On The Porch With Front Porch Music

An All-Access Pass to Country Music Week: CCMA Recap

• Front Porch Music • Season 2 • Episode 20

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This week On The Porch we take you to the heart of Country Music week at the CCMA Awards in Hamilton. 

Every year, country artists from across Canada and straight from Nashville gather to celebrate the best in country music. In this special episode, we take you to the Red Carpet and Content Row to capture live interviews from some of Canada's most celebrated country artists.

We speak to some of the most accomplished artists in Canada. Some of the artists you're going to hear from are: Carolyn Dawn Johnson, Gord Bamford, Hailey Benedict, Jojo Mason, Hunter Brothers, Jason McCoy, Alicia McCarvell, Julie Kennedy, Madeline Merlo, Tenille Townes, Kyle McKearney, and more. 

Hear their candid conversations, exclusive insights, and the emotions that drive their passion for country music.

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Jenna Weishar:

Welcome back to another episode of On the Porch with Front Porch Music, hosted by me, jenna and Logan Miller. We were just at the CCMAs and, wow, we had such a great time. We had our first red carpet, where we got to speak to some really incredible Canadian artists Along with content row. We attended so many fun events. We caught up with a bunch of your favorites, so we have them right here on this week's episode. Stay tuned, we are hanging out at content row with Carolyn Don Johnson. We have never met before and I hate that for us. How are you? That's okay, we're meeting now.

Meghan Patrick:

I'm good, nice to meet you.

Jenna Weishar:

It's nice to meet you as well. Why don't you start just by telling us a little bit about what's going on for you recently? Tell?

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

the fam. Okay, what's been going on for me? Recently I started going to like family seven. My kids went to this and we did this and we had this stuff. That's so cool too. But I've been making new music. I've been doing that for about a year and a half. It's been taking a while. I've got a full album that I'm working on and almost done. I've got a first single coming out in October called Roadblocks, and it's just a really fun, inspiring, rockin' song that's about getting through the roadblocks in your life. It's got all the car imagery and stuff and road imagery, but it's much deeper than that. Okay, okay, you know, everybody's had probably some of their own roadblocks and I've certainly had mine. So this is just about like saying, uh-uh, we're going through that, we're going to make it, we're going to do it anyway.

Jenna Weishar:

Amazing. It's not a car crash, obviously no car crashing. That's amazing. You know, I was just thinking. I was like you haven't put on music in a while. It's a good thing. Your music is insanely good so we can go back to it every time we're looking for more.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

Thank you so much. That's very kind of you. I saw you were playing yesterday Really.

Jenna Weishar:

Yes, I'm from one friend and I wish I was able to make it, but the nostalgia of complicated and dress rehearsal. That music is iconic, it's timeless Thank you.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

I'll never get tired of hearing something like that. Thank you for that very big compliment.

Jenna Weishar:

It is so fundamental. Just like so many of our, I think our younger years, I remember like being in my well, where my grandparents live. They play AM radio but they play like the good country music Like 2000s to 2010s country is like peak Canadian country, I think, and we'll be singing this in the kitchen. I told my grandma I was talking to you today and she was like what she goes, you'd be on your best behavior and I was like you don't know me at all.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

I don't know what that is Tell your grandma hi, oh my gosh, and that it's very, very sweet and I love that I made some sort of mark.

Jenna Weishar:

You have. I hope you know you have. Thank you, your music is very, like I said, fundamental, so that's really cool. I'm so excited that you're going to put something up. Let's do it. Yay, me too. You've been writing a lot, though, right, you spend your time in Nashville. One thing we highlight on the front porch is independent and upcoming up and coming artists, and I think that's a lane where you are such an elevator of young talent and emerging artists, so can we just like celebrate that a little bit?

