Musical Connections with Zach Snow

Coming down Connector's Corner this week is a music educator and the owner of Shine Music, Emily Martin! We talk about Emily's nomination for Music Educator of the Year at the most recent MusicNL awards, how Shine Music came together, and what Shine Music does for the community at large!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (November 23-29, 2025)

Song: Winter Wonderland (feat. Laura Taylor)

Artist: Beep Bop

Album: A Beep Bop Christmas

Composers: Felix Bernard, Richard Smith

Song: August

Artist...

If you are familiar with Kellie Loder, With Violet, Rachel Cousins, Mallory Johnson, and Mackenzie Critch, you may be familiar with the man who engineered or mixed those tunes from these amazing artists! Coming down Connector's Corner this week is songwriter, producer, and music engineer, Daniel Adams! We talk about how Daniel got into music production, some of his influences which includes Max Martin, the story behind some of the songs he produced and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (November 16-22, 2025)

Song: Christmas Morn

Artist: 8...

Fresh off MusicNL week 2025, we got a whole lot of new interviews to share with you over the next few weeks! The first of them is with an entrepreneur, a sales executive with NTV, and talking about the West Coast on Rogers TV! Coming down Connectors Corner this week is Dustin Parsons! We talk about his nomination for Media Person of the Year for his work on West Talk, how Steady Entertainment came to be, how traditional media still plays a heavy role in music curation and where digital media fits in, and some future plans for 2026!

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Coming down Connector's Corner this week is Jing Xia, a musician and ethnomusicologist! The four time MusicNL award nominee for 2025 talks about the making of the latest record from her group called "Interworlds", how the group got together and the recent change of members. Plus, Jing lets us know about a new album she is working on to be released in 2026!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (November 2-8, 2025)

Song: Bussdown (feat DatLankyMan)

Artist: AleBen

Album: Bussdown (feat DatLankyMan)

Composers: Matthew Small, Alex Bennett

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Coming down Connector's Corner this week is Stuart Gallant, a singer-songwriter & composer from Kippens on the West Coast of Newfoundland! His project STURNE is up for two MusicNL awards (Electronic Artist & Indigenous Artists) and his band Not Just To Drink And Dream has a new EP coming out this week! We talk all that, plus his beginnings in music, the indigenous music community, the west coast music scene, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (October 26-November 1, 2025)

Song: Go to War (feat. Rocka G)

Artist: FranK<...

With MusicNL week just two short weeks away, there’s no better time than to bring on Tamara Kater, the executive director of MusicNL once again to talk about the week ahead and the festivities that will await the many delegates and artists November 12-16 in St. John’s! We talk about the rebranding to MusicNL week after four years under the Music Celebration Week banner. Plus, we talk about the changes to this year’s MusicNL week, the artists taking part in it, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releas...

While Musical Connections continues to prepare for brand new content, we take you back to the Ryan’s Fancy and Sons of Erin tribute show in March where Zach connects you with many of the performers who played there and were influenced by the band at one point or another. We connect you with D’Arcy Broderick & Kevin Evans of Black Gold, Jennifer Trainor & Glen Harvey of Celtic Connection, John and Wilf Curran of the Masterless Men, Mike Hanrahan, Bob MacDonald, and Bill Kelly!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (September 28-October 4, 2025)

Song...

Coming down Connector’s Corner this week is the multi-talented and amazing Rachel Cousins! We talk about the release of “What Hasn’t Killed Me”, her most authentic and cathartic release to date! She talks about spending the month in California with Greg Wells making the record, some of the themes of the record, and the three-year anniversary of her sobriety. Plus, how she started in music, the MusicNL nomination for her and her momager, Hilda Cousins, and her upcoming show at the Black Sheep in St. John’s on October 17th!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Foun...

Coming on down Connector’s Corner this week on the Musical Connections is synth-wave songwriter and producer, Dean Parsons AKA Arcade Knights! We talk about the brand-new record, “Neon Vice”, which is inspired by the Miami Vice TV show from the 1980s, how the Arcade Knights project came together, and how he makes the music using hardware instead of software!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (September 28-October 4, 2025)

Song: The Woman I Love

Artist: Damian Follett

Album: The Woman I Love

Composers: Damian Follett

S...

Coming on down to Connector’s Corner this week is singer-songwriter and MusicNL award nominee for Sound on Screen Artist of the Year, Christian Howse! He put out his first album in five years called “Break Through” and he talks about the making of the record, some of the influences he took to make the record, plus how he got into music, signing with Citadel House, and on his nomination for Sound on Screen Artist at the upcoming MusicNL Week in St. John’s from November 12th to 16th!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases...

