contents
March / April 2023 , Vol . XLV , No . 2
INDIE INSIDER
How to Market Your Release
ROAD TEST
Empress ParaEQ MK II Deluxe , JBL Pro EON ONE MK 2 & Austrian Audio OD5 & OD7 mics
DEPARTMENTS
9 First Take 12 Association Update 14 Changes 20 Canadian Musician Podcast 21 Events 64 Hot Gear 71 Advertisers ’ Index 74 Tech Tools 76 Classifieds 78 Showcase
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COLUMNS
27 Locking Down the Groove with the Drummer by Steve Goldberger
28 How a Life Beyond The Mic Taught Me About Hearing Health by Alan Cross
30 Hearing the Future : Out of the Pandemic and Into the Next Generation , Part One by Josh Moyer
31 Why You Should Be Songwriting by Rob Wells
32 Use Vocal Hooks to Make Your Next Big Record a Hit by Lorraine Lawson
60 Enhancing Your Image with Great Photography by Neal Burstyn
61 Music and Our Mental Health-When to See a Music Therapist by Jennifer Buchanan
62 Pivoting to Remote Teaching by Carly Walton
63 How Sound Will Travel by John Bruce Affleck
Ann Vriend discusses her seventh album “ Everyboy Matters ” pg . 38
FEATURES
Brett Kissel
ON HIS MOST AMBITIOUS FEAT YET : THE COMPASS PROJECT
By Matt Bauer
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It rivals the late , great Prince in terms of scope and ambition : a four-part project to be released over a one-year period . Yes , that ’ s four albums in one year — something no major artist has attempted recently . Yet Brett Kissel is up for the challenge with the recently released The Compass Project South Album , which will be followed by three more geographically themed albums to be released this year .
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Ann Vriend ’ s Soulful Neighborhood
THE EDMONTON-BASED SONGSTRESS UNVEILS HER MOST MATURE OFFERING TO DATE .
By Matt Bauer
On her seventh full-length album , Everybody Matters , Ann “ AV ” Vriend channels the sounds of classic socially conscious soul into a topical reflection of her neighborhood . “ AV ” talks the recording of her album , her influences and her definition of soul .
The Power of Women in Music
A TIMELY ROUNDTABLE ON HAVING A MORE DIVERSE AND EQUITABLE INDUSTRY
By Manus Hopkins
PHOTO : JAMES DEAN
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A Roundtable Discussion with Women in Music Canada Executive Director Robyn Stewart , Canadian Federation of Musicians Executive Director Liana White , Honey Jam Founder and Director Ebonnie Rowe , and Juno Award-Winning Producer and Songwriter Hill Kourkoutis .
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Canadian Musician ’ s 2023 Focus on Bass
FEATURING THE TRAGICALLY HIP ’ S GORD SINCLAIR , THE TREWS ’ JACK SYPEREK , RICH BROWN , ANGELIQUE FRANCIS , AND THE DAMN TRUTH ’ S PY LETELLIER
By Manus Hopkins
The Tragically Hip ’ s Gord Sinclair , The Trews ’ Jack Syperek , Rich Brown , Angelique Francis , and The Damn Truth ’ s PY Letellier chat gear preferences , practice tips for newer bassists , and answer the biggest question of all : why bass ?
COVER PHOTO : BRETT KISSEL BY BEN DARTNELL