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

You know what? I have met a lot of the up and comers. Whenever they come to Nashville, somehow I get in the ring with them. I'm not able to work with everybody all the time, for sure Too much but I would love to, because I really want to help inspire, maybe, if I've paved the way a little bit, give them some of my knowledge, mentor a little bit.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

Obviously, I'm still doing my own thing, but when I came to Nashville, I really didn't know anything and I had done a lot of homework, and there's so much that I learned on my journey that I have tried to condense down for people so that they just have a little bit more of an idea of what's ahead of them, but always, always encouraging people to chase their dreams. Do not stop if that's what's in your heart that you need to do. But yes, there's these things, there's some of this and there's some of this and there's some of this, so you might want to think of this, you might want to think of that, and so I feel like that's part of my journey is giving back in that way, and I love all the new artists because, honestly, anyone who's actually doing anything about this and working hard at it. I know what it takes and I know how many years and songs of delayed gratification. This business is about delayed gratification. You just keep doing it because you love it and then, oh, that popped.

Carolyn Dawn Johnson:

Do it, do it, do it, do it. Oh, there's something else that happened. Do it, do it, do it, do it. Two years later, oh, somebody actually put me on that show. So you never know when something's gonna really truly land. You can only do the work and then see what happens later. So I know that anybody who has music in their heart that has to do it. It's a special kind of breed and I support any and all that are going for it.

Jenna Weishar:

Amazing. Well, thank you so much for hanging out with us on the porch. We'll have to have you on for a full episode, I don't. We'll have to do that. We'll have to do that. I would love that. Okay, thank you so much. You're welcome, colin Don Johnson. Thank you, hey, everyone. It's Jenna. I'm hanging out on Content Row. I was gonna say Media Row. They changed it on us with Front porch music and Gord Banford. How are you doing?

Gord Bamford:

I'm good, how are?

Jenna Weishar:

you no complaints. We love getting together. Like once a year isn't enough, right it's?

Gord Bamford:

good, and this is not quite as early this time, so it's even better.

Jenna Weishar:

You didn't have a six am wake up call wait.

Gord Bamford:

No, I didn't, I didn't, no.

Jenna Weishar:

Did they make you do that last year?

Gord Bamford:

Sometimes it's pretty early, but you know you gotta just these radio folks get up so early. They are, yeah, they're early, but we're not very. Our musicians aren't so.

Jenna Weishar:

It's literally the opposite schedule.

Gord Bamford:

Sometimes we gotta be a little smarter.

Jenna Weishar:

Well, gord, we're so excited to be hanging out with you on the porch. Tell us a little bit about what you've been up to this year.

Gord Bamford:

You know, we've just been crazy, crazy busy touring since February and we just got back from an Australian tour and now we're yeah, now we're set to tour all of Ontario and the Maritime right out of the country musical ward tour. So it's been great as far as playing goes and being on the road.

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, I was just gonna ask you about your like of your tour that's coming up. I know you toured the West Coast earlier this year, right?

Gord Bamford:

Yeah, we started in the West in February. We've been in all the West and now we're doing all the East.

Jenna Weishar:

Cover us all.

Gord Bamford:

We've been kind of just playing every place that wants to hear us play.

Jenna Weishar:

I hate to make you answer the question, but who do you like better, the East or the West?

Gord Bamford:

You know, it's just all good that the East is an awesome market. Yeah yeah, their fans are passionate here and I always love coming here.

Jenna Weishar:

Do you have a favorite venue that you check out when you're in Ontario?

Gord Bamford:

We're going back to some of the dive bar places that we played, which have been fun and that sort of thing. But yeah, it's always good to be out here and we're looking forward to getting out and seeing everybody.

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, and you're touring your current album, right?

Gord Bamford:

Yeah, the Fired Up album is the Canadian Dirt Tour and this is the last single Canadian Dirt that's coming out, and onto the next project.

Jenna Weishar:

Amazing. Thank you so much for hanging out with us.

Gord Bamford:

Yeah, thanks for having me On.

Jenna Weishar:

Content Row.

Gord Bamford:

There you go.

