February 12 2015 - Your truly unpredictable mix

Prior to this Jumbalaya I had a long list of songs prepared, but with new music getting added a couple hours before my show I decided to go with a mostly-improvised set featuring two new Canadian adds, Big Dick (punk-oriented bass-and-drum duo from Ottawa, ON) and Saxsyndrum (experimental electronic duo from Montreal, QC).
It's quite a challenge to improvise my musical selections but at the same time it's a fun way to find out about new music!

This mix features big names such as Bjork, Marilyn Manson, and P!nk (as part of You+Me)...I guess I can never break away from my 'mainstream' tendencies. :P But then again, these artists are kind of like my gateway into alternative/indie music from when I was 16-17, so there's a bit of personal history there as well. Marilyn Manson is also one of my uncle's favourite musicians. xD

The sound of this Jumbalaya is rather pop-oriented and a fairly easy listen, except probably the Saxsyndrum track. But then again, I don't play a lot of 'challenging' listens. I guess this reflects my attitude towards music I usually listen to: be creative and innovative sound-wise but don't go overboard that you can't sing along to it or bop your head to it.

February 19, I will not be in the studio since I'll be away on a trip with my sister. I'll be back on the 26th! I'm hoping to choose from a wider variety of music by the time I get back.

Songs played (* denotes Canadian Content):

• Bjork - Stonemilker
• Marilyn Manson - Killing Strangers
• Viet Cong* - Bunker Buster
• Coyote* - Melody/Harmony
• Cold War Kids - First
• Big Dick* - Sick
• Saxsyndrum* - Tah Hum
• My Brightest Diamond - Pressure
• You+Me* - Capsized
• Whitehorse* - Baby What's Wrong?
• Highs* - Mango

February 5 2015 - the more 'mainstream' stuff?

This Jumbalaya is definitely influenced by others. Madi, the Jumbalaya host on Mondays (or Tuesdays?), really liked "For Carson" by the A/B Trio, a nice jazz instrumental, so I played that on the show. I also showcased two artists Joe Sinclair, a Tuesday Jumbalaya host, really enjoys (Royal Blood and Walk the Moon).

I also often listen to the Peak 102.7FM, which is a private adult album alternative music station...showcasing indie rock, indietronica, folk rock, and just things that are not too poppy but still a very fun listen. I think my picks were definitely influenced by them since quite a lot of the songs on this setlist are on rotation on that radio station. :P
Heck, the Gay Nineties were part of 102.7FM's Peak Performance Project (PPP), which is a great way for local (BC) performers to get some cash and recognition...musicians need to eat and get a roof over their head too, you know, in addition to getting more money to maintain their recording equipment and instruments. :P I forgot to mention that Georgia Murray, the vocalist for LIINKS (the featured artist in Mord Fustang's track), is also a PPP alum!

The instrumentals are the least mainstream it gets. Many of the others are either on another radio station (mostly the Peak, probably also the Fox (99.3FM), one even on top 40 stations) or charting on the Earshot charts, which showcases the most-played artists in Canadian community radio. While it might defeat the purpose of being an indie music radio show, I also like to play what others like to hear. I was also in need for some uplifting and catchy tracks after going through a stressful past couple of weeks.

Next week I'm hoping to make it a bit less 'mainstream', but still will feature big names such as Bjork and Marilyn Manson...I think. I'm still figuring it out.

Songs played (* denotes Canadian content):

• TV on the Radio - Quartz
• TV on the Radio - Careful You
• Mord Fustang feat. LIINKS - Pop
• The Gay Nineties* - Letterman
• A/B Trio* - For Carson
• Single Mothers* - Marbles
• Royal Blood - Loose Change
• Walk the Moon - Shut Up and Dance
• Hey Rosetta!* - Soft Offering (for the Oft Suffering)
• Fantasma - Fafi
• Whitehorse* - Downtown
• Viet Cong* - Newspaper Spoons
• Alt-J - Bloodflood pt. II
• Hozier - Take Me to Church

January 29 2015 - the mostly electronic set, and the digitized playlist

This time instead of a more rock-oriented set like last week, I've gone electronica again! Well, mostly electronica except for the Whitney K song, which I've only partially listened to while skimming through the digitized playlist adds.

Andre Lee, a new work study here at CJSF, has also joined briefly as a guest this episode :D We're both currently working on CJSF's music department blog, and so far it's looking great!

The digitized, or the hard drive (HD), playlist that I keep on referring to in my Jumbalaya shows consist of albums or EPs in MP3 format. Quite often the music is cheaper to get digitally, only available electronically (since pressing CDs and records can be pricey, especially for new artists!), or otherwise only playable in MP3 format (e.g. cassette releases, only we don't have cassette players).

One of the digitized playlist adds is Bjork's Vulnicura. Since it was rush released two months ahead of the scheduled date due to an internet leak, the physical CDs etc. are still unavailable. Kiara (our music coordinator) thus got the album digitally. It's a good thing we managed to get our hands on the digital copy, by the way, since the new album is absolutely amazing.
The track I played on this Jumbalaya isn't actually co-produced by Arca - it's actually one where Bjork produced it all by herself (!!) - but the rest of the album is, and you can really hear his influences in the production (which is frightening and captivating - get yourselves some quality speakers or headphones!). Make sure to check out both Bjork's Vulnicura and Arca's Xen!

The unfortunate thing about the digitized playlist is that it's a bit tricky to find. Even I didn't know about it until about a month into my Jumbalaya career, and only recently have I found out a much easier way to access the playlist, glitch free. It's full of amazing stuff though (Bjork, Arca, TV on the Radio, Snowday, Sleater-Kinney...), and I often showcase a bunch each week!

Songs played (* denotes Canadian Content):

• SBTRKT feat. Sampha - Wonder Where We Land
• Dark Waves - I Don't Wanna be in Love
• Yelle - Ba$$in
• Whitney K* - Kind of Blue
• Bonobo - Return to Air
• AM Static* - Sum
• Arca - Thievery
• Bjork - Quicksand
• Brave Shores* - Never Come Down
• Raleigh* - Pen That (Dhalsim Remix)
• Snowday feat. Kaleigh Watts* - A Quiet Winter
• Elliphant feat. Doja Cat - Purple Light
• Ryan Hemsworth feat. GTW & Little Cloud* - By Myself
• Panda Bear - Mr. Noah