2022 PARTICIPANTS
Mint Simon
Quebec
Mint Simon
Mint Simon is the debut solo project of the front person of indie-pop band Caveboy. Born and raised in Montreal, Canada, Mint is a theatre kid, turned band lead, turned pop star living somewhere on the gender spectrum between Cher and Prince. This debut solo project sees Mint’s new musical romance unfolding, and their soul spilling out. The new music is a sonic and lyrical exploration on love, missed opportunities, desire and sexual liberation. Mint has collaborated with & been a part of many different projects but has never fully explored their own personal musical journey in a public way until now. Leather, pleather, shimmer n glimmer – they are unapologetically queer – a pop prince tapping into their 80s and 90s influences with this new music. The time has come for Mint Simon to be unabashedly themselves and explore their own music and identify with zero restrictions.
Mez Mariyé
Ontario
Mez Mariyé
Mez Mariyé is a Canadian/Ethiopian rapper, singer, songwriter, & director. Growing up in Toronto’s east end, Mez found his way through music during his early high school years. His music first drew attention across social media and online sources in 2009, due in large part to his distinctly crafted and melodic sound, as well as his strong and mature presence as a songwriter. His biggest release ‘Alive’ (2020) was the first release to gain international attention from several countries around the world with over 276,000 views on YouTube and thousands of streams across digital platforms. Mez continues to use his music as a vessel to inspire hope, strength, and peace as he enjoys taking a conscious approach when writing music. His musical influences range from artists like Teddy Afro, Bob Marley, The Beatles, Nas, J-Cole, Kendrick Lamar, Drake & Frank Ocean. His diverse sounds and styles appeal to a wide audience and set the basis of a growing, young artist’s stake to claim in the current musical landscape.
Shades Lawrence
Quebec
Shades Lawrence
Shades Lawrence is a Montreal-born hip hop artist, of mixed British, Jamaican, Irish and Scottish heritage. Shades Lawrence’s music is about the emotion. To date, her sound has been compared to Drake, Doja Cat, and Mahalia. Shades Lawrence has performed at 40+ shows as a spoken word poet and hip hop artist. Shades has shared the stage with a variety of artists, including Big Freedia, Princess Nokia, and Cakes da Killa. Shades Lawrence’s performances include Festival POP Montreal, Fierté/Pride MTL, and Calgary’s Femme Wave Festival. Shades Lawrence counts among her current influences; Drake, Cardi B, and J. Cole. Currently, Shades Lawrence’s sound encompasses soul-infused productions, and trap beats, with Drake-type emotional delivery, lyrics, and flow. To find out more, subscribe to her mailing list at www.shadeslawrence.com.
X. ARI
Ontario
X. ARI
X. ARI is a queer Alt-Pop singer, writer, and mental health advocate, public speaker, & founder of non-profit WisdoMania Foundation. Her life motto is all about turning “Pain Into Power” through art and self-care. Having comorbid mental health challenges is not her identity, but her superpower. X. ARI’s visceral lyrics transmit messages of hope as often as they ponder tragedy. Her sound comes to life in the middle.
She is currently working on her 6th EP slated to be released in support of World Mental Health Day in October of 2022.
Newby
Ontario
Newby
Despite his name, Toronto-born artist, Newby is far from a newbie when it comes to music. With a skillful combination of youthful energy, playful rhymes and a signature visual aesthetic, Newby proves himself as a well-seasoned artist worthy of recognition. His modern take on Pop-Rap brings a well-needed refreshment to the local Hip-Hop scene and positions Newby to be an exciting, new favorite among music listeners worldwide.
Jerry Sereda
Manitoba
Jerry Sereda
Multi-award winning Canadian country singer Jerry Sereda who paid homage to his Indigenous heritage with the release of his fourth studio album, Classic Country Couple, on June 21, 2021 for National Indigenous Peoples Day, has now won “Best Country Album” at the Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, and garnered several nominations for the “Manitoba Country Music Awards” including: “Country Album of the Year”, “Music Video of the Year”, and “Male Artist of the Year”. The all-Indigenous production team — Sereda, award winning producer/songwriter Troy Kokol, and Jamie Lillie — have recorded an album reflective of Sereda’s recent personal and musical evolution. Sereda’s inspirations include Garth Brooks, Merle Haggard, Eric Church, and his Grandma Dottie. Dottie taught her grandson his first guitar chords and shared her love of country music with him. Sereda said she was one of his biggest supporters throughout his life.
Meghan Oak
Quebec
Meghan Oak
Meghan Oak is a young singer-songwriter from Montreal who started making her mark on social media in January 2018. The public was quickly touched by her sentimental voice and her words in her first single « Au revoir » which cumulated more than 1.3 million streams. Following the release of her debut EP “Étrangère” in fall 2020, Meghan joined Star Académie, a singing competition television show. After a year spent focusing on songwriting, Meghan Oak will release a French EP in fall 2022, followed by an English project in 2023.
Sam Krüger
Quebec
Sam Krüger
“In 2016, I had spent enough time working the over-night shift at McDonalds. I took a 4-day trip from my hometown of London, ON, to Montreal. The short trip was enough to convince me to move there the next month. With some clothes and an acoustic guitar, I quit my job and left – landing by chance, a literal spiral staircase away from my new musical neighbours in a locally famous band. It wasn’t long that I started to release some of those songs that I wrote over that filthy McDonalds grill.” Sam is a singer-songwriter based out of Montreal, Quebec. He’s played shows across Canada; in bars, street corners, markets, cafés, living rooms, forests, on top of busses and even in laundromats. When the pandemic started, he honed down on fingerpicking. Now, he’s sitting on a large collection of new folk songs that are ready for an audience.
Bukola
British Columbia
Bukola
Hailed by Exclaim! as one of their new favourite emerging artists in 2021, Bukola is a 20-year-old musician who blends the sounds of R&B and Jazz to create her own soulful sound. She’s influenced by artists such as India Arie and John Mayer, and has been pursuing her dreams of becoming a professional musician since she was 9. The grand prize winner of the Nimbus School of Recording Arts x Juno Host Committee provincial Battle of the Bands competition, Bukola has since performed at the Juno Awards pre-event Let’s Hear it! Live, the Honey Jam and at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Bukola has also been featured on eTalk, CBC the National, and MuchMusic. Bukola worked with award winning producers, Chin Injeti and Ben Kaplan on her debut EP “The Chronicles of A Teenage Mind”, which is out now on all streaming platforms.
