Inside the Music with StereoRuss

Kristen Prince (April 4, 2024)

Kristen Prince is a Port Credit based saxophone player and singer. She has performed with many artists including the Arkells, Canadian legend Andy Kim (Sugar Sugar), Lowest of the Low, Suzie McNeil, My Son the Hurricane, and 4-time Juno nominee Tom Barlow.
Kristen stays active in the music scene doing live performances,  writing and producing original music and videos, and doing session recordings. She is also working on some collaborative projects: Lion Blue:a duo with Canadian trumpeter Steve McDade (@wearelionblue), and an upcoming project with Hamilton rapper Ktriggs. Keep up with the latest news on Instagram at @kponsax. 
A Mohawk College Alumni, Kristen graduated from the Applied Music program with honours in 2015 where she played in the Tower of Power Ensemble led by Darcy Hepner. The ensemble opened for Robben Ford and Jimmie Vaughan at Mohawk’s McIntyre Theatre, and performed with former Tower of Power frontman Tommy Bowes. Currently, Kristen is studying with Grace Kelly and    Leo P in their online “Saxy School”.
 
Songs from Episode: 
Ships in the Night - Kristen Prince
Theme from Moonrise - Kristen Prince
Hamelia Patens - Tommy Ami ft. Kristen Prince
Three Penny Operator (live) - Ron Hawkins & the Rusty Nails (Airports of the World)
Dancing with the Dragon - KTriggs ft. Kristen Prince
 
Follow and Listen to Kristen Prince:
https://www.instagram.com/kponsax/
https://linktr.ee/kponsax
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
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Mickey Ellsworth (March 28, 2024)

Mickey grew up listening to records that were fast, loud, and tastefully different. Like the city of Hamilton itself, his approach tends to showcase the raw individuality of the bands he works with, often leaving their rough edges intact.
In 2014, he was brought into BTown Sound under Justin Koop (Silverstein, Grade, Walk Off The Earth) and has been fortunate to have worked on sessions with numerous Juno and Grammy-winning artists & producers like David Kahne (Sublime, Taking Back Sunday, Wilco) and Arnold Lanni (Our Lady Peace, Finger Eleven, Simple Plan) among many others.
As the studio’s longtime assistant engineer - and the least important guy in the room - Mickey was able to quietly learn from a slew of top-tier engineers, and has since established connections with numerous Hamilton-area studios. Constantly refining his approach to making rock ‘n roll records, he loves helping good bands put out great releases.
Songs from Episode: 
Phantoms - Banned Together
Fantasy - Captain Wildchild
Melted Like a Witch - Beef Boys
The Coast - Pup
 
Follow Mickey Ellsworth:
https://www.instagram.com/theworstmickey/
https://www.mickeyellsworth.com/
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
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From Janis to Alanis (March 21, 2024)

Bernadette Connors stops by to discuss her newest project "From Janis to Alanis"
...Because "Female Artist” is a genre. #FromJanistoAlanis is a live tribute band highlighting emerging Canadian female artists.
Songs from Episode:
Kosmic Blues - Janis Joplin
It's Too Late - Carole King
You Learn - Alanis Morissette
Blame Me - Bernadette Connors
 
Follow From Janis to Alanis and Bernadette Connors:
https://www.instagram.com/fromjanistoalanis/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/0amdwmduZDnkuGlGb9bQIp
https://www.instagram.com/bernadetteconnors/
https://www.tiktok.com/@bernadetteconnors_
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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Champagne James Robertson (March 14, 2024)

Champagne James Robertson is a guitarist from Hamilton, Ontario. He is in C&C Surf Factory, a surf/garage Rock Instrumental band featuring Colin Cripps and Champagne James Robertson on electric guitar, as well as Moonriivr a musical duo integrating various soundscapes and textures.
Songs from Episode:
Takeshiesque - C&C Surf Factory
One Way Ticket - C&C Surf Factory
Perfect Landing - C&C Surf Factory
 
Follow and Listen to Champagne James:
https://www.instagram.com/champagnejamesrobertson/
https://open.spotify.com/album/15V2bghIKvfQrPxtuYTCAB?si=18b1bwfjSnufuWAg1KHrWQ&nd=1&dlsi=1607cc4046944b41
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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Aleef Mehdi (February 29, 2024)

Band leader of Nezqwik as a funk fusion band, formerly with horns and a vocalist, since then it has evolved into the current rhythm section quartet format for the past 5 years. Started out as a fully Hamilton band, and then expanded to include some members from Humber College's Music Program. Aleef is an artist relations representative for FBass
Songs from Episode:
Sant Esteve - Bill Laurance & Michael League
Color of Noize - Derrick Hodge
Treal - Robert Glasper
 