It is the last of my conversations from the 2025 East Coast Music Awards on this week's episode of the Musical Connections podcast! I reconnect you with Rozalind MacPhail, a flautist, music educator, and singer-songwriter! We talk about her time at the East Coast Music Awards, the progress she made on her upcoming up to that point, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (September 7-20, 2025)

Song: REDLINE RIVAL

Artist: Arcade Knights

Album: NEON VICE

Composers: Dean Parsons

Song...

Musical Connections makes its grand return following a very busy summer as we reflect once more on the 2025 East Coast Music Awards in St. John’s back in May. Zach connects with Ana Luisa Ramos & Eric Taylor Escudero to talk about their ECMAs experience, some other projects, and a whole lot more.

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (August 17-September 6, 2025)

Song: If U Wanna Drive

Artist: Alex Duffy

Album: If U Wanna Drive

Composers: Alex Duffy

Song: Hidden Gem

Artist: Da...

This week’s Musical Connections we will be taking you back to the East Coast Music Awards for a conversation I had with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Natasha Blackwood! We talk about her time at the ECMAs back in May and how important conferences like those are for one's development as a musician or industry professional!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (August 10-16, 2025)

Song: Rain in Newfoundland

Artist: Kathy Stock

Album: Rain In Newfoundland

Composers: Kathy Stock

Song: Crying While Wasted

...

This week’s Musical Connections will have a “Carhartt to Heart” with one of the province’s fastest rising country pop stars who now calls Nashville her home! I reconnect with Paige Penney to talk about her brand-new single, plus her success with “Southern Draw(L) which includes a CCMA Nomination for Innovative Campaign of the Year! We also talk about her career in a nutshell. From her beginnings as a performer at young folk stages, to releasing her debut album, having a musical dad, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Rele...

Hot off the release of his album with the Reckless Hearts, "Under The Influence" to opening for rock and roll heavyweights in ZZ Top and The Killers, my guest is Nick Earle! I connect with Nick to talk about those festival opener opportunities to the making of his new record. We also reflect on how his musical journey began to his music influences and how groups like Stompbox and The Reckless Hearts came together!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (July 27-August 2, 2025)

Song: Harbour Le Cou

Artist: Allan Ricketts

On this week's episode of the Musical Connections podcast, I welcome one of Newfoundland & Labrador's finest folk groups known for their remarkable musicianship and silky smooth harmonies. I connect you with Rube & Rake! Made up of Josh Sandu & Andrew Laite, the lads are hot off the release of their third studio album, "Good Time After Bad" and come on to talk about the making of the record and their tour dates for the rest of 2025! We also talk about how the group came together, some of the bands and records they listened to, and a whole lot more!

I have another great episode lined up for you this week! I welcome back to the show, Joshua Parsons or PARSONS! We talk about his latest project called “Smugglers International Mixtape” hosted by legendary Newfoundland and Labrador smuggler, Brian O’Dea! From how they met to the creation of the album and the personnel they got for it!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (July 6-12, 2025)

Song: Like A Rock (Live From Quidi Vidi Brewery)

Artist: Andrew Rodgers

Album: Live From Quidi Vidi Brewery

Composers: Bob Seger<...

He is the mastermind behind the Best Kind BBQ and one of the operators of JibFest Weekender! I connect with event promoter, Brent McNamara on this week’s episode of the Musical Connections podcast! We talk about how he got into the music industry through event promotion and about the 2025 Best Kind BBQ which takes place on July 12 at St. David’s Park which features Quake Matthews, DJ 4Korners and so much more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (June 29-July 5, 2025)

Song: Stuck In My Head

Artist: Bailey Jordan-Neil

Al...

Fifteen Years on the Lawnya wraps up with the lead singer of Andy & the Dannys, Andy Mulcair! I connect with Andy about his band and how the group came together! Plus, we talk about their second stage in St. John's for Lawnya Vawnya, their takeaways from Lawnya Vawnya 15, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (June 22-28, 2025)

Song: For You (Acoustic)

Artist: Anil

Album: For You (Acoustic)

Composers: Enock Gedo & Lina Makaga

Song: The Way That We Are<...

Fifteen Years on the Lawnya continues tomorrow with the Logistics Coordinator of the Atlantic Presenters Association, Kai Bryan! They drop by the Musical Connections studios to talk about their stay at Lawnya Vawnya 15 and talk about what the Atlantic Presenters Association does and who they represent across Atlantic Canada. They also talk about the importance of Lawnya Vawnya to not just the Newfoundland and Labrador music industry, but the whole sector at large!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (June 15-21, 2025)

Song: After the Show

Artist: Andrew Smith

...

Fifteen Years on the Lawnya continues this week on Musical Connections as I connect you with an author, poet, and a musician from Nova Scotia! I connect you with Colleen "Coco" Collins! Colleen stops by the studio to talk about her time at Lawyna Vawnya 15 which include a poet reading for her new book, "Sorry About The Fire" and a debut performance as a bassist for "Penny & The Pits"! She also talks about her experiences at Lawnya Vawnya throughout the years which includes attending the very first Lawnya Vawnya!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found...

