Inside the Music with StereoRuss

Finding Your Own Sound with Jack Stearns-Ley

Jack Stearns-Ley is a Hamilton based singer songwriter exploring the space between lo-fi intimacy and expansive, collaborative sound. Centred around piano but shaped by a rotating cast of musicians, Jack’s music blends singer songwriter roots with jazz, ambient textures, and a sense of organized spontaneity.
His latest project, Dottie’s Sketchbook, is as much about process as it is about the songs themselves. The album was Recorded in just two days using borrowed gear, voice memo room mics, and a trust in the people around him.
In this conversation, Jack dives into building a sound through friendship, moving between punk bands and solo work, and letting go of perfection in favour of honesty. We talk about recording off the floor, embracing imperfection, and why sometimes the best takes happen when you don’t fully know what you’re doing.
We also get into the Hamilton music scene, all ages venues, DIY recording, and what it means to make something that feels human in an increasingly polished world.
Connect with Jack Stearns-Ley https://open.spotify.com/artist/4lphjL8oxr4InlpMRJUIXL https://www.instagram.com/jackiesmusic3008/ https://www.instagram.com/smittheband/
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
Edited by Mike Monson and Monco Film + Sound http://moncofilmandsound.com/ https://www.instagram.com/moncofilmandsound/
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
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"There's a Time for Art and a Time for Rock and Roll" with Finbar Wall of The Commune

Finbar Wall of The Commune is one of the most compelling voices coming out of Hamilton right now.
Fin and I sit down at Catherine North Studios to talk about community, craft, and what it really means to build a band without gatekeeping. From recording their early EP JUMA for the price of pizza, to lugging drywall, to discussing their recent run of shows with Tom Wilson, Daniel Lanois, and Junkhouse this conversation digs into the beauty of making art for the sake of it.
Connect with Fin and The Commune https://open.spotify.com/artist/0KPX0GJ9i29Yvgh8uQFJP5 https://linktr.ee/thecommunemusic https://www.instagram.com/thecommune.mp3/ https://www.tiktok.com/@thecommune.mp3
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
Edited by Mike Monson and Monco Film + Sound http://moncofilmandsound.com/ https://www.instagram.com/moncofilmandsound/ Produced by
StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
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Trust the Band with Olivia Brown of Junestone

Olivia Brown is the bandleader and bassist of Junestone, for a fun convo on improvisation, songwriting, live performance, and what it really means to trust your band.
Recorded at Catherine North Studios, the conversation explores how Junestone blends funk, pop, jazz, and free flowing improvisation, why they prioritize live off the floor recording, and how creating a safe creative space leads to better music both on stage and in the studio.
Olivia shares the story behind Junestone’s latest release “Take It or Leave It”, the magic of adapting songs in real time, and how reading Victor Wooten’s "The Music Lesson" helped shape her approach to being a musician. Along the way, they unpack bass tone secrets, the importance of listening, finding the right collaborators, and the strange beauty of making people scream in a library.
Chapters: 0:00 - 9:03 All About Junestone 9:04 - 12:47 Finding Yourself As A Performer 12:48 - 17:14 Playing Music with your Siblings 17:15 - 20:22 Choosing the Bass 20:23 - 23:23 Victor Wooten 23:24 - 28:47 Forming Junestone 28:48 - 30:43 Acoustic Gigs 30:44 - 35:41 Recording "Take It or Leave It" 35:42 - 38:41 Managing Setlists 38:42 - 42:39 Fast Questions
Credits
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media
Production Assistant: Michelle Palau
 
Listen to Junestone
https://www.instagram.com/junestoneofficial/
https://linktr.ee/junestone
 
Connect with StereoRuss
https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com
 
#hamiltonmusic #canadianmusic #bassguitar #songwriting #musicproduction #jazzfunk #insidethemusic #stereoruss

"Anything Worth Doing Is Worth Doing Badly" with Gareth Inkster of Golden Feather

Gareth Inkster is an independent singer/songwriter and pianist for the band Golden Feather from Hamilton, Ontario. Today we sit down for a deep, thoughtful conversation about creativity, authenticity, and what it means to be a musician in a world obsessed with outcomes.
We talk about Gareth’s journey through the Hamilton music scene, his role in Golden Feather, and why long form, exploratory music still matters. Gareth also shares the story behind his recent Manitoulin Island recording project, where he recorded songs on the road using minimal gear, embracing imperfection, place, and process over polish. 
 
Credits: Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media
Production Assistant: Michelle Palau
 
Listen to Gareth Inkster https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@garethinkster⁩  https://www.instagram.com/garethinkster/
Listen to Golden Feather https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@goldenfeatherband⁩  https://www.instagram.com/goldenfeatherband/
Connect with StereoRuss https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.youtube.com/@StereoRuss
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The First Aysanabee Song You Should Listen To with Aysanabee

Aysanabee is a two-time Juno award winning artist who will be playing at Bridgeworks in Hamilton, Ontario this Sunday December 7 in support of his third and latest album “Edge of the Earth”.
In this interview, we dive into the making of "Edge of the Earth", the story behind its album cover, and Aysanabee’s journey through 180+ shows across the world. We also get into his soul and folk influences, the Indigenous openers on this tour, his band, and the songs he recommends new listeners start with.
 
