Advertise on podcast: In the Zone with Andrew Boris

One of Canada's most distinctive voices in Indigenous Hip-Hop, Mattmac has transformed making beats from his home community of Anisininew Nation (Garden Hill First Nation), Manitoba, into an internationally reaching career as an award-winning producer, songwriter, recording artist, and performer. Mattmac's melodic Hip-Hop and Trap-Pop production, honest storytelling, and collaborative approach have garnered him more than 30 million streams across platforms. I've seen Matt perform a couple times over the years and was stoked to get to chat with him about his new album 'Smoke Signals'. Find Mattmac: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2wn3YMzruUNJ2Ee1z6xnjY Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mattmac/1518644010 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@mattmac4387 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattmaconline/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthezone.wpg/

Leon’s Getting Larger is an emo revival band from Winnipeg, Manitoba consisting of drummer/vocalist Luke Penner, guitarist/vocalist Niko Boticki, and bassist Noah St-Hilaire. Since forming in 2021, the trio’s heartfelt lyricism, dynamic instrumentals, and passionate live set has made them a staple of Winnipeg’s blossoming alt-rock scene. Their sophomore album “If You Lived at Home, You’d Be Here By Now” confronts personal struggles of grief and helplessness amid an overbearing backdrop of social turmoil. Find Leon's Getting Larger: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2w1MupnOni9QgbJqX3jhAE Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/leons-getting-larger/1706363876 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LeonsGettingLargerband Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leonsgettinglargerband/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthezone.wpg/

Prairie is a Winnipeg band inspired by the Manitoban prairie landscape here in Treaty 1 Territory. Their sound is inspired by loud indie alt-rock and droning shoegaze music, with lyrics overtop addressing topics such as the environmental crisis, queer and disabled experiences, and mental health struggles. In live performance Prairie’s somber ballads contrast with climactic high points to capture a powerful energy and create a moving and emotional journey. Find Prairie: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VUvz9GbqhF9Ol8WAdfL4v Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/prairie/1829552088 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prairie.band/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

Award-winning Winnipeg indie-folk standout Jacob Brodovsky writes songs about feelings, the people who have them, the places that create them, and the fears we carry about them. In the tradition of prairie songwriters, his songs are humble yet intricate, as humorous as they are heartbreaking. We recorded this episode a while ago and I'm super stoked to share it now with Jacob's second album and first Winnipeg Folk Fest set on the horizon. 'Tell The Kids We Tried' is out July 10th. (it's soo good, guys!) Find Jacob: Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/artist/2jsXdkHR0T2AX69oOLnqCc⁠ Apple Music: ⁠https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jacob-brodovsky/1459261560⁠ YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@jacobbrodovsky⁠ Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/jacobbrodovsky/⁠ Follow the show on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/inthezone.wpg/ Reuploaded.

Ozconscious is a six-piece dream-pop alt-rock band creating expansive, exciting and emotionally immersive music that blends shimmering synths, textured guitars, and layered vocal harmonies into songs that feel both grounded and atmospheric. Their music explores connection, mental health, memory, and the search for meaning in a disconnected world. Tate Hiebert is the frontman, songwriter, and producer of Ozconscious, a former mayor of Bean City, and all-around cool guy. Was great to chat with him about the new record, the process, Folk Fest, and the politics of Bean City. Find Ozconscious: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4GTUc7SLIL9YKXALiytQ63 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/ozconscious/1308533821 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OZCONSCIOUS Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ozconscious/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

Strawberry Punch is an all-femme, queer band from Winnipeg, MB. Featuring four multi-talented women rotating instruments throughout a show to create a seamless blend of sweet indie twee pop and moody riot grrrl garage punk-rock sounds. The band gains a wide range of influence from 60’s girl group pop and 90’s indie rock. The combination is fun, raw, and incredibly catchy with memorable hooks, shimmering guitars, and the sweetest 4 part harmonies. Strawberry Punch released their debut album on May 1, 2026. Find Strawberry Punch: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3VEdtAOQEoQyqe7eid1Ptr Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/strawberry-punch/1895565007 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@StrawberryPunch-w7v Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/strawberrypunchband/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

Angels without wings drive `02 Honda Accords decked in bumper stickers. Or so’s the case for Leah Magnan. That’s pronounced like Leia, the princess, but you can call her EARTH ANGEL. Channeling `90s girl-grunge icons like Hole and Mazzy Star, as well as today’s alt pillars like Wednesday and Blondshell, EARTH ANGEL distills gargantuan feelings, formative years, and the massive beauty of everyday wonders into confident verse. EARTH ANGEL’s work considers that the ethereal can exist in shades of blue, a candle-lit bath, or a needle pulling thread. The angelic exists right here on earth, exactly where you stand. Find EARTH ANGEL: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2LTK5nWUq3Kb0wt0TlgP73 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/earth-angel/1874386463 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCejwBm6cppmYQ5v8x-7s0-w Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earthangel.4ever/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

One of Canada’s most distinctive voices, Noah Derksen is a singer-songwriter whose luminous blend of folk, country, and indie defies easy categorization. Emerging from Winnipeg’s indie scene and now based in Montreal, Noah was named a finalist in SiriusXM’s Top of the Country competition and awarded Canadian Folk Music’s Emerging Artist of the Year. His fourth studio album, Mercy on the Skyline, is out now. FInd Noah: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/31wEHfLGUKIlJAayR6K936 Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/noah-derksen/1163110154 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@noahderksen Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/noahderksen/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