Jenna Weishar:

I'm gonna remember that and we will see you soon.

Gord Bamford:

Thanks a lot, appreciate it.

Jenna Weishar:

We are hanging out at Content Row with Hailey Bendict, top of the country winner. Ah, how are you?

Hailey Benedict:

I'm doing good. How are you? I'm good. Are you on a high right now, or what? Yes, yeah, it's been a lot of emotions.

Jenna Weishar:

I'm overwhelmed, yeah so crazy, so crazy. We've been talking about this a little bit throughout the year and we're like it's the end.

Hailey Benedict:

I know it's, in the moment it feels like it's going by slow, but it really has just gone by so fast and yeah, it's just been a whirlwind. But such an amazing experience Can you believe it's September? We're at the CCMA oh, where'd the year go? I don't know. It's gonna be winter tomorrow. Yeah, literally tomorrow.

Jenna Weishar:

So sad. No, no, no, no. Okay. Well, you killed it last night. Thank you. Did you have like the best time on stage? You look just like you were having the best time oh my gosh.

Hailey Benedict:

It was so much fun and the venue was a musical hall in Hamilton, really cool. It was so beautiful, it's like this amazing church. And then, yeah, the fans were just like insane. Like I didn't think I was, I didn't expect like the crowd to be that like hyped up and so full in there like it was. It was pretty packed, so it was. I was just excited to play and have fun. I was like you know what, regardless of what happens, I just want to have fun up here and put on a good show for the fans that came and Shred a little guitar.

Jenna Weishar:

And shred some guitar. Yeah, if you know Haley Bennett, do you know? She's shredding, she's learning, she's shredding, she's learning. Yeah, yeah, let's talk about Damn you, july. We talked about it a little bit another time, but just cracked top 50 at radio. You also, that was your entry song, right so from the top of the country. So did you think this song was gonna have so much life?

Hailey Benedict:

when you wrote it. Oh, my goodness, you know when we wrote it. I wrote it with my friends Rich Cloak and Elias James and I think we, after we finished the session, it felt like something really special. I mean, you just never know what, how a Song's gonna resonate with people, and so I've just been amazing to see how people have reacted to the song and have kind of, you know, added it to their playlist and built it in and to their lives somehow, and hearing the stories, people listening to it has been really fun and I'm really grateful for all the things.

Jenna Weishar:

That's kind of happening and life it's taking yeah, seriously, and it's like just getting started too, so that's really cool, so unreal yeah. I know we're just talking about Damn you, july, but when can we expect a new single coming from you?

Hailey Benedict:

I know, like I said, I know we're still living in the Damn you July era but like, yeah, well, we might be getting out of July and going into December era. Okay, okay, christmas era. Oh so, yeah, too sneaky. Okay, yeah, some of that. And then, past Christmas, I have some fun songs. I have some songs that I've just been itching to put out, so I'm really excited to put those out into the world.

Jenna Weishar:

Well, we can't wait. Congratulations again on your win, thank you, and we are so happy to have you here. Thank you so much for having me. What is up? We were hanging out at Content Row at the CCMAs and I'm hanging out with the Hunter Brothers. Yay, I just called you the cool kids in town because everybody wants to talk to you. But Ty was like okay, don't give us that much credit, right?

Ty Hunter:

No, no, that's hard to explain.

Jenna Weishar:

How's it going? I don't know. It's just me. It's just me Just kidding. No, how's everybody doing Five check?

Ty Hunter:

It's been crazy the last while the guys just hopped off the combines. I mean, there's 12 children amongst four of us, and so life is a wild, wild adventure right now, but we're excited to be here and it's going to be a good weekend.

Jenna Weishar:

No kidding, we are super excited about your current EP and the single Burning Down the Barn. Thank you. I have to ask, because I know you get up to absolutely no good, which one of you burnt down the barn.

Ty Hunter:

For the inspo, that was so fast, 15 seconds. 15 seconds when the flames were Okay. It didn't come down in 15 seconds.

