All posts by Paul Baker

The Future of Music is DIY: A Conversation with Alex MacNeil and Andy MacInnis

“When you’re making rock records, you don’t need to overthink production…we can make great rock ‘n’ roll records in this garage.”

As I’m sitting in a small, cramped back room of a house nestled deep in Halifax’s north end I’m flanked on my right side by an old washer and dryer. To the left, a pile of jackets and a stack of skateboards. A half-eaten open-face sandwich sits on the coffee table in front of me.

You wouldn’t guess that this space is the new laboratory of two prominent Halifax rock acts. Continue reading The Future of Music is DIY: A Conversation with Alex MacNeil and Andy MacInnis

Duke Skookum Shows Us the Truth Is Out There on ‘Last Winter’ and ‘Mystery’

I wasn’t sure what to make of Duke Skookum before listening to “Last Winter” and “Mystery.” With the Duke Nukem reference of questionable relevance, would these be raunchy, foul-mouthed, butt-rock anthems? The number of posts on the Duke Skookum Facebook page concerning aliens led to more questions than answers…. Continue reading Duke Skookum Shows Us the Truth Is Out There on ‘Last Winter’ and ‘Mystery’

Kirk Wells Proves Good Things Come to Those Who Wait on ‘Dahlia’

Kirk Wells has been a prolific songwriter for most of his life. He estimates that he’s written around 300 songs, but those songs lived in his old Boss 8-track recorder. After “20 years of encouragement” from friends, Kirk decided to crowd-fund his first studio album Dahlia. Continue reading Kirk Wells Proves Good Things Come to Those Who Wait on ‘Dahlia’