Inside the Music with StereoRuss

StereoRuss and longtime friend Ian Butcher take on the massive 28 song Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, ranking every track across four categories: poppy, dreamy, groovy, and raging. They get into the album’s ambitious place in the mid ’90s, its production, Jimmy Chamberlain’s drumming, Billy Corgan’s polarizing vocals, and the songs that have held up (or grown more complicated) with age. Expect strong disagreements, some surprising rankings, and a lot of love for one of the Smashing Pumpkins’ most ambitious records.
 
Connect with Ian Butcher
https://irruptions.bandcamp.com/?fbclid https://www.instagram.com/irruptions.music/
 
Connect with StereoRuss
https://www.youtube.com/@StereoRuss https://open.spotify.com/show/5M4NQUZe1hmhJmv1OOzDK7 https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.stereoruss.com
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives. 

JJ Johnson of Hamilton's Lucky Honey joins StereoRuss to talk about the band's rapid rise, from giving away guitars during COVID to winning Battle of the Bands and landing a spot on the Supercrawl main stage.
JJ dives into the band's approach to writing, recording and building an unforgettable live show, including the importance of preparation, spontaneity and simply having fun together on stage. Plus, they get into 90s rock, musical kids, guitar tones, Hamilton's music community, and why getting out there and meeting people might be the most important part of building a career in music.
 
Connect with Lucky Honey
https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@LuckyHoneyBand⁩ https://open.spotify.com/artist/5yluLV1EXBNRKYzprsgJrm https://www.instagram.com/luckyhoneyband/
 
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
 
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

Hamilton indie pop artists Emma Whale (songwriter and producer), Saad Sheik, and Jesse Adams join me for a conversation about songwriting, production, and finding their own paths in the local music scene. We discuss the art of making pop songs shorter and stickier, the challenges of promoting music in the social media era, and why sustainable creativity matters more than chasing the algorithm. We also talk upcoming releases, music videos, jazz gigs, and the power of local music communities.
 
Connect with Emma Whale
https://www.instagram.com/emmawhale_music/
https://linktr.ee/EmmaWhale
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6QXYJSKKFGJueoq8Xuzita
 
Connect with Saad Sheik
https://www.instagram.com/saadsheikhx/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/4crMHT22Iy0Z9zi9Aln9l6
 
Connect with Jesse Adams
https://www.instagram.com/jesse_francesca/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1knZLmZB5hXpLG5mfujbiz
 
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/
https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
 
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
https://www.stereoruss.com
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

Grammy winning Toronto band BadBadNotGood joins Inside the Music with StereoRuss ahead of their August 20 performance at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.
Chester Hansen and Leland Whitty chat with StereoRuss to discuss how the band's sound has evolved from jazz roots into a genre defying blend of jazz, hip-hop, R&B, electronic, and indie music. They share stories about collaboration, improvisation, touring the world, balancing technical musicianship with emotion, and what audiences can expect when they take the stage at the RBG.
Joining the conversation is Jeremy Freiburger from the Royal Botanical Gardens, who explains the vision behind the summer concert series and why BADBADNOTGOOD was the perfect choice to help introduce new audiences to live music in one of Ontario's most unique outdoor venues.
Whether you're a longtime fan, a musician, or simply curious about one of Canada's most celebrated bands, this conversation offers an inside look at the creativity, curiosity, and collaboration that continue to shape BADBADNOTGOOD's music.
Get tickets and learn more about BADBADNOTGOOD's August 20 performance at RBG:
https://www.rbg.ca/events/concert-badbadnotgood/
 
Listen to BADBADNOTGOOD https://www.youtube.com/user/BADBADNOTGOOD
http://open.spotify.com/artist/65dGLGjkw3UbddUg2GKQoZ
https://www.instagram.com/badbadnotgood/
 
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
https://www.stereoruss.com
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

This episode is being presented as part of Hamilton Arts Week (running from July 2-9) which includes more than 200 events and activities. Arts week is presented by Hamilton Arts Council with support from the City of Hamilton, and the Government of Canada. Check out all the event listings at theartycrowd.ca
 