Maggie Andrew aka JORIE
Nova Scotia
Maggie Andrew aka JORIE
Always pushing boundaries, you can expect the unexpected from alternative-pop artist JORIE. Meshing together dreamy, synth-laden melodies with edgy lyrics, “JORIE makes music with teeth.” – Pigeons & Planes. Having grown up in Halifax, NS, JORIE infuses her music with the struggles of personal life and past traumas. “When I write my music, it’s often a reflection of who I am and what I’ve been through. These new songs will introduce a whole different side to me as an artist, it’s next level, and it’s going to take the world by storm”. Having landed herself on the radar of pop superstar, blackbear, their collaboration “Sleep 4Ever” has amassed over 3M streams and recent projects garnered press on Billboard, Rolling Stone India and was featured on Apple Music’s Chart Show with Brooke Reece.
sahara
British Columbia
sahara
After stumbling into Toronto’s music scene back in 2018, sahara found herself in an entirely new and undiscovered world – and it was no doubt she was exactly where she was supposed to be. In 2019, she wrote and released her debut single, “LVOE” and weeks later found herself with tens of thousands of streams alongside significant praise for her lyricism. Her next release, “fallin fallin,” which she wrote and performed with Parisian artist, Fhin, was released under Délicieuse Records and earned her over a million streams within just a couple of months. To follow was the release of her sophomore single, “white noise,” as well as the euphoric and impressively honest song, “bad news.” Most recently, her latest song, “fire with fire,” earned sahara placements on major editorial DSP playlists such as Spotify’s “Fresh Finds” and “Fresh Finds Pop.” The proud LGBTQ+ artist is already well on her way to bringing a new and intriguing flavour to the chill pop genre as she continues to gain the attention of listeners globally with her picture-painting lyrics and intoxicating melodies.
Terez
Alberta
Terez
Terez is a fiercely creative artist whose talent knows no boundaries. Still, in her early twenties, the Métis singer-songwriter is also a creative director, women’s rights and LGBTQIA+ advocate, and ranks among the 2.1% of female music producers in the industry today. With nearly a lifetime of songwriting and performances under her belt, Terez has performed alongside Keith Urban, opened for Canadian artist Ria Mae, and was slated to perform alongside breakout Canadian artist RALPH in the spring of 2020. She has been commissioned to write songs for dozens of artists around the world, creative direct music videos and artist’s brands in Toronto and Calgary, and much more. With her ability to write and perform most genres of music, Terez’s own unique musical style blends pop and R&B with a punk edge and are complemented by her deep and meaningful lyrics and velvety yet powerful vocal tone.
Kylie V
British Columbia
Kylie V
Kylie V (they/them) is an 18-year-old singer songwriter based in Vancouver who creates evocative indie folk-rock-pop-etcetera. This up-and-coming teen’s lyrics paint vivid pictures and are wise beyond their years, earning them recognition and listeners from their local scene to across the globe. Kylie started their career in 2018 with a collection of completely self-made songs called “lotus eater” but made their proper debut with the album “Big Blue” in 2021. “Big Blue” came out to critical acclaim from outlets like KEXP, Exclaim!, and The Line of Best Fit, and over half a million streams in the first year. Kylie is currently hard at work on an EP before their sophomore album, set to release in 2023.
Mackenta
Ontario
Mackenta
Mackenta seamlessly dances her vocals between moody R&B melodies, and clever rap flows. Formerly known as Mack Davis, the Toronto-based recording artist hit the music scene with her singles, “Issues” and “No Finesse” which gained attention from The Source, Noisey, and OVO Sound Radio. Her EP’s “Over the Influence” and “When the Poison Drained” are dreamy-sounding conceptual projects, full of deep meanings and thoughtful lyricism. Mackenta allows listeners into her personal evolution as she journeys away from a drug and party-filled nocturnal lifestyle, into a path of healing and following her soul’s calling. She reflects on love, heartbreak, and her experience in the male-dominated underground Toronto entertainment scene. She has performed throughout Toronto at shows including Manifesto, 199Z, and Blockobana, and on CBC’s Emancipation Day Special. Mackenta’s new single, “Lately” was featured on Spotify’s “Mood Ring” playlist and is sure to create anticipation for a new chapter of storytelling.
Holly Santonato
Ontario
Holly Santonato
Holly Santonato is a R&B singer/songwriter from Toronto. At a young age, Holly was drawn to singing and poetry. Music became a sense of therapy for Holly, creating a safe haven to ease life circumstances. In 2016, Holly decided to build her music oasis into a career. Attending Seneca college’s IMP (Independent Music Production) Program, Holly absorbed information about the music business, production, song writing, photography, marketing and a lot more. That same year, Holly released 3 singles, which became a part of an E.P, totaling 8 songs that were released in 2017. Engulfed in creativity, and networking with producers, Holly has continued to release music in the years following 2017 and started 2022 with her latest release “You and I”. Catapulted in her art of deep sounds Holly is eager to continually develop and create stimulative, emotional music for everyone to hear.
The Moon & I
Quebec
The Moon & I
The Moon & I is a solo project from Montreal-based indie alternative artist Eric Nguyen, a singer-songwriter, producer, and classically trained pianist. His sound has been described as dreamlike and melancholic, drawing comparisons to artists like Thom Yorke and James Blake for its use of cinematic piano, synths, and electronic drum loops. His lyrics are introspective and touch on themes of mortality, love, and mental health. His music was included in Cult MTL Magazine’s top 100 Montreal songs of 2020 and made him one of the most blogged about artists on HypeMachine. His song “Day In, Day Out” was featured on Freeform/Hulu’s hit TV show “Good Trouble”. He is currently working on an album.
Kaili Kinnon
Ontario
Kaili Kinnon
Kaili Kinnon makes smoky alt-pop and meditative bops for late nights. With a “rare and splendid voice” (L’Express) that is “smoother than velvet” (Jazzkaar), she will move you and make you groove. Known for captivating performances and her emotional songwriting, her music has taken her on tours to Europe, gained her festival spots in Estonia and garnered radio play on CBC and Radio 2 in Estonia. In 2020, Kaili Kinnon started the year with a sold-out show at the Drake Underground in Toronto before heading to the Banff Centre for the esteemed Singer-Songwriter Residency. Later, in lockdown, Kinnon produced Zoom concerts, hosted a weekly livestream and composed The Evening Songs (due out July 2022). In late 2020, she released ‘Bone Alien’ written with and produced by Marcus Paquin. 2022 will see the release of The Evening Songs EP, a fall single and ‘Leave it at the door (New Year’s Day)’ a Christmas/New Year’s double single.
Jay Glavany
Ontario
Jay Glavany
Music holds a special place for most, but for Glavany it’s a way to free himself from his surroundings and let his mind and imagination wander. He’s able to create an alternative reality where he can make his own stories by listening to different sounds and rhythms. “I want my listeners to have the same experience that I feel when I listen to music. I aim to be as relatable as possible through my stories of personal growth, love, and life lessons. It’s important to connect with people through real-life experiences.” The Toronto native has been producing and writing songs about his journey for years. As a Cameroonian-Canadian, Jay’s creative influences span the globe as he continues to draw inspiration from music past, present, and future. His elite production ability has also allowed him to work with talented musicians, including Devontée, Benita and K. Forest to name a few.