Jenna Weishar:

I thought I was making a joke. You're telling me a serious thing.

Ty Hunter:

It went up in flames in 15 seconds until it was under-lazing in the inferno.

Jenna Weishar:

Scary.

Ty Hunter:

It was wild, but we did it with safety precautions. It's all good.

Jenna Weishar:

It's weird because you say that, but also you drive tractors and one of you is on the bucket and I know you're not being safe. You find out. Your poor parents are probably like what are they doing now?

JJ Hunter:

They're encouraging us. They're encouraging most of it, compared to what we used to do. He's like oh, they're being so safe today.

Jenna Weishar:

I'm so glad they grew up a little. Yeah, exactly, that felt savage, sorry. Now we're so excited to have you at Content Row and the awards. You do have a nomination or two.

Ty Hunter:

Two.

Jenna Weishar:

Two.

Ty Hunter:

One on broadcast. One on broadcast.

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, that's pretty exciting.

Ty Hunter:

Thank you very much. Well, will you be?

Jenna Weishar:

seeing the new single. Are you playing the new single on the broadcast?

Ty Hunter:

No, we actually get to do the in-memory performance tonight.

Jenna Weishar:

Amazing.

Ty Hunter:

It's a Gordon Lightfoot song so it's a really special action, putting that together and reflecting on his music.

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, that is amazing. We are getting to know a Canadian country artist, with the Hunter Brothers Ready for your question.

Ty Hunter:

Ready for your question.

Logan Miller:

What's a fan encounter that has left a lasting impression on you?

Ty Hunter:

There was something thrown on stage. The very first time that we performed with High Valley, we opened for them. I'm not sure that I should say what it was that got thrown up on stage, as we were allowed to say that. Anyway, that was one of them.

JJ Hunter:

Second was I think the concert in Yorkton with the Go ahead.

Ty Hunter:

Yes, oh, that was amazing, okay. So there was a little girl who was sitting in the front row and she had a sign and I noticed it right away but wanted to wait for the finale or kind of the encore because she had on her sign. Those were, the nights taught me how to speak. So one of our songs actually helped her, because she wasn't able to talk as a little girl. So she listened to the song over and over again and it was just a beautiful moment because we brought her up on stage, she had a little pink guitar and she helped close out the entire tour and so it was one of the most special, very beautiful moments and we got it on film. I love.

Jenna Weishar:

That that's memorable for her, obviously, but also for you, so that's so sweet Love you, Okay. Well, we're so excited to see you guys tonight.

JJ Hunter:

Thank you so much. Thanks for having us, of course.

Ty Hunter:

Hey everybody, it is Ty with the Hunter Brothers and we are playing Get to Know a Canadian country artist. Is that what we're playing? What is the most personal song you've ever written and what's the story behind it? Okay, just wanted you to know, is for sure. The answer to that question had some inspo at 11 o'clock at night, feeling like I was hurting for somebody else, and flipped over, wrote a song in five minutes. Didn't know if it was going to make sense. The next morning woke up. It did actually make sense, although we wanted to rewrite it and make it not just about the person hurting for someone, but also the person who is going through difficulties as well. So everybody threw their input into the ring. Jj was coming up with a melody line, dusty was throwing harmonies on. We evolved the lyrics and it is now, I would say, probably the most personal song of ours to date, in conjunction with Hard Dirt hey everyone.

JJ Hunter:

It's JJ and we are playing. Let's Get to Know a country artist. Alright, what's the most valuable lesson you've learned throughout your career? I think one of the most valuable lessons is not forgetting where you came from and remembering the people that you went along with. Careers come and go and there's going to be times that are high, times that are low, but it's those relationships that you've built and remembering where you came from, what built you to the place that you were. We all have a name, we all have a place that we grew up, and those are special things that, long after the careers over, are going to be things that matter for us too our family, making sure our family stays first through it all. That would be probably some of the most valuable lessons that I've learned along the way.

