How Joseph Shabason turned his mother's battle with Parkinson's into beautiful music

Joseph Shabason knows what it's like to watch a close family member face a terminal illness. He's a Toronto-based musician and one third of the band DIANA. A few years ago, Shabason's mother, Anne, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. He decided to talk to his mother about the diagnosis for two hours while he recorded their conversation on tape.

Shabason used that conversation as the inspiration — and the backbone — for his new solo album, Anne. It mixes ambient sounds, saxophone, piano, electronics and his mother's own voice as she opens up about her experience with her degenerative illness. It's a moving and ultimately hopeful record.

Today, Shabason joins Tom Power live in the q studio to tell us his story. He'll be performing live at his now sold-out album release show in Toronto this week. His new record Anne is out now.

— Produced by Mitch Pollock