj Mahal, and Mick Fleetwood (and we go deep into how this record came together over a 2 year period).Steve has shared the stage with legends like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, and Jeff Healey, and in this chat we delve into his musical journey up to now, the story behind his favourite guitar, and as a bonus I also feature Steve with a live solo acoustic porch performance of "Struck Down (by the Blues)." Enjoy! 

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Talk Music Podcast.My guest this week is MICHAEL SHOTTON—drummer and powerhouse vocalist for VON GROOVE—a melodic hard rock trio packed with serious firepower. Alongside him, guitarist Mladen Alexander delivers elite technical chops, while bassist Matthew Gerrard brings the groove and a heavyweight songwriting pedigree.After a long hiatus—and now signed to the prestigious FRONTIERS Music label—VON GROOVE is back with a killer new album, BORN TO ROCK. In this episode, we dig into the band’s origins, the inspiration behind some of the songs, and feature clips that display the album’s raw, visceral, hard-hitting production that absolutely lives up to its name.Emerging from Ontario in 1990, the band built a worldwide cult following through standout releases like Rainmaker, Mission Man, and Chameleon, all driven by Shotton’s melodic instincts and commanding vocal delivery.We also dive into Michael’s incredible journey in music—spending time with Tom Scholz of Boston, recording at A&M Studios in Los Angeles, and even hanging out with Phil Spector and Ron Wood. Plus, we explore his collaborations with Rik Emmett (Triumph), Gord Deppe (Spoons) and Wes Arkeen (Outpatience), who co-wrote several songs for Guns N’ Roses. Enjoy! 

Hi and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!Today’s guest is the kind of artist who reminds you why live music matters in the first place. STEVE POLTZ (born in Halifax) isn’t just a singer-songwriter—he’s a storyteller extraordinaire and a master of turning the unpredictable into something unforgettable. Whether he’s crafting deeply moving lyrics or spinning hilarious, off-the-cuff tales, Steve has a rare ability to make every performance feel like a one-of-a-kind experience.Steve Poltz first emerged from the fertile San Diego music scene as the charismatic frontman and co-founder of The Rugburns, a cult-favorite indie band known for its sharp wit, relentless touring, and offbeat songwriting. During this period, Poltz’s path intertwined with Jewel, leading to one of the defining moments of his career: co-writing her massive 1995 hit “You Were Meant for Me,” which climbed to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became a massive global success. That breakthrough opened major industry doors, helping Poltz secure a solo deal with Danny Goldberg and Mercury Records. He released his debut solo album One Left Shoe in 1997, showcasing a more personal, melodic side of his songwriting while still retaining his signature eccentricity. His time with Mercury marked a pivotal transition from bandleader to solo artist and set the stage for a fiercely independent career built on artistic freedom.  Since then, Poltz has carved out an unusually prolific and enduring solo career, releasing a wide array of albums—from the experimental Answering Machine, to fan-favourite records like Chinese Vacation, Dreamhouse, Shine On, and on his most recent 14th studio album JoyRide. It’s chaos, caffeine, and accidental poetry — art colliding with microphones in a glorious mess as Steve weaves his magic into songs like Son of God, Brand New Liver and JoyRide.With decades of touring, a deep catalog of music, and a fiercely loyal worldwide fanbase, Steve Poltz stands today as a truly singular figure—often cited by fans and peers alike as one of the finest live singer-songwriters working right now. Enjoy! 

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!Few artists embody the spirit of soul, roots, blues, and storytelling quite like my guest today, SHAKURA S’AIDA.Brooklyn-born and Swiss-raised, Shakura has spent over four decades igniting stages and connecting with audiences around the world. A three-time JUNO Award nominee and internationally celebrated performer, she has toured more than 30 countries, delivering the kind of electrifying, deeply human performances critics describe as “engaging, vivacious, and exciting.”From fronting bands to starring in theatre productions like The Nina Project, and appearing on hit TV shows such as Schitt’s Creek, Shakura’s artistry refuses to be boxed in. She is as much a storyteller and community builder as she is a vocalist—using music to connect, uplift, and move people at their core. Her career is filled with accolades that reflect both excellence and longevity: Maple Blues Award wins and nominations, JUNO nods across multiple decades, a 2023 Folk Music Ontario Award for Album of the Year and the prestigious 2024 SOCAN Foundation “Her Music” Award recognizing her lasting impact on Canadian music.In our conversation, we explore her early beginnings, the challenges she faced finding her place in the music world as a black female singer songwriter and her journey toward success in theatre, television, and on stages around the globe as one of Canada’s most respected Americana, roots, soul, and blues artists. Most recently, Shakura performed at the prestigious Chicago Blues Festival and coming up on June 19th, she’ll be performing at TD Music Hall in Toronto.P.S. A special shout out to PR genius extraordinaire Richard Flohil who initially contacted me to set up this chat! Thanks! 