Listen to Aysanabee
https://www.youtube.com/c/Aysanabee
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jbEBKJhX4rRmHD6xW6ve5
https://www.instagram.com/_aysanabee_/
https://www.tiktok.com/@aysanabee
 
 
Connect with StereoRuss
https://www.youtube.com/@StereoRuss
https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com

How One DJ Turned His Passion Into a Record Shop with DJ Mark of Dr Disc Records

Mark Furukawa (aka DJ Mark) is the owner of Dr. Disc Records, legendary Hamilton DJ, community builder, and one of the city’s most enduring champions of local music.
 
Mark has been running Dr. Disc since 1991, outlasting corporate giants like HMV, surviving the Napster era, and navigating the chaos of COVID. We also talk DJ philosophy, the emotional power of physical music, and the joy of creating space for local musicians to thrive.
 
Whether you’re a Hamilton lifer, a vinyl collector, or a musician carving your path, this conversation is a love letter to music and community.
 
Credits
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media
Production Assistant: Michelle Palau
 
Connect with DJ Mark and Dr. Disc
https://www.instagram.com/heresdjmark/
https://www.instagram.com/drdischamilton/
https://www.facebook.com/drdisc.ca
 
Connect with StereoRuss
https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com

Danny Miles of July Talk | Beats, DJing & The Beauty of Vultures

Danny Miles is the drummer for July Talk, producer, DJ, photographer, and all around creative force. We dig deep into his journey: from touring the world with July Talk, to his solo projects, producing hip-hop inspired instrumentals, and even releasing a photography and poetry book, The Beauty of Vultures.
 
Credits:
Recorded at Catherine North Studios (Hamilton, Ontario)
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media
Production Assistant: Michelle Palau
 
Connect with Danny Miles
https://www.instagram.com/dannyptmiles/
https://www.tiktok.com/@dannyptmiles
The Beauty of Vultures – available via NeWest Press https://bookshop.newestpress.com/products/the-beauty-of-vultures
 
Connect with StereoRuss
https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dive conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider
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#InsideTheMusic #StereoRuss #DannyMiles #JulyTalk #CanadianMusic #MusicPodcast #HamiltonMusic #MusicProduction #Drummers #CreativeJourney

Going Off the Deep End with Ariana Fig

Ariana Fig is back on Inside the Music! She is a singer, songwriter, and producer, this time with even more stories, songs, and laughs. Two years after her first interview, Ariana talks with StereoRuss about how her sound and mindset have evolved while creating her soon to be released debut album, So Long Sinner State.
 
Credits
Recorded at Catherine North Studios (Hamilton, Ontario)
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media
Production Assistant: Michelle Palau
 
Listen to Ariana Fig Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7t96BctZBDQcfKnDfREzDg
Watch Deep End: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnheSh5Q9gU&list=RDgnheSh5Q9gU&start_radio=1
 
Connect with Ariana Fig
https://www.instagram.com/arianafig_ https://www.tiktok.com/@arianafig_ https://www.youtube.com/@arianafig_
 
Connect with StereoRuss
https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more deep dive conversations with artists, producers, and creatives
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com
#InsideTheMusic #StereoRuss #ArianaFig #CanadianMusic #MusicPodcast #HamiltonMusic #MusicProduction #DeepEnd #CreativeJourney

Inside the Abyss with Public Health (August 2025)

StereoRuss goes on location at Into the Abyss Records with Public Health, Hamilton’s latest noise rock quartet. They talk about building community through DIY spaces, pushing sonic boundaries with harsh tones and feedback, and the inspirations that shaped their sound.
Topics in this interview:
What makes a DIY venue different from a bar
How Public Health evolved from psych rock to noise rock
The recording process of their debut album (including vocals tracked in a bathroom!)
Hamilton’s thriving underground scene and must hear local bands
Why they want to be as LOUD as possible
Recorded on location at Into the Abyss Records, Hamilton, Ontario
 
Follow and Listen to Public Health:
https://www.instagram.com/thatbandpublichealth/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0MCefTY9OCT6sMXXs6TMbQ
 
Follow Inside the Music:https://instagram.com/stereorusshttps://tiktok.com/@stereorusshttps://youtube.com/@stereoruss
Become an Inside the Music Insider:https://stereoruss.com

Beats, Balance & Buddha Vibes with Buddha Abusah (August 2025)

Buddha Abusah is a hip hop artist, producer, engineer, who brings his raw and honest energy for an uplifting conversation about music, fatherhood, and staying true to your path.
Buddha opens up about the meaning behind his name, the philosophy of be, do, have, and why he believes creativity should never be compromised by ego, money, or outside expectations. The two talk about the balance between family and art, how to maintain your creative fire through life’s ups and downs, and the story behind Buddha’s new Just About Love EP, a heartfelt dedication to his wife and family.
They also dive into beat making and production philosophy: kicks vs. snares, why the shaker is the secret sauce, and how emotional resonance guides Buddha’s entire creative process. Plus, he shares the origin story of his group Greenhouse Collective, and why he believes conversation and collaboration are at the heart of everything.
This episode is packed with insight for musicians, producers, dreamers, and anyone trying to live a life of purpose and passion.
 
Follow Buddha Abusah:
https://www.instagram.com/itsbuddahabusah/
https://www.instagram.com/buddahvibes/
https://buddahvibes.com/
 
Follow and Listen to The Greenhouse Collective:https://www.instagram.com/itsgreenhousecollective/
https://www.youtube.com/@itsgreenhousecollective
 
Follow Inside the Music:https://instagram.com/stereorusshttps://tiktok.com/@stereorusshttps://youtube.com/@stereoruss
Become an Inside the Music Insider:https://stereoruss.com