Rankin MacInnis: Nova Scotia Entertainer of the Year

In this episode Christina chats with Rankin MacInnis about growing up in Mabou, Cape Breton, meeting Dolly Parton, and you’ll never guess what Rankin is addicted to.

Music Nova Scotia's Entertainer of the Year, Rankin MacInnis, is known for his super fun, electrifying and eclectic performances. Leading the charge with his band, the Broken Reeds, Rankin seamlessly blends traditional folk with future pop, delivering high-energy shows that captivate audiences. His innovative spirit has fueled the creation of the award-winning Blueberry Jam festival and the unique concert series, Rankin’s Winter Warmers. With a community of creative collaborators and an ever-growing fan base, Rankin is set to release his highly anticipated debut full-length studio album in 2024, his first since 2019’s "House Party with Party Boots."

Chapters

• 0:00 Greetings from Christina
• 0:49 Theme Song - Talk About It
• 1:14 Introduction by Christina
• 9:17 Growing up in Mabou, Cape Breton with music
• 14:08 Meeting Dolly Parton
• 14:59 Meeting your heroes
• 16:08 Pivotal moments
• 18:44 Party Boots
• 20:28 Rankin's Winter Warmers
• 26:26 Blueberry Jam Festival
• 31:57 Rankin's deep dark secrets
• 33:52 Experiencing lows
• 37:58 Songwriting methods
• 40:50 Rankin's AI goodbye
• 42:34 Loosing Rankin (technical glitch)
• 43:58 Heartbeat Hotline 1(902)-669-4769
• 44:30 Podcast Credits
• 45:01 Support the Podcast on Patreon

Transcript

S3E13: Rankin MacInnis

Christina: [00:00:03] Welcome to a Chat with Heart. I'm your host, Christina Martin. I'm a singer songwriter. I live on a dirt road with my best friend Dale in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. A chat with heart is just me having chill conversations with people I want to celebrate, and topics that I'm curious about. If you have a question or a comment for this podcast, call my heartbeat hotline 19026694769. To send this podcast even more love. Visit me online at Patreon.com/ChristinaMartin. I'm so happy you're listening. Our personal stories have great power to heal, influence and inspire. All we have to do is show up for the conversation.

Song 'Talk About It': [00:00:49] If we just talk about it, we could shine a light, we could break a dark day. If we just talk about it, we can cut a way, we can make a brighter day.

Christina: [00:01:17] Okay, first of all, I should know better. But since I'm human, I make mistakes. Uh, so for this episode, I thought I was using my microphone, the one I'm recording with right now, but I didn't select the right mic. So the quality of my vocal is not up to Dale Murray standards. It's fine, but I just wanted to point out that, uh, we're aware of this, And, uh, you know, for any audio nerds listening. Um, yeah. And, uh, and then the other thing that you'll notice at the very end, which you do have to listen to hear it because it is kind of hilarious, is that there was a glitch with, uh, Rankin's audio. So we just listen to the very end, you'll, you'll hear what happens. But it's kind of funny. But we did lose him his audio towards the end, which I wasn't aware of until we listened back and were editing. Uh, so second, this week, uh, I have the band come into the house to the home studio to record a new song, and, uh, maybe if we have time, we'll do a, we have a few covers that we'd like to do. Um, so if, if you're supporting me on my Patreon as a paid member, you will be the first to hear what we come up with. And, uh, I do want to mention that I just love my patrons, I love Patreon, it's been so helpful, uh, particularly during the pandemic and but still ongoing as, um, uh, there's always, you know, when you.

Christina: [00:02:53] I do really love to pay my musicians for rehearsing, for recording, for everything. And I wish I could pay them more, but I do the best I can, and my Patreon helps me with that. So even, like having the band up to rehearse this, uh, or. Sorry to record this weekend. Um, Patreons helping me, uh, pay them and help them earn a living. So Patreon helps artists get get paid and I really appreciate anybody signing up. You can also sign up as a free member if you just want to receive my newsletters. I kind of tried to make, you know, every like Patreon and like, this is where you can go to my website, you know, for all the, you know, bio and music and stuff like that. But in terms of like trying to build a community online of, um, really support the most supportive, uh, followers and fans, that's where I want everyone to be. It simplifies my life. And, um, and. Yeah, anyway, okay. What else? Uh, we've been rehearsing, uh, and back to live performing with the band I have. It's been years since, uh. Since we've been playing with the band and I since, you know, ever since the pandemic. I hate to bring it up again, but it really did throw a wrench into things. Um, so I'm I've just been having so much fun, and we've been working so hard, and we have a festival coming up that, uh.

