FAQ - Songs in the Key of Dave
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Curious about how Songs in the Key of Dave got started? Wondering why a father and son 1,200 miles apart decided to turn their weekly chats into a storytelling show? Or how the music for each episode is chosen? You’re in the right place. This FAQ offers a look behind the microphone at how the show is made, why it works, and what goes into every episode.
What is Songs in the Key of Dave?
Songs in the Key of Dave is a weekly storytelling and music program built from real-life conversations between Bruce Janu and his father, Dave—recorded from 1,200 miles apart and shared over a glass of wine. Each episode blends family memories, personal history, and the music that shaped their lives.
Who are Bruce and Dave?
Bruce Janu is a long-time educator. He taught social science for over 32 years, and is now a high school librarian and archivist. He is also a filmmaker and lifelong music enthusiast based in the Chicago area, with quite a collection of records (shellac and vinyl), plus several music players from Victrolas to 8-tracks tape players. He runs Bell, Book & Camera Productions and is the founder of Vinyl Voyage Radio and is a regular contributor to programming on that station.
Dave Janu is Bruce's father. He grew up in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood and later lived in Mt. Prospect. A retired tool and die maker, he now lives in Florida where he brings decades of memories and stories to the show.
Also on the show, you may hear Lynn Janu, the matriarch of the family, and Lori, Bruce's sister.How did the podcast start?
A few years ago, Bruce and his sister gifted their parents a Facebook Portal, in order to help keep in touch in a visual way during Covid. Recently, Bruce and his dad set up a time to sit and talk--just the two of them. Lynn plays cards every Tuesday night, so the father and son decided to keep a standing time every week just to talk. They each come to the portal with a drink (usually wine) and talk about politics, life, family, cars -- anything and everything.
And Bruce, having already produced several podcasts, realized that these conversations had structure, humor, and emotion woven through them. The music naturally followed, and he saw how each episode could be shaped around the songs that connected to their stories. He began recording the calls—and Songs in the Key of Dave was born.
Why would anyone want to listen to conversations between a father and son? Aren't these conversations specific to them?
The details may be personal, but the themes are universal. Listeners hear their own families in these conversations — their childhoods, relationships, memories, and soundtracks. The show resonates for the same reasons programs like StoryCorps, The Moth, and This American Life resonate: specific stories reveal universal truths. And of course, Dave is delightful and has an innate ability to recall vivid details from the past.
What makes this show different?
The heart of the show is authenticity — real conversations between a father and son who genuinely enjoy each other’s company. But the music is what makes Songs in the Key of Dave unique. Each episode features a curated blend of:
It’s part storytelling, part music documentary, part memoir — all woven into a warm, intimate audio experience.
How is the music selected for each episode?
Aside from the conversations with his dad, Bruce the music selection to be the most exciting thing about producing Songs in the Key of Dave. The music grows out of every conversation, and Bruce finds himself scratching song titles into a notebook he keeps as they talk. His goal is to find fun tracks that highlight and enhance the stories told. Every track is carefully chosen to enhance the narrative -- not just to fill space.
Are the episodes scripted?
Not at all. Every episode starts as a real conversation, often first with a quick overview as to what they are drinking this week. Nothing is rehearsed or pre-planned. Bruce may have an idea for topics he brings up, but the conversation occurs organically like all conversations do. He later edits the recordings for clarity, pacing and emotional arc. The music is the final thing added to the edit.
How long is each episode?
Bruce and his dad generally talk for over an hour. The finished show includes roughly 10 songs and selected portions of their conversation, resulting in an episode length between 50 and 65 minutes.
Will there be more episodes?
Absolutely! In fact, Bruce has several episodes in production and tries to upload a new one weekly. However, sometimes life gets in the way and occasionally a repeat episode will air on Vinyl Voyage Radio instead of a new one.
Where is the show produced?
The show is produced by Bell, Book and Camera Productions and premieres on Vinyl Voyage Radio, streamed through Canada and licensed via SOCAN.
Can my station carry Songs in the Key of Dave?
Yes. Stations can apply for free syndication through the form on the website or by downloading the fillable PDF agreement. Once approved, you’ll receive private download links to each episode.
Click here to learn more about syndication of Songs in the Key of Dave.
Is Songs of the Key of Dave copyright compliant?
Yes. The structure of Songs in the Key of Dave generally follows the requirements in the United States under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA). For syndication, there may be alternative episodes available specifically for the US market.
The podcast is hosted on Mixcloud, which has a different licensing structure and is fully compliant on that platform. Mixcloud hosts millions of music-based shows and handles all music licensing and royalty distribution on behalf of creators. This means every stream of the podcast on Mixcloud is covered under their legally compliant framework.
Vinyl Voyage Radio follows DMCA-compliant programming practices even though we’re licensed in Canada. We use the same rules U.S. stations follow for non-interactive streaming—like limits on artist repeats and no pre-announcing tracks. Our licensing is handled through SOCAN in Canada, but our programming is structured to comply with DMCA guidelines for any listeners in the U.S.
Between Vinyl Voyage Radio’s SOCAN licensing and Mixcloud’s DMCA-compliant platform, Songs in the Key of Dave is distributed responsibly and legally across multiple channels. Affiliates simply need to ensure that their own station’s music licensing is current for any syndication use..
How does syndication work?
Each station is responsible for its own music licensing. If a station broadcasts Songs in the Key of Dave, they must comply with their country’s music licensing requirements. This is standard practice in radio syndication and ensures that artists and rights holders are compensated appropriately.