J.R. Havlan, 17-year veteran writer for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, picks the complicated and jittery brains of the writers who help create The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, 30 Rock, Letterman, SNL, The Office, and more. Writers’ Bloc Podcast will let you in on how blank pages become your favorite television comedies.  You love the sausage, now hear how it gets made.

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Like a musical locomotive hurtling ’round the bend, Union Duke is a Toronto folk quintet that’s taking the world by storm – one captivating performance at a time. Bridging soulful indie rock with bluegrass and country, these city-slickin’ whipper-snappers unleash soaring vocal harmonies over heel-stomping beats, in a growing collection of irresistible songs that set hearts and dancefloors ablaze.

Union Duke’s 2014 release Cash & Carry was recorded in a log cabin in the Ontario woods and features songs of love, loss, and a cheap shirt. On the heels of 2013’s Bandits & Bridges, these five energetic troubadours delivered their second self-produced record in as many years, and their runaway train shows no signs of slowing.

As sweet as their albums have proven to be, the real buzz surrounding Union Duke has come from their energetic live performances. Touring across Canada these past few years in the same beat-up van that delivered them to their very first show, they have left a vast trail of amazement in their wake, selling out venues as headliners and topping the must-see lists at countless festivals. With banjos rambling, guitars wailing, and superb melodies shining through each tune, an infectious magnetism emanates from every stage they’ve had the privilege to grace.

 The legend of Union Duke begins well over a decade ago, when founding members Matt, Ethan and Jim were drawn together by their teenaged hooliganism and a penchant for timeless music. They skipped class to jam on battered instruments in an old workshop, wrote as many songs as they could conjure, and soon enough were sneaking into bars around Toronto to play gigs at the tender age of 13. Their rough and rowdy dynamic was matched by newest additions Will and Rob, natives of Port Hope and Red Deer respectively, and the five road-ready pals haven’t looked back since.

 Come hell, high-water, or hitch-hiking, Union Duke is driven by grit and determination to make people dance the drunken two-step wherever they may roam. Catch ‘em when you can.

Ivor Novello Award-winner and Mercury, Grammy, and BRIT-nominated artist Lianne La Havas unveils her new single ‘Disarray.’ The track showcases a blend of emotional depth and striking vocal delivery, set against sparse, ethereal finger-plucked electric guitar —a signature of La Havas’ style. 

“The song felt very intimate, almost like a secret just for me,” says La Havas. “It’s about vulnerability, honesty, and giving listeners a window into a moment of my life.”

Over the course of her career, La Havas has released three acclaimed albums — Is Your Love Big Enough? , Blood and her self-titled Lianne La Havas  (which won the Ivor Novello Award for Best Album). She has collaborated with leading international artists and captivated audiences worldwide with her spellbinding live performances.

Released via her own Καλό μήνα (Kalo Mina) Records. La Havas embarks on an exciting new chapter, broadening her sonic horizons while remaining rooted in vulnerability and artistry.

In a lakeside town, Gentlemen Husbands grew to be friends long before they picked up instruments together. They learned work ethic before song structure, commitment before ability, and quickly realized the great Americana anthems they were raised on were written about life and love in small towns no different than their own.
 
Lead singer, Derrick Ballard, would pen lyrics in his father’s motorcycle shop nestled between old bikes and scrap parts. Countless songs were written, with no particular purpose, other than to sing and tell stories of old friends or new lovers.
 
“It was obvious that he was extremely talented, and even the earliest songs really connected with all of us” says guitarist, Ryan Hutcheson. Hutcheson, along with bassist Jed Atkinson, and drummer Dan Farrell, spent their high school years playing basements and underground clubs in various bands together, but knew they would one day end up collaborating with Ballard.  After many years of friendship, Gentlemen Husbands was formed.
 
“We all listen to a ton of different music and aren’t afraid of blending genres or experimenting with those influences; at the end of the day, we’re just trying to write songs we would want to hear” says Atkinson. 

After writing nearly 100 songs, they went to work with acclaimed producer, Gavin Brown (Metric, Billy Talent, The Tragically Hip). Upon listening to their House of Cards EP, the above statements ring abundantly true. The record is loaded with hooks and tales of longing, from the up front, danceable “Wandering Eye”, through the bittersweet ballad “Do It In The Dark”, to the chiming, anthemic chorus of “Shelter Valley.” The songs lend a strong sense of place and give a universal narrative that hits home, while both nodding at tradition and taking the listener to uncharted territory.
 
“Our mentality is that the song is the nucleus for everything and the only thing that really matters, so our job is to not get in the way of the songs and let them be what they want to be” says Hutcheson. 

“I have a problem with the idea that ‘a band can’t be liked by too many people’ or that anybody isn’t cool enough to listen them.” proclaims Ballard, “We want our music heard and shared by as many people as possible, isn’t that the whole point?”

Lights & Motion is the solo-project of Swedish composer Christoffer Franzén. 

Official Website: www.lightsandmotion.com
Get in touch: info@lightsandmotion.com

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