We get into beard growth, streaming fun, how to last in a band for almost two decades and more. Zach Sutton recently finished an MBA and is putting all his lived experience and knowledge to good use, as the drummer and manager of Jane's Party, he's a loyal, sweet human and he brought the LA sunshine to this delightful interview.

We dig deep into the brain of Lazar Miric, talking everything from video game music to venues and mentorship in music. A wise human, doing it primarily himself and making a real impact on the Canadian music scene. He heads up Lavender Town and Live Video Game Orchestra, and is a working musician in Toronto. A warm welcome to Lazar Miric to Industry Tactics!

DIY mogul, Carolyn Mark sits down with Friendly Rich, from White Rock, British Columbia (aka "Beige Gardens"!)! We catch her right before she heads out on another tour, to pick up some great tactics. She draws on her amazing book "How to be a Boozy Chanteuse" and shares so many great learnings from a rich career in music. Having worked with everybody from Neko Case to knowing the folks in No Means No, Carolyn has lots to say on how to stay fresh and lead a creative life. Enjoy this delightful chat with one of the many great Canadian voices, Carolyn Mark!

On this episode of Industry Tactics, Friendly Rich sits down with author Paul Myers to unpack his new beautiful new book John Candy: A Life in Comedy (House of Anansi Press). Such a delight to speak with Paul about all things Candy, including the time he may have (or may have not) met him, early days of SCTV and the legacy of John Candy in the city of Toronto. Enjoy this delightful chat!

We join songwriter, producer and community mobilizer, Joe Lapinski for a chat about his new recording, New Day and so much more. Joe builds community through every project he takes on, and this new recording is such a testament to that. Co-produced alongside Dave Clark, this new offering from Joe is such a great reflection of a very special career in music. Dig in to this incredible new collection of songs from one of our finest crafts people!

Today, we honour the late Bill Exley (Nihilist Spasm Band) on this episode, with special guest Alexander Hacke (Einstürzende Neubauten, hackedepicciotto, and more). Hacke links his incredible life in music to his early connections with the Nihilist Spasm Band and Canada, through the renowned Electric Eclectics Festival. This episode is dedicated to the memory of Bill Exley, whose resounding impact remains firmly planted on us all.

We get into it with Kat Burns from Prince Edward County, talking about tracks from her latest release "Soft" and also what it takes to be a musician in these times. Kat has a rich history, writing music for film and television, as well as releasing her own music for decades now. We pick up some wise tips from an incredible artist. Enjoy!

The hustle and grit of BA Johnston is unparalleled. We explore his never-ending tour, his embodiment of the underdog City of Hamilton, Ontario. This road dog has been doing it two decades strong, and captures the essence of a Canadian culture in every song. Buckle up for a ride in BA Johnston's minivan!

Today, Friendly Rich drops a surprise new recording on all streaming services, FRIENDLY RICH sings the NIHILIST SPASM BAND, honouring the legendary noise makers from London, Ontario. Accompanied by Klaas Hubner, Nichol S. Robertson and Michael Ward-Bergeman, this episode delves deep into the making of this noisy tribute recording. There are also reflections from some of the members of the Spasm Band, including Aya Ohnishi, John Boyle and John Clement. Fetch this surprise release today from bandcamp.com/friendlyrich

As we prepare for something special next week, we thought it would be fun to re-release this episode 76 of Industry Tactics, a feature on the great Canadian noise band, The Nihilist Spasm Band, originally published in September 2019. Enjoy!

From pig farms, to ceiling fans, to electromagnetic fields, Klaas Hubner is a unique sound artist who has his own way of doing things. From growing up on his parents’ farm in the small village of Obershagen, Germany to now living in New Orleans, Louisiana, we get into the brilliant mind of Klaas Hubner! He has a new recording "Music for Ceiling Fan and Tubes" out on the Yes, We Cannibal record label. He has circuit bent a washing machine...Industry Tactics!

Right out the gate, Dominic Salole aka MOCKY, dives into several tactics, from how to stay engaged as an artist, to some beautiful approaches to production and creativity. From Toronto to Los Angeles, Mocky brings the wisdom in this episode. With a beautiful new recording on the horizon, we delve into his incredible career, having produced so many amazing artists (Feist, Vulfpeck, Kelela and more), you don't want to miss a minute of this jam-packed episode!

We dive into the rich career of cellist/composer Cris Derksen. We talk about everything from musicians' health to classism in classical music. We even get a sneak peak into Cris' upcoming 4th release, "The Visit", due out this Fall. Dig in to this lovely chat with the prolific, Cris Derksen.

This week on Industry Tactics, we dive into the prolific career of none other than JG Thirlwell. From his early days as Foetus, to Xordox, composing for film, television (Archer, Venture Brothers, etc...) and much more, this episode is rich with wisdom for any aspiring creative. Enjoy!

Friendly Rich MARSELLA and Christine DUNCAN are set to release a new LP of original duet songs titled "BRIGHT". In this special episode of Industry Tactics, Friendly Rich interviews Christine Duncan and producer Kevin Breit on their journey in making this unique recording. BRIGHT features the Upper York Mandolin Orchestra, and it releases internationally on all streaming platforms (and vinyl) on April 25th, 2025.

An incredible chat with bassist and all around super human, Arif Mirabdolbaghi. From Whitby to Tehran, we get into it. We unpack Arif's path, playing in Protest the Hero and other bands in Canada, through to his journey to Iran and his incredible musical output since.

A breath of fresh air! This interview with the great pianist, composer and bandleader, Diane Roblin really showcases the many lanes she occupies in music. We unpack her new album "A Breath of Fresh Air", talk about her multiple collaborations, and what keeps her inspired to keep creating. What a heartfelt, fluid interview with Diane Roblin.

What a treat to get speak with the great indie sensation, Julian Mayorga. From his studio in Madrid, this interview unpacks his amazing career, and his latest gem of an album CHAK CHAK CHAK CHAK. We discuss cowardice, composition, aging parents, poets, rats eating rich people's bones and much, much more!

Join us for a joyous ride through the life and career of cellist and songwriter, Helen Gillet from her home in New Orleans. We get into the art of looping, anti-fascist musical works, long time collaborations and much more. Helen is a DIY workhorse with 14 albums under her belt. Buckle up, we're driving stick shift with one of the greats for over an hour in this episode! This podcast is syndicated every Monday at high noon on CFRU 93.3fm in Guelph, Canada.

A special return visit from Tom Richards, who is set to release a new triple album in early March. Monophilia is a 30 minute triple-album and installation piece which will be presented at the Halifax Library for Cecilia Concerts' Sensory Accessible Music series. Was great to catch up with Tom and talk about new and innovative ways to release truly beautiful music in 2025. We dissect a piece from Monophilia and this interview gives a glimpse into the beauty that's coming soon. Get into it!