How Emma Donoghue’s new musical stands up for immigrants then and now
Award-winning Irish Canadian novelist, screenwriter and playwright Emma Donoghue (Room, The Wonder) is back with her first musical, “The Wind Coming Over The Sea.” It’s based on the true story of Henry and Jane Johnson, a young married couple who left Ireland in the 1840s in search of a better life in Canada. Emma joins Tom Power to talk about what inspired the production, the traditional Irish folk music she used to tell the tale, and why this historical story about the immigrant experience still resonates today.
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The dark side of writing a life-changing hit
Twenty years ago, Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Powter wrote the song “Bad Day,” which quickly became one of the biggest hits of 2005. It earned him a Grammy nomination, sold millions of copies and launched his career as an artist. But when “Bad Day” got bigger than anyone could have ever imagined, Daniel’s mental health started to decline, leading to addiction and substance abuse. On the song’s 20th anniversary, Daniel joins Tom Power to share the dark side of writing a life-changing hit, and what his relationship to making music is like today.
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Finn Wolfhard's childhood 10-year plan worked out
At age 12, Canadian actor Finn Wolfhard shot to fame after landing the role of a lifetime on “Stranger Things.” But growing up in the spotlight wasn’t always easy. Finn often felt like he didn’t have control over his public identity or his artistic life. Now, as his tenure on “Stranger Things” comes to a close, he’s launched a music career with the release of his debut solo album, “Happy Birthday.” Tom Power sat down with Finn in his hometown of Vancouver to talk about the record, how he found his voice in music, and how “Stranger Things” changed his life. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom’s interview with Finn’s “Stranger Things” co-star Joe Keery (a.k.a. Djo) on his viral hit “End of Beginning.”
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Jason Mantzoukas wants to be the ugly American villain
When actor and comedian Jason Mantzoukas (The Good Place, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Parks and Recreation) finally got the chance to appear on his favourite TV show — the weird and hilarious British game show “Taskmaster” — he didn’t want to play along normally. He wanted to be the ugly American villain who creates chaos. Jason joins Tom Power to tell us what actually happened when he stepped onto set, what it was like going from superfan to contestant, and why he thinks that beloved British shows like “Taskmaster” have never fully taken off in North America.
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Evan Redsky is exploring the cosmos
When Evan Redsky sat down to write a song about his culture, he thought about three things: the movie “Interstellar,” the movie “Contact” with Jodie Foster, and the Ojibwe word that essentially means "see you later" (because there is no word for goodbye in Ojibwe). In this chat with guest host Talia Schlanger, Evan tells us how these elements make up his new single, “Cosmic Carousel.”
Five days a week, Tom Power brings you candid conversations with the artists shaping our culture. Whether he’s chatting with A-listers or rising stars, his disarming warmth and meticulous research always gets below the surface, bringing us deeper into the art and lives of today's most compelling musicians, writers, actors and filmmakers.As a Canadian institution, Q has attracted the biggest names in the world. But it's never been about the fame. It's always been about the art.Since becoming the host of Q in October 2016, listeners have come to know Tom for his in-depth interviewing style (asking founding Wu-Tang Clan member RZA what was inside his teenage notebooks), his mischievous sense of humour (jokingly chiding actor Catherine O'Hara for her parenting skills in Home Alone), and his genuine enthusiasm and fearlessness (singing a duet with Mavis Staples).You’re just as likely to hear from celebrities and cultural icons as you are to hear from emerging artists at the beginning of their career. Tom gives each and every artist the space to tell their story in their own words. He also has a track record for interviewing artists on the precipice of stardom, like Lizzo, Billie Eilish and Daniel Caesar, who appeared on Q well before they hit the mainstream.On Q, we cover arts and culture in all its forms, including music, movies, film, TV, comedy, painting, photography, theatre, cinema, Broadway, fashion, dance, opera, documentaries, books, fiction and memoirs.Look to our archives to hear some of Tom’s award-winning artist interviews, including his moving and insightful conversation with the Canadian actor Michael J. Fox, which was awarded the prestigious gold medal for best interview at the 2021 New York Festivals Radio Awards.In 2022, Tom spoke with Friends star Matthew Perry in front of a live audience. Their warm and frank conversation about the actor's struggles with substance abuse struck a chord, leading to millions views on TikTok and Instagram, while also being picked up by news outlets internationally, including Vanity Fair and CNN.Tom’s impactful discussions with top talent have included Adele, Bono, Chappell Roan, Pamela Anderson, Cate Blanchett, Dua Lipa, Cher, Denzel Washington, Mick Jagger, Florence Pugh, Francis Ford Coppola, Kristen Stewart, Emma Stone, Jim Carrey, Billy Porter, Tom Hanks, Jerry Seinfeld, Tyler Perry, Alicia Keys, Alan Moore, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Darren Aronofsky, Harry Styles, Simu Liu, Sean Penn, Sandra Bullock, Michaela Coel, Ryan Reynolds, Katy Perry, Neil Young, Shakira, George Clooney, Ava DuVernay, Omar Apollo, Trixie Mattel, Orville Peck, Big Sean, Anil Kapoor, Jane Fonda, Robert DeNiro, Antonio Banderas, Elton John, Celine Dion, Kerry Washington, Chuck D, Steven Soderbergh, Mikey Madison, Cillian Murphy, Sean Baker, Steve McQueen, Paris Hilton, Taylor Tomlinson, Gwen Stefani, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Kylie Minogue, Stanley Tucci, Rufus Wainwright, Caroline Polachek, Hans Zimmer, Denis Villeneuve, Alex Garland, Alan Ritchson, Britt Lower, Geddy Lee, Alex Lifeson, David Blaine, Brian Tyree Henry, Perfume Genius, Deepa Mehta, Tracy Chapman, Chloë Sevigny, Josh Hartnett and many more.
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