HAVS is an alternative R&B/Pop singer, producer, and sound healer, known for her ethereal vocals and genre-defying sound. With a fluid approach and a magnetic honesty that defines her sound, she blends strong R&B influences with evocative storytelling to deeply resonate with listeners. Her self-written songs are crafted to inspire connection and self-alignment, harnessing the power of words and melodies to create vivid, immersive worlds. Find HAVS: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0n38cexDOqzO3hWPmeOWwi Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/havs/1403547316 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCweR-_AyU9V8cTFHLSPGOtw Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/havshavshavs/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

“Here to make you feel good about feeling bad” is a keen observation, turned mantra for Winnipeg emo-punk mainstays, Screaming at Traffic. Formed in the spring of 2017 by longtime friends Duncan Murta, Jacques Richer, Paul Colman and Stefan St. Godard, the band hit the road within a few months, feeding an insatiable hunger to bring their chaotic, energetic live show to a steadily growing fanbase across the country. Songwriters and vocalists, Murta and Richer weave heart-on their sleeve lyrics together with melodic, sharp guitar playing, as bassist Colman and drummer St. Godard tie it all together with a moving, inventive low end combo. The result? A boisterous blend of anthemic punk rock, emo, and indie-rock that invites mosh pits and arm-in-arm-in-arm-over-shoulder singalongs. Their New EP, "Songs To Steal Copper Wire To" is out on May 15th. Find Screaming at Traffic: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0NgcIBqQvwi0Yd8E8YYixe Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/screaming-at-traffic/1244315907 YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@screamingattrafficmusic Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/screamingattrafficmusic/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

tofusmell is the project from the bedroom of Rae Chen. Inspired by 90s indie-folk music, the acoustic sounds of tofusmell originals incorporate emotive lyrics to comment on and explore slices of life. I fell in love with Rae's lo-fi aesthetic and sharp lyricism on his EP when I first heard it last year. Now he's released his debut album, and it was a pleasure having him in the zone to talk about it! We also talked about his move from Florida to Winnipeg and literal shit. Great chat. Find tofusmell: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1iOQiPT8N1MQbdUaTaefyZ Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tofusmell/1505067968 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tofusmell Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tofusmell/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://inthezone.wpg

We’re Only Here for the Snacks are quite possibly the world’s only 14 year-old instrumental dual synth indie rock band. Winnipeg, Manitoba grade school friends Madis (guitar), Sebi (synth), Sal (synth) and Bennett (drums) have been performing together since Grade 5. Their unique sound blends electro pop, indie rock, punk and jazz into an energetic style with intricate melodies and catchy riffs that is well beyond their years. We’re Only Here for the Snacks simultaneously bring the noise, the groove and an infectious youthful energy to the stage that engages music fans of all ages. I had to have these kids on the show because, c'mon: How many 14 year olds do you know who have a vinyl out? This'll be the last episode for a very long time where I ask the band what they want to be when they grow up. Find We're Only Here for the Snacks: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/29it6NVptNKrTByID3tQkv Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/were-only-here-for-the-snacks/1751197533 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WereOnlyHereForVEVO Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wereonlyhereforthesnacks/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inthezone.wpg/

LUANA MOTH presents their genre-flipping brand of psychedelic conceptual rock, and precision-cut electronica. Sibling duo Tony and Giovanna Mazza tell the story of a young woman’s supernatural experiments by way of frantic guitar work, intricate electronic production, and anthemic soaring vocals. Luana Moth have a backstory and ethos as epic as their live show so I was super excited to have them on the show to dig into it all. They did not disappoint. Find Luana Moth: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MBKC1MlJbBa22D3MWCevF Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/album/luana-moth/1614457464 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LUANA_MOTH Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luana_moth/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

Kingston, Ontario-based Kasador is interested in being a great rock and roll band when connection, friction, and unpredictability are whittled away in favour of algorithmically dictated sameness. Tender and carefully considered, but also raw and wild and burnt around the edges, their sonic and compositional thumbprint nods to classic and alternative rock history while pushing into something new, something exciting. Their new EP, Kasador III, is out on April 14th. I got the chance to have Kasador in the zone while they were in Winnipeg on the last stop of their Western Canada tour before heading to their first tour in The UK. We talked about their recent successes, fighting wolverines and an ongoing debate within the band: "What's rockstar?" Find Kasador: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3h1thCLfJatQji7H4Xw7Vj Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kasador/1088617090 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kasadorband Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kasadorband/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg

Chickadee is a jazz quintet working on Treaty One territory. Inspired by jazz fusion visionaries like Pat Metheny and Jaco Pastorius, Chickadee shows are exciting and varied: Chickadee is just as likely to play a fiddle tune as they are to play a modern fusion composition, finding ways to put both under the same banner and make it work. Founded by bassist and composer Fred Warner, Chickadee is made up of Winnipeg musicians Paul Klassen, Tirian Plett, Nolan Gottfried, and Parker Beesley. Their first record under the Chickadee name, "Persistence", is out on April 10th. This was a special episode for me since I first saw Chickadee years ago, before I was in my first band or even remotely involved in the local scene. In those days they were still called Freddy and the Fire Nation. I never would have believed they'd one day be in my basement nerding out about odd time signatures. Find Chickadee: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chickadeetheband/ Follow the show on Instagram: https://instagram.com/inthezone.wpg