April 30 - Electro/alternative, and BIG NEWS!

Songs played (* Canadian content):

• Andy Clockwork* - Scronk
• Great Dane - DVN3
• Gramatik - Just Jammin'
• Purity Ring* - Bodyache
• Humans* - Gotta Go Home
• Imagine Dragons - On Top of the World
• The Elwins* - Is There Something?
• Until the Ribbon Breaks - Spark
• Twin Shadow - To The Top
• Harrison* - Ashe Maree
• Prinze George - We are Dreamers
• A/B Trio* - My Romance

Since I had just gotten some terrible news, my mind was a little bit out of it during this broadcast. I'm hoping to make up for it in the next coming weeks.

Also big news. I've decided to step down from my role as volunteer at Science World!
I've decided I really want to start focusing on music/radio hosting for a while, and I felt my professional and social life was starting to suffer due to lack of time to recharge and reconnect, so I've given that up to free up some time to do just that.
As a thank-you to Science World, though, I've played the Imagine Dragons song. I always heard that song when I volunteered at Science World on Wednesdays, as background music for two promo videos down at the Dome, one of which was a movie on lemurs. :)

Gramatik and Great Dane were two of three artists I got to catch at the Vogue last Saturday. It was an absolutely amazing show!! Both are electro-influenced instrumental music makers, but Great Dane is more hip-hop and trap influenced while Gramatik is more jazzy. Both are great to chill out to.

Harrison...I honestly could only describe it as 'kawaii', with the cutesy EP cover and Japanese arcade-game music. I'm not sure if I'm reappropriating my own culture or whatever but that was like the only adjective that came to mind. :P Oh well, I hope you share my very odd sense of humour.

Audio links:
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_30_20_00.mp3
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_30_20_30.mp3

April 23 - South Africans, supergroups, solo artists and stuck-in-your-head songs

Since I write a lot about the podcast I figured it'd be best to show what I played first instead of making you scroll to the bottom :P

Songs played (* Canadians):

• Kongos - Come With Me Now
• Fantasma feat JOSIAHWISE IS THESERPENTWITHFEET - Sefty Belt
• Joel Plaskett* - The Park Avenue Sobriety Test
• The Backhomes* - Solid Gold
• Hello Blue Roses* - Errant Sophia
• Tough Age* - Electric Chair (cub cover)
• Kathryn Calder* - Slow Burning
• Purity Ring* - heartsigh
• Ill Tone* - Everybody BAILED!
• The Elwins* - So Down Low
• Will Butler - Anna
• Young Fathers - John Doe
• Twin Shadow - Eclipse

Since Jacob Gradowski, the host of the Arts Show (occupying the slot before me 5-8pm every other week), is heading to South Africa, I've kicked off this Jumbalaya set with two of my favourite South African artists...or rather, two of my favourite artists period: Kongos and Fantasma. Neither of them are on the playlist, but they fuse Western mainstream music with world music influences, especially music from South Africa such as kwaito and maskandi, both beat-oriented.
Fantasma's maskandi guitarist is called Bhekisenzo Cele. I don't think I said his name correctly on air...this is what happens when I play artists on the fly and only partially remember artists' names :/

Joel Plaskett...he's a Canadian artist who Jacob interviewed. It's on earshot-online.com. Not what I said on air. Sorry >_<
I do enjoy his songwriting though. 'The Park Avenue Sobriety Test' (the song) is very catchy and memorable...one of the many catchy tracks I play on air at CJSF 90.1FM :P He also has one heck of an earworm on radio stations like the Peak 102.7FM, with his band the Joel Plaskett Emergency: "Nowhere with You". Listen to it. It's very cheery and the words will stick with you for a nice long while ;)

This playlist also features some supergroup artists, both as a band and as a solo artist/in a side project. Fantasma is a band, while Kathryn Calder, Dan Bejar and Will Butler appear outside of their better-known bands. (You could say Neko Case too, somewhat, as a covered artist...she used to be part of cub.)

Tough Age...as much as I think they're a great band, for some reason the record sounds really odd. It's a 7-inch vinyl that I was playing from, but when I played it at the standard speed for 7-inch records it sounded like the band was on helium. Kind of unfortunate considering how well-established in Canada both these bands were (though not at the same time). It was a Record Store Day special release, entitled Tough Age Plays cub's Hot Dog Day EP. The vinyl record itself is very pretty, with it being red and transparent. Just...not very functional, I guess. I think I'll play more tracks from the record, though from SoundCloud.

I also managed to squeeze in some highly catchy tracks. Besides Joel Plaskett, I also played stuff by Ill Tone (local MC), The Elwins (they have some really awesome light-hearted pop rock going), and Will Butler (Arcade Fire member). Guaranteed to get the songs by those three stuck in your head :P

Audio links:
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_23_20_00.mp3
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_23_20_30.mp3

April 16 - a little bit of my personality?

On this Jumbalaya show I showcased three artists I happened to catch at record stores on Main Street: Lisa LeBlanc on Tuesday at Neptoon, and the Backhomes and Frog Eyes on Saturday (Record Store Day) at Red Cat. I'll probably talk about the LisaLeBlanc and the Backhomes performance in a separate blog post, but they were both great! Frog Eyes I didn't end up staying for unfortunately since I had to go elsewhere.