Hailey Benedict:

Hey, I'm Hailey Benedict. I'm with Front Porch Music and we're going to answer some questions here. Oh, do you have any rituals or habits before going on stage? Yes, I actually have like a straw that I use to warm up and then usually me and my band do like a put our hands in and do a hurrah or some sort of pump up before we get on stage. What's a fan encounter that left a lasting impression on you? Oh man, I had one fan encounter at a show I did a couple years ago at a school. I was a little girl that is still follows me today and she came up to me and just told me how much my music resonated with her, and I'll never forget that. It was a really special moment.

Jenna Weishar:

I know a Canadian country artist with Megan Patrick Hi.

Logan Miller:

How do you recharge and find balance in the midst of a busy music career?

Meghan Patrick:

Something outdoors I love to hunt, especially for mountain bike. Just nature, just getting out on the fly or out on the lake always is a trip for me, Amazing.

Logan Miller:

If you could create a super group with any musician, who would it be or who would be in the group?

Meghan Patrick:

Man well, I just saw Dallas Smith and honestly he would probably be at the top of the list. We've been able to tour together and sing together and he's just like an incredible performer. I'm drawing a blank. That was the first one that came to mind. I think me and Dallas could have a pretty killer rock country duo.

Jenna Weishar:

We are hanging out at the CCMAs with Fiddle Player of the Year, julie Kennedy of Twin Kennedy, and we are getting to know a Canadian country artist. Are you ready for your question? I'm ready.

Logan Miller:

How do you recharge and find balance in the midst of a busy music?

Julie Kennedy:

career? Oh my goodness, that is an amazing question, because it isn't easy. If you didn't know my story of this year, not only have I been making a ton of music, but I'm also in the middle of fighting breast cancer, thus the breast cancer bar being linked. I think I've learned more about balance and having to take care of yourself than ever before, and for me, that is about sleep. It's about allowing yourself to have a nice long bath at night and then listening to, of course, amazing music, and we're going to have a ton of that tonight, absolutely.

Jenna Weishar:

Congratulations again. Thank you. Okay, we are at the CCMAs getting to know a Canadian country artist to nail towns, but also Padmoni Han with Train. Are you ready for your question? We're ready.

Logan Miller:

How do you recharge and find balance in the midst of this busy career?

Ty Hunter:

Oh, my dog Sam. He's the best. He gets me going every time.

Pat Monohan:

Me and my guys do boxing workouts in the back of an 18-wheeler trailer. It's terrible, but it takes our mind off the agony of touring and doing endless amounts of shows.

Jenna Weishar:

That's a recharge. Yeah, that's a recharge, I love that Love, that Perfect. We are on the red carpet at the Canadian Country Music Awards getting to know a Canadian country artist, tyler Joe Miller.

Logan Miller:

Oh yeah, what message or feeling do you hope your music leaves with your audience?

Tyler Joe Miller:

Oh, that's a nice one. I hope that people just feel heard through my music because I feel like I try to write music that people can relate to and feel like it's not just my story, it's also their story in a way. I feel like people just feel heard and that they're within a community of people that are going through the same sort of things You're hanging out on the red carpet at the CCMAs with Madalyn Merlot.

Jenna Weishar:

Let's get to know a Canadian country artist. Are you ready for your question? I'm ready.

Logan Miller:

If you could create a super group with any musicians who would be in it.

Julie Kennedy:

Oh my gosh. Well, it would definitely be a girl group for sure. Let's do me Shania, Taylor Swift and Jess Moskva Holy stacked. Who would be so good?

Logan Miller:

What message or feeling do you hope your music leaves with your audience?

Julie Kennedy:

Oh, I hope people are empowered. Good to know, beautiful.

Logan Miller:

Red carpet at the CCMAs.

Jenna Weishar:

Getting to know a Canadian country artist with Callum McCartney. How do you balance the demands of your career with your personal life?