On this week's Musical Connections podcast, it's the start of a new series on the program called Fifteen Years on the Lawnya! I speak with some of the performers and industry professionals who attended the fifteenth annual Lawnya Vawnya festival that took place last week! My first interview will be with Penelope Stevens! She was one of the delegates representing the Flourish Festival in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and is the lead signer of Penny & The Pits! We talk about her musical journey started, how Penny & The Pits started from her other band project Motherhood, how the Flourish Festival came...

The Musical Connections podcast heads back to the ECMA Conference at the Delta Hotel in St John’s as I re-connect with Lorna Lovell! Lorna comes on the show to talk about what she’s been up to lately following the release of her two albums, “Bring The Fire” and “Song Seeds”! Plus we talk about growing up in a musical family, her Mi’kmaq roots, what she hoped to take away from ECMA week, and an update on some new music!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (May 24-30, 2025)

Song: The Operator

Greetings! If you are listening to this, welcome to the Musical Connections Podcast! This program will help you discover more about the music of Newfoundland & Labrador! I'm Zach Snow and I will be your guide into the ins and outs of the Newfoundland and Labrador music sector! From highlighting the best new releases of each week to the conversations with the personalities that make our music scene so unique and special from the others! Musical Connections podcast will be the hub for everything happening in our thriving music scene!

New episodes drops every Tuesday on your favourite...

On this episode of the Musical Connections podcast, we head over to Corner Brook to speak to the members of electronic/ambient duo, Wite Rino, Aaron Rex & Joe Fowler! The duo recently released their fifth studio album, Dream Tower on May 2 with Milltown Records! They talk about the making of the record, how the group came together, the music scene on the west coast of Newfoundland and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (May 18-23, 2025)

Song: Keen To Change

Artist: Andrew Smith

Album: Spent<...

My guest on Episode 124 of the Musical Connections Podcast is violinist, composer, and music educator, Gina Burgess! Gina and I connect at the East Coast Music Awards in St. John’s to talk about her projects she was a part of like the Jerry Cans and the Lost & Found! Plus, we talk about how the whole music journey started, what drew her to Newfoundland and Labrador, and her upcoming plans for music and tour dates!

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (May 11-17, 2025)

Song: Bloom

Artist: Alex Duffy

Al...

My guest on Musical Connections is singer-songwriter and music arranger, Evan Watts Smith! Evan’s debut album comes out this Friday with a release show at the Majestic Theatre to boot! We talk about the making of the album, some of the major theatre projects he has worked on, and why he decided to put an album out now!

Timestamps:

Ben's Ekman Spiral: 2:03

Evan Watts Smith: 6:23

Logan Bolt: 9:35

Rube & Rake: 13:17

EWS Interview: 19:27

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (May 4-10, 2025)

So...

It’s the last Musical Connections podcast before the 2025 ECMAs! I welcome singer-songwriter, music producer, and audio engineer, Jim “Wildfinger” Mercer! I connect with Jim about his new song which demo amassed more than 100,000 views on Facebook, “Don’t Tell Me What To Do”. Plus we talk about some memories from Wildfinger Productions which include working on John White’s last album and having the man of a thousand songs, Ron Hynes stop by to work on demos for “Mary Got A Baby”!

Timestamps:

Bud Davidge: 2:09

Order of the Precious Blood: 6:06

The Fencesitters...

On this bonus episode of the Musical Connections podcast, we continue the road to the 2025 East Coast Music Awards as Zach Snow reconnects with Con O’Brien of the Irish Descendants. He comes on to talk about the 35th Anniversary of the group, their tour which continues into June, and the upcoming 2025 East Coast Music Awards. On May 8, the band will be playing “Let Me Fish Off Cape St. Mary’s” as the song written by the late Otto Kelland is inducted into the Canadian Songwriter’s Hall of Fame. He talks about how hesitant he was to record the legend...

I welcome one of the province’s fastest rising francophone duos, Port-Aux-Poutines! I speak with Axel Belgrade and Jenna Maloney on the release of their new album, “Oui, B’y” and their upcoming plans for the summer! Plus, we talk about the formation of the group, the ECMAs, and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

Big Jib: 1:56

Port-Aux-Poutines: 5:21

Quote the Raven: 8:45

Rachel Cousins: 12:16

The Irish Descendants: 17:37

Interview with Port-Aux-Poutines: 22:11

Music Featured in Episode:

New Found Releases: (April 20-26, 2025)

Song: Funny Little P...