I kind of wish I stayed around Red Cat for Hello Blue Roses, who played after Frog Eyes, since I listened to a bit of their newest release WZO and it's sounding great so far! I'll showcase their stuff next week.

I also played songs by three artists from the P572 label we have on our playlist: Arthur Comeau, Oromocto Diamond, and Zoobombs. P572 have been in operation for 10 years in Eastern Canada but we only recently started getting some of their releases here at CJSF.
Oromocto Diamond and Zoobombs have actually had their live performance in Tokyo recorded directly from the soundboard and they've released the recording through P572, under the name Oromo Kumakus! While I'm not one for live albums (the audience claps kind of get old after many a listen) the performances on Oromo Kumakus are highly energetic and a lot of fun to listen to. It also serves as a little peek into Japan's indie music scene, at least that's what I imagine it's like in Tokyo (where I'm unfamiliar with).

I got a request towards the end! I'm happy to learn that people actually listen to my radio broadcasts :D The song I played was Modest Mouse's 'Lampshades on Fire'.

Next week's setlist will be a lot more varied. I'll most likely re-showcase the Backhomes, and throw in some Hello Blue Roses. I might add in some non-CJSF playlist music too.

Songs played (* Canadians):

• The Backhomes* - That's All
• Frog Eyes* - Don't Give Up Your Dreams
• Walk the Moon - Spend your $$$
• Lisa LeBlanc* - You Look Like Trouble (but I guess I do too)
• Lisa LeBlanc & Quartom* - J'pas un Cowboy (live at Neptoon Records)
• Arthur Comeau* - Allergic a la Jinxx (feat. Karim Ouellet)
• Oromocto Diamond* - No Pressure, No Diamonds
• Zoobombs - Highway a Go Go
• Milk & Bone* - Tomodachi (feat. Terrell Morris)
• The Mighty Mocambos - It's the Music (feat Afrika Bambaataa, Charlie Funk, Hektek & Deejay Snoop)
• Modest Mouse - Lampshades on Fire
• The Elwins* - You Have Me
• Mord Fustang - No Way to Stop 

Audio links:
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_16_20_00.mp3
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_16_20_30.mp3 

April 9 - (Mostly) showered in synths

Since I'm in quite a bit of an indie electropop phase I've showcased a bunch of indie pop tunes with electronic influences.

I am *really* enjoying Humans, Purity Ring, Prinze George and Until the Ribbon Breaks. They are stellar electropop-oriented releases and I've been listening to these four a lot in my spare time.

I'm also currently into Radio Radio, an Acadian electro-rap group from Clare, Nova Scotia. Arthur Comeau was their beatmaker, but now he's left the group and he's released a solo album about a year ago (oddly enough released shortly after Radio Radio's latest was released, yet he has production credit on that one too). 3/4 is a decent listen, it's a little bit more laid back but it's still got the nice quirky chiac verses which I as a very enthusiastic linguist very much enjoy :P

Chiac is an English-influenced variety of the French dialect some Acadians speak, mostly around Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. Most people would describe it as Franglais.
Here's an example from a Radio Radio track (that gets stuck in my head a LOT):

Out of toutes les couleurs de rainbow, bein moi ej pick la couleur beige!
(Out of all the colours of the rainbow, well, I pick the colour beige!)

Midway through the digitized playlist glitched up and I could no longer play the stuff I wanted to play from there...as a result, I ended up picking a bunch of random CD releases:

• Shaani Cage's track is the most acoustic-oriented release on this setlist, showcasing very organic soul music.
• Milk and Bone luckily fit in well with the rest of the songs on the Jumbalaya setlist, being electropop acts. They're from Montreal (like I said the first time, not Quebec City).
• Mid Pines: some other Jumbalaya host played their songs on air and I liked them...picked it up due to it having a dance/electro label in the CJSF music playlist. The track I ended up playing is *very* experimental-sounding...interesting listen, no? :P

Songs played (* Canadian content):

• Humans* - Ennio
• Humans* - Watusi
• Purity Ring* - Stranger than Earth
• Prinze George - Upswing
• Until the Ribbon Breaks feat. Homeboy Sandman - Perspective
• Arthur Comeau* - Meteghan
• Walk the Moon - Work this Body
• Until the Ribbon Breaks - A Taste of Silver
• Shaani Cage* - Mississippi
• Milk and Bone* - Coconut Water
• Mid Pines* - Bond Lake

Audio links:
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_09_20_00.mp3
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_09_20_30.mp3

April 2 - Sick picks and mini rants

This episode of Jumbalaya showcases the stuff I've rated with a 4/6 while reviewing CDs for playlist addition. Yes, I get to judge what should go on the playlist, as well as what I recommend. :D Isn't that awesome?? Also, volunteers can get their hands on advance copies, like the East India Youth album...i.e. you can get the music before the record is officially released!

