- 17
- Episodes
- 2018
- First episode
About Northern Static
Conversations with Canadian Composers
- Publisher
- Pete Johnston
- Category
- music
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 19 Jun 2018
- Latest episode
- 22 Mar 2026
Latest episodes
17 episodes in the feed.
22 Mar 2026
Warren Pryor
Preview of the We Might Not Tell Everybody This, the third album from Stranger Still. Due out in May 2026. From the liner notes by Allan Cooper: “An old friend of Alden and Claudine Nowlan once told me that each time he visited their home, there was music playing. Our best poets seem to have a sense that the music of words is crucial to a successful poem. Otherwise, the poem will not take flight for the reader. In We Might Not Tell Everybody This, composer Pete Johnston has handled Nowlan’s words with grace and delicacy. The music is quite minimal, but is shaped in such a way that it catches the emotive quality of Nowlan’s words; sometimes a sense of aloneness, sometimes joy or loss, but always with sensitivity and attentiveness.” Mim Adams - vocals Randi Helmers - vocals Rob Clutton - string bass Pete Johnston - acoustic guitar, lap steel, vocals With Sarah Frank - violin Màiri Chaimbeul - harp Andrew Killawee - harmonium All music © Pete Johnston (SOCAN), words by Alden Nowlan (1933-83). All poems reproduced from the book Collected Poems of Alden Nowlan (ed. Brian Bartlett, Goose Lane Editions/icehouse poetry, 2017) and used with permission from the Nowlan Family. Recorded at Union Sound Company in Toronto, Ontario in April 2025. Engineered by Fedge. Mixed by Lisa Conway, mastered by Fedge. Produced by Andrew Killawee and Lisa Conway. Artwork by Mike Smith
22 Feb 2021
Ep 15 Rebecca Bruton
Episode 15 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Rocky Mountain-based composer Rebecca Bruton. Recorded in January 2020. Links: http://rebeccabruton.com Full Swanherds concert: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJxuE_71qZk https://rebeccaflood.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/lilmansound http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
13 Feb 2021
Ep 16 Craig Dunsmuir
Episode 16 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer, guitarist, and listener Craig Dunsmuir. Recorded in January 2020. Links: https://kunudusuvuntu.bandcamp.com https://www.mixcloud.com/craigfraid/ https://bandcamp.com/craigdunsmuir http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
8 Feb 2021
Ep 13 Germaine Liu
Episode 13 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer and percussionist Germaine Liu. Recorded in January 2020. Links: https://soundcloud.com/germaine-liu https://crlmusic.bandcamp.com/releases http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
5 Feb 2021
Ep. 14 - Shaw-Han Liem
Episode 14 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer and video game designer Shaw-Han Liem. Recorded in December 2019. Links: http://www.robotandproud.com https://iamrobotandproud.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/robotandproud http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
4 Feb 2021
Ep 12 Nick Storring
Episode 12 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based cellist and composer Nick Storring. Recorded in September 2017. Links: https://nickstorring.ca http://nickstorring.bandcamp.com http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
21 Jan 2020
Ep. 11 - Marilyn Lerner
Episode 11 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based pianist and composer Marilyn Lerner. Recorded in October 2017. Links: https://www.marilynlerner.com http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
10 Dec 2019
Ep. 10 - Paul Newman
Episode 10 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer and saxophonist Paul Newman. Recorded in July 2017. Links: https://paulnewman1.bandcamp.com http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
24 Oct 2019
Ep. 09 - Nick Fraser
Episode 9 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer and drummer Nick Fraser. Recorded in September 2019. Links: http://nickfraserthedrummer.com https://nickfraserthedrummer.bandcamp.com https://fraserdavismalaby.bandcamp.com/album/zoning http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com https://seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
18 Oct 2019
Ep. 08 - Allison Cameron
Episode 8 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer Allison Cameron. Recorded in June 2017. Links: https://www.allisoncameron.com https://soundcloud.com/allisoncameronmusic www.petejohnstonmusic.com
24 Jul 2019
Ep. 07 - Rob Clutton
Episode 7 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based bassist and composer Rob Clutton. Recorded in October 2017. Links: https://www.robclutton.com https://robclutton.bandcamp.com Musical Examples: Rob Clutton - “Overtaken By The Hounds of Reason”, from Dubious Pleasures (2005) Leo Kottke - “Mr. Fonebone”, from The Essential Leo Kottke Collection, Universal Music Group (1991) Dave Holland Quartet - “Four Winds”, from Conference of the Birds, ECM Records (1973) Rob Clutton Band - “Cranberry Bog”, from Tender Buttons (2000) Oregon - “Poesia”, from Winter Light, Universal Music Group (1974) Rob Clutton - “Formal Garden”, from Dubious Pleasures (2005) The Cluttertones - “Leeways, Pt. 3”, from Leeways (2018) Drumheller - “Porch”, from Wives (2007)