Follow and Listen to Aleef Mehdi:
https://www.instagram.com/leafy13_/
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
https://www.youtube.com/@stereoruss

Andrew Bentham-Riley RETURNS (February 22, 2024)

Born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, singer-songwriter and guitarist Andrew Bentham-Riley draws inspiration from a variety of genres, including Indie, Alternative Rock and Americana Roots. Currently splitting his time between Hamilton and the Niagara region, Andrew has been engaging local audiences with his latest musical pursuits, breaking away from his roots as a cover band artist, and releasing two original singles in 2022.
His lyrical style can be described as anecdotal - telling a narrative of his own life experiences in a soulful, passionate and expressive way. Through his involvement in the music community, Andrew continues to hone his skills as a songwriter and vocalist.
Songs from Episode:
Right Where We Are - Andrew Bentham-Riley
Lean - Andrew Bentham-Riley
Voyageur - Andrew Bentham-Riley
 
Follow and Listen to Andrew:
https://www.instagram.com/andrewbentriley/
https://hyperfollow.com/andrewbentriley
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
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Cute (February 15, 2024)

Born out of the metallic, industrial backdrop of Hamilton, Ontario and inspired by records deemed unlistenable by peers, cute creates a sonic landscape that is at once crushing, immediate, and meditative.
Songs edited from episode:
Callous Social Status - Cute
z00z00z00 - Cute
 
Follow and Listen to Cute:
https://www.instagram.com/aw_thats_cute_a_band/
https://linktr.ee/areallycuteband
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
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Emma Whale (Feburary 8, 2024)

Versatile producer, songwriter, and engineer, no matter the genre Emma Whale knows how to make a song stand out. In addition to writing and producing her own music, she has worked with DJs, indie rock bands, pop artists, and everything in between. Emma became a multi-instrumentalist at a young age, starting with vocals, then picking up piano and guitar not long afterwards.
In 2021, she earned her Bachelor of Musical Arts degree from Western University, and her Music Industry Arts diploma from Fanshawe College. Shortly after graduation, Emma started work as a producer and engineer at Catherine North Studios in Hamilton, ON where she has worked since 2021. Emma has been performing throughout the GTA for years, including appearances at the Burlington Sound of Music Festival’s Club Series, Sneaky Dee’s, The Casbah, and the Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Songs edited from episode:
Literally - Emma Whale
Mr. Blues - Emma Whale
Figure 8 - Paramore
Birthmark - Dizzy
 
Follow and Listen to Emma Whale:
https://www.instagram.com/emmawhale_music/
https://linktr.ee/EmmaWhale
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
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Rexford Drive (February 1, 2024)

Rexford Drive is an indie rock band from Hamilton, Ontario. Formed in elementary school by TG, George, and Pat as they all grew up on, or just off of Rexford drive. Rocco joined late in high school and the out of school gigging began. Playing frequently in Hamilton and a few shows out of town such as Kingston, Ottawa, Brantford, and Toronto.
Rex’s first two singles, Get Back (to you on that), and Wait Up! were recorded and mixed 100% by the band in George's bedroom in his student house right by McMaster. Hotel Rex, their debut EP was released July of 2023 and was partially recorded at, and mixed by Mike Keire of Threshold Studios.
Songs edited from episode:
People are Talking - Rexford Drive
Cards are Down - Rexford Drive
 
Follow and Listen to Rexford Drive:
https://www.instagram.com/rexforddrivemusic/
https://linktr.ee/RexfordDrive
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
https://www.youtube.com/@stereoruss
 
 

Silvertone Hills (January 25, 2024)

Silvertone Hills do indie-rock the way you wish it still was—earnest, tenacious, and unpretentious. From Hamilton, Ontario, the five-piece fuses memorable melodies with jangling guitars and energetic grooves. In the Hills, late ‘60s pop influence meets the sonic textures of modern rock, harmonizing into something innovative yet familiar, like meeting a new friend with an old soul.
On October 20th, Silvertone Hills unleashed their debut full-length, “Limits.” The LP showcases the band’s influences proudly, from snarling ‘90s British melodies to ‘60s wall-of-sound ballads, stopping along the way for psychedelic detours. The tunes are compact and crisply-produced. Everything from distorted guitars to string sections and synthesizers drive home memorable melodies that are the focal point of each track. The lyricism ebbs and flows with the album’s sonics, proclaiming authoritative defiance on the rockers, fighting for love on the pop side, and questioning faith and morality on the moody ballads.
Songs edited from episode:
Big Empty Sky - Silvertone Hills
Heart of the Sun - Silvertone Hills
Space and Time - Silvertone Hills
 
Follow and Listen to Silvertone Hills:
https://www.instagram.com/silvertonehills/
https://linktr.ee/silvertonehills
 
Follow Inside the Music:
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https://www.tiktok.com/@stereoruss
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