Song Birds plays women in music: as singers, writers, instrumentalists and producers, with a focus on new and Canadian artists. Tune in every Monday from10-11:30 AM (MT).

For more about the show, and the wonderful station on which it broadcasts, visit CJSW.com

ARTIST Album “Track”

Inch Chua Wallflower ”Mt. Epiphany”

Jesse Thomas War Dancer ”Fire”

Lisa Hannigan Single ”I Don’t Know”

Lauren Mann & The Fairly Odd Folk Stories from Home ”Lady in the Yellow Dress” (local)

Angela Nurse Angela Nurse ”Mr. Right” (local)

Martha and the Muffins Metro Music ”Echo Beach” (Canadian)

The Lovely Bad Things New Ghost ”Dinosaur Song”

The Wilderness of Manitoba When You Left the Fire ”Orono Park”

The Submarines The Shoelaces EP ”You Me and the Bourgeoisie”

Ohbijou Metal Meets ”Anser” (Canadian)

Basketball Maw ”Suspiros de Chile” (Canadian)

Handsome Furs Face Control ”Evangeline” (Canadian)

Sharon Van Etten Tramp ”Serpents”

The Pack AD Unpersons ”Sirens” (Canadian)

Grimes Halifaxa ”Rasik” (Canadian)

Tuneyards Whokill ”Bizness”

Dirty Ghosts Metal Moon ”Shout it In”

Roccocode Guns Sex and Glory ”Empire” (Canadian)

Hot Panda How Come I’m Dead ”Pools” (Canadian)

Emm Gryner The Summer of High Hopes ”Blackwinged Bird” (local)

La Bete Nom de Plume “Amazonia”

And a bonus! Not on the playlist this week, but super fun nonetheless!

Playlist Guide: Artist – Track – Album (label)

Hospitality – Liberal Arts – Hospitality ( Merge )

 

 

Erin Passmore* – Downtown – Downtown EP ( Hidden Pony ) cancon

Cold Speck* – old stepstone – Holland ( Arts & Crafts ) cancon

 

Tigertown – Go Now – Welcome To Tigertown ( Self-Released )

Cate Le Bon – Greta – Cyrk ( The Control Group )

First Aid Kit – Emmylou – The Lion’s Roar ( Wichita )

Dear Sister* – Morning Lark – Dear Sister ( Self-Released ) cancon

Woodpigeon** – Are You There, God, It’s Me Mark – For Paulo ( Boompa ) cancon+local

 

The Coppertone – Heroine – Hidden Dreams cancon

UN – Love is a Ghost – UN ( S/R )  cancon

Trailer Trash Traceys – Wish You Were Red – Wish You Were Red ( Domino )

 

Bonjay – Stumble – Broughtupsy  cancon

Army Girls* – Cold & Alcohol – Close To The Bone ( Blocks )  cancon

 

Coasting – Same Old Same Old – You’re Never Going Back ( M’Lady’s )

The Ettes – You Never Say – Wicked Will 

Eleanor Friedberger – My Mistakes – Last Summer 

Zoe Boekbinder – Serrated Spoon – Darling Specimens ( Extropian )

The Ruffled Feathers – Novy Mir – Lost Cities EP cancon

 

Christine Graves – Survival – Piece by Piece cancon+local

Jenny Berkel* – In the Hollow – Here On A Wire ( Self-Released ) cancon

Jenny O – I’m Gonna Love You Too – Rave On Buddy Holly 

Peggy Sue – Funeral Beat – Acrobats ( Yep Roc )

 

This is an acoustic version of “Mowgli’s Road”, which is just so simple and beautiful.

I have to admit, I didn’t like Marina and the Diamonds right away. But she won me over with how darned amazing she is.

More to come soon!

Enjoy,

- G

Here’s the original performance, in case you missed it.

And as a huge Hunger Games fan, I was just delighted by this sendoff. **Language advisory for the video.

Enjoy,

- G

I was thinking the other day – due to an incident I’ll describe in a bit – about how much I’ve changed in the last few years.

In high school, I was hyper-tuned to what people did in relation to me. It was vital that I be acceptable to certain people. And while I still feel that way in specific situations and with specific individuals, it’s come a long way. Now, it’s more about the standards I set for myself.

I would dress and act a certain way as a teenager and into my first years as a twentysomething. It would consist largely of not wearing my glasses (which I do need daily), hiding my goofy side and dressing in what I felt were “cool girl clothes”.