Christina: [00:04:22] Well, we have our special guest today. Um, you're going to find out more about this festival because he he's one of the the co-creators. Really? Um, it's called the Blueberry Jam Festival. It's in Mabou. It's an award. Mabou, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Uh, it's an award winning festival. And we are playing on Saturday, August 17th. I cannot wait to perform for this audience, and I can't wait to hear the other musicians as well. And and, um, apparently there's a pool where we're staying, so I'm pumped about that because I do not go in lakes and ocean water. Come on out. Get your tickets. Uh, I think it's going to be a summer highlight for me. Uh, maybe for you, it could be for you. And Cape Breton is, uh, a stunning part of the world. And everyone. Everybody there is so fucking nice. I've got some other fun gigs coming up, big show I'm producing and we're filming. Recording is happening September 6th. Also, my patrons on Patreon are helping me pull that off as well financially. Thank you. Get your tickets to that if you can make the trip to Halifax. Well, it's actually in Dartmouth, but that's sort of HRM Halifax Regional Municipality, it said Alderney Landing Theatre got the band and a string quartet. There's a live podcast with Mike and Kristen, the podcast with, uh, audience Q&A.

Christina: [00:05:54] So it's going to be engaging after we play the full album. And I'm, I'm kind of going all out in terms of like the visuals, the lighting design, album imagery, and of course, the music I have another fun show coming up. I'm really looking forward to August 28th in Pictou. It's a it's a, it's a songwriters series called Smile on My Heart that was created by Lisa McIsaac from Madison Violet. And spoiler alert, um, she's on my next podcast. Uh, not this one, the next one next week. So stay tuned. Okay, ladies and gentlemen, um, are you ready? Are you ready for me to intro my guest this week? Music. Nova Scotia's entertainer of the year Rankin MacInnis is known for his super fun, electrifying and eclectic performances, leading the charge with his band, The Broken Reeds, Rankin seamlessly blends traditional folk with future pop, delivering high energy shows that captivate audiences. His innovative spirit has fueled the creation of the award winning Blueberry Jam Festival and the unique concert series Rankin's Winter warmers. Oh, it's so much fun. With a community of creative collaborators and an ever growing fan base. Rankin is set to release his highly anticipated debut full length studio album this year. It's his first since 2019 release. Um, House party with Party Boots. So in this episode, we cover a lot of ground, but we chat about Rankin, grown up in Malibu and meeting Dolly Parton.

Christina: [00:07:39] And there's some fun facts about Rankin that you'll like. You'll never guess what he's addicted to. No you won't. You have to listen to the episode. Welcome to a chat with her podcast, Rankin MacInnis. And thank you everybody for listening. And don't forget to call the Heartbeat Hotline. I know people are shy to make telephone calls, but I love, I love, uh, hearing people's voices, and your message might even get played. Um, on an episode. Uh, it could be anonymous. If you just want to call, leave a message, let me know how you're doing. If you want to comment on an episode, if you have a question for me to answer on the podcast, call the Heartbeat Hotline. What is the number? I always struggle to remember it, but I'm going to pull it up right now. It's I know it's one starts with 1902. Hold on a second. I'm looking it up on my phone right now. 19026694769. 19026694769. That's the heartbeat hotline, an actual phone number. You can call and leave a message. Um, you can also email me a voice message or just email me at Christina Martin music at gmail.com and I can read your comment or question on the podcast. It's totally up to you. Just know that it's there if you need it, okay? All right, here's my guest today. My chat with heart with Rankin MacInnes.

Christina: [00:09:17] Welcome to a Chat with Heart podcast. I'm tickled pink that you're here.

Rankin: [00:09:23] Me too. Also tickled red from the sun. But they can't see that.

Christina: [00:09:28] You look good. You look like you've gotten. You've been playing music a lot outside. Or do you like, are you a beach bum?

Rankin: [00:09:34] I am not much of a beach bum. Not at all. I wouldn't say I, uh, I think it's just the effect of the Scottish skin in the sun. Oh, a couple gigs outside.

Christina: [00:09:45] Yeah, I've got a little Welsh in me. And, uh, as you can see, I'm. I basically re I repel, uh, I'm so white that I just, like, just bounces off of me, like, that's my.

Rankin: [00:10:00] That's my English get away. Yeah.

Christina: [00:10:02] That's my superpower. Where are you from in Cape Breton?

Rankin: [00:10:05] I'm from Mabou.

Christina: [00:10:06] Mabou? Cape Breton. Oh, you on the west coast there?

Rankin: [00:10:09] Yeah. Back street. Mabou.

Christina: [00:10:12] I hear there's a big blueberry jam. Blueberry jam. I'm so pumped about homecoming. Yeah, and by the time this is out, we can, like, actually, I can talk about it openly and shout, Amen. I know.

