I wanted to do something special for CJLO's "Hip Hop for Life" celebratory week, so I managed to dig up this gem of a session from the Sonics archives, going way back to April 11, 2010.

This was a real special session - at the time pretty much everyone at CJLO was a huge Ali fan, and leading up to the Montreal date of the tour he was on at the time, he had done two interviews to hype it up on our airwaves and was featured in a column in the dearly departed local arts weekly the Montreal Mirror that was written by a former CJLO volunteer.  When I noticed a hint of a last minute possibility for a session based on his routing, I quickly contacted our pal Jess at Co-Sign who reached out immediately to Rhymesayers.  Within a few hours we had the whole thing planned - a day before he'd be in Montreal.

The day of the session, EVERYONE crowded into the Oven's control room, to witness the master at work - volunteers, staff, and broadcasters from all genres at the station.  It was really nice.  Asides from recording two session tracks of songs from the album he was supporting then, "Us" (which has recently been reissued for it's 10th anniversary - https://tinyurl.com/yca8yrsa), he entertained my "challenge" and dropped an on the spot improvised and totally spontaneous freestyle (!) over Autolux's "Turnstile Blues" - it was unbelievable, and we were losing our minds watching him do it.  But it was the conversation after that was the cherry on top - sitting in the Oven with Ali and discussing a wide range of topics, from his embrace of Islam, race and ethnic relations, politics, Minneapolis, and identity.

Later that night at his Montreal show, Ali remarked from the stage that his visit to the CJLO studios felt like "hanging out with a bunch of old friends".  We couldn't have said it better, Ali.  You're always welcome in our home.

Songs:
● Brother Ali - "Uncle Sam Goddamn"
● Brother Ali - "The Preacher" (Sonics Session)
● Brother Ali - "Mourning in America"
● Brother Ali - "De La Kufi" ft. Talib Kweli
● Brother Ali - "Tight Rope" (Sonics Session)
● Brother Ali - "Our Own Light"
● Brother Ali - Freestyle Over Autolux's "Turnstile Blues" (Sonics Session)

Session engineered by Brian Hastie and Lachlan Fletcher and mixed by Lachlan Fletcher
Autolux freestyle produced by Omar Sonics

Video availaible here:
"The Preacher" - https://youtu.be/FMwsbvsN60k
"Tight Rope" - https://youtu.be/UZ2WfjBWmNE
Freestyle Over Autolux's "Turnstile Blues - https://youtu.be/BhwUMvtsdQ0

Filmed and edited by Omar Sonics

Brother Ali - https://rhymesayers.com/artists/brotherali
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Hooked on Sonics airs every Thursday 6-8pmET live on www.cjlo.com or on 1690AM in the Montreal area
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Sonics Session - Brother Ali

1 Jailbreak Blues

And random bunch of ones and zeros and... something else...

Binary Chant Demo 1

The Uplifting Bell Ends - Travellin’ Home
Dead Horses - Macabro
The Daggermen - You Were Meant To Be
Woodfield Rd. Allstars - Flying Crow Feather
Lee Paradise ft. New Chance - Not Practical
Ghost Funk Orchestra - Why?
Sababa 5 - Lizarb
Prism Shores - Diving Bell
Snapped Ankles - The Fish Needs A Bike
Dumb - Excuse Me?
Leatherette - Fiesta
Veronik - Anómala
Snake Chain - RU
Snake Lips - Happy Anxious
The Mighty Mocambos - Ghost Walk
Shirley Hurt - Problem Child
Pye Corner Audio - Pocket Disco
Sort Of Damocles - Juno 60 Senior’s Discount
The Plastic Youth - Big Thief
Los Palms - Scared Of Saturday Nights
#SweetSkaSounds
Gil Scott-Heron - Home Is Where The Hatred Is

Pressure Drop Show, 3rd October 2022

About 3 Minutes Of Jabbering

Over the past decade, Montreal’s Braids — musicians Taylor Smith, Raphaelle Standell-Preston, and Austin Tufts — have devoted themselves to exploring their art together, making for one of the more daring and fluid catalogs in contemporary experimental pop. On their fifth album, Euphoric Recall, Braids abandoned strategy, burned it down, and realized their love record.

Standell-Preston appeared on @ashestoashescjlo to talk about the LP, composing string arrangements for the first time, and "getting a lot of purpose" from performing live.

