Q: The Podcast From Cbc Radio

A few years ago, Mustafa released his critically acclaimed EP, “When Smoke Rises,” which chronicled the deaths of loved ones from his community of Regent Park in Toronto. So when he sat down to write his debut album, “Dunya,” the Juno-winning musician and poet wanted to explore other things, like love, faith and his relationship with God. Then his older brother died. Mustafa sits down with Tom Power for a wide-ranging conversation about his latest album, the loss of his brother and why Toronto no longer feels like home to him.

When Nick Cave was in his early band The Birthday Party, he was angry and antagonistic toward his audience. The legendary Australian musician, writer and actor eventually grew out of his youthful contempt, but he remained consumed by his work, always putting it first before anything else. Then he lost two of his sons. In this wide-ranging conversation about grief, ambition, God and Johnny Cash, Nick tells Tom Power how he was forever transformed by his experience of unimaginable loss. He also discusses his new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album, “Wild God,” and the mysterious origins of his songwriting.

When the Canadian indie rock band Casper Skulls got their start about 10 years ago, things were a little different. Firstly, band members Melanie St-Pierre-Bednis and Neil Bednis weren’t married at the time, and now they’re husband and wife. Secondly, they hadn’t moved back to their hometown of Sudbury, Ont., and they didn’t have a baby yet. Melanie and Neil join Tom Power to talk about making their latest album, “Kit-Cat,” through those major life changes — and why it might be their best record yet.

The Canadian singer-songwriter Lights grew up in a missionary family in Timmins, Ont., believing that her musical ability was both a gift and a responsibility. Some of her earliest work was Christian music. When Lights was just a teenager, she started posting her songs on Myspace, which ultimately set her career into motion. But during that time, she also started questioning her faith. Lights joins Tom Power to talk about the healing she did to sever her ties with religion, plus, her new album, “A6,” which was inspired by the sights and sounds of Berlin. If you like this conversation, check out Tom’s interview with deadmau5 from last year.

Twenty years ago, Dallas Green and his band Alexisonfire were making post-hardcore music when Dallas decided to release a soft acoustic album under the name City and Colour. It was a big risk, but that debut solo album, “Sometimes,” went on to receive critical acclaim and a Juno Award. It was also the catalyst for Dallas to start his own independent record label, Dine Alone Records. On the 20th anniversary of his “Sometimes,” Dallas sits down with Tom Power to share the real story behind the album.

The actor and musician Joe Keery, also known as Djo, is best known for playing Steve Harrington on the hit Netflix show “Stranger Things.” But after his song “End of Beginning” went viral on TikTok last year, a huge spotlight was shone on his music. Joe sits down with Tom Power to talk about his new album, “The Crux,” and his breakthrough role in “Stranger Things.”

On her latest record, “Conditions of Love Vol. 1,” Rose Cousins digs into all the complicated feelings that come with love, from falling in love, to keeping the romance going, to maintaining friendships. It also finds the Canadian singer-songwriter reuniting with one of her most important companions: the piano. Rose sits down with Tom Power to talk about the album and her song “K’s Waltz,” which is an ode to a close friend she lost. 

Bob Martin is a Canadian actor and writer who first made his name working in Canadian TV, but now he’s one of Broadway’s most in-demand playwrights. How in demand? Well, two of his new musicals (“Boop!” and “Smash”) recently premiered on Broadway in the same week. Bob joins Tom Power to discuss that achievement and his Tony Award-winning career. In case you missed it, you might also enjoy Tom’s recent chat with Canadian composer and playwright Britta Johnson on her new musical, “Life After.”

The longest poem ever written is a 4,000-year-old Sanskrit epic called the “Mahabharata,” which clocks in at roughly 1.8 million words. But the poem’s daunting length didn’t stop Toronto’s Why Not Theatre from adapting it into a large-scale play of the same name. Miriam Fernandes, the co-creator and star of the show, joins Tom Power to tell us exactly what it took to bring this ancient Sanskrit epic to the stage. If you’re looking for more conversations about Canadian theatre, check out Tom’s interview with actor and playwright Anusree Roy.

For more than 35 years, Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah Harmer has used her voice to make award-winning, critically acclaimed music — but that’s not all. She’s also been a vocal advocate for important environmental and humanitarian causes, both in this country and abroad. At the Juno Awards in Vancouver earlier this year, Sarah was honoured with the Humanitarian Award, and now she’s receiving a key to the city for her hometown of Burlington, Ont. In this career-spanning conversation with Tom Power, Sarah talks about her early days making music with The Saddletramps and Weeping Tile, going solo, and why she’s so passionate about protecting the land she grew up on. If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom’s chat with The Weather Station.