Rankin: [00:10:25] I'm excited to have you. We're excited to have you.

Christina: [00:10:28] Was it, uh, like, was it cool growing up in the, like, hometown of the Rankin family? I have that right.

Rankin: [00:10:36] Right. Oh. Big time. So, yeah. You do? Uh, so. Well, actually, first it was the Rankin family, then the Rankin's. But, you know, you just say Rankin and people go there first. Uh, it was cool. I grew up beside their brother and Ronnie, and so sometimes I'd see them come in. I remember as a kid, you just feel like, oh my God, that's cookie, that's Heather, that's Jimmy, whatever you'd be excited for. And I probably knew Raylene the best as she was really good friends with my mother. My mother actually was the youngest of 13, and they grew up in the house next door and a family of 12. So it was always a they're all very tied to Back Street, the street I grew up on.

Christina: [00:11:14] Do you have a lot of siblings?

Rankin: [00:11:18] Uh, there's five and there's 40 some first cousins on that side alone on the ranking side. So it's a bunch of rabbits.

Christina: [00:11:25] What are you. Were you like, the middle or the.

Rankin: [00:11:28] I'm the second oldest. So there's my sister. She was the oldest. And then there was four boys after that. And I'd be the first of the boys.

Christina: [00:11:35] Oh my God. Cool. Do you, um, do you get along with everybody or are there, like, is there a lot of fighting?

Rankin: [00:11:40] Yeah, not too much anymore. Of course, growing up in a not a small house, but a house becomes small when you got five kids and your parents. And actually, grandpa lived with us too. So any natural amount of fighting. But everybody pretty much gets along now, for sure.

Christina: [00:11:55] So what's the deal with music and your childhood like growing up? Was this a part of your life or.

Rankin: [00:12:03] Yeah. So there was five of us and we all started on piano, usually in like grade one. Uh, and then after that it went like my sister did fiddle and piano, and then I did pipes and piano, and then my next brother did fiddle and piano, and then it was pipes and piano and then fiddle and piano. But the one in the middle kind of hated it both. And he put his feet down and he finally got to learn guitar. But it was, uh, we all had to, uh, practice a half hour of music on each instrument after school before we were allowed to go outside and play, so we'd be pounding through that. You know, they have the egg timer and twisting it when as quietly as you could to reduce the time. But we were all in music and all in lessons and all started with the basics on piano.

Christina: [00:12:45] So have you been playing ever since you were a kid, or did you stop to, like, pursue something in your life like, or was it always like, no, this is my this is what I'm meant to be doing.

Rankin: [00:12:55] I well, I always played, so growing up I would say I played piano the most first and then pipes kind of took over. I was involved with the pipe band and I always at the gala college, and my first jobs were basically standing in parking lots playing for tourists. And when I went to Saint of X, I didn't take music, but I still always played the pipes are the pipes with me. I didn't really play much on the piano during that time, but it was while I was at ECS. I started getting random opportunities. Playing the pipes for different things from the big one was drum based in Halifax. I had my first opportunities to go. We did like the Olympics in Vancouver and Dollywood and all these other things, and that's when I got my first look at what I would say, you know, real showbiz. Real showbiz. And my first temptations of like, okay, I got to figure out how to do this.

Christina: [00:13:48] Dude, that's that's amazing. Dollywood. Hey, you must have gone to. Did you do that with Keith Mullins? Was he in the group?

Rankin: [00:13:55] Uh, he wasn't in the group, but either on the first or second trip, he was down there at the same time. Okay, so we'd still kind of got to do it and share the bus to Dollywood together from Pigeon Forge. That was the first time I met him.

Christina: [00:14:08] Did you ever meet Dolly?

Rankin: [00:14:11] Twice. You don't get to meet her long. But we were there for this thing called Festival of the Nations. And, uh, so we were technically representing Canada, and they had all these different acts from all over the world. Like they had a steel pan orchestra from Trinidad and Tobago and a cirque show from Georgia, the country, and, uh, all these other things. And, uh, Dolly on the last week, maybe not the last day, but the last week, the Saturday of there would be a big parade, and we'd be in it and the parade would kind of end, and then she'd come into the theater we were playing at, and she would just kind of walk out on stage and do a number, not really do a number, just basically join us with a tambourine and waves and pictures and all that stuff. And afterwards she would meet us and talk to us and take a big group photo.

Christina: [00:14:59] So there has there ever been have you ever met, like any of your other icons? Any close encounters with heroes?

