My name is Phil and I endorse this webpage

I’m the owner of a boutique marketing agency, Focused Creative, the founder of a new shaving product (that’s pretty awesome, actually) The Original PreShave Bar, co-host of The Song Talk Radio Podcast as well as other projects. You can find links to the other stuff I do here as well.

Focused Creative

A small, boutique agency that helps small and medium-sized non-profits, B2B and B2C companies build their brand and boost their bottom-line.

The Song Talk Radio Podcast

An “inside-baseball” format weekly podcast where songwriters talk about all the fidgety-bits of writing songs. Also, have theme shows where we talk about songwriting-related movies and tips and junk.

The Original PreShave Bar

A new preshave treatment for blade shavers. Eliminates nicks, cuts and rashes that come from shaving with a blade – pretty great stuff, if I do say so myself.

Writing

Bad ROI on Marketing? Your messaging might suck – but it doesn’t have to
Source: Marketing Insights - Focused Creative Published on 2025-02-05
Should You Use AI in Your Messaging? The Answer Might Surprise You.
Source: Marketing Insights - Focused Creative Published on 2025-01-30
Your Midweek Marketing Morsel: Never forget, you’re forgettable
Source: Marketing Insights - Focused Creative Published on 2025-01-29
Your Midweek Marketing Morsel: A/B test every bulk communication – don’t leave valuable data on the table!
Source: Marketing Insights - Focused Creative Published on 2025-01-22
Music / songwriting competition tips to help you stand out from the pack
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2023-08-24
(Jan 31 only) Get David Bryne’s “How Music Works” for $1.99 !
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2020-01-31
The STR Gang and winners had a blast at the Rocketman Movie PreScreeing on Wednesday!
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2019-05-31
Creating Lyric Sheets that Don’t Suck
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2016-12-19
How to get noticed: Promotional Artist Tips: Photography
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2016-03-10
Why I write songs
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2015-12-20
The Strange, Strange World of “Sound Alike” Songs
Source: Phil Emery, Author at Song Talk Radio Published on 2015-10-29

Music and other links

The Song Talk Radio Meetup

(Formerly The Songwriters Cafe, The Songwriters Meetup). I first went to this about a decade ago. I started hosting not too long after. The podcast grew out of this.

Songwriters meet once a month in a bar to present songs in progress and get supportive but useful feedback from other songwriters. Now being held alternatively in person in Toronto and via Zoom.

https://www.meetup.com/songtalk-meetup/

Original Music at SoundCloud

You can find some of my original songs at my SoundCloud page.

The Parkdale Hookers

I played bass and shared songwriting and vocal responsibilities with the very talented Mark Jeftovic. Kinda power-pop punk stuff with a corporate edge.

https://parkdalehookers.ca

The Parkdale Hookers · Polyester Fire Starter

Playing Guitar with Mumbo Jumbo Shrimp

These awesome people asked me to join them for a fun show:

USA Slot Car Racing Tracks

A free and open listing of Slot Car Racing tracks in the US. All scales and types are welcome: 1:32, 1:24, HO, Drag, and Wing Racing. Both commercial tracks, clubs and home tracks.

https://usaslotcartracks.com/

You can add your track via a form on the site.

Slot Car Racing Tracks in Canada

An open listing of Slot Car Racing tracks of all scales you can find in Canada; HO, 1:32, 1:24, Drag racing, and Wing Car racing. Tracks and clubs are located in commercial storefronts or in people’s homes or community centers.

https://canadaslotcarracing.ca/

If you’d like your track added to the listing, there is a form on the site you can send us your info.