Salin
Quebec
Salin
Salin Cheewapansri, aka Salin, is a Thai-born, Canadian based drummer and producer. From playing on Dominique Fils-Aimé’s Juno award-winning-album ‘Stay Tuned’ to sharing the stage with Ariane Moffat, Madame Ghandi and Dabin to name a few, Salin introduced the world to her own debut album ‘Cosmic Island’ in 2021. “Cosmic Island” is a soul/funk album that combines infectious grooves, soulful harmonies and contemplative lyrics. It has been critically acclaimed by the CBC, Le Devoir and Earmilk, with songs being featured on several international radios and Spotify playlists. Salin, joined by a 10-piece live band, has had the privilege to perform at several festivals, including the POP Montreal Festival and Montreal International Jazz Festival.
Siibii aka ANGEL BARIBEAU
Quebec
Siibii aka ANGEL BARIBEAU
With their breathtaking vocals paired and stunningly vulnerable lyrics that cascade over listeners’ emotional terrains, singer-songwriter Siibii aka ANGEL BARIBEAU is a notable force. This Montreal based, queer, non-binary, Indigenous artist originally from the Cree community of Mistissini, Quebec, first started through the formation of their early indie folk outfit, Simple Human Tribe. Their solo work gained momentum in 2014, when they were selected for feature on the #1 iTunes chart-topping N’we Jinan compilation album, Eeyou Istchee Volume 1. Siibii aka ANGEL BARIBEAU’s six-track EP’s debut single Love Is Up The River quickly garnered more than 20,000+ streams on Spotify and hit Top 10 on the NCI FM Indigenous Music Countdown. Currently, Siibii aka ANGEL BARIBEAU is casting their self-titled sophomore album to be released in 2022, which will be an introspective compilation of works as they step into their reclaimed identity. Siibii aka ANGEL BARIBEAU is a powerful changemaker, who unwaveringly upholds the responsibility they feel to pursue their talent while also pushing for more representation within the industry.
Kaiya Gamble
Alberta
Kaiya Gamble
15-year-old Kaiya Gamble’s dynamic and deeply emotional voice will leave you speechless. This soulful pop singer/songwriter, performer and multi-instrumentalist based in Calgary, Alberta has captivated large and small audiences since she was just 9. Her music can be described between Alessia Cara, Sara Bareilles and the legendary Lady Gaga. But it is Kaiya’s powerful message of inclusivity and hope that makes her growing fan base truly become ‘super fans’, proudly a part of her journey to reach bigger and bigger audiences worldwide.
Tracey Richard
New Brunswick
Tracey Richard
Tracey is an Acadian musician and multidisciplinary artist based on the traditional unceded territory of the Wolastoqiyik and Mi’kmaq peoples / Moncton, NB. Growing up in a small coastal village, the ocean has shaped her identity. It’s a theme often portrayed in her work, as a way of trying to protect it and understand its importance. It brings back peaceful moments of her childhood and also raises current social and environmental issues such as sustainability and community. After completing studies in classical music as a flutist, she pursued a creative practice as a media artist, exploring animation, audio-visual installations, and projections. While having an experimental approach gives her the space to manipulate different sounds and recordings, Tracey has released one EP and one full-length album with her psych-rock band Nebullama. She is now focusing on a solo project mixing 90s pop melodies, electronic sounds and Chiac lyrics (Acadian dialect).
Leah Marlene
Ontario
Leah Marlene
Leah Marlene is a songwriter, artist, and producer with a deeply rooted desire to create art unlike anything you’ve heard before. With a unique, engaging voice and a songwriting style that combines elements of pop, soul, funk, jazz, rock, Americana, and more, it’s hard to place her into a box. Leah grew up in a house full of music and guitars as her father, Derry Grehan, is a songwriter and lead guitarist with the Canadian band, Honeymoon Suite. He passed along his knowledge and passion for writing and performing. She began singing and writing her own songs at a very young age and never looked back! Leah has been performing professionally since the age of ten and releasing music since she was thirteen. Now twenty-one years old, Leah is most recently coming off an incredible run on season 20 of American Idol, where she ended in third place.
Jessica Spurrell
Ontario
Jessica Spurrell
Jessica Spurrell is a producer and songwriter from Ontario. Drawing inspirations from folk, indie, and rock styles, her music combines warm, eclectic sounds with lyrics full of poetic feeling. Jessica’s music tells a story, one that audiences can connect with. She has performed locally and beyond, in Collingwood, Penetanguishene, Wasaga Beach, Barrie, and even in her home province of Newfoundland. Jessica’s original song Bury Me is a recipient of the 2021 SOCAN Foundation’s Young Canadian Songwriters Award, sponsored by SiriusXM. The track competed nationally with several established emerging artists, and ultimately came out on top alongside four other incredible Canadian songs. Bury Me is available to listen to across all streaming services. Jessica has called many places home, including Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, and Germany. Her biggest inspirations include Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, and a small east-coast band called The Once.
Siddartha
Ontario
Siddartha
Siddartha is an Indo-Canadian artist/producer from Brampton, ON. Pulling from his dance experience, Siddartha delivers expertly produced tracks and vibrant narratives depicted through his skilled lyricism. Striking a balance between making music that makes you move, think and feel. He was selected for Manifesto’s discovery series, awarded the winner for the R.I.S.E. and Flow competition, and opened for Koffee and Juno award-winning artist Tobi during Manifesto’s 2020 online festival. His first project: “Reflections of a Stranger,” was sponsored by Ryerson University and the Gladstone Hotel. His latest single, “6uddha,” has over 30 000 streams and has been featured in several publications, including Clash Magazine, F.M.S., and Musicis4Lovers. Siddartha currently has a catalog of new music ready to be released for 2022.
2021 PARTICIPANTS
Aaron Pollock
Alberta
Aaron Pollock
Over the past few years, Aaron Pollock has established himself as a successful artist and songwriter, with over 700 songs in his catalogue; winning the “Songwriter of the Year” award at the 2021 Country Music Alberta awards (for co-writing “Every Little Town” by The Prairie States), and landing his first iTunes #1 (for co-writing “All Over It” by Ben Chase) in January 2019. Pollock has also flourished as a performer, sharing stages with the likes of Brett Kissel, Jocelyn Alice, and Shawn Hook.
Pollock’s hard-earned skills are on full display on his upcoming offerings, a set of songs recorded in early 2021 with producers including Andy Park (Noah Gundersen) and Giordan Postorino (LOLO). While they represent a departure from his previous work, they find Pollock more determined than ever to share his struggles in the hope that others will find courage, inspiration, or, at the very least, a new perspective on the challenges they face in their lives.
Amir Brandon
Ontario
Amir Brandon
Enduring years of closed doors, homophobia, and fighting for artistic integrity, Toronto based pop/R&B artist Amir Brandon emerges against the odds. Growing up in an environment of intolerance and prejudice only fuelled his creative fire, inspiring a striking sense of vulnerability and confidence in his songwriting. After much experimentation and self-discovery, his music stands as a testament to his resilience in the industry, and breaks the mold of what is expected from a Middle-Eastern artist.
Already achieving a number of notable milestones before his debut, Amir’s music has received placements through FM radio, Disney, Netflix, and major television networks. Additionally, receiving accolades from the likes of SOCAN, the Songwriters Association of Canada, and international artist JoJo have provided him with a greater sense of direction and a springboard for his international debut.
