Musicworks is a triannual arts magazine that explores innovative artists, ideas, and events in music and sound art, from a diversity of perspectives and places. Founded in Toronto in 1978 by notable music experimenters, Musicworks has remained a cornerstone of Canada’s creative-music scene while evolving into a genre-fluid magazine that connects artist, programming, educational, and audience communities across Turtle Island and around the world through its publication and outreach activities. 

Read If You Like: James Tenney, Tanya Tagaq, Sam Shalabi, Kris Davis, Sarah Hennies, Anthony Braxton, Maria De Alvear, Levy Lorenzo, Jean Derome, Cassandra Miller, Colin Stetson, Roscoe Mitchell, New Hermitage, Du Yun, John Oswald, Senyawa, Pauline Oliveros, Tim Hecker, Maria Chávez, Jeremy Dutcher, Gayle Young, Eric Chenaux, Debby Friday, Frank Denyer, Pamela Z, Quatuor Bozzini, Lido Pimienta, Gordon Grdina, Sarah Davachi, Geronimo Inutiq, Linda Catlin Smith, SlowPitchSound, Allison Cameron, New Age Doom.

Musicworks 152

ON THE COVER: Inspired by a love of misbehaving musical technologies, Lisa Conway brings her technical skills into her evolving creative process, working with analog synthesizers, reel-to-reel audio, and alphorns (!) sound installation, improvisation, experimental composition, and song. ALSO INSIDE: Performer-composer Kalun Leung—2025 Kranichstein Music Prize winner—takes his trombone into uncharted sonic territory with technology and movement, and invites fellow musicians to join the adventure. Bassist-composer Mali Obomsawin draws from experience in jazz and folk and from her exploration of her Abenaki heritage in ambitious solo and ensemble projects. Composer-percussionist Susie Ibarra—2025 winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music—opens ears and minds to the rhythms of nature.  For his solo project ASKO, Marek Tyler was guided by advisors through a process of cultural exploration that helped him to interpret his ancestors’ teachings through electronic soundscapes. We cozy up with the late-night vibes of Koala Karnival. We review the festivals from Manitoba's Cluster and Prairie Wires and the book Fela: Music Is the Weapon.