15 Jul 2019
Ep. 06 - Nicole Rampersaud
Episode 6 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with New Brunswick-based trumpeter and composer Nicole Rampersaud. Recorded in October 2017. Links: https://nicolerampersaud.com https://soundcloud.com/nicolerampersaud Musical Examples: Ken Aldcroft’s Convergence Ensemble, “Clydesdale”, from the album Sneaky Petes-Slugs Anthony Braxton, excerpt from the album For Alto Peter Evans, “Mirrors of Infinity”, from the album Lifeblood Axel Dörner, “Improvisation on the Bridge Above Train Tracks”, on YouTube Nicole Rampersaud, “#3” Nicole Rampersaud, “#4” c_RL, “Boogie Woogie To The Church”, from the album Friends
24 Jul 2018
Ep. 05 - Martin Arnold
Episode 5 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with Toronto-based composer Martin Arnold. Recorded in July 2017. Links: https://soundcloud.com/martinarnold Musical Examples: Martin Arnold, “Slip Minuet”, from the album The Spit Veleta, performed by Mira Benjamin Cecil Taylor, “O.P”, from the album New York City R&B Charles Mingus, “Lock ‘Em Up (Hellview of Bellevue)”, from the album Mingus Oregon, “Rainmaker”, from the album Winter Light Gentle Giant, “The Advent of Panurge”, from the album Octopus Weather Report, “Boogie Woogie Waltz”, from the album Sweet Nighter Carla Bley, “Morning, Pt. 2”, from the Gary Burton Quartet album A Genuine Tong Funeral Per Nørgård, “Voyage Into The Golden Screen”, from the album Iris and Voyage Into The Golden Screen Martin Arnold, “Contact; Vault”, from the Bozzini Quartet album Aberrare Martin Arnold, “Tam Lin”, from the album Tam Lin Martin Arnold, “Coo-Coo Bird”, performed by Callum McSherry (voice, guitar), Quatuor Bozzini, and the University of Bristol New Music Ensemble
8 Jul 2018
Ep. 04 - Christine Bougie
Episode 4 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with guitar player and composer Christine Bougie. Recorded in August 2017. Links: http://www.christinebougie.com https://christinebougie.bandcamp.com http://www.petejohnstonmusic.com Musical Examples: Christine Bougie and Dafydd Hughes, “Hammy’s Secret Life”, from the album This Is Awesome Joni Mitchell, “In France They Kiss on Main Street”, from the album Shadows and Light Bill Frisell, “Pleased To Meet You”, from the album Gone, Just Like A Train Christine Bougie, “Do I Ramble”, from the album Whistle Up A World Christine Bougie, “Me Her”, from the album Aloha Supreme Christine Bougie, “Chet and Chomsky”, from the album Aloha Supreme
1 Jul 2018
Ep. 03 - Mike Smith
A conversation with composer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Smith, leader of the bands Muskox and the Mike Smith Company. Recorded in July 2017. Links: www.soundcloud.com/mikesmithto www.muskox.bandcamp.com Musical Examples: Jonathan Adjemian and Mike Smith, “Fifth Transcombobulation”, from the album Transcombobulation Mr. Bungle, “Platypus”, from the album Disco Volante Frank Zappa, “Brown Shoes Don’t Make It”, from the album Absolutely Free Muskox, “Generic Organs”, from the album Invocation Transformations Muskox, “Muskox Jr”, from the album Invocation Transformations Yes, “Roundabout”, from the album Fragile Frank Zappa, “Uncle Meat: Main Title Theme/The Voice of Cheese”, from the album Uncle Meat Mike Smith Company, “Privateer’s Bounty”, unreleased Mike Smith Company, “Redacted”, from the album Famous Wildlife Movies www.petejohnstonmusic.com www.soundcloud.com/northernstatic
24 Jun 2018
Ep. 02 - Lina Allemano
Episode 2 of Northern Static is a discussion and listening session with trumpet player and composer Lina Allemano. Recorded in July 2017. Links: www.linaallemano.com https://linaallemano.bandcamp.com Musical Examples: Lina Allemano’s Titanium Riot, “Squish It”, from the album Squish It. Lina Allemano 4, “Flummox”, from the album Live At The Tranzac. Lina Allemano 4, “Hush”, from the album Live At The Tranzac. Lina Allemano 4, “Sometimes Y”, from the album Sometimes Y.
19 Jun 2018
Ep. 01 - Ken Aldcroft in Memoriam
This inaugural episode of Northern Static explores the music of the late guitarist and composer Ken Aldcroft, with guests Karen Ng and Wes Neal. Links: www.kenaldcroft.com Musical Examples: Dave Douglas, "Parallel Worlds", from the album Parallel Worlds. Ken Aldcroft’s Convergence Ensemble, “Our Hospitality” from the album Saskatoon Bassement 2007. Henry Threadgill Zooid, “Sap” from the album This Brings Us To, Vol. 1. Ken Aldcroft’s Threads Quintet, “Threads III” from the album 10/09/11. Ken Aldcroft and Scott Thomson, “Blue” from the album Red and Blue. Northern Static is recorded, produced, and edited by Pete Johnston. Find me at: www.petejohnstonmusic.com www.soundcloud.com/northernstatic www.seethroughmusic.bandcamp.com
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