Andrea An
Saskatchewan
Andrea An
Andrea has generated over 500,000 views on YouTube and Facebook and played festivals like the Trifecta Music Festival and the Country Thunder VIP area. She was nominated for Emerging Artist of the Year at the 2021 Saskatchewan Country Music Association Awards.
She captures themes of love, heartbreak, self-empowerment, and reflection. Her voice can be a quiet, falsetto birdsong that raises goosebumps, or a belted out, raging symphony of broken hearts.
Andrea An is on a mission to share her music with the world – and to show that it’s possible for women of colour/Asian-Canadians to be visible in the Canadian music industry.
Anna Katarina
British Columbia
Anna Katarina
Hailing from both the mountains of British Columbia, Anna is a multi-instrumentalist artist known for her sultry vocals, artistic songwriting and a compelling stage-presence: genre-bending pop, soul and folk into her own sound.
After developing a strong background in classical piano, voice and violin, Anna studied music at Selkirk College and Berklee College of Music, graduating at the top of her class. This instilled in her a love of jazz, fine wine and intricate composition. Since then, she has written dozens of songs, collaborated with musicians from around the world, and been featured on many records. Most recently, Anna has fallen in love with playing guitar, which is reflected in her upcoming releases. Realizing how male-dominated the music industry is, Anna prioritizes honing her instrumental skills and becoming a mentor for aspiring non-male musicians.
Anna is currently recording her debut album, to be released in Spring 2022. Expect a collection of self-reflective songs, pillowed by a lush sonic landscape, and led by Anna’s soulful narrative, reminiscent of Phoebe Bridgers, Stevie Knicks and Lianne La Havas.
She is also one half of the indie folk duo Rumour Mill.
Aryss
Ontario
Aryss
Aryss is an artist who seems to exist only in paradoxes – timeless and current, raw and refined, cinematic and intimate, familiar yet unexpected. While she bares her heart and breaks it in the same breath, ARYSS’ piano-driven pop serves to immortalize the defining moments of life, love, and love gone wrong.
Originally from Strathmore, AB, her career began at 17 under given name, Kirstyn Johnson, when the singer saw success in a nation-wide talent competition hosted on Much Music. After the contest ended she released her debut album “Our Weapon” and went on to pursue an education in Music Business through Berklee.
Since moving to Toronto in 2019, ARYSS has rebranded and been working with artists on and off the stage as a songwriter, pianist, vocalist, and producer. With over a decade’s experience stitching stories to melodies and writing with collaborators internationally, her debut release is expected in fall of 2021.
Azalyne
Ontario
Azalyne
Azalyne is a multi-instrumentalist musician, singer-songwriter, composer and producer of Guyanese and Polish descent. She has been performing since the age of 4 and has performed in over 250 shows both solo and with her band. Azalyne has released 3 songs on all streaming platforms and is currently working on a live jazz/R&B EP. Azalyne and her band are hoping to create a modern jazz masterpiece, incorporating both classic and contemporary jazz, as well as bringing a distinctive R&B vibe. Azalyne has a true and passionate love for music of all genres, her songwriting repertoire ranges in many categories of musicality. With jazzy and unexpected chord progressions and catchy melodies that feature interesting lyrics, Azalyne’s songs hope to captivate listeners and lead them into another world of sound and surrealism.
BAYLA
Quebec
BAYLA
BAYLA continues to beat the odds. As a child, doctors diagnosed her with vocal cord dysfunction and told her she would never be able to sing. Proving them wrong, BAYLA released her debut single “Turn It Around” in 2016, which caught on like wild-fire at Canadian radio. The single went on to reach “Top 40” status, peaking at #24 on the Canadian Billboard Charts, and #10 in her hometown of Montreal, QC. BAYLA followed up with “Monster”, gaining her a second Top 40 single as an independent artist, and she was chosen as the Bell Media / iHeartRadio “Future Star”. Since, BAYLA has performed in festivals across Canada, sharing the stage with some of her musical heroes, including Lights & Bif Naked. In 2019, BAYLA was announced as the “Grand Prize” recipient in the Canada’s Walk of Fame x RBC “Emerging Musician Program”. Currently in studio, expect to hear more from this Pop songstress in 2021.
Blair Lee
Ontario
Blair Lee
That momentum comes through in the soft ways her music explores the darkness that comes before the light, in the cinematic promise of a happier ending. Blair uses her lyrics to work through the things she doesn’t understand and the places she doesn’t fit in. Through some of the sadness, hope and warmth always make their way through. Her songs perfectly pair a delicate vocal style with her penchant for 90s style electric guitars and the kind of stark honesty that evokes a gentle nostalgia.
A classically trained pianist, Blair started making music when she was 10 and living in Cambridge, Ontario. She would use techniques learned through her music classes and apply them to songs she wrote herself. Sometimes learning by ear, she was drawn to the “minor” parts of songs. Chords and chord progressions are the emotions of the songs, and Blair learned to use them to colour her own music.
Blair finds inspiration in the little things: her friends, interesting strangers, walks in the woods, moments of stillness, small towns, and quiet thoughts. She’s drawn to stories and the ways that music can shape and hold them.
Bryn
Ontario
Bryn
Bryn is a Toronto-based songwriter and artist with an affinity for creating hyper-vulnerable and emotionally complex music. Her sound has been described as Maggie Rogers meets Lorde — a combination of raw storytelling and hypnotizing femininity.
Since the release of her first full studio album, Tempest (2018), which charted top 40 on the iTunes Alternative charts, Bryn broke her silence in 2020 with the release of “Dead Types”, a dark-pop collaboration with Toronto producer, Don Mills, which garnered over half a million streams in its first few months. Outside of her own project, the songwriter has accumulated over five million streams on songs she has co-written for other artists. Bryn is now working on her debut EP alongside award-winning producer, Andrew Dawson (Kanye West, FUN, John Legend).
As a writer and artist, Bryn strives to create safe spaces for her co-creators. She looks forward to 2021 and the release of her new project as the start of a new evolution and era as both an artist and songwriter.
Dani Saldo
Ontario
Dani Saldo
Dani Saldo is a Filipino-Canadian artist & songwriter based in Guelph. As if lifted straight from the pages of her diary, Dani’s lyrical content is openly honest, genuine & relatable as she effortlessly laments on young love & self-discovery via moody melancholia & dreamy beats, oozing with a knowing nostalgia.
Having trained at ABS-CBN’s Star Magic in the Philippines & at none other than Berklee in LA, Dani is certainly no stranger to the music scene. As an active songwriter, she works to create songs for TV & Film in addition to her own artist project. Dani co-wrote Jillian May’s debut single “Could We Be Happy” which featured on Season 9 of MTV’S Teen Mom OG in addition to Arcana’s song Stockholm Syndrome performed by the dance studio ALiEN in Korea & Ninetone Records Harley Huke’s single Afraid. Continuously collaborating with numerous artists & producers she is continuously making music soon to be released.