Original air date: May 30, 2023
Photo: Melissa Gamache

Braids Interview || Ashes to Ashes

The 23rd edition of the Suoni Per Il Popolo music festival will take place from June 1 to 23, 2023 in several of Montreal's legendary venues. The annual music festival celebrates music and arts for the culturally curious and the musically inclined. Their fresh programming will feature local, national and international artists covering a number of genres that include free jazz, avant-rock, noise/post-punk, avant-folk, and afro-futurism.

As a proud partner of the left-of-centre festival, CJLO took the time to talk to Suoni director of operations Penny Pattison about her role, what makes the festival unique, and much more.

Original air date: May 30, 2023

For more information:
https://suoniperilpopolo.org/

Suoni Per Il Popolo Interview || CJLO 1690AM

Jessy Lanza calls Love Hallucination, her latest record, her “trust fall.” Having just moved from the Bay Area to sunny LA, the singer-producer steps into a newfound confidence and personal authenticity.  From club-ready songs to more downbeat and sultry works, Love Hallucination reminds us of falling into depths of love but being self-assured enough to trust one’s instincts.

Lanza appeared on @ashestoashescjlo to talk about the record, whether she sees herself as a mentor to potential artists, and if she'd ever do YouTube "how to" videos.

Songs played: "Limbo," "Marathon," "Don't Leave Me Now"

Original air date: August 1, 2023
Photo: Trent Tomlinson

Jessy Lanza Interview || Ashes to Ashes

On 'Coming Up, Crocus,' the debut EP from Montreal artist Sophie Ogilvie, change is always already in motion. The release chronicles how one season passes into the next, how a relationship resolves itself into something gone. Drawing on jazz, R&B, and 90s alternative, Ogilvie’s songwriting is simultaneously cool and vulnerable, soft and hard-hitting, delicate and dramatic.

Ogilvie appeared on @ashestoashescjlo to talk about the EP, dramatic music, and her academic side.

Songs played: "Milk Glass," "New Friend"

Original air date: October 3, 2023
Photo: Hamza Abouelouafaa

Sophie Ogilvie Interview || Ashes to Ashes

After building up a cult-like fanbase over the past year with a steady wave of irresistible album singles, Midwestern darling and imminent pop star Chappell Roan delivered her highly anticipated debut album The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess last month. A technicolor celebration of self-discovery and transformation, the record tracks Roan’s cinematic journey of falling in queer love for the first time, while embracing all the messy and imperfect moments in-between.

Roan appeared on @ashestoashescjlo to talk about the LP, the paradoxes of pop music, and why she believes she hasn't written her best song yet.

Songs played: "Red Wine Supernova," "Hot to Go!," "Pink Pony Club," "Super Graphic Ultra Modern Girl"

Original air date: October 10, 2023
Photo: Ryan Lee Clemens

Chappell Roan Interview || Ashes to Ashes

Montreal dancefloor mavens @lecouleur are back with Comme dans un penthouse, their latest album out on @lisbon-lux-records. Featuring an electronic, nu-disco sound à la Todd Terje and reminiscent of Fujiya & Miyagi’s early 2000’s Krautrock, this new album is irresistibly suspenseful. Using Barbara, a character from their 2016 album P.O.P. as a symbol of our collective thirst for excitement, this eight track speed train of an album will transport you to a realm of icy desire.

Steeven Chouinard and Patrick Gosselin, two-thirds of the trio, appeared on @ashestoashescjlo to talk about the LP, concept albums, and what hasn't changed about the band after 15 years together.

Songs played: "À la rencontre de Barbara (feat. Standard Emmanuel)," "Addiction," "Autobahn," "Sentiments nouveaux"

Original air date: September 19, 2023
Photo: Andy Jon

Le Couleur Interview || Ashes to Ashes

Hooked on Sonics - Session & Interview w/ Brother Ali

Brother Ali - Freestyle Over Autolux's "Turnstile Blues" (CJLO Sonics Session)

Brother Ali - The Preacher (CJLO Sonics Session)

Yer weekly dose of indie rock, post-punk, power pop, shoegaze, math rock, noise pop, post-hardcore and anything with loud guitars...with some extras tossed into the mix. Hosted by Omar Sonics and a rotating cast of guests.

thursdays 4-6pmET on cjlo1690am / www.cjlo.com

Brother Ali - Freestyle Over Autolux's "Turnstile Blues" (CJLO Sonics Session)

hooked / on / sonics

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