Connect with Hamilton Arts Council & The Arty Crowd
https://www.hamiltonartscouncil.ca/
https://theartycrowd.ca/
 
~~~~~~~
 
Please enjoy this special Hamilton Arts Week conversation with Hamilton singer-songwriter and founder of the Femme Rising Showcase Series, Melissa Dutch, premiering as part of the Hamilton Arts Week launch.
Ahead of Femme Rising at Mills Hardware on Sunday, July 5, Melissa shares the inspiration behind the showcase series and her vision for creating spaces that celebrate women, queer artists, and community. She also discusses her powerful new single, "Skinny," and the importance of self-care in sustaining a creative life.
 
Connect with Melissa Dutch
https://www.instagram.com/melissa.dutch
https://melissadutch.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@melissadutch
https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bDScM4GIAu8diQ6OXFyQy
https://www.instagram.com/femmerisingca
 
Produced and Hosted by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media
https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.youtube.com/@StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
 
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario
https://www.catherinenorth.com/
https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
 
Production Supported by Emma Whale
https://www.instagram.com/emmawhale_music
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

Superstar Crush are BACK and they're in their WARTORTLE ERA!
Fresh off opening for Wolf Parade, the Hamilton group joins StereoRuss for a conversation about Rococo-inspired stage aesthetics, finding your people, and the surreal experience of sharing bills with artists they’ve admired for years. It’s funny, thoughtful, and chalked full of Pokémon evolution metaphors.
 
Connect with Superstar Crush
https://www.instagram.com/superstarcrushband/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/29MNW2JE94Rb07rdS5tWFB https://www.youtube.com/@SuperstarCrush/videos
 
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/ https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
 
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss https://www.YouTube.com/@StereoRuss
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider https://www.stereoruss.com

A few days before the Junos, Aysanabee joined me at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton to talk about returning to the awards with two new nominations (which he won by the way)! We got into his approach to live performance, scoring a goal on an NHL goalie, learning with covers from Leon Bridges, Sam Roberts, and Justin Bieber, his self-taught guitar style, and why he’s releasing a stripped-back acoustic album. He also shared stories from the road, including a chaotic live reverb moment, and how he thinks about connecting with audiences through storytelling.
Thank you to Aysanabee and his team for taking the time to chat. I hope you all enjoy!
 
Connect with Aysanabee
https://www.instagram.com/_aysanabee_/
https://www.aysanabee.com/tour
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1jbEBKJhX4rRmHD6xW6ve5
https://linktr.ee/Aysanabee
 
Recorded at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, Ontario https://www.catherinenorth.com/
https://www.instagram.com/catherinenorthstudios/
 
Produced by StereoRuss and StereoRuss Media https://www.instagram.com/StereoRuss
https://www.TikTok.com/@StereoRuss
 
Support Inside the Music with StereoRuss
https://ko-fi.com/stereoruss
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

I sat down live in-studio with DJ’s Flying Circus, a growing collective of musicians. What started as jam sessions and covers has turned into original music, a rotating lineup, and a full scale live experience they call The Book of Funk.
We talk about where it all started, how they balance life's obligations and creativity, and what it means to commit to something when there’s no clear path forward. There’s a lot in here about community, about figuring it out as you go, and about choosing passion even when it makes life more complicated.
 
Follow DJ's Flying Circus:https://www.instagram.com/djs_flying_circus/
Follow StereoRuss
https://www.instagram.com/stereoruss/

Tiger Balme is a Toronto based indie pop collective reinventing what a band can look (and sound) like. With vibraphone, harp, guitar, drums, and lush three part harmonies, Tiger Balme blends pop, indie, and art rock into something entirely their own.
In this conversation, the band dives into their origins as a songwriting collective, how shared leadership shapes their sound, and why no one person stands at the front of the stage. We talk uniforms, identity, harmony arranging, odd time signatures, and the realities of playing everything from vintage shops to Union Station.
The band also reflects on reimagining their song “Short Fuse (Embers)”, collaboration over competition, and building trust as a creative unit.
Connect with Tiger Balme
https://www.instagram.com/tigerbalme/?hl=en
https://ffm.to/tigerbalme
https://tigerbalme.bandcamp.com/track/short-fuse-embers
https://linktr.ee/tigerbalme
https://www.tiktok.com/@tigerbalme
Tiger Balme Mailing List:
https://tigerbalme.us14.list-manage.com/subscribe
 
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
 
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com
 
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.

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
Become an Inside the Music Insider
https://www.stereoruss.com
Like, comment, and subscribe for more conversations with artists, producers, and creatives.