Davey Badiuk
British Columbia
Davey Badiuk
Davey Badiuk is a songwriter, producer & mixing engineer. His production & mixing credits over his time in the industry include Liam Gallagher, Kiesza, Dragonette, Tegan & Sara, and many more notable major label artists. From a JUNO award nomination to a platinum record in the UK to a Seth Rogen movie sync, Davey’s work connects with audiences across genres. Now stationed at Baker Studios in Victoria, BC, Davey is more focused than ever and ready to take his career to the next level, concentrating on garnering new songwriting opportunities. As his career has been focused on production & mixing jobs thus far, Davey is looking to step back and deepen his business development skills for the future, with a focus on songwriting & his personal development as an artist.
Denise Valle
Alberta
Denise Valle
Denise Valle is a soulful songstress with love as her subject and soul as her sound, her music fuses the hypnotic warmth of R&B with the insatiability of pop. Her lyrical narratives are met by a raw vocal wave; her voice is passionate, enlightened, ethereal. Recently relocating to Calgary, Alberta on the heels of a full summer of music festivals performances. Including Sasktel Jazz Festival, Ness Creek Music Festival, NXNE and Canadian Music Week. Recently, her debut EP gained the attention of Exclaim! Magazine naming her one of “8 Emerging Artists You Need to Hear in Feb 2021”.
Estyr
Ontario
Estyr
Estyr weaves stories of femininity, heartbreak, liminality, and Toronto’s suburbs into songs layered with lush vocals and acoustic guitar. Her songs move between alt, indie, and R&B styles while remaining rooted in lyrical storytelling. Whether performing solo or with experimental band Tiger Balme, she’s noted for her stage presence, engaging audiences to laugh, reflect, and heal. Estyr’s second EP, All Tied Up, will be released in summer of 2021. The five-track album, produced by Rob McLay, is a nostalgic reflection on her coming-of-age as a second-generation immigrant, featuring modulated vocal harmonies and electric drums. The music reflects her ongoing desire to write a soundtrack that her teenage self never had: music resonating with her multiracial upbringing in the suburbs. Estyr’s songs have received CBC radio play nationally and regionally. She recently performed for Drake TV’s What’s In The Box Festival and BIPOC Fest.
Hanorah
Quebec
Hanorah
Hanorah is a soulful singer-songwriter from Montreal. Since releasing her debut EP For the Good Guys and the Bad Guys (2019), she has toured Canada and the US with such renouned artists as Coeur de Pirate, Les sœurs Boulay and Seratones. Hanorah took to the festival circuit that same year, playing Montreal Jazz Fest, Ottawa Blues Fest, Toronto Jazz Fest, FEQ (Aperos prize winner), Winnipeg Folk Fest, and POP Montreal, where she opened for soul legend Mavis Staples. Hanorah is currently working on a full-lengh album.
Hua Li 化力
Quebec
Hua Li 化力
Hua Li’s hazy R&B and revolutionary rap cuts to the bone and shakes your frail ass to the ground. Her loving dedication to her hometown of Wuhan, China came out to critical acclaim on Next Door Records in 2020, following up her 2019 debut record, Dynasty. A charismatic performer, she has been blessed to share her work on a variety of major stages, including the Montreal International Jazz Festival, World Pride Toronto and Secret Solstice Festival. Subversive and sexy, Hua Li is the only half-Chinese, half-militant, half-rapper of your heart.
Idris Lawal
Ontario
Idris Lawal
Idris Lawal is a Nigerian-born, Toronto-based artist whose discovery of music came from growing up listening to his parents’ Nigerian mixes, Hollywood soundtracks and later, hip-hop. Today, he draws from a variety of musical influences including rap, afrobeat, highlife, afro-pop and soul music; blending into a genre he has called “Afrobop”. After releasing his debut EP “Young, Black & Blue” in 2020, he was selected as an artist for RBCxMusic First Up Series and then picked as one of CBC’s Sounds of the Season in December 2020. He kicked off 2021 with a new single, Wallflowers, and a live performance of the single at Folks Alliance: Unlocked Showcase. 2021 has already seen Idris feature on 3 different songs and will see more features before he releases his debut album in 2022.
Justin Fancy
Newfoundland
Justin Fancy
Masterfully combining classic country song-writing influenced by artists at the forefront of the country scene from the 70s to early 90s, with his own take on today’s country sound, Newfoundland’s Justin Fancy has proven in spades he is no one-trick pony. It’s no surprise that Fancy recently won Music NL’s 2021 Country Artist of the Year and Rising Star of the Year, as well as receiving his first ECMA nomination for Inspirational Album of the Year.
His latest single, “Makes Me Wanna”, the second release off his debut album, “Sure Beats a Good Time”, just recently earned him Socan’s “Song of The Week” and also awarded him the Rogers “One To Watch” artist which added his single to Rogers country stations right across Canada.
What is arguably most endearing about Fancy and his debut album, Sure Beats a Good Time (2020), is his enviable ability to craft songs that will ultimately resonate on multiple levels. For every person drawn to his songs’ subject matter, others will be unable to resist the undeniably anthemic choruses found in this collection of radio-ready songs.
Karli June
Ontario
Karli June
Karli June is a country artist from the small town of Listowel, Ontario currently working on her debut EP with award winning producer, Karen Kosowski. Her first single off the album “Heart Drunk” was written alongside Kosowski and Grammy-nominated writer Deric Ruttan. Her album will tell stories of her hometown, her heart, and every part of what makes life special. Her songs will leave you feeling inspired with this refreshingly authentic take on the country genre.
LITTLE REDFOX
Ontario
LITTLE REDFOX
LITTLE REDFOX is an artist, songwriter, music producer and award-winning sound designer based out of Toronto. Her motto is – “give me 10 minutes and I’ll write you one heck of a hooky tune”.
She is a multi-instrumentalist who writes and produces pop music across genres. Her debut single, “Human” (March 2021), is an upbeat folk-pop anthem while her second single, “Rewind” (May 2021), is a melancholy indie/dream-pop song.
She has consistent single releases planned throughout 2021 as well as a full-length album in the works.
LITTLE REDFOX is honoured to have been selected as a songwriter for She Is The Music’s mentorship program. She has also participated in the Artist Entrepreneur program run by Canada’s Music Incubator.
LITTLE REDFOX also composes for film/TV and sync. She has a professional background in audio production, has taught undergraduate sound production courses in the RTA School of Media, and is an alumna of the program.
mokina
Quebec
mokina
Montreal born and raised mokina has been soothing audiences with her singing and songwriting on a different level of satisfying since 2018, blending nuances of jazz, r&b and electronic music through lush vocal harmonies, intricate synth lines and dreamy soundscapes. Her releases have made ripples in the lofi scene, landing her in front of crowds from New-York to Lisbon with nods from the big kids at NOTION, Clash and Indie Shuffle to name a few.
Neela
British Columbia
Neela
Neela is a multi-talented R&B-pop singer-songwriter, actor and dancer based in Toronto and Vancouver. Stemming from a fierce, passionate artistry, Neela’s music explores the complexity of human emotions in the face of raw, sensual desire.