Rankin: [00:15:09] Uh, I, uh, I got to meet, um, when I was a kid, I was really excited to meet Don cherry and, uh, Ron McLean. I was playing at an event, Uh, I don't think it was. Hockey helps the homeless. I forget which hockey event it was. Maybe Rogers hometown hockey. And also I had the opportunity to meet Jack white. But the whole time he was talking to me, he was telling me he wasn't Jack white. He was Jack White's brother, Jim. And Jack wants you to do this and that. And that was kind of funny. Uh, but, uh, I can't think if there was any more. But Don cherry definitely had the biggest impact on me as a kid or a teenager, I guess. But, kid, now.

Christina: [00:15:48] You met him. And like, did you have a good chat or was it just super quick?

Rankin: [00:15:53] Uh, it was pretty quick, but that's all I needed. Shake a head. Oh my God, it was kind of before the time when we all had phones and cameras to take a picture. So just meeting shaking the hand was, uh, fulfilling for sure.

Christina: [00:16:08] Awesome. Um, one of the things we like to talk about on a chat with heart is, uh, pivotal moments, pivotal moments for you in your life. Like, it could be a bad experience that changed your life for the good, which you can only talk about now, maybe. Or it could be something really amazing, or a person that came into your life that just really had an impact and, and kind of, you know, shook things up in a good way for you. Do you have any pivotal moments that you want to share?

Rankin: [00:16:42] Uh, I think a big pivotal moment was me joining drum, for sure. Um, so Hector Macquarie was the piper at the time, and he, uh, also was an engineer. I took engineering at Saint of. I don't didn't finish it was just doing the diploma, not the degree. And uh, he went on maybe to Alberta at the time and he suggested me for the next role. And at the time, I didn't see there was a future in music because I was mainly just playing bagpipes. And, um, these opportunities that I had getting to go to the Olympics, getting to go on a plane for the first time to play music, really, uh, were huge for me. We did two residencies in Tennessee for, uh, two sets of seven weeks, and just getting to do that made me say, I need to move to Halifax and figure out how I can do this myself, and gave up the university dream to pursue the music dream. So if it wasn't for drum, I don't think I would have ever done that.

Christina: [00:17:50] Did you get some hints, like working with the crew at drum? And I know it's Brookes and Fiona Diamond that were. Yeah behind that. Did you get any, any leads on how to turn this into, you know a I won't say a profitable necessarily, but a way of life and a living. 

Rankin: [00:18:12] Not at the time, no. They've remained friends. And, you know, uh, we still have things we do together here and there. Uh, and I was like, I'm going to Halifax. I'm going to start a band more a band than a show at the time. Uh, so at the time, I don't think I was even ready to ask or look for help. Help. I didn't even know where to start. But you know, regardless, they put me in the position to make the change to try to get there.

Christina: [00:18:44] So how did it start? Like was it Rankin and the Broken Reeds? Was that like the beginning of. I mean, there's a number of pretty key things. If you go to your website, you can see the everything's tied in together. You're at the heart of it. Um, but, you know, we'll talk about rankings, winter warmers. We'll talk about, uh, blueberry jam a bit more. And, um, yeah, because that's.

Rankin: [00:19:13] The first thing would have been Party Boots. So I was my cousin, Nick McClellan. Uh, he. So my family, they're all musicians. Not all of them, but there's so many that are musicians, and I'd say the majority are Celtic musicians. But the, uh, maclellan's always had an affinity for rock and roll and all this other music. And, uh, for example, Kory, Jen, my cousin, she's in the band always, uh, doing major things in the world right now, But. So Nick was in the city and kind of together with him. We started a party boots. And, you know, we had a few of our own tunes, but we just loved to play music and play any style of music and, uh, kind of through him and some of my older cousins, you know, I got my first experiences in the genres of other worlds. Mhm. Um, but it was party boots that started the whole thing for me and my chance to experiment with everything, including singing and singing and playing piano or playing with horns or learning, you know, hip hop or Latin music. Everything kind of started with party boots, for sure. That wasn't Celtic.

Christina: [00:20:25] Then what?

Rankin: [00:20:28] And then, uh, you know, uh, kind of as the way things go, people had other things going on. Uh, our bass player moved to Alberta, and at the time, like, I knew I kind of just semi not want Sami wanted to do my own thing. It's the best way to say it, I guess. And while that was still going on, I started Rankin's Winter warmers as my kind of side project, and from that, you know, played with a few different people. And that's kind of where just playing under my own name kind of, uh, took off at the end of we put out an album to kind of wrap up that chapter with Party Boots. And then, yeah, I kind of stepped forward with ranking, uh, but the transition happened, I guess, with, uh, the winter warmers.

