Episode 200: It Takes a strange crew
WHOA! Here we are. 200 episodes and nine years of Strange Grooves. WILD to say the least. We are beyond thankful for all of you, Strange Crew!
If you’re new around here, let us tell you how this whole thing started. Cherise and I kept crossing paths in the business and music communities (and even roller derby, because apparently the universe was making sure we met). One night, we decided to hang out, talk about our record collections, the Stampeders, and daydream about rock ’n’ roll back in the day.
Naturally, we hit record. And that was Episode 1.
When we started, we were just two buds getting to know each other and discovering each other’s sick album collections. We started going to more shows, meeting bands and artists, and somewhere in those first six months, we were having full bands play live in my apartment before sitting down for an interview. Because why the heck not?
Cherise and Cait Hanging at Strange HQ where it all began with The Stampeders….
We made bucket-list goals, like seeing the Stampeders together and bringing our parents who brought us to their shows when we we’re younger, and meeting Ken Tobias was high on the list, Cherise really wanted to learn more about his songwriting, and what a friendship that came to be as a result of that. We also travelled outside New Brunswick together for the first time, seeing new things and places for the first time, staying in our first hotel together, and over the years, we’ve explored more of Canada, the United States and Europe, all while making memories as friends and music lovers.
But somewhere along the way, Strange Grooves became so much more than a podcast. It has become an outlet for us, a community for us and others and we’re proud of it. It has become a way we also foster our friendship.
It has brought our families together. It connected us with music lovers around the world. It gave us the chance to meet some incredible humans and have conversations we might never have had otherwise. And it’s grown into a community we’re ridiculously grateful to be part of.
Life has thrown some pretty heavy stuff our way, too. Over the past couple of years, we’ve both lost people who meant the world to us, and those losses have changed us. They truly added so much to our lives. Music has been there through the joy, the grief, the weird in-between moments and the times when we don’t even know what we need.
Sometimes we turn to music. Sometimes we turn away from it. But we all have those songs, sounds and moments that take us right back to a person, a place or a time in our lives. Music has a way of bringing us together when we need it most, and honestly, we think that matters now more than ever.
The original goal was to get to know each other and the music community better. Nine years later, that hasn’t changed.
Strange Grooves is a safe space for the deep cuts of life, the music that makes you want to rock out, and the conversations that remind us we’re all just figuring it out as we go. It’s about connection, community and finding your people through a shared love of music.
We’re so grateful this little idea has brought us here. For the 200 guests and interviews, the friendships, the adventures, the laughs, the ridiculous stories and everything in between. Most of all, we’re grateful for the Strange Crew. To everyone who listens, shares an episode, comes out to an event, supports our show, recommends a band, or simply hangs out with us along the way: THANK YOU. You’re a huge part of this, and we wouldn’t be here without you.
And don't worry, we're not going anywhere anytime soon.
We’ve got some fun events to announce, new merch coming that you’ll be able to order, and — you heard it here first — Strange Grooves is coming to 107.3 Campus Radio in Saint John! Our new show, Strange Grooves on Air, debuts in just a couple of weeks, and we are STOKED.
Thank you for being here, for supporting independent music and for being part of this wonderfully weird community we’ve built together. Keep an eye on our socials for what’s coming next.
KEEP IT STRANGE,
Cait & Cherise