Her fashion-forward flair and layered sound caught the eye of renowned producer Beatchild (Drake, Justin Nozuka). The pair’s compounded musical aesthetics gave birth to Neela’s debut EP, “Lovers in Danger,” released in the summer of 2018.
In 2019, Neela caught the attention of Grammy-winning producer Chin Injeti and they began working on her second EP, Prelude. Her songs transformed into a soulful pop anthem of liberation, strength and healing from past relationships. On, March 03, 2021 she released her single, Can’t Let You Take and will be releasing her EP, Prelude, in the coming months.
Niki Kennedy
British Columbia
Niki Kennedy
Niki Kennedy is a Rarotongan-New Zealander who moved from Auckland, NZ to Toronto, Canada at the age of 16 to attend the Randolph College for the Performing Arts.
She is a singer, songwriter, and musician whose multi-cultural upbringing, solo immigration, and commentary associated with her towering presence have actively shaped her story as an artist. In 2020, she pivoted to adapt to the changing industry and has since performed over 250 virtual concerts, performed and licensed three original songs for a national campaign, originated a starring role in an audio adaptation of a new musical work, and moved to work as a remote session singer and composer. Her latest single “The Last Night (Dancing With You)” is out now with “Fall Back Into You”” out in August 2021.
She is now based in Vancouver, British Columbia, living and working on the unceded territory of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nations.
OBLYVN
Alberta
OBLYVN
OBLVYN’s musical journey began at the age 5 with training in classical piano, later on becoming a guitarist in a pop punk band, and finishing post-secondary with a degree in jazz and pop music. After years of experimenting in different styles of music, OBLVYN has settled on future bass as her primary genre but often steps out of those bounds to create a sound that is unique to her individuality as an artist. With the use of keyboard performance, melodic soundscapes, aggressive synths, and accents of cute timbres, her sound can be described as youthful, aggressive, and emotionally captivating. Influenced by artists such as Zedd, Virtual Riot, Seven Lions, Au5, Haywyre, and taking inspiration from the wonders of the universe, nature’s beauty, and the human experience, OBLVYN invites listeners on an adventure through sound that anyone can find themselves immersed in.
Sage Harris
Ontario
Sage Harris
Sage has been singing since the age of five and dancing since the age of eleven, he has been engaged in music his whole life. Growing up, his mother would sing songs around the house from artists that have been major influences on his career today. Artists such as Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Luther Vandross, Keyshia Cole, Brandy, etc.
Harris has accomplished many accolades in his lifetime one being The First R&B Artist in history to perform a live song entirely upside down. He also recently released his EP titled “Prince Hills” which received over 100k streams in it’s first week independently. Expect many more releases from Harris including some big features.
THe LYONZ
Quebec
THe LYONZ
THe LYONZ are a Montreal based music group and art collective associated with hip-hop and electronic genres. Their musical style features atmospheric dynamics, conveyed through heavily processed synthetic layers, shifting drum patterns, treated instruments, often met with melancholic verses. Their upcoming album, Change in Colour, will be released in 2021, with leading tracks Right of Asylum and Where I Be.
Although primarily a musical group, THe LYONZ have sometimes worked in other media. They have become known to produce several works of visual art including personalized event flyers, short videos, and merchandise. A notable example is their string of weekly flyers promoting their DJ residencies at Montréal venues and their involvement in the creation of their music videos.
Troy Junker
Ontario
Troy Junker
Troy Junker is a Métis rapper who by looks, won’t give you what you expect. A high school dropout, turned Uranium miner who left it all and moved from small town Saskatchewan to Toronto for music now has his feet wet in the music industry. Since graduating Durham College’s Music Business Management program, he’s taken his career into his own hands and continues to accomplish each goal he sets.
When it comes to lyrical flow, Junker shape shifts between theme and tone delivering uplifting bangers for a fun time but also creating slower tracks with thoughtful messages. Troy recently release his project titled, The Path which has accumulated over 100K streams across platforms and charted #2 on the Indigenous Music Countdown on Sirius XM.
2021 will be one of Junker’s most exciting years yet as he gears up for multiple releases and his inspiring story is one in the making.
TRP.P
Ontario
TRP.P
TRP.P (pronounced “trippy”) is an R&B duo hailing from Toronto, Canada. Comprised of Truss (producer, singer/songwriter) and Phoenix Pagliacci (singer/ songwriter), the two had already begun their solo careers when they met in the Fall of 2015. Two years later, they had released their self-titled debut EP. After another two-year hiatus, TRP.P returned in September 2019 with their sophomore release “2TRP.P”. The album was very well received and was even awarded a 9/10 review from Exclaim! Magazine. With two albums under their belt, TRP.P continues to build upon their live show, often collaborating with fellow musicians. To date, they have played numerous shows and festivals, including House of PainT, POP! Montreal, Kazoo! Fest and Toronto-based festivals such as Wavelength and Venus Fest. Both Truss and Phoenix are currently working on solo projects, as well as a third TRP.P album, for 2021. A 2022 tour is also in the works.
Vot
British Columbia
Vot
Vot is a Vancouver-based multi-disciplinary singer-songwriter, artist, and performer based out of Vancouver. Her previous project, Blegh, developed a cult-like global following and spawned the streaming hit “His Hands” that clocked nearly a million streams on Spotify alone — without a single editorial playlist placement or press feature.
Now as a solo artist, Vot looks to tell the story of being lost and found in a time and place of circuit boards and crossed wires. Drawing from a variety of influences spanning from Sondheim and Flume to Kanye West, her visceral storytelling and mission to foster space for Queer, Indigenous, and BIPOC creators is central to her artistry.
Vot’s first releases, “Do You See Any Human In My Being?” and “Whiteroom” are now available to stream on all platforms, as she actively works toward future releases to be announced in 2021/2022.
2020 ALUMNI
Scott Spicker
British Columbia
Scott Spicker
Music has always been a family affair for Scott Jacobs. At the age of 11, his grandfather gave him the best gift anyone could ask for: A 1941 “National” Archtop Electric Guitar. The guitar was played endlessly by Jacobsʼ grandfather. Decades later, upon seeing his grandchildʼs curiosity and love for music, he knew the guitar wouldn’t go unplayed any longer. From the second Jacobs plugged in that guitar and strummed his first chord, he was hooked.
When Jacobs left his hometown at the age of 18, there was no doubt in anyoneʼs mind that music is what he was born to do. A week after his 19th birthday, he was on the other side of the world, and working as a musician for a cruise line. He would go on to perform for various cruise lines for a few years. Although these early gigs would wet his appetite for performing, he quickly realized this is not what he wanted to do with his life. He wanted to return to his first love: Songwriting.
Jacobs would return to Vancouver Island and begin his career as a solo original folk musician, all while completing a diploma in Jazz performance at VIU. In the winter of 2018, Jacobs recorded his first Studio Album entitled “All of Your Everything”. Jacobs released it in 2019 and performed throughout NSW, Australia for 8 months as part of the albumʼs promotion. Jacobs has now begun recording his second studio album “Blue Electric Lights” which he plans to release in February 2020.