Logan Miller:

That's a tough one for me because I have two kids and I stay at home, dad, whenever I'm home.

Kyle McKearney:

I just really try and be there when I'm there and be here when I'm here, and then we bring the kids on the road as much as we can. My wife, sarah, is in the band, so that's how we've remedied it so far. We'll see how it goes.

Logan Miller:

Amazing. If you could collaborate with any artist, living or deceased, who would it be and why?

Kyle McKearney:

That's a tough one, John Lennon he's my absolute hero.

Jenna Weishar:

Easy.

Kyle McKearney:

Yeah.

Logan Miller:

We are here with Alicia and Scott. All night we've been playing Get to Know a Canadian Country Artist. But tonight, right now, we're going to be playing Get to Know a Canadian Country Fan.

Alicia McCarvell:

Good, because you do not want to hear me sing.

Logan Miller:

So what do you love about country music and Canada specifically?

Alicia McCarvell:

I've already talked about it a few times, but it feels like family. We just talked about it. The Getting to Meetup Boots I've recognized so many faces that I got to meet up boots that just have treated me like we've been friends for years this weekend, which kind of has gotten rid of that imposter syndrome that I'm feeling a little bit. But at Country in general, I just love the stories that Country tells and that's why we're so passionate about it. I love writing, I love things that make you feel something and I think country music does that the best. And I'm biased I think Canadian Country artists do that the best.

Logan Miller:

Any artist you're excited to see tonight.

Alicia McCarvell:

Oh, all of them. It's been a dream and I've gotten to meet so many cool people. I got to do the content row the other day and to meet Brett Kissel and Cooper Allen and Tyler Joe Miller and Jess Mosca, Luke and Hailey Benedict, the winner of the serious Top of Country award. She is a gem. Oh my gosh. There's so many cool people. Honestly, I'm just happy to be here. Jenna from the RecBoss introduced herself to me yesterday and I was dying because she obviously incredibly stunning. I'm actually really excited to see them host it, because I think it's going to be a really cool dynamic to not watch them sing together all night, but see them get to interact with each other and host something like this.

Logan Miller:

Thank you very much.

Jenna Weishar:

We are hanging out at content row with Jason McCoy. How's it going?

Jason McCoy:

Content row. This is pretty important stuff. This is like everybody who's anybody is here.

Jenna Weishar:

Literally, and we're here too. We're here. We must be somebody there you go.

Jason McCoy:

It's good times.

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, how's it going?

Jason McCoy:

You know it is great. You know I'm from Ontario, right, so anytime CCMAs are here it's kind of it's even that much more special. It's a great and very special weekend. I'm glad it's here in Hamilton.

Jenna Weishar:

Feels like home right.

Jason McCoy:

Well, it kind of is, and you know, I've got so many memories of it being here. It rotates every year different towns and it's been in Hamilton many, many times. But you know, now I have my wife and kids here with me, so it's it just. I don't know, it's just, it's got. We got a lot of memories here and it's one big family. It's nice to still be part of it.

Jenna Weishar:

And you get to, you know, celebrate a little bit tonight.

Jason McCoy:

Yeah, well, yeah, why don't we like excited?

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, you're being honored Hall of Fame.

Jason McCoy:

Hall of Fame, which is an amazing thing. Now, I first looked at this honor is like a kind of a bookend or a career, you know. But it's not. It's like a, it's like a mile marker on this continued journey. So and it's funny because you know, I've watched many inductions over the years it's kind of a highlight of the weekend, right, because these industry builders, you get to hear their story and you learn more about them, kind of you know what you didn't know, right, like the Ron Sakamoto's of the world. People may not know that name in public, but he was. He was one of the promoters that gave me my first break and he was. He was the first promoter to bring Kiss to Canada, you know, like he's a trailblazer and guys like that who helped build the foundation of the industry we're in today. So it's, it's a, it's good company and I'm very humbled.

