INDUSTRY TACTICS with FRIENDLY RICH

So great to stroll down memory lane with an old label mate, Wollo, aka László Bertholini. We talk about those early days on Hazelwood Records, touring in Europe, and also the inner workings of The Great Bertholinis. With a new EP "The Eye of the Beholder" just released, we discuss this recording and reuniting with his pals. So many deep thoughts in this talk, buckle up, we're gonna re-crash the Hazelwood van while listening to this beauty!

What a deep discussion with Royal Wood, we discuss his music education, contemplations of leaving music, only to bounce back with one of his finest recordings yet, Dear John. A heartfelt interview with one of Canada's finest recording artists, enjoy!

What an inspiring chat with Pulitzer-prize winning composer and musician, Raven Chacon. We unpack his recent piece, Tiguex, where he worked with hundreds of musicians from Albuquerque New Mexico in performing a piece that took all day, and spanned across various locations in the city, from hot air balloon to volcano! An amazing chat, we talk Guelph, Postcommodity, bird calls, and so much more! Prepare to be dazzled by the great Raven Chacon...

We chat with Dave Bidini of the Rheostatics about their upcoming double vinyl release, The Great Lakes Suite, out later this week! This new recording features 18 tracks of primarily improvised music and spoken word, performed by longtime members Dave Bidini, Dave Clark, Don Kerr, and Tim Vesely, with newer additions Kevin Hearn and Hugh Marsh, alongside legendary guitarist Alex Lifeson of Rush. What a treat to chat with Bidini about baseball, the founding of his community newspaper, The West End Phoenix, and so much more. Said Alex Lifeson to Dave Bidini, "you have to embrace danger" and this new recording is a great reminder that your greatest adventure could be right around the corner, and to keep going...A very inspiring chat, hope you enjoy it!

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.