Muhammad Mneina
Manitoba
Muhammad Mneina
Muhammad Mneina, recognized as Kensho, is an accomplished Canadian songwriter and vocalist hailing from Winnipeg Manitoba. At 23 years of age, he’s amassed over 2.1 million streams on platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Youtube. His hit record, Breathe and Receive has also been used on the Quebec based tv show RÉVOLUTION that aired on TV, VOD, and internet streaming platforms, whilst also being used on large Youtube Channels such as World of Dance, and Majestic Casual.
Charles Lowe
Quebec
Charles Lowe
Originaire de Montréal, Dolly Blonde est un artiste indie pop qui crée de la musique pour les laissés pour compte qui sommeillent en chacun de nous. Après avoir obtenu son diplôme en chant jazz à l’université McGill University, Dolly Blonde a commencé à combiner de main de maître des éléments jazz, new wave et pop pour créer un hybride « queer » scintillant. Chanteur depuis la plus tendre enfance, Dolly a appris le piano et la guitare « à l’oreille » et il écrit des chansons entraînantes, mais aigres-douces depuis l’âge de 16 ans. Dès ses tout débuts, l’énoncé de mission de Dolly était l’amour de soi et l’amour de sa communauté. Année après année, Dolly est bénévole et donne des prestations dans le cadre d’événements organisés par Sida Bénévoles Montréal (Aids Community Care Montréal) afin de redonner et de demeurer fidèle à ses racines dans la communauté « queer ». La musique de Dolly aborde des thèmes comme la solitude, l’amour de soi et le pouvoir des femmes toujours sur un « groove » qui vous fera bouger le popotin. Ses influences sont notamment Lady Gaga, Rufus Wainwright et Elton John et ses prestations, tout comme ses prouesses vocales, vous éblouiront. « Une prestation de Dolly Blonde est toujours l’évènement de l’année, darling ! »
Prisca Pange
Alberta
Prisca Pange
Hello!
Born in Montreal, Prisca Bieni Pange-Ibinimion 22, known as “Priscila Bieni” is a Canadian singer and songwriter.
She gained interest in music when only 3 after receiving a piano as a birthday gift. Writing her first song at the young age of 8, she has never stopped since and today her songwriting skills reflect years of experience; a perfect union of striking messages, catchy melodies and intellectual wordplay. It wasn’t however until she was 19 that Priscila recorded her first songs, which she only released on Soundcloud: “Blackout” and “Want You to Know” which both invoked comparison to the likes of Rihanna due to the voice similarity. Priscila’s singing style however remains unique, and her sound a fresh combination of R&B, Dancehall-fusion, and Kizomba.
In March 2019, Priscila released her first R&B song “Excuses”.
Priscila often mixes her songs herself. She released “Right Now”, in April 2019, a song that she wrote, co-produced and mixed.
Later that year, she released “Summer Resolution”, a catchy summer-vibe song and released her Vevo debut video which was well received, making her reach the indie artists goal of over 5k streams and views on Spotify and Youtube in 3 months. All which she released and promoted alone.
To date, Priscila has performed in numerous shows, including the renowned TheIscream’s “Toronto R&B Sounds”.
Priscila’s music is inspired by her multicultural life experience, having lived in different countries, she fluently speaks French, Portuguese besides English, which she takes advantage of in her songwriting.
Lara Rawadi
Quebec
Lara Rawadi
Laraw ( Lara Rawadi) is a Montreal-born singer-songwriter of Moroccan and Lebanese origin. Initially on track for a career in the video game industry, she elected to pursue her musical aspiration after studying music production and sound design. Laraw’s words are as genuine and honest as it gets. They blend perfectly with the Indie Trap, Pop, and RnB concoctions of producer and collaborator Tim Buron, who took her under his wings late 2018. Not afraid to share her struggles, she released her first single “ I Should Call The Cops ” in 2019, discussing her encounter with a drug dealer at a party. She later released “ Pretty Necklace ”, a glimpse into her life as a young girl with immigrant parents. The singer took this opportunity to promote her dad’s garage in the music video.
Ending 2019 with her debut EP “ Mood AF ” and headline show in Montreal (le ministère), Laraw is starting 2020 with a feature in the January issue of ELLE Quebec Magazine, mentioning her as one of the artist to keep an eye on this year.
Michael Simard
Quebec
Michael Simard
Montreal-based singer-songwriter Miko produces songs that are poetically gritty, a blend of sleek pop and 90’s rugged vibes. His first single, “Crushes”, produced in collaboration with Connor Seidel (Charlotte Cardin, Matt Holubowski), is an ode to the fear of catching feelings.
A self-taught musician, Miko got into songwriting at the age of 18, after dropping out of college. He now regularly writes with rising Montreal artists such as Soran, Mike Clay (Clay & Friends), and Geoffroy. The charming artist has been compared to Dominic Fike, Omar Apollo, and Alexander 23, while always challenging rules and genres but just a little bit. Miko is a singer who has a way of instantly connecting with the public, taking pleasure in seducing his crowd and offering a striking musical performance.
Mikey Jose
British Columbia
Mikey Jose
Mikey Jose is a singer/songwriter from Vancouver, BC. Music has always been a driving force in Mikey’s life, who began piano lessons at the age of 6 and collected several awards through the Royal Conservatory of Music program. Over the years, Mikey picked up a passion for writing music; he composed, arranged, and orchestrated his first original musical, entitled “Right Here, Write Now!” at 15. The non-profit project, which was performed across five cities and two countries, raised over $250,000 for local and global charities. One of his compositions for the musical was selected as the recipient of a composition scholarship at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where Mikey was admitted in 2015. Currently pursuing a BSc at the University of British Columbia, Mikey has continued to create music of diverse genres (musical, RnB, soul, pop), and recently released his debut single on streaming services, which has racked over 180,000 streams since July 2019.
Nicholas Ramsahoye
Ontario
Nicholas Ramsahoye
Nicholas “Txpski” Ramsahoye is a rising urban pop producer from the east end of the Greater Toronto Area. He started producing and writing songs in Ajax, Ontario at the age of 15, drawing inspiration from local legends such as Boi-1da. In 2015 he began to turn heads in the R&B world after producing a single called “I Do” for Grammy nominated, Multi-platinum songwriter / producer Prince Chrishan. Txpski is most notable for his work on Chris Brown’s Heartbreak On A Full Moon – “Sip” & “Summer Breeze”. As an artist Txpski continues to push the boundaries in music simultaneously collobrating with songwriters, producers, and also developing a growing number of talent in Toronto. In 2018 Txpski attended Socan’s Kenekt Song Camp hosted by Melissa Cameron-Passley and Racquel Villagante on Pender Island, BC. What makes Txpski stand out from other producer’s is his ability to not only produce songs but contribute as a distinctive writer.
Babette Hayward
New Brunswick
Babette Hayward
Babette spent her youth in Saint John, New Brunswick, surrounded by Eastern pine forests, watching summer sunsets over the Belleisle Bay and writing songs about then, now, and how she feels now about then.