Jenna Weishar:

How does it feel to be like honestly, like stacked up, like you are one of those people too. You have, you have created like monuments in the Canadian country music industry.

Jason McCoy:

You know well, it's, it's, you know it's. I see other people and I think that, and for me, I think I've just been part of something Right, and I guess it's like anything else that you do in media, like you're surrounded by good people. It's a team, sometimes a big team, sometimes it's a small team, but it's never a one person operation, right. Exactly, and it's just like a family and that's what CCMA are and this you know. You do what you do and just hope for the best.

Jenna Weishar:

Amazing, well, congratulations.

Jason McCoy:

Oh, thank you.

Jenna Weishar:

And we are so excited to be hanging out with you here.

Jason McCoy:

Thank you for having me, thanks for all you do in supporting Canadian country, because it's the best.

Jenna Weishar:

Hey, you know what let's just like before we end here? You're like huge with supporting emerging talent and putting people in front of the people who they need to be in front of and supporting, so that's like really great, and Google's to you too.

Jason McCoy:

Well, you know, people did that for me and that's. And the other thing is, you know we have so many great cousins in the South. You know we got our American cousins up here, as we always do celebrate in Canadian country. But I have to remember this is our thing, this is Canada and we've got our homegrown talent here. And there's people out there going around the world flying the Canadian flag literally James Barker Band, you know and bringing American artists up here and you know people literally get turned on to how great the Canadian country hotbed is. So it's nice to be part of it.

Jenna Weishar:

Absolutely. Thank you again. How do that Wait? Oh OK, we'll just cut the rest after I was going to ask do you have a? What's the goal you currently promoted? Are you promoting a single right?

Logan Miller:

now no we're not.

Jenna Weishar:

OK, what are we going to talk about? Music.

Jojo Mason:

I got a baby. Well it's not about your life. Let's get to know each other. It's not about my life. I'm super down for that.

Jenna Weishar:

OK, love, love. Oh, we're actually recording already. I was like go, are we?

Jojo Mason:

recording already. Yeah.

Jenna Weishar:

I got a baby.

Jojo Mason:

It's just audio. He's the coolest baby I got a tune in Troll. It's literally cool. Oh sorry, I'm sorry. He's the coolest baby, though I just want you to know.

Jenna Weishar:

I probably like the coolest baby because of your wife, obviously, because she's way better than me.

Jojo Mason:

Yeah, no, I know that's exactly. Yeah, OK, way better.

Jenna Weishar:

Derailed immediately. That's how it goes. We are on content row with Joe Joe Mason.

Jojo Mason:

What's up? Welcome to the front porch. I'm like talking to peace signs.

Jenna Weishar:

I'm like what's up, we'll hear the peace sign.

Jojo Mason:

Yeah, they'll hear them, how's?

Jenna Weishar:

it going Good. When is the last time you were in Hamilton?

Jojo Mason:

CCMAs no Long time A minute ago. Right Too long, too long, fair Too long. I miss my people out here.

Jenna Weishar:

Yeah, what about the CCMA fam? It's so nice to get together every year, right?

Jojo Mason:

Every year. Finally, it feels like it's been too long since we've all been together, since we've all been able to love on each other, to be able to just roll out here in the midst of like dad life and music life and all the things, and still see all our friends, and it's the best.

Jenna Weishar:

I'll talk about dad life.

Jojo Mason:

Yeah, I'm in.

Jenna Weishar:

You have the coolest kid apparently.

Jojo Mason:

He's the f you want me to show you.

Jenna Weishar:

I mean you're biased but like I'm not biased, but I'm listening.

Jojo Mason:

He's the coolest. Yeah, I'll show you a picture after. Okay, I'm waving because it's hot.

Jenna Weishar:

It's hot, it's okay. It's all good. It is very hot in here.

Jojo Mason:

He's warming up. It's these lights, it's but they make us look great.

Jenna Weishar:

Let's talk about being a dad managing a music career.