Arkells frontman Max Kerman is taking back the term “try hard” with his first book, “Try Hard: Creative Work in Progress.” It peels back the curtain on the band’s creative process, offering a framework for how to bring more creativity into your life, but it’s also a defence of striving and wanting to be a better artist. In this conversation with Tom Power, Max dispels some of the myths about what you need to make it in music. He also shares a few stories from the band’s history and tells us why Bruce Springsteen is such a big influence on him.

On Bells Larsen’s stunning new album, “Blurring Time,” the Canadian singer-songwriter has an unlikely collaborator — himself. Bells is a trans man and he first recorded the album in his pre-transition voice with the intent of revisiting the songs after he started hormone therapy. The result is a unique self-collaboration, in which he harmonizes with himself. Bells sits down with Tom Power to talk about the new album and having to cancel his U.S. tour. If you like this conversation, take a listen to Tom’s chat with singer-songwriter T. Thomason.

In “Andor” — the latest series in the “Star Wars” franchise — actor Stellan Skarsgård (Dune, Nymphomaniac, Mamma Mia!) plays Luthen Rael, a charming but ruthless rebel leader who fronts as an antiques dealer. Stellan sits down with Tom Power to talk about the new season of “Andor” and why he’s drawn to morally complex characters. Plus, he shares a beautiful story about his time working with Robin Williams in Toronto on “Good Will Hunting.” If you enjoy this conversation, check out Tom’s 2023 interview with Stellan’s son, Alexander Skarsgård.

Ambur Braid is a Canadian soprano who’s taken on some of the most coveted roles in opera. But it wasn’t until she saw Alban Berg’s “Wozzeck” as an undergraduate student that she knew opera would be her life. Now, Ambur is playing Marie in a new production of “Wozzeck” at the Canadian Opera Company. She sits down with Tom Power to talk about this full circle moment and her passion for classical music. Looking for more conversations about opera? Check out Tom’s interview with composer John Adams on the role of opera in tackling contemporary issues.

About a decade ago, Anjulie had huge success writing catchy pop songs that were all over Canadian radio and MuchMusic. She won a Juno Award, she was writing songs for the likes of Lady Gaga and Kelly Clarkson, and there was a bidding war between some of the biggest labels in the world who were desperate to sign her. But then, at the height of her success, Anjulie walked away from her music career to focus on healing some internal wounds she’d been avoiding. Now, she’s re-emerged as a more centered version of herself — and with that comes a new sound and a hit single. Anjulie sits down with Tom Power to share her story. If you like this conversation, take a listen to Tom’s chat with pop singer JoJo on her experience as a child star.

Laura Reznek is a British Columbia-born musician and singer-songwriter who’s just released her new album, “The Sewing Room.” She made the record to help her process a family tragedy: her father’s death by suicide. Laura joins Tom Power to set up her song “Endeavours,” which explores her experience with grief.

When Bob the Drag Queen landed his debut book deal, his publisher asked him if he wanted to write a memoir — but he had something different in mind. The drag superstar’s new book, “Harriet Tubman: Live in Concert,” imagines the famed abolitionist in the present day as she sets out to make a hip-hop album. Bob joins Tom Power to talk about his new chapter as a New York Times bestselling author, the endless self-confidence that won him “RuPaul's Drag Race,” and why he wants you to stop asking him to read you. If you like this conversation, check out Tom’s interviews with Sasha Velour or Jimbo.

In her latest poetry collection, “Wellwater,” the Canadian poet Karen Solie takes a hard look at climate grief and economic anxiety. Her opening poem, “Basement Suite,” was inspired by short-term rentals and precarious living arrangements. But for Karen, the role of poetry isn’t about finding the answers to big questions — it's about honouring our curiosity with the hope that we can eventually find new ways forward. She joins Tom Power to talk about her new book and she reads a few poems for us as well. If you enjoy this conversation, you might also like Tom’s conversation with Canadian poet Farah Ghafoor.

Back in the 1990s and early 2000s, there was no one cooler than Chloë Sevigny. After being discovered on the streets of New York, she became the ultimate It Girl. She was an in-demand model and actor known for her unique eye for fashion as well as for starring in indie films that are now considered cult classics. Last September, Chloë sat down with Tom to talk about the different phases of her career and her new film, "Bonjour Tristesse.” If you enjoy this conversation, take a listen to Tom’s chat with actor Josh Hartnett on how he escaped the heartthrob label.

July Talk’s Peter Dreimanis just made his big screen debut playing a singing vampire in Ryan Coogler’s “Sinners” — and it all happened because of a Creedence Clearwater Revival cover song he released. Peter sits down with Tom Power to tell us the story behind his first major film role, plus, a little bit about his debut solo album under the name Peter Dreams, which he wrote while waiting for his newborn baby to arrive.