Erin Costelo Archives | Folk Roots Radio

Leanne Hoffman – What Remains – Folk Roots Radio Interview

Jun 03 2019

Halifax based singer-songwriter Leanne Hoffman has just released a great new album “What Remains”. Her debut as a solo performer, the new album was produced by Erin Costelo who also co-wrote a couple of the songs for the new recording. Leanne Hoffman is originally from Exeter ON, but moved to Halifax to study marine biology. That plan changed when Leanne realized that the pull to make music her career was just too much, leading to a switch to a music arts program with a focus on voice at Nova Scotia Community College. It was there she met up with Erin Costelo, who turned out to be her voice instructor. Prior to setting out on a solo career, Leanne was part of the duo Magnolia, with Scott MacLean on guitar, who released a self-titled E.P. in 2013, that was also produced by Erin Costelo. What Remains is a fabulous album, crammed full of poppy songs that cover a whole range of different subjects from romance to family to gender equality and baring your soul. Saying I LIKE this album really doesn’t cover how good it is. I LOVE it! Everybody needs to hear it. We caught up with Leanne Hoffman at home in Halifax to chat about the new album. For more information visit leannehoffman.com. Music: Leanne Hoffman “What Remains”, “Blind & Broken”, “If My Parents Die” and “Redirect Your Sails” from “What Remains” (2019, Venue Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 449: feat. Leanne Hoffman & More New Releases

May 18 2019

Halifax based singer-songwriter Leanne Hoffman has just released a fabulous new folk/pop album “What Remains”. Her debut as a solo performer, the new album was produced by Erin Costelo, who also co-wrote a couple of the songs on the new recording. Leanne joins us on Episode 449 of Folk Roots Radio to chat about her music, alongside four tracks from the new album. We also check out new releases from Steve Murphy, Tim Moxam, Mattie Leon, Lucas Choi Zimbel, April Verch and Pretty Archie. Check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 418: The Best of 2018 - The Next 15

Dec 28 2018

There are no interviews on Episode 418 of Folk Roots Radio as we check out more of our favourite albums of the year. We’ve already released The Top 10 on Episode 417 of Folk Roots Radio. This time around we check out The Next 15, featuring some of our favourite tracks from those albums. It’s a great privilege to bring lots of great music and interviews to you each week on Folk Roots Radio, something we’re looking forward to continuing throughout the next year. Listen to tracks from The Next 15 and check out the full playlist below.

Folk Roots Radio Episode 401: feat. Erin Costelo & More New Releases

Oct 24 2018

Episode 401 of Folk Roots Radio features an interview with Halifax NS based keyboard playing singer-songwriter, composer and producer Erin Costelo. Erin Costelo released the critically acclaimed “Down Below The Status Quo” in 2016 — one of our favourite albums of that year. She’s just released the follow-up “Sweet Marie”, and it’s another soulful R&B masterpiece. Erin joins us to chat about the new album before heading out on an extensive touring schedule that takes in Canada, and then the US before heading into Europe. It’s a great interview, and definitely worth sticking around for. We also have more great new releases to share with you, including new music from Moors and McCumber, Noah Derksen, John Wort Hannam, T Buckley, Miller – Macdonald – Cormier, and Kat Danser. Check out the full playlist below.

Erin Costelo Sweet Marie - Folk Roots Radio Interview

Oct 15 2018

Erin Costelo, the Halifax NS based keyboard playing singer-songwriter, composer and producer, is about to release another soulful R&B masterpiece, “Sweet Marie”, the follow up to 2016’s critically acclaimed “Down Below The Status Quo” — one of our favourite albums of that year. The new album (album number 5), featuring 10 songs recorded in 10 days last winter in a house by the sea in Little Harbour NS, was produced by Erin Costelo and also features Glenn Milchem (Blue Rodeo) on Drums, Anna Ruddick on bass (Randy Bachman, Ben Caplan), Leith Fleming-Smith (Matt Mays, Hawksley Workman) on organ and Erin’s long-time partner, Clive MacNutt on guitars. Leanne Hoffman and Kwento supply backing vocals, and there are also guest appearances by the Blue Engine String Quartet, Andrew MacKelvie on saxophone and flute, and Andrew Jackson on trombone. A ‘making of the album’ documentary directed by Juno-winning songwriter Amelia Curran is due to air on CBC TV this fall. We caught up with Erin Costelo on the road to chat about the new project. For more information and upcoming tour dates across Canada and the US and into Europe, visit erincostelo.com. Photo: Mat Dunlap. Music: Erin Costelo “Lights Down Low”, “All In Your Head” and “My Love” from “Sweet Marie” (2018, Venue Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 352: Erin Costelo & More New Releases