From Saint John she moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where she co-founded the group Vogue Dots, an electronic duo that toured North America and Europe. With Vogue Dots Babette has written and released two EPs and a handful of singles.
After crossing the Atlantic Ocean in search of something new, she began writing from a bedroom in London – a far cry from the space and silence of the Maritimes. Babette has since returned to Canada, equipped with a new batch of songs about making up your mind and moving on.
Mariah Wheeler
Ontario
Mariah Wheeler
Mighloe is a Toronto Based RnB singer/ songwriter. She recently graduated from “The Remix Project” a music development program that has given rise to stars such as Jessie Reyes, DVSN and more. She has since been performing all over the city on major platforms including Manifesto at Nathan Philips Square and Toronto’s City Hall and, has opened up stages for some major label artists including Ari Lennox and Grammy Award winning PJ Morton. Mighloe often engages in all aspects of her works from creative direction to styling and acting. An all around artist, Mighloe is on her way to a promising career in the entertainment industry.
Claire Ridgely
Quebec
Claire Ridgley
Claire Ridgely is a Montreal-based singer/song-writer originally hailing from Northern Virginia. She had a quick stint in Switzerland on her way to Montreal, where she picked up French allowing her to connect more deeply to a Canadian audience. Claire has worked as a featured artist in the electronic music scene for several years doing vocals for Said the Sky, Robotaki and Pat Lok, among others. She has since turned her energy towards her solo career and has released five singles since September 2018, which have been enthusiastically received by the likes of Billboard and Spotify. Her solo sound sits somewhere between soulful and sweet, standing apart from bubblegum pop and expressing a more authentic and personal experience. Claire has a very unique, very Montreal, living situation in the southwest corner of the city, where she lives and makes music in the same space. She resides amongst a crew of talented musicians and artists. Claire is working hard from her collaborative home studio to complete her first EP, which will be released in April 2020. She’s excited to continue to build her solo career, bringing her alternative pop sound and engaging live show to larger audiences.
Caitlin Canning
British Columbia
Caitlin Canning
Cate kicked off her career writing and performing her original songs all around the greater Vancouver area. Her hypnotic lyrics and fear of growing up capture the innocence of a child’s mentality and gravitate an audience of young adults.
Her ability to bring an audience along on a parade of nostalgia has provided her with opportunities to tour throughout Canada and at showcases and events throughout North America, like NAMM in 2017. The singer-songwriter also took the stage at the 2018 Juno awards as a backup vocalist for fellow Canadian artist Daniel Caesar. This past year, Cate has been working on rebranding her image, taking everything she has learned thus far and turning it up a notch.
In addition to her recent rebranding, Cate has also been making waves with her new single release “Sad Song”. The single is a total revamp on your traditional break-up song, providing us with the ultimate soundtrack for summer. Her first release quickly gained momentum on Spotify with over 190,000 streams and has been featured on playlists such as “Indie Pop” and “Fresh Finds”. Cate has been working alongside producer’s from LA and London, and will be releasing more music this upcoming year.
T. Thomason
Nova Scotia
T. Thomason
T. Thomason is a pop artist living between Halifax and Toronto. T. has impressed fans with his emotional and highly energetic live performances throughout his 11 year music career at festivals like The Great Escape, FOCUS Wales, Parliament Hill’s Canada Day, POP Montreal, Halifax Pop Explosion, Pride Toronto, Canadian Music Week, Milwaukee Summerfest, and more.
The lead up to the release of T.’s self-titled album in September 2019 was a roller coaster. He was a winner on season 2 of CTV’s The Launch, which landed his launched single “Hope” on top 40 radio, Spotify Editorial playlists like New Music Friday Canada, and put T. on stage at the Bell Centre with Quebec’s reigning pop queen and his mentor, Marie-Mai.
T.’s recent album was described by Halifax’s The Coast as “equal parts scar tissue and sparkles”. Deeply vulnerable and honest, it is a must-hear for anyone who’s wondered who they are and what’s to come.
Charmie Deller
Ontario
Charmie Deller
Discover one of Toronto’s musical gems through the passionate R&B and pop-soul of 24 year old singer/songwriter Charmie. Born in Haiti, Charmie began exploring her musical talents at the young age of nine. As a self taught musician, she excels at playing guitar, piano, bass, drums and even beatboxing. Charmie was featured in the documentary Busk and has performed in front of audiences at City Hall, Nathan Phillips Square, Harbourfront Centre and other venues around Toronto. Currently working on her debut album ” In the Making” , her contemporary style of music is a unique fusion of Rhythm & Blues and Pop Soul. Known for fostering a deep connection with her audiences, Charmie’s words go straight from her heart to yours.
Idman Abdulkadir
Ontario
Idman Abdulkadir
Idman is a Somali-Canadian artist who hopes to create pockets of joy for an audience she sees herself in and of. Her art honours and explores her experiences in life, love and all that exists in-between, as a Black Muslim 1st gen kid. From her run-ins with the law to her relationship with the kind self-doubt only being in your 20’s can provide. She’s this decade’s answer to the girl-next-door.
While attending college Idman studied for a Degree in Communications with a Double Minor in Business Marketing & Africana Studies. Although her decision to discontinue her studies a semester before she delivered her thesis, a decision that could have caused friction within her family, it strongly shaped the songwriter she is today. As the eldest daughter of Somali refugee parents, Idman was expected to set an example for her younger siblings and graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree. Idman models what it is like to pursue your passion and defy expectations.
Idman is a REMIX Project 14.0 graduate, a competitive Toronto arts incubator. She received the Make It Happen award for her Round.
Idman, as an independent artist, is working toward the release of her very first EP set for 2020.
Emily Gifford
Ontario
Emily Gifford
GRAE is a 21 year old singer/songwriter currently living in Toronto, ON. After having experienced her first heartbreak in high school, GRAE dropped out and travelled to Australia, where she then performed a number of gigs across Melbourne. It was during this time she connected via socials with UK producer KYAN, and the two made plans to create her EP ‘New Girl’. Since then, GRAE has accumulated over 2 million streams across all platforms, won the SOCAN ‘Young Canadian Songwriters Award’, and has been sync’ed on major US TV show, such as ‘Nancy Drew’, ‘Queen Sugar’ and The Real World Atlanta’. The small town Elora, Ontario native saw a very impressive 2019 following the release of her EP ‘New Girl’ and has made quite the splash onto the music scene
Elsa Gebremichael
Saskatchewan
Elsa Gebremichael
Wild Black is a fully independent and self-managed creative entity and the solo-collaborative project of Ethiopian- Canadian singer-songwriter, musician and budding producer, Elsa Gebremichael. Born and raised in Saskatoon, SK, she grew up playing in bands that toured North American and Europe, opened for Janelle Monae, Tegan & Sara, and Metric, was nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award and has written, recorded and performed in various genres that range from psych rock to electro pop to Motown. All of these experiences allowed her to sharpen her teeth and explore many sides of the music industry and her creativity, bringing her to this culminating moment in her musical career as Wild Black. Her genre fluid style is accessible while eclectic and incorporates live