Christina: [00:21:11] So what? When did the winter warmers start? I, I am new to the winter warmers. I am. So I met you this year at the Big Shiny Tunes show that, uh, Stephanie Purcell and, um, and Mike Farrington and Dave Sampson produce. And I was so happy to meet you. And then people started, because I don't live in the city and I live in a bubble. I just wasn't aware of them. But boy, did I become aware of them quickly. And I was so excited and honored to be a part of one and experience the unbelievable joy that the audience and the performers experience. I mean, it's phenomenal. It I still can't believe that you invited me to do it. I just met you. And then, um.

Rankin: [00:22:00] Hey, you murdered the, uh, big shiny. I couldn't help it.

Christina: [00:22:04] You. This. It was so big. It was so much fun. Uh, Rankin's Winter Warmers. So much fun. Unbelievable. Like, hard to top, to be honest. Like, as a feeling, you know? And great band, great musicians. Like, everyone's super fucking cool. And it was just so liberating. It really was actually a pivotal moment. I think for me it was a really joyful, um, so tell me when that started and how did you get to the point where every week is sold out?

Rankin: [00:22:36] It was a long journey. It started in 2018, and, uh, when I started, it was up at the local and not even in the area where people play. It was kind of up in the corner by the pool table. There's like a little nook. And, uh, the piano was up there at the time, and it was just me bass, and Serkan was on drums. Uh, my drummer at the time, Shane. It was kind of living in B.C. temporarily, and, uh, we'd have two guests at a time. And at that time it was, you know, it's a jam now, but it's an organized jam because it's way more of a concert with the amount of people going, uh, but then, you know, we'd be playing for 10 to 30 people, 30 if we're lucky. Uh, and it was way more of like, all right, let's hold on and see where we go. And we didn't have as many singers at the time, and if we had singers, they were more players as well. You know, people that can just sit in and jam on a tune. And uh, from that we kind of the local loved it, we like doing it.

Rankin: [00:23:38] And uh, for maybe for, for I think it was four years we did in The Local. So the next year we went down on the floor and we might have done two years on the floor near the atrium, and the band went from three to 4 to 5. And while we were in the local those four years, I think we maxed out a five. And then you'd have 2 to 3 guests. And just kind of over time, it was during Covid that we did the transition to the marquee and of course the marquee. It would be more. It wasn't marquee size then, because it was tables and everybody had to sit, uh, and, uh, you know, just slowly we started taking away the tables till there was no room for them anymore. And, uh, so the two years ago, it was it was always full and always a blast. But this year certainly was a new level of it. I think it was sold out for the majority of it. So fun. Pretty cool. Yeah.

Christina: [00:24:32] I want to let our listeners know, my little heartbeat listeners. It's an all ages event. It's happening next year again. Is it?

Rankin: [00:24:40] Yes it is. Yeah. So it's a matinee. Uh, it's 3 to 6 and yeah, it is all ages. And, uh, it's pretty cool to see that actual all ages do show up.

Christina: [00:24:50] It's it was kind of surreal to see the marquee in the afternoon jam packed. And when we were leaving the soundcheck, there were there was a lineup outside. People were so excited. Um, it's great to see parents, their kids. And I met your parents there. My mom came like, it's something that there's a lot of people that just don't won't go out past a certain hour, myself included. Often. Yeah. And, um, it's just was such a great way to pass a Saturday afternoon. I, uh. Yeah, it was really, uh, special. It's really. It is really special. And I commend you for for sticking with it because a lot of people would you know, would like, try something like that. But if it's not really picking up or, you know, they would just say, well, let's just forget about it. Like it's just, you know.

Rankin: [00:25:42] Yeah. Yeah, I was lucky. Uh, I was lucky. It did stick out with it. It definitely paid off in the long run. I feel like, uh, it was one of those things, you know, field of dreams. If you build it, they will come. And, you know, we were building for a while, but it certainly is a proud, beautiful feeling to step back and look at it now. And and an accident. Not really an accident, but an accident that it's the afternoon. Because at the time, you know, I didn't have the weight to pitch for nights. And I was just like, there's an afternoon, there's nothing going on. Can I have it? And so it was more just trying to fit in how the hours got picked. But now I could stay with that forever. It's hard to do nights after getting used to a Saturday afternoon.

Christina: [00:26:26] Yeah, yeah, I just think it's so awesome. It's like you're the ultimate success story to me. Musician of the year. Music. Nova Scotia entertainer of the year. Um, all those things. Human of the year. Let's just throw that in there. Um, and, you know, I think I think we need I think it's really important for all of us doing this to hear the stories of, like, nobody would in the beginning. Nobody would give me a chance or I wasn't taken seriously or like I honestly was just kind of finding my own way. I didn't really have a super clear plan at the time. Um, and perseverance and hard work and throwing things at the wall, you know, maybe. I'm sure not everything stuck that you did try. Um, but, you know, just keeping keeping going. Uh, that's what you are. I think you're the perfect example. And now you've got this. The Blueberry Jam festival in Mabou. Can you tell us about the evolution of that? I'm so excited to play it this year.