Folk Root Radio Episode 352 - Erin Costelo & New Releases

Nov 29 2017

Episode 352 of Folk Roots Radio features an interview with Erin Costelo recorded at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference. Erin released a wonderful album in 2016, “Down Below, The Status Quo”, a fabulous slice of genre-bending soulful pop that skips from R&B/Soul to bluesy jazz, and an album that was deservedly one of our Favourite Albums of 2016. Erin joins us to chat about her current musical activities, including starting work on a new album in January. We also check out more of the best new releases including new music from Trent Severn, Susan Cattaneo, Janie Barnett & Blue Room and Edward Sayers. Check out the full playlist below.

Nov 04 2017

Erin Costelo from Halifax NS released a wonderful album in 2016, “Down Below, The Status Quo”. A fabulous slice of genre-bending soulful pop that skips from R&B/Soul to bluesy jazz, the album was a joy from beginning to end, and deservedly one of our Favourite Albums of 2016. We caught up with Erin Costelo at the 2017 Folk Music Ontario conference, to chat about the critical response to the recording, and her current musical activities. To learn more about Erin Costelo, visit erincostelo.ca. Photo credit: Kimberly Sinclair. Music: Erin Costelo, “Fighter”, “Turn It On” and “The Line” from “Down Below, The Status Quo” (2016, Venue Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 297: Erin Costelo Interview & More New Releases

Jan 27 2017

Folk Roots Radio episode 297 features a great interview with Halifax NS singer/songwriter Erin Costelo about her fabulous slice of genre-bending soulful pop, “Down Below, The Status Quo”, one of our Favourite Albums of 2016. And, as always, we take a look at some great new releases.

Jan 21 2017

Erin Costelo from Halifax NS released “Down Below, The Status Quo”, a fabulous slice of genre-bending soulful pop that skips from R&B/Soul to bluesy jazz in March 2016, and one of our Favourite Albums of 2016. The follow up to 2012’s very well-received “We Can Get Over”, Down Below, The Status Quo features ten tracks written, arranged, and produced by Erin Costelo at Joel Plaskett’s Dartmouth NS studio, New Scotland Yard, with support from engineer Thomas Stajcer. Joining Erin on the album are longtime guitarist Clive MacNutt, bassist Ian Bennett, drummers Dave Marsh and Matt Gallant, alongside the Blue Engine String Quartet and horns from Matt Myer, Andrew Jackson and Andrew MacKelvie. Gifted with a fabulous expressive voice that harkens back to some of the great female vocalists of the golden age of soulful blues and jazz, Down Below, The Status Quo is a joy from beginning to end and another of those albums that reminds me that great music needs to be shared – and that show’s like Folk Roots Radio shouldn’t be constrained by a rigid focus on genre. We caught up with Erin Costelo at home in Halifax to chat about her music. To learn more about Erin Costelo, visit erincostelo.ca. Music: Erin Costelo, “Move”, “Quiet The Bombs”, “Titanic” and “Fighter” from “Down Below, The Status Quo” (2016, Venue Records).

Folk Roots Radio Episode 291: Our Favourite Albums of 2016

Dec 18 2016

Time to run down our favourite albums of 2016. One of the best things about doing a radio show is getting loads of great music to audition each week. Like every year, I’ve enjoyed some wonderful recordings – much of it by independent artists with little backing to support their music, and careers. One of the hardest things to do though, is to narrow down all the fabulous music that we received to our ten favourite recordings of the year. It’s never an easy thing to do, but do it I must, if I’m to bring you Folk Roots Radio’s The Best Albums of 2016.

Jul 16 2016

Brad McEwen, Artistic Director at the Mill Race Folk Society joins us on this episode to chat about this summer’s Mill Race Festival of Traditional Folk Music taking place from July 29-31 in the historic downtown core of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario. And as always, we take a look at some new releases.

Jul 06 2016

One of our favourite people, singer-songwriter and storyteller, Joanna Chapman-Smith joins us on this episode to chat about her forthcoming album of modern folk tales, “Elon & The City of Stone”. Joanna also plays three songs live for us. And, as always, we take a look at some of the latest new releases.