Looking at my younger sister – who seems pretty comfortable with her outward self – is a good comparison. While she might have other issues, she seems to rock who she is on the outside.

And by the way, I love it when I see someone wearing something that looks just like it’s an extension of their body. There’s nothing put-on about it. Be it pink hair, suspenders, head scarves, plaid mini-dresses … there’s just a feeling of ease with which people carry themselves.

This past weekend, I was in the throes of a nasty, nasty cold. I’ve been taking to visiting my family’s house to spend time with them. This particular Saturday, I had a chance to walk our dog, and I decided to take him out.

This was one of those days when I’d accidentally walked out of the house wearing the perfect outfit. Not that there was something super fashion-forward or trendy about it. It just totally felt like me. I’d also gotten a haircut the week before, and was feeling pretty good, in spite of being rather ill.

Max and I were walking down a busy street when a few guys in a sedan drove by. One of them yelled at me, “Nice sweater, you hipster dyke!”

Now, this prompted the following reaction: an eyebrow raise from me, and a big sniff from Max.

Two years ago, I would have been outraged. How dare they yell these things at me! Who are they to judge me by the way I look! Women who have short hair aren’t lesbians by default!!

In high school, I would have cried.

On Saturday, I kept walking, satisfied with the response that I would have said back:

“I love this sweater, how sweet of you to notice. I think I look nice today, too.

I’m not really a dyke, as you put it, which is fine. But if I were, I’d have much better game than you.”

And off I walked, Max by my side, feeling a bit better about myself (though still sniffly).

I do feel a little guilty though. Shouldn’t I be crafting? Writing? Saving the world a little? 

The movies I’ve been watching in the past few months have actually led me to (or back to) some pretty awesome crafty ladies. When I stopped to think about it, some of my favourite films have some sort of sewing scene or motif in them.

So, I decided to compile a Top Five DIYers in the Movies.

5 – Fanny Brawne from Bright Star

The first thing you hear about the heroine of this tragic romance is that she has a unique way of dressing. 

Fanny wears the most amazing fabrics in all sorts of bright colours, daring even these days. I was struck right away by the hats and collars she makes.

It is just such a beautiful expression of who she is. Janet Patterson, as costume designer, did a great job of making this character blossom outwardly, making her the perfect artistic match for poet John Keats.

This movie is just breathtaking in all ways, and I highly recommend it.

4 – Scarlett O’Hara and Mammy from Gone With the Wind

Scarlett usually gets the credit for this one. Though the idea was hers, let’s not forget that Mammy actually made it for her! I’ll have to credit these ladies as a team.

When Scarlett needs to look like a real Southern belle in spite of her debts, the gets the idea to tear down her curtains to make a dress from their lush velvet. When she goes to ask Rhett for the 300 dollars she needs, she hopes she’ll look more appealing.

“Thank goodness you’re not in rags. I’m tired of seeing women in rags!”

To this day, it’s still pretty inspiring to see these old-school Recessionistas re-purpose like pros!

3 – Maria from The Sound of Music

This is one of the movies I grew up on. As a child, I would watch this and then make paper towel dresses for my Barbies, trying to replicate Maria von Trapp’s inspired curtain clothes for the children.

Maria’s an all-around Jane of all trades. She sings, dances, nannies … and she sews. When she arrives at the house, she requests material to make new clothes instead of having the Captain fund a whole new wardrobe. And then, makes seven frigging new outfits for the children. Yeah.

Let’s see the Baroness do that.

Her ability to stay strong for her new family in the midst of invasion is also pretty damned inspiring. Maria, on behalf of hundreds of adoring fans everywhere, I salute you.

2 – Molly Weasley from the Harry Potter movies

This woman is another example of the multi-tasking maven. She raises her seven kids, battles dark wizards, plans weddings, travels and basically kicks ass at it all.

Do you remember that one scene when we first see the Burrow? She’s set up spells all over the kitchen, including self-knitting needles. Damn, girl.

Even if she just made sweaters for everyone each year for Christmas, she’d make this list.

Magical Molly – can we be BFF?

1 –  Andie Walsh from Pretty In Pink

So sue me.

This one is just too freaking iconic! Plus, this is a teenage girl who had the balls to make her own prom dress.

The fact that it looked like a bubblegum sandwich baggie isn’t the point. And it isn’t her best outfit she wears, either.

