Nick Bendzsa sits down with us to peel back the layers of his musical metamorphosis from synth-pop architect to folk-trap innovator. The Newfoundland native, now based in Montreal, candidly reveals how his sound has evolved alongside his personal journey.

Growing up with a music professor father who specialized in experimental and improvised compositions, Nick absorbed the spirit of musical freedom from an early age. While his teenage years found him playing bass in a blues band and performing for crowds of 2,000 at just 17, his true artistic voice was still developing. Nick reflects on how these formative experiences shaped his approach to music-making: "I think it was very much like being around him and going to his concerts and picking up this spirit of freedom through music and the joy of creation."

The conversation delves into the fascinating transition from his previous project Hello—characterized by densely layered electronic soundscapes—to his current solo work under his own name. This shift wasn't just stylistic but represented a deeper change in creative philosophy. "I'm not trying to add frivolous stuff," Nick explains. "I want to just communicate a bit more directly." His self-described "trap folk" sound merges fingerpicked guitars with trap beats and ambient textures, creating something uniquely authentic that flows from genuine emotional experiences rather than genre conventions.

Particularly illuminating is Nick's discussion of how producing for other artists has informed his own work, teaching him to consider what elements truly serve the emotional core of a song. This perspective has helped him embrace minimalism and authenticity over the pressure to create attention-grabbing pop songs in today's saturated music landscape. With his album "Very Soft Glow" set to release on May 24th, Nick Bendzsa invites us to witness the next chapter in his evolving musical story—one that promises to continue blurring boundaries while remaining firmly rooted in emotional truth.

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When does a musical project truly end? Scott Garred of Super XX Man thought he had written the final chapter when he crafted an obituary for his 30-year-old band. Yet somehow, what began as a nostalgic blog post excavating old flyers and cassettes transformed into an unexpected resurrection.

The creative spark reignited when longtime collaborator Allie Wesley reached out after seeing Scott's posts. "It'd be so fun to do something together again," she wrote, not knowing those words would breathe new life into a project Scott had considered complete. That simple connection opened the floodgates to what Scott describes as "the community that was Super XX Man." Soon, songs that had been sitting in limbo found their way to Portland producer Adam Seltzer, forming the foundation of "Rusted Hues" - the first Super XX Man album in a decade.

Throughout our conversation, Scott shares fascinating insights into his creative process, describing how he immerses himself in music daily as both a music therapist and a perpetual student of the craft. "I play music every day," he explains, detailing how creativity generates more creativity once he begins recording. We journey back to his formative musical moments, from the friend who taught him two simple guitar chords that "changed my musical life right then and there" to his first experiences with home recording on a four-track that made songwriting feel accessible.

Most movingly, Scott reflects on what performing means after three decades of making music. "I don't think it's bravery," he says about sharing deeply personal songs. "It's a privilege to be able to go play a show and stand in front of one person, two people, a thousand people." Whether playing in a church basement in Wisconsin or to hundreds in Japan, the feeling remains the same: "When I'm really singing, and it's resonating in my own heart - there's nothing like it." Join us for this intimate look at musical resurrection, creative persistence, and finding renewed purpose in artistic community.

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Garage punk with heart and soul? Australian band Delivery proves it's not only possible—it's transformative.

When Rebecca Allen and James Lynch first connected romantically eight years ago, they weren't immediately thinking musical collaboration. Despite James gifting Rebecca her first bass guitar and both gravitating toward punk sounds, they maintained separate musical journeys until COVID lockdowns created the perfect environment for creative fusion.

"We were at home where you couldn't go out with nothing to do," explains James, "and somehow the idea of 'should we try and make some songs together' happened." That spontaneous decision launched what would become Delivery—a five-piece powerhouse featuring three guitars and four vocalists across their catalog.

Their latest album "Force Majeure" showcases a band that understands the delicate balance between intensity and accessibility. Songs like "Digging Holes" deliver raw garage punk energy while tracks like "New Alphabet" reveal a more melodic, Pavement-inspired sensibility. This thoughtful approach to sonic dynamics creates what host Chris describes as a "soothing" quality unusual for the genre—a testament to the band's mature songwriting approach.

What truly defines Delivery is their commitment to genuine collaboration. "We definitely wanted it to be a band, not like a duo project," James emphasizes. This democratic ethos allows each member to contribute ideas freely, resulting in music that feels both cohesive and delightfully unpredictable. Whether workshopping riffs together in rehearsal or meticulously layering guitars in the studio, the process maintains an "anything goes" attitude that keeps their sound fresh.

The band's live performances capture this collaborative spirit perfectly—high-energy affairs where, as Rebecca puts it, "we have a lot of fun on stage playing together, and that feeds into the crowd too." This authentic connection with audiences has helped Delivery build an expanding international following.

From bedroom recordings to world tours, Delivery represents what happens when musical community prioritizes genuine expression over rigid formulas. As they continue crafting new material for 2025, their journey stands as inspiration for anyone seeking to create art that balances power with nuance, intensity with melody, and individual expression with collective joy.

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