I was feeling a little sick that night and just ended a short but very stressful week, so I was a little out of it...sorry about that. I kind of got into a small rant about how unfairly often white hip-hop artists often get accused of 'cultural appropriation'...to me, it's a big pet peeve I've had for a while, both in independent and mainstream music. I don't play or listen to stuff that is commonly referred to as 'Asian music' that often (J-pop, K-pop, that kind of stuff), and I don't think people ought to put racial tags to music and completely claim them as 'theirs'. There are plenty of amazing white hip-hop artists and black alternative rock artists, both of which deserve as much airplay as the other.

But other than that, I sincerely hope you enjoyed my picks! They're pretty much what I think are awesome releases we've got here at CJSF. :)

Songs played (* Cancon):

• Aero Flynn - Crisp
• East India Youth - End Result
• Programm* - Like the Sun
• Odesza feat. Shy Girls - All We Need (Robert DeLong Remix)
• Geographer - I'm Ready
• Shlohmo feat. D33J - Apathy
• Joanna Drummond* - Lullaby for a New Mother
• Alfa* - Skinny Liz
• Lozen feat. Animal Nation & Spade* - Daydream
• Until the Ribbon Breaks feat. Run the Jewels - Revolution Indifference

 Audio links!
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_02_20_00.mp3
http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_April_02_20_30.mp3

March 26 - Lots of locals

For now, since I've switched to a new computer I can no longer make video podcasts, so I'll just include the mp3 links on the blog posts for podcasts.
I'm currently trying to figure out a way to upload podcasts/MP3 streams online, possibly on iTunes, so the podcasts will be a lot easier to find and access.

This Jumbalaya includes a lot of local talent, including some community radio staff and volunteers playing in bands! They include the CiTR music director Sarah Cordingley drumming for Ace Martens, CJSF's very own Arts & Entertainment coordinator Jamie Cessford drumming for Did You Die, and CJSF volunteer and host of world music show Wandering Rhythms Nick Lagasse playing with Mngwa.

(CiTR 101.9FM, just in case you didn't know, is UBC's campus radio station. CJSF 90.1FM is based at SFU, so that makes us sister stations! :D )

Wandering Rhythms is on Mondays 12-2pm btw. Sorry I messed that little info up...

I've also played songs I knew a lot of fellow CJSF volunteers would like, including tunes by A/B Trio, Humans, Ibeyi, BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah, and Purity Ring.

I also showcased a new song by NEEDS, who has a self-titled LP coming out in May. I saw them at the concert I reviewed on March 3, along with Ontario rockers the Dirty Nil and locals BRASS. They had just gotten back from SXSW - that must have been exciting!
The new LP looks very intriguing too. I'm so glad I got to see them live!!

Next week I'll showcase my personal playlist picks as a reviewer. Yep, I'm reviewing music to be added to the playlist - it's so much fun! Also, there's nothing like getting my hands on advance copies of CDs to potentially put on rotation on the CJSF airwaves. In other words, sometimes we get first listens before it's officially out! ;)

Songs played (* Canadian content):

• Ace Martens* - Incredible
• Mngwa* - La Rumba de Kingsway
• A/B Trio* - For Carson (Intro)
• A/B Trio* - For Carson
• NEEDS* - Rescue Don
• Did You Die* - Nail Polish
• Humans* - Tell Me
• Ibeyi - Oya
• Mord Fustang - Drivel
• BadBadNotGood & Ghostface Killah - Six Degrees
• Purity Ring* - push pull

Audio links:

http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_March_26_20_00.mp3

http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_March_26_20_30.mp3

March 19: Jumbalaya Francophone

On March 19 I hosted a special episode of the Jumbalaya, to kick off International Francophone Day (la Journée Internationale de la Francophonie) - I showcased a bunch of fine Francophone music from the CJSF playlist (and one from outside the playlist)!

Throughout my time on air I made it a point to showcase as much Francophone music as I could, mostly because as someone very interested in the French language and Francophone culture, I feel that side of culture is quite underrepresented, especially in the West Coast.
While these days I've not played much francophone music as before, I've always wanted to do an all-Francophone Jumbalaya, even though my spoken French isn't as great as my reading comprehension. This led me to take this well-timed opportunity to showcase some of my favourite Francophone adds on the CJSF playlist.

Parts of this broadcast is in French...I'm not sure if my grammar is that great but I do try :P 90% Canadian Content for this one, woo hoo.

Songs played (*denotes Canadian Content):

• Argo* - Une Petite Certitude
• Indigo Joseph* - Colibri
• Yelle - Complètement Fou
• Monogrenade* - Labyrinthe
• Radio Radio* - Dettes
• Radio Radio* - Powers That Be/Saute, Danse, Chante (feat. Pierre Kwenders, Mamoru & Georgette LeBlanc)
• Coeur de Pirate* - Adieu
• Philippe B* - Nous Irons Jusqu'au soleil
• Whitehorse* - Éphémère sans repère
• Lisa LeBlanc* - Motel

Audio:

http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_March_19_20_00.mp3

http://cjsf.ca/vanilla_archives/2015_March_19_20_30.mp3