On this week’s program, I welcome one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s premier Folk-Pop duo and two of my favourite people in the music industry! My guests are Jordan Coaker & Kirsten Rodden-Clarke of Quote the Raven! We talk about their fourth studio album, Map The Dark, as well as the East Coast Music Awards! They are up for three this year in St. John’s, one which includes a nomination for album of the year! Plus, we talk about how the two came together for the first time in a Musicbox choir practice, some of their favourite shows they h...

My guest this week on the show is one of the nominees for Fan’s Choice Entertainer of the Year at the upcoming East Coast Music Awards, Andrew Rodgers! Andrew comes on the show to talk about his first nomination as a solo artist and the making of his debut solo effort, Let it Out! Plus, we talk about how he started playing music in Hant’s Harbour, his influences, and the many bands he has opened for with his groups Fairgale, and Nick Earle + The Reckless Hearts!

Timestamps:

Dave White: 1:40

DECAY: 6:02

Ha...

I am so excited to have Matthew Byrne as my guest! He is considered to be one of the finest musicians and storytellers the province has ever produced and he has put together his first album of all new music in seven and a half years! Matt talks about recording “Stealing Time”, a project which sees him working with UK folk giant, Martin Simpson as his producer along with England's finest folk performers. He also talks about fatherhood, growing up in a musical family and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

Amanda Stone: 2:33

Automated Bird...

The Road to the 2025 East Coast Music Awards continues as I connect with one of the nominees for Global Music Release of the Year, Ana Luisa Ramos. Ana comes on the show to talk about her first ECMA nomination as a solo artist, the making of the album, Solaris, her recent trip with Eric to Folk Alliance in Montreal, and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

New Found Releases:

Albert Dalton: 2:14

Heather Feather: 5:36

Quote The Raven: 9:10

Interview with Ana Luisa Ramos 14:11:

Music Featured in Episode:

On this bonus episode of the Musical Connections podcast, we paid tribute to Newfoundland! Zach Snow connects with the performers that took part in the Ryan's Fancy & Sons of Erin tribute concert in support of the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador! Throughout the next few weeks, they will talk about how Ryan's Fancy & Sons of Erin impacted their careers and the overall music sector of Newfoundland and Labrador. Plus, they talk about how important it is to support the Autism Society and its programs. Our special guests are Chris Andrews & Mark Hiscock of Shanneyganock and a Newfoundland and...

My special guest this week is musician and drummer, Michael Dinn! We talk about his 2025 RPM Challenge submissions, Smoke Spectre and Grog Bit and reflect on his interesting career. From playing drums with Baytown, Cartridge Family, and the Daisy Cutters to opening up for Canadian Rock juggernauts in The Northern Pikes and the Trews, we cover all that and more!

Timestamps:

New Found Releases:

Alex Duffy 2:26

Ash Molloy: 6:36

Evan Watts Smith: 10:55

Jason W. Gill: 14:47

Jon Reid: 19:17

Mychela: 23:04

Nico Paulo: 27:20

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On this bonus episode of the Musical Connections podcast, we continue the road to the 2025 East Coast Music Awards as Zach Snow connects with one of the nominees for Children’s Entertainer of the Year, Heather White Luckow or Heather Feather! Heather talks about her East Coast Music Award nomination for Children’s Release of the Year for “Ants In My Pants” and her upcoming album, “Together”! Plus, we talk about her upbringing growing up in a musical family in Mount Pearl, moving to Montreal, WeeJam, and a whole lot more!

Music Featured in Episode:

Song: Fill Y...

My two guests were lost and found the Musical Connections podcast to talk about their new southern gothic band, The Lost and Found! I connect with two of the founding members of the band, Pat Sloan and Ben Chapman Smith about how the band came together and their latest release for the RPM challenge called “Lies and Bad Intentions”! Plus, we talk about their future plans, some of the sounds that influences the band, and a whole lot more!

Timestamps:

New Found Releases:

Christian Howse: 2:28

R Sheaves: 7:02

Smoke Signals: 12:35

The road to the East Coast Music Awards begins with one of the nominees for Electronic Release of the Year. I connect with Montreal-based and Newfoundland born classical guitarist, Ben Diamond! I connect with Ben about his new album which came out back in October, Voyage, where the first track, “Something Sawed” is up for Electronic Release of the Year. Plus, I speak to Ben about his upbringing, his inspirations, his studies, and how excited he is for the ECMAs to come back to St. John’s!

Timestamps:

New Found Releases:

Brad Tuck: 2:33

C...

The 2025 East Coast Music Awards are coming back to St. John’s May 7th to the 11th and it is going to be a time as we celebrate the best music in Atlantic Canada! Fifty-four nominations came from Newfoundland and Labrador, and I catch up with people who were at the press conference for the announcement of the nominees and more! I catch up with Jordan Coaker and Kirsten Rodden-Clarke of Quote The Raven. They are up for three awards (Roots Release, Album, and Fans Choice Video of the Year). I also speak with the chairperson of the board of...