It’s the hats, baubles, layering, pastels and red hair, floral patterns … the more I watch this movie, the more I like her everyday wear.

Andie’s top of the list for me as well because she had to put up with so much crap from the snooty rich kids for her boyfriend and her kickass clothes.

For her insistence on dressing for herself, Andie is top DIY banana.

Who would have been on your list?

I’ve recently moved back to my hometown of Calgary, Alberta. It was a quick move (about one week!) and was done just days before Christmas. And then, of course, there was Christmas! Not only had I brought three extra bags on the plane, but I was also toting my gifts with me.

The reason I’ve moved back is because I have a new job, which I am very excited about. It’s in radio – a major passion of mine – and it’s at an amazing station with some very talented and lovely people. 

So, needless to say, I’ve been a bit caught up with these things. Now that things are settling back down, I can start back on my blog.

From http://www.grantyoshino.com/

One thing I wanted to share was my new favourite blog: F*** Yeah Girls With Short Hair. It’s pretty much my comeback to anyone who says short cuts are less versatile and unfeminine. A few clicks through here and BOO YAW, they are sheepishly admitting their wrongdoings.

And considering I’ve got a short cut, and want to go shorter soon, this is a pretty inspiring piece of internet.

I hope you enjoy clicking through there. Perhaps you might find yourself inclined to go short!

Enjoy,

- G

It’s very easy to adapt to whatever the dietary needs you’re dealing with or if you’re looking to adjust spice. It’s going to be easy to fit your preferences.

And an update: I’ve now moved, and for now, everything is all good. I’ll be posting about it once the holidays are over.

Enjoy!

- G

Fried Rice

*** No eggs will make this vegan.

- Prepare 1 cup brown basmati rice with 1 1/2 half cups water. Cook until it’s just a little tender.

- 2 eggs

- 2 tablespoons olive oil

- 2 teaspoons chili flakes

- 2 tablespoons cumin

- pinch of cayenne pepper

- 1 teaspoon salt

- 1 teaspoon black pepper (fresh ground is always, always best)

- 2 green onions, chopped

- 2 cloves of garlic, either minced or smushed in a garlic press

- 1/2 red pepper, cut into thin strips

- 2 tablespoons soy sauce (low sodium!)

- Dash of tabasco

- Once the rice is cooked, remove it from the heat and set it aside for now.

- With just a little water, combine all of the spices (including the sauces) in a small bowl and set aside.

- In a large – very large – wok or frying pan, pour in the olive oil and begin frying your eggs over a happy medium-low heat. This bit’s pretty personal. I looove to have really well-cooked eggs, just brown and crispy in places. Some like them almost runny.

- Toss in your red peppers along with the eggs. The best red peppers will give you that tangy, sharp feeling at the back of your nose when you cook them. At this point, add a few teaspoons of your spice goo.

- In go the green onions! These are like the shy little cousin of the big yellow or white guys. They’ll just give you the teeniest hint of that great pungent onion flavour without being all “HEY! WE’RE ONIONS! TASTE US!” They get tender pretty quick. Add some more spice goo.

- Knock that heat dial up to a medium-high heat and toss in your rice. You can go all at once or let it happen gradually. At this point, you’ll add the rest of your spice goo. Use a spatula to get every last morsel out, and keep that bad boy for stirring the rice from now on.

- At this point, as you toss the rice on a higher heat, you’re welcome to take this recipe and run, run like the wind with it. If you’ve marinated some chicken pieces, toss ‘em in. The nice thing about fried rice is that it’s pretty accepting of whatever you put in it. I’ve been know to use chopped up bits of Italian turkey sausage, bacon left over from breakfast (again, turkey in my case), tofu, veggie ground round, mo’ veggies … pretty much anything. And, add more spices! Taste as you go. The spices I’ve suggested here are approximations of what I’ll put in as a base, and riff from there.

- The trick at this stage is to constantly be stirring the rice. If you need to run away from the stove, get a buddy to be your stirring stand-in, or take it off the heat entirely. It’s on higher heat, and we don’t want burnage.

- You’ll know it’s done when you’ve got some crispy-tender business going on in the rice department and the red pepper is still soft and crunchy at the same time.

But, Corinne Leigh of Threadbanger fame just put this great video together. Hope you get some inspiration if you need that last-minute gift!

Enjoy,

- G

- G