Hi everyone, and welcome back to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!If you love jaw-dropping guitar playing and high-octane rock then listen up, because if you haven’t discovered JACOB DERAPS yet… now is the time.Hailing from St-Georges, Quebec, Jacob has exploded onto the modern rock scene as one of the most electrifying young guitarists out there. His playing blends insane technical precision with a deep love for the golden era of hard rock—channeling legends like Eddie Van Halen while bringing a fresh, modern energy that’s completely his own.And the industry is taking notice. Guitar World—with over 1.7 million followers—recently asked: “Who’s the most exciting up-and-coming guitar player?” Their answer? Jacob Deraps. They even said they couldn’t get one of his riffs out of their head for days—and boldly claimed in one of their videos: “Jacob Deraps is here to rescue hard rock.”His rise started early—at just 13 years old, his YouTube performances went viral, stunning fans with his uncanny ability to capture the tone and feel of Eddie Van Halen. That buzz quickly turned into real recognition, including praise, support and guitar endorsement from the Van Halen camp, and admiration from Dweezil Zappa, who awarded him the prestigious Dweezil and Frank Zappa Fellowship.In this episode, we dive into his journey—from those early viral moments to signing a global publishing deal with Anthem Entertainment (home of Rush), building an impressive international following, and producing his own music. We also talk studio tips, creative process, and his latest album Viva Rock ’n’ Roll—which shot straight to #1 on the hard rock charts in Japan and scored an impressive 88/100 in Burn Magazine.After tearing it up across the U.S. on tour recently and wowing audiences everywhere, Jacob is just getting started—with plenty more shows on the horizon. Just posted, Deraps received a 10 out of 10 review from Powerplay Magazine for their Feb 6 2026 N.Y.C. show. So if you get the chance to see him live, don’t miss it. 

Hi everyone, and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast.With RECORD STORE DAY happening this Saturday, April 18, I’m joined by DERRY GREHAN of HONEYMOON SUITE—this year’s Canadian ambassadors—alongside global ambassador Bruno Mars and Record Store Legend award recipient, Robert Plant.Record Store Day began in 2007 as a celebration of independent record store culture—nearly 1,400 in the U.S. and thousands more around the world. The first official event took place on April 19, 2008.In this episode, we dive into what makes Record Store Day so special: the culture, the community, and the charm of indie record shops. Derry shares stories from his early days in record stores, the staff picks that helped shape his musical taste, and why putting vinyl on a turntable is often a magical engaging listening experience. We also talk about Honeymoon Suite’s exclusive Record Store Day limited-edition release—a red translucent vinyl album titled Singles, featuring their biggest hits, including four tracks from their debut album, which I had the pleasure of producing.Plus, we wrap things up with what’s next for the band—touring, recording, and what fans can expect in the year ahead.P.S. If you’d like to check out my earlier deep-dive conversation with Derry about the band’s illustrious career, listen here.

Hi and welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!What does it take to build a global rock career—from underground scenes to arena stages? This episode dives deep with WALLY VAN MIDDENDORP a powerhouse music executive whose fingerprints are all over the international rock and alternative landscape. Now based in London and working with In De Goot Management as Senior Vice President, International, with a roster that includes Shinedown, Halestorm, Black Stone Cherry, GWAR, and Canadians Theory of a Deadman, Wally shares insight into international strategy, bridging U.S. and European operations and the growing success of artists selling merch and physical goods.But his story goes far beyond management. Wally has held top roles across the industry—from SVP International at Roadrunner Records working closely with founder Cees Wessels to General Manager of Sony Music Netherlands, as well as GM of the prestigious PIAS label AKA Play It Again Sam in the Benelux where we actually met when I signed Voivod to the label for European distribution. Our chat includes his early beginnings—when, in his teenage years, he was president of the David Bowie fan club—and his time as an artist himself, fronting the pioneering Dutch post-punk band MINNY POPS who opened for Slash and Joy Division. We also touch on his time spent with Lars Ulrich and working with acts such as Ricky Martin, Julio Iglesias, Mötley Crüe, Alterbridge and many others.From leading European operations to shaping global marketing strategies, his career is a masterclass in how music moves across borders and audiences. If you’re a fan of great music stories, this episode is packed with them.Enjoy!

Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of The Talk Music Podcast!This episode is a particularly special one for me on a personal level, as I take a trip back to my days as an A&R scout for RCA Records in New York —when I had the incredible opportunity to work closely with none other than GENE SIMMONS.During that time, I discovered and signed the rock band GYPSY ROSE out of Sarnia. I eventually went on to manage the band and co-produce their debut album PREY alongside my longtime friend Gary Furniss—who, for the past 32 years, has served as President of Sony Publishing in Canada. My guest for this episode is the unique sounding gravel-voiced singer songwriter from that album, MICHAEL ROSS.In our conversation, Michael and I dig deep into how we first met, how we ultimately connected with Gene himself and how I secured getting Gypsy Rose signed to RCA and Simmons Records. We also share our experiences working with him as the executive producer of Prey—and what it was really like collaborating and hanging out with Gene behind the scenes. Before we get into our deep dive, I’ll be featuring a clip of the album’s single “Poisoned by Love.” At the time, the video had gone into heavy rotation on MTV and the song was beginning to climb the U.S. charts… until, suddenly, everything came to a halt.It’s a fascinating story from a time when rock ruled the airwaves, CDs were selling in the millions, and MTV could change a band’s life overnight. A must-listen for anyone who remembers the golden age of rock.Enjoy!