Bless me Father (or Mother) for I have forgotten this blog

Well, well, well.

I am sure you all know how life gets in the way when what you really want to do isn't what you end up doing.  Such is the case with this blog.

I can't even remember the last time I felt compelled to write here (lazy, really, could just check the postings) but I am sure there has been at least one membership drive, a bunch of cohosts on the show and countless hours spent trying to pull together playlists. Anyway, here I am at least for a little while checking in with the lot of you.

One of the most gratifying thing about community radio is that artists who have not had airplay at this point in their careers can reach out and know we will be supportive. I can only imagine how amazing it sounds to hear something you put your blood, sweat and tears into coming out of your car radio or streamed in real time online. If I ruled the airwaves and had a much much longer show, everyone would get a run at this experience. Unfortunately with only an hour, despite trying my hardest, there might only be one tune played per band and maybe only once. It's not ideal but it's a start.

So if you are interested in being on the show, there are a few things to consider.

The production level of the track should be as clean as possible. Not saying you have to spend big bucks on mastering and such, but with all the tools available on home computers, please make sure it will translate well to radio airplay. Unless it's the effect you are looking for  make sure the lyrics are not buried in the track by much louder instruments. Ditto with making sure the instruments are in tune. Live recordings are OK as long as the music is at a level that isn't drowned out by crowd noise and clinking glasses. I will do my best to give you a spin, but I also don't want listeners to tune out because it's hard to hear.

Don't assume because your track didn't get on the air immediately that it won't. It can be hard to find time for everyone but your turn will come. And when it does, please help the station out with spreading the word about your part in the playlist on social media. If we both do it, we will reach a lot more people.

When sending emails to the station, try and send to as many shows as you can that play your style of music. That info is on the station website and means that you value the contribution community radio makes to independent music. We all won't be able to air your cut, but generally someone will. I have met and played the music of some really amazing people through this kind of outreach. We are all working for a common goal and that is to offer an alternative to commercial radio.

And finally, I try to answer all emails. If after a while you don't hear back from me, poke me with another one. Sometimes life gets in the way (see the beginning of this post) and things get missed.

Glad you stopped on by. Hope to post to this blog again sooner than later.

In the meantime, support your music scene and remember to support your community radio as well.

Thanks for listening.

Keep on keeping on

Here it is, another day after a no sleep night.

Had all these grand plans of things to do today but instead am nursing a headache and upset stomach while trying to get some work done at home. At least it gives me a chance to listen to the playlist for the upcoming show.

Festival previews are a real bugger to do. There, I've said it. When you are faced with hundreds of musicians to pick from, many of whom you've never heard before, the tendency is to go with the familiar. However on an alternative station the whole point it to offer something new, so there are hours of listening to Bandcamp, looking up band websites, trying to find music that isn't going to break the bank (we don't have a salary or a budget, remember?) and then making decisions. Generally the first pass at all of this is just writing down a bunch of names, making sure there is a lot of Cancon of course. Then doing the search, downloading tunes, pulling from one's own library in a pinch and starting the painstaking process of  putting things together so that it flows and also represents as many different types of music as possible without it sounds strident or weird. Tall order? Yup.

Now I am not unhappy with this. Nosiree. The excitement is palpable with the young musicians who have been invited to the gig. The venues get a much needed boost to their sales and once again show that Toronto is indeed a music city. And in the heart of it is media coverage which I am proud to say includes the community broadcasting sector.

So I guess headache, upset stomach and all the hard work not withstanding, it's just good to be part of this in some small way.

Go support independent music. It's an investment well worth your while.

Long time, right?

Hi kids,

You know, blogs are started with the best of intentions and this one was no different. So many people have kindly shown me a ton of support in the years I have been involved in alternative community radio and I felt it only right to share some of the stories, frustrations and silliness that go on behind the scenes. But, like so many things, life just got in the way. So here I am again, picking up where I left off.

If you listen to the show, you will know that the cancer scare was just that. I still have a voice, and of all the things I could lose to various problems that would have been the most crushing to me. Like it or not, it would seem there is life in the old girl yet and on this very soggy grey day, I am grateful that there can be a couple of hours to listen to new material and hammer out a show I hope you will want to hear.

Weirdly enough, despite being knee deep in amazing new talent, I have found myself surfing the net for old favorites. The Three Steves are one example (Howe, Hackett and Hillage) and yes, I am proud to say my credit card has had a good workout for all three this month. And then there are the Zombies, classic Pink Floyd and Abbey Road. I have in short been indulging in comfort food for the soul which will no doubt sneak into future playlists. Know why I love community radio? I can do that and no one will scold me for not following a formula or prescribed playlist. HA!!!!!! Take THAT, commercial radio!

Anyway, the next big thing for this girl is getting her head around the whole Podcast thing and who knows maybe even branch out to other  stations. Have just had an hour rotated through the schedule for one internet station (Bombshell Radio out of Toronto) and have a standing invite to be a regular DJ on another out of Baltimore (RadioCrown.com) This is pretty exciting stuff for someone who has spent life flying under the radar. (Face for radio, and all that LOL)

Of course, none of this would be possible without like minded programmers and listeners.

So, for all of you who spent your formative years listening to live broadcasts with your earbuds firmly planted after the lights went out at night, or never drive the car without singing along tunelessly to the radio, I salute you.

Let's just keep this party going and thanks for listening.