About the show

Songsmiths, formerly known as the Winnipeg Music Project, is an Western Canadian Music Award nominated endeavor dedicated to spotlighting music-makers from across Canada. Originally created by Métis-Polish host Kwiat to promote Manitoban artists, the future of Songsmiths is in connecting with artists from coast to coast. Since its inception in 2015, the project has evolved from it’s weekly long-form music interview podcast and CJUM 101.5FM radio show to creating music education and online event programming to develop the prairie songwriting scene.

Songsmiths is a national catalyst for discovery, empowerment and promotion of music across all genres. While preserving and celebrating Canadian music through stories of songwriting and the unique journeys of artists who love what they do, Songsmiths inspires a new generation of music makers and music lovers.

You can listen to the Songsmiths podcast every Tuesday at 2:00pm on 101.5 UMFM, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Play.

About the host

Winnipeg’s Ashley Bieniarz (she/they) is a multi-talented and award-winning music industry professional dedicated to community and songcraft. Over many years spent on the industry’s artist and business sides, the Métis Polish musician known as Kwiat has worked to mitigate barriers for marginalized people while representing her cultures and creating inspiration and opportunities for others.

In 2023, Bieniarz was awarded the inaugural Women in Music Honour Roll award for her work with Songsmiths, a program designed to celebrate and support Candian innovators and creators who have an outstanding success in their field. She is the first Indigenous woman from Manitoba to receive this commendation.

She’s currently working with international lyric licensing company LyricFind and Indigenous-owned record label Red Music Rising on an Indigenous Languages and Culture Program grant for the Revitalization and Reclamation of Indigenous Languages. This program has been critical in helping to strengthen and broaden the global visibility of Indigenous languages in arts and culture while bolstering their longevity.

Bieniarz re-branded her WCMA-nominated Winnipeg Music Project into Songsmiths in 2021 with the intent to expand. The project’s podcast will return with a hired team and extended national focus. Songsmiths also hosts collaborative songwriting groups and camps where participants create together, make important connections, and get valuable feedback on lyrics, performances, and structure. Additionally, Bieniarz supports facilitator/curator Ila Barker with her AIRsessions program which creates and leads skill-teaching industry and production camps for emerging Indigenous artists.

A recent partnership with Tyler Del Pino co-hosting Winnipeg’s “Nashville MB” Songwriters Round enables Bieniarz to support a wider swath of artists from the city’s thriving and increasingly prominent scene. Bieniarz also shares her knowledge and experience as a mentor for youth programs including GerryFest and Broadway Neighbourhood Centre After School Leaders. 

In 2022, Bieniarz completed her Manitoba Music contract as Indigenous Music Development Coordinator where she created professional development and export opportunities for Canadian Indigenous artists. She’s familiar with grants, has been a Manitoba Arts Council, SOCAN Awards Juror, Prism Music Prize, and Polaris Music Prize juror, and contributes to Manitoba Music’s GEAR UP Gender Equity in Audio Recording and Music Production task force that develops resources for gender minority and women producers in Manitoba to help them feel safer and encouraged to produce more.

Bieniarz is a driven, compassionate music industry asset who hopes to eventually convert Songsmiths into a publishing house, a field she’s already wading into with her songwriter programs and artist development efforts, which would provide even greater benefits for the people she works with.

Testimonials

" For fellow winnipeg musicians to spotlight their music and fans to discover great local talent." - Rob Mazurek, local musician

"Great radio with great music...what more do you need?" - Brian Cook, local musician

"Fantastic show with an engaging and hilarious host. The interviews are great and the monthly music wrap ups offer a good look at current releases." - Cliff Mckay, patron

“One of Winnipeg’s premiere music radio shows and podcasts” - Graeme Houssin, Sound, Phrase & Fury

Disclaimer

Songsmith's primary goal is to promote Canadian music-makers. The music played on the radio show is used with permission (by the artists themselves or representatives).