Jojo Mason:

Being a dad managing music career is literally the greatest thing ever, because I get to wake up, my mornings are the best with my son. I get to walk into his room and he's standing at the crib and goes, ah daddy, and he's ready for me every morning. So, like it's, like it's the coolest, and him and I are creating such a good bond right now Because I get to do what I do, like I get to be home so often and then, when it's time to go on the road, daddy gets to go to work, but then when I'm home, I'm so home and I'm so present. So it's such a good balance for me in my life. What a gift. Yes, it's honestly this gift of music and this gift of my son is just like it's the greatest.

Jenna Weishar:

Um, has he learned to sing any of your songs? No but-. Does he talk yet? How old is he? He's only one.

Jojo Mason:

Okay, he just turned one. Okay, he's not talking yet, he's almost walking, but he's making lots of noises and pointing at things and understanding all the stuff. And one of the coolest things is like, when I put on my music videos, I'll just let him go on repeat and he sits there and he's just glued, locked onto him. That is so sweet. He gets to see daddy on the TV, and then you know I don't know, he's like looking, but also like right here.

Jenna Weishar:

That's what I'm saying. That's what I'm saying.

Jojo Mason:

But it's cool as hell. Uh us, yeah, it's cool.

Jenna Weishar:

That's very cool. Um, I was just saying before we hit record that I saw you last summer on tour with Dallas Smith. Yeah, let's talk about like relationship with Dallas. Yeah. It's like all the support you've had.

Jojo Mason:

He's the best. He's one of the greatest, um, especially in Canadian country music. One of the things I love about him is he's a mental health advocate for us young guys coming up as well. He's been in the industry, had ups and downs like crazy, but he's also he's also been able to take some of us under his wing, kind of mentor us and and and you know, make sure we're on the straight and narrow. So he's been a real support for me and uh, and I couldn't be happier to have him on my side.

Jenna Weishar:

Absolutely, and when it comes to mental health and working in music and working in the entertainment industry. It's not the easiest thing, right? No, it's a real deal Amazing.

Jojo Mason:

It's a real deal. The ups and downs are so real. But you know, we navigate and we take the good and we take the bad.

Meghan Patrick:

Like again.

Jojo Mason:

the good that I'm taking is I get to be home with my son, uh, for a couple of months at a time. You know, I get to go to work, I get to go right and I get to go do this and music. But yeah, it's, it's, it's a gift. I'm very blessed.

Jenna Weishar:

Are you working on new music right now?

Jojo Mason:

Of course, we are we always in the lab. We cook in the lab, we cooking right now. You know what I'm saying we cook it.

Jenna Weishar:

Amazing, we got some things coming up Exciting. We can't wait to hear it. Thank you and uh thanks for hanging out with us here.

Jojo Mason:

Thank you for taking the time for me Of course Anytime.

Jenna Weishar:

You're always welcome on the porch.

Jojo Mason:

Well, you better stop. I'm gonna post up my ass right on the corner there. I ain't never leaving.

Jenna Weishar:

He's staying right here. I'm gonna see that chair over there. You start bringing people here to hang out.

Jojo Mason:

As long as I hey it's got a rocking chair.

Jenna Weishar:

You haven't got to stay yet you got you got a stoop. Let's have a sit.

Jason Saunders:

Thanks for listening to another episode of On the Porch. With Front Porch Music, we're so lucky to be able to chat with artists and make episodes like this one. If you like the podcast, remember to rate and review us and subscribe so you don't miss an episode. It's the easiest way to support the show. Remember to check out frontporschmusicca to keep up with new music releases, exclusive artist interviews and more. We'll catch you again on the porch in a couple of weeks. On the porch is hosted by Logan Miller and Jenna Weiser and produced and edited by Jason Saunders. That's me. Our theme song was written, produced and performed by Owen Rigley.

People on this episode

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Jenna Weishar

Co-host
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Logan Miller

Co-host