This video is quite interesting. It doesn’t have anything to do with music – at least not yet. But let’s consider how far we’ve come with digital recording and modeling technology over the last decade or so. Our Digital Music column in the upcoming January/February 2011 issue finds Tawgs Salter (Lights, The Midway State, Josh Groban) discussing how to make digital drums sound real. I mention this because there’s obviously still something about the "human" elements to music that make it appealing to many. But how far are we from software being able to emulate those nuances? How far are we from computers using formulas and algorithms to generate radio-ready pop songs on their own? To say there’s not already a pretty clear formula in place would be naive. In any case, let’s geek out for a few minutes…

Quebec-based singer/songwriter (and a huge supporter of Canadian Musician) Dayle Boyle has launched Song Routes, a new webzine that explores the art of songwriting through insightful interviews with those who work in the field – from publishers, producers, and arrangers to, of course, songwriters. The launch of Song Routes features interviews with renowned producer and artist Colin Linden, best-selling author Daniel Levitin, and award-winning roots musician Michael Jerome Browne and his songwriting partner Bee Markus. Check out the site at www.SongRoutes.com.

CM’s Assistant Editor, Craig Leach, will be heading down to Toronto today for an exclusive video interview with a Canadian rock icon. I’m pretty stoked to see and hear what’s posted in the near future, and hopefully you are, too. If Craig can charm him like I know he can, perhaps we’ll get to see him again in this year’s annual Guitar feature alongside some other monsters from across the continent and spectrum of musical styles. Last year, we were fortunate enough to have folks like John 5, Devin Townsend, the two gents who’d been touring with Frankie Valli, and more, so look out for something special this year, because we don’t like taking steps back in any department. Stay tuned to see what Craig’s got in store…

Godspeed You! Black Emperor, the Montreal-spawned orchestral-rock collective have just finished curating All Tomorrow