Rankin: [00:27:31] So I was actually approached by Paul and Adele Mara, the, uh, farm owners, and they are from Mabou. I didn't know them growing up. They would have been they would have left kind of before I was growing up. And, uh, raised a family and just outside of Truro, there in Valley. And now they are moved back to Mabou, I think just officially this year. And, um, so they're a big supporters of music and always have been, and they've been kind of just watching some of the stuff I did for a while. And at the time it was kind of in the party boots phase and we would put on different shows, like kind of the way the warmers were, but nothing so serious based more like a special Saint Patrick's Day or a special Halloween and all that. And so they kind of reached out to me wondering if I'd be involved. And they, uh, wanted it. So they have a bunch of blueberry fields up there, and they wanted a title to celebrate the industry. And so kind of after that, I put Blueberry Jam forward to them. It was just kind of too perfect to tie the two together. And to be honest, I wasn't sure if I was going to do it when they first reached out because, uh, with my light involvement in promotion, even with, uh, party boots and all that, I knew how much work is involved. And and then, especially when you're in a smaller market, you're in a village.

Rankin: [00:29:03] Um, so I really wasn't sure. But then one day I went to the farm for a visit and I was just like, okay, you know, another if we build it, it will come. So we had maybe one year before Covid, and when I started, it was just, uh, just an outdoor concert one day. And, uh, I think it was the. It must have been 2019. Yeah. And, uh, it was a beautiful day, mostly ended before the sunset kind of ended with the sun setting. And then the next year. Yeah, I'm. My memory serves right. It was Covid and kind of because of that. And you know what to talk about Covid for a second it was one of those things where glass half full, where I was in the world, and on the latter and music, the limited ness of everything kind of helped propel these events because it went from being, how many people can we try to get to? We can only have 250 people and that's it. So the second year the tickets went like that because the limitation and then we're still in Covid, the 250 the second year. So that's why we added the second day. And so you know, we were kind of forced to structure um, uh, and it kind of paid off for the event in general. So yeah, one year before Covid, Covid turned it into a two day event. And now it's a whole weekend thing with a separate concert series in, uh, in the fall.

Christina: [00:30:40] That's cool. How do you, uh, like, do you just pick your friends to play, or do you what do you do? What's your what's your strategy? Is it just you or now you're going to get a bunch of emails like.

Rankin: [00:30:51] Oh, I got I got the emails anyways, uh, and I'm the worst at communication, you know, like some days I'm on some days I'm not. I'm usually on with the stuff that I know is coming around the corner because I gotta. But, uh, yeah, there's definitely a lot of emails that come in and I try to balance them all, and it's, uh, so right now it's semi, uh, semi curated semi from some of the emails I've seen. But we do try to have a certain percentage from Inverness County, a certain percentage from the rest of the Cape Breton and then the rest Nova Scotia, and then kind of beyond. And then you, me. Yeah. But it's yeah, I definitely, for the future would love to have an official avenue that I could point people towards so that even if I don't get them in there that year, there's like a I can still reference them while I'm planning the next.

Christina: [00:31:48] Or you want to send them to me and I'll, I'll just comb through them.

Rankin: [00:31:52] I'll just hey, no problem. I can use all the help, all the help I can get.

Christina: [00:31:57] Do I don't know if you're like an open book or not, but I want to get I want listeners to know something that not a lot of people know about. You, like give us some dirt on Rankin McInnis. Like, what? Do you have any weird hobbies or do you like, is there anything gross that you like to eat? Like, I'm the example I always throw out is like, I love dill pickle sandwiches with mustard. Um.

Rankin: [00:32:24] Well, since I moved back to Cape Breton, I drink so much milk.

Christina: [00:32:30] It's a problem for you?

Rankin: [00:32:33] I probably is like. I'm like two liters today. How is it gone? And I didn't drink any when I was in Halifax. So that's kind of weird and maybe a problem. The people in the city call me a serial killer when I just drink a glass of milk. But hilarious.

Christina: [00:32:48] That is fucking hilarious. I like that.

Rankin: [00:32:50] One. I don't know how it started again. Uh, either way, that's that. Um, do.

Christina: [00:32:55] You drink from the bottle? Do you actually know a glass?

Rankin: [00:32:58] Know when someone's looking? I'll drink from a glass. If they're not, I'll drink right from the bottle. Okay.

Christina: [00:33:03] Note to self, I mean, I don't drink a child, okay?

Rankin: [00:33:07] And I could probably survive off a toast alone.

