The Talk Music Podcast

Hi everyone, welcome back to another season of THE TALK MUSIC Podcast!

I’m thrilled to announce my first guest is Ben Wells from global rock powerhouse, Black Stone Cherry. Born in the backwoods of Edmonton, Kentucky, Black Stone Cherry have spent over two decades reinventing Southern rock with a vicious breed of melodic-heavy riffs and soulful grit. Formed in 2001, this four-piece brotherhood has remained remarkably consistent, only recently welcoming new bassist Steve Jewell Jr. in 2021.

The band have released eight studio albums, dominated the UK Rock Charts with six consecutive #1 debuts, earned gold-certified albums, and headlined sold-out arena tours. In the U.S., they’ve had 17 singles hit the Mainstream Rock charts.

With a new EP titled CELEBRATE coming soon, our chat goes deep into how the songs came together, including the title track Celebrate, which, as vocalist Chris Robertson explains, serves as a reminder to acknowledge survival, small victories, and the importance of celebrating the simple act of getting through another day.

The EP also includes a powerful cover of the classic Simple Minds song “Don’t You (Forget About Me),” featuring Tyler Connolly of Theory of a Deadman.

We then dive into how the songs were produced and recorded, along with an overview of the band’s incredible career so far. Enjoy!
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This week on The Talk Music Podcast, my guest is the enchanting CANDICE NIGHT— the radiant voice and creative force behind Blackmore’s Night, the internationally beloved Renaissance-folk-rock project she co-founded with her husband, legendary guitarist Ritchie Blackmore (yes — that Ritchie Blackmore, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame icon who when with Deep Purple wrote one of the most famous guitar riffs in history: “Smoke on the Water”).

For more than two decades, Candice has helped shape the band’s unmistakable sound — a mesmerizing blend of medieval melodies, acoustic charm, and mystical storytelling. Her crystalline vocals and poetic lyricism are at the heart of Blackmore’s Night. But Candice’s artistry extends far beyond the band as she’s also stepped into her own creative spotlight with a solo career. Her most recent album, Sea Glass, is a deeply personal and beautifully textured work featuring introspective, uplifting and cinematic songs proving she’s a remarkable artist in her own right.

In this episode, we dive into her creative world and how she brings ancient stories to life and we explore the many inspirations that shaped Sea Glass. We also go deep on how she met Ritchie when he was in Deep Purple and became a co-writer and part of his band Rainbow before the evolution of Blackmore’s Night’s signature sound.
This is Candice Night fully expressive, sharing the stories behind the songs of Blackmore’s Night and her wonderful solo career - music that continues to captivate fans around the world.

Enjoy!
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This week my guest on The Talk Music Podcast is powerhouse vocalist Rick Hughes — known for fronting Canadian metal titans SWORD.
(METALLICA are such huge fans they personally invited the band to open for them)

With a career that blasted off in the 80s metal scene and took him around the world, Rick is now stepping forward with REDEMPTION, his first international solo album. It’s a spectacular production thats bold, authentic and heartfelt.

What makes REDEMPTION especially electrifying is the sheer scale of Rick’s vision. He reunited the legendary Ozzy Osbourne Speak of the Devil lineup (Brad Gillis [currently in Night Ranger], Rudy Sarzo, and Tommy Aldridge) for his lead single “The Real Me,” a The Who cover that earned a rare 10/10 review and was praised as “a perfect journey” with a vibrant, modern sound. The album blends blistering rock energy with emotional depth, bilingual tracks and guest appearances from heavy hitters like Robby Krieger (The Doors), Lee Aaron, Amy Keys, and rising guitarist Jacob Deraps. This is Rick Hughes fully inspired, making the album he always dreamed of.

We go deep into the inside story behind his powerhouse vocals, how his all-star collaborations came about, and the unstoppable passion driving REDEMPTION.

You won’t want to miss this one. Enjoy!
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Hi everyone!

My Talk Music guest this week is LILY SAZZ— singer-songwriter, bandleader, and now producer of her first solo album! Her brand new record, WHAT JUST HAPPENED, has just been released, and it’s an absolute must-listen! The album features deeply personal songwriting sprinkled with refreshing humour and showcases fantastic performances from a star-studded lineup of special guests — Colin Linden, Suzie Vinnick, Harry Manx, Steve Marriner, Darcy Hepner, Mike Branton, Trombone Charlotte, Boreal, and many more.

Our chat, recorded on my back porch (with a little wine involved), was indeed a fun one! We talked about Lily’s early years growing up in a farming community in the Niagara region, and how she made an abrupt life change to study classical music, majoring in piano and harpsichord. She got sidetracked during a chance encounter with a rockin’ blues band, and that experience ultimately set her course in the music lane that she’s been thriving in ever since.

Lily spent ten years as musical director of the Toronto Women’s Blues Revue Band, performing annually at Massey Hall, backing up a wide array of powerful singers — everyone from Lee Aaron, Sass Jordan, Carole Pope, Jackie Richardson, Serena Ryder and Molly Johnson. She also toured with Canada’s Queen of the Blues, Rita Chiarelli. Lily co-founded and led several acclaimed bands, including Trailblazers, Groove Corporation and the Maple Blues Award–nominated Cootes Paradise.

Her debut solo album What Just Happened is available now on Bandcamp and all major streaming platforms.

And in some exciting recent news — Lily has teamed up with one of my favourite singer-songwriters, ROB LAMOTHE, for some upcoming shows together. Check out her website for further details.

Enjoy the episode!
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This week, my guests on The Talk Music Podcast are Darcy Ataman, Founder of Make Music Matter, and Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of Matthew Perry House and sister of the late actor. Their organizations have joined forces to launch LIVE LOUD—a bold new partnership harnessing the power of entertainment and celebrity to amplify conversations around mental health and addiction.

The initiative debuts with Live Loud LIVE, a benefit concert at Toronto’s Koerner Hall on November 14. The event will feature performances by City and Colour, Billy Talent, Serena Ryder, Royal Wood, Amy Millan (Stars), and members of Sum 41, Broken Social Scene, Skydiggers, and Moist. Special guest Hank Azaria will lead his EZ Street Band in a Bruce Springsteen tribute, with Tara Slone and Tom Power hosting.

Limited tickets are available at rcmusic.com.

Founded by Matthew Perry’s family and friends, Matthew Perry House honours his legacy by providing treatment and support for those struggling with addiction, beginning with its first facility in Ottawa. Make Music Matter uses its clinically proven Healing in Harmony program to help marginalized communities worldwide heal from trauma, reduce PTSD, anxiety, and depression through music creation—to date, empowering more than 19,000 individuals across nine countries.

“Mental health struggles divide and isolate us. Music unites us, embraces everyone,” says Darcy Ataman, founder of Make Music Matter. “Live Loud is about making noise—a rallying cry for change,” adds Caitlin Morrison, Executive Director of Matthew Perry House.

makemusicmatter.org
matthewperryhouse.ca
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