Christina: [00:33:10] Oh, yeah. You're not like, if I made you a Caesar salad, you wouldn't. Are you not into eating healthy?

Rankin: [00:33:17] Oh, I'm. I'm into it. I don't I don't just eat off toast alone, okay? If it was healthy, I could, you know, I, uh, it is hard to eat healthy on the road, though, I'll admit that. And, uh, since we're saying out loud and pretend it's New Year's, I'll do better this year, I swear. Yeah.

Christina: [00:33:36] Do you ever, like, uh, experience some super low days? Months? Are you, like, do you? And if so, what kind of things? You know what helps you get up again?

Rankin: [00:33:52] Um, I don't know if I, uh, I of course I do. And but I'm always, I always feel, especially since I've chosen to do music. There's always so much I have to do that I have no time to think about it. But, uh, I'm in a happy, loving relationship right now. But I got to say, I'm sure every time I had a serious breakup, it, uh, if I could erase the memories of those years of the aftermath of just the sad, I'd say those were always my lowest moments. And luckily, I haven't had a too many low moments. Uh, kind of since any of those. You know, we all have days or, and, you know, sometimes maybe, uh, my lows are contrasts now from some of the highs versus actual lows. You know, uh, I maybe even particularly, uh, this November when we had, uh, had Nova Scotia music week, it was almost like my whole winter warmers rolled right into the summer. And the summer. Into the fall. Into music week. And then all this work, you know, kind of got awarded and recognized. And then it was just dead for a month. And I think kind of just the the lull there hit me a little bit and it was more just like I had no choice but get up again because December, January was right around the corner. The whole year starts again. But I do feel it's just it might be just a just slowing down sometimes. Might just for some reason seems a little sad. Sad.

Christina: [00:35:35] Remember, Joan Rivers used to say that her biggest fear was seeing an empty calendar date. And I remember feeling like that, too. Like I was terrified to have. Yeah, free. Free weekends and free and I would. But then for in my case, I was actually filling a lot of it with things that were draining my energy that I that weren't really what I really wanted to do. And I had to break this habit. And so now I actually have a lot more kind of time and freedom, and I'm not as busy. I could be busier, I could be I would like to be busier, but but I don't, I know that I don't want to fill the time with stuff that doesn't fuel me. So. So it's, uh, it's a bit of a trade off, but. But, you know, it sounds like you sounds like you're going to have to put out a Christmas album, and that'll take up a chunk of your year every year. Is that something you've thought of?

Rankin: [00:36:29] Well, eventually. Yeah. So it took me a long, long time. So I have an album we're recording now, and it essentially it took forever to get to this point. And, uh, I think after this, I have a second one I'd like to do. And then once that second one gets done, I'd say Christmas is next, because why not? Uh, but also on that note, you know, just to forecast it is to not premonition to make it put it in stone. So it just happened. We have to do it because Luke Levy, my bandmate, wrote a Christmas song that, you know, if we release it right, you're going to hear for the rest of your life. It's such a good Christmas song. And I think just for that reason, we're going to have to force ourselves to do an album.

Christina: [00:37:12] Yeah. You should. Absolutely. I hated Christmas, I hated the holidays for a long time, and then I kind of forced myself to. I gave myself a little exercise to, like, write a holiday song. And and then I got the bug, and then I, uh, someone slowly doing, you know, putting together holiday songs as we have the, the time and the motivation. Um, but it's, it's, it's affected how I feel about the holidays and, and I have a totally different perspective about it now since, you know, actually writing songs specifically for this time of year. And it's been really good for me, so I hope it'll be good for you.

Rankin: [00:37:53] Oh, let's hope so. So yours. Hope for this Christmas or the next one, or just when it's ready.

Christina: [00:37:58] No, I am not. I'm not even giving myself one of those things. I don't actually want to put a deadline on because I do want it to be really organic. The whole thing has been organic and I don't want to jinx it by being like, let's make a strategy and a marketing plan, and I hesitate to do that. And I also really precious about my downtime. I need a lot of time to recharge and stay healthy, probably more than most people. So I am a little nervous to kind of give up December for business stuff, you know, and like, uh, but I all get there, I think, because I have a vision that I want to, to make it fun for as the music, you know, as a performer, entertainer, um, a lot of the times it's funny because I, um, a lot of the times a the vision, the idea for a stage show or something that could go on the road or just one off event that feels really good is the motivation for me to write a song. Not always, but like sometimes it's like a total backwards moving, you know, motivation for me, if that makes sense. Do you ever get like that, or is it always like the song first?

Rankin: [00:39:14] I think it's all I have no proven method of anything for writing. Sometimes, like. An idea will just come and then it will sit there forever. Uh, I haven't had too much success forcing myself to write unless it was with others and on my own. I have a harder time. It's like I'll. I'll unintentionally start to do something. I might just, like, sit at the piano and just practice. And then I'd be like, I hate playing this, you know, whatever song I might be like. I've played this song too many times. Yeah, I need something new and it might come from that. But I say a lot of my stuff when I'm writing on my own comes from music first, just me jamming out and being like, I need something to go with this. But, uh, it all depends. Because like, when I write with others, it's, uh, it's often whatever their methods are. And some people that write often with others, they're just so fast that you end up being, uh, yes and no man. Um, mhm. It's like no, no no no keep going. But it all, it all uh it all depends. Yeah. Like Nicole Ariana is the fastest writer I've ever seen. It's like she'll have 17 sentences out before. You're, like, thinking about three words.

Christina: [00:40:38] You think she's using AI?

Rankin: [00:40:41] No, no. Like this is. Yeah. And if she got the chip in her head, maybe.

Christina: [00:40:45] Maybe she does.

Rankin: [00:40:46] Maybe she maybe she does. One of the first test subjects love you.

Christina: [00:40:50] She's such a sweetheart. Well, listen, this, okay? I want to keep you longer, but I won't because I know how busy you are. Okay? You ready for your AI goodbye? Hey, Rankin, huge thanks for joining us on the chat with heart podcast. Your stories had us laughing, crying, and questioning our life choices all in the best way possible. You're a rock star, a legend, and now our favorite podcast guest. Don't tell the others. Next time let's toast. Wink to your epic tales, wild adventures, and maybe, maybe even some toast related anecdotes. Can't wait to have you back for more unforgettable banter. Cheers, Christina. And the chat with her team. Which is just me, but that's. That was an interesting one. Um, I like how it tied in the toast thing. Um, it's also insinuating that we should have some alcohol the next time we do this, so I don't drink, but I could bring some non bubbly to the blueberry jam. Uh, August. Well, I'll be there on August 17th. Um, but it's that weekend. It's that whole weekend. Uh, so the new album, when's it going to be ready? Do we have a date? You said you have pressure.

Rankin: [00:42:11] I don't have. Yeah, I like pressure. Uh, I got asked about a gig in the fall, and I said, you know what? Maybe we'll even do that as an album release show. And just saying that, I was like, oh my God.I got I got a gig in the fall. I said, you know what? Maybe we got us now, this show. And just like, oh my God, this is.

Christina: [00:42:34] Hilarious. Okay, so we lost Rankin, uh, his audio at the end of the chat, which I wasn't aware of until, uh, we started editing the podcast episode, but that was just probably a one off glitch with, uh, either zoom or, um, or our internet connection. No biggie. Ranking. Thank you so much for being a guest on a chat with our podcast, and we'll see you August, uh, the weekend of August 17th at Blueberry Jam. I'm so excited. And, uh, what a guy. Like, what a talent and a connector. Yeah. So thanks for listening, everybody. Uh, we'll have another episode launching in about a week, putting out quite a few recently. Then I'm going to take a break, uh, as we have the September 6th show coming up at Alderney Landing. So I'm going to be busy with that and we'll have some more episodes in the fall. But, uh, stay tuned for my, uh, chat with Lisa McIsaac next week. 

Song 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You': [00:43:42] It's love. I don't want to say goodbye to you. Oh, I don't want to say goodbye to you.

Heartbeat Hotline: [00:43:58] Welcome to the heartbeat Hotline 19026694769. I'm the host of a Chat with Heart podcast, Christina Martin, and I'm so excited you called. Leave me your question, a suggestion for the podcast or a comment about this episode. Please be aware your message may be used on the podcast and social media. Tell me your name, where you're calling from, and it's also fine if you want to remain anonymous. Thanks for listening. Have a great fucking day!

Christina: [00:44:30] Thanks for listening to a Chat with Heart podcast produced by me, Christina Martin. Co-produced and engineered by my husband, Dale Murray. Dale's a stellar singer, songwriter and music producer, so check out his website dalemurray.ca. The podcast theme song 'Talk About It' and 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You' were written by me and recorded by Dale. Visit my bandcamp to find a CDs, vinyl, digital music, and fun merch like custom made puzzles and temporary tattoo packs. Become a monthly or yearly supporter of this podcast and my music endeavors on Patreon. If you're new to Patreon, it's a membership platform that helps creators get paid. I love it! Sign up is a free or paid member at Patreon.com/ChristinaMartin. I would love it if you had time to share, rate, leave a review and subscribe to a Chat with Heart on all the places you listen to podcasts. Wishing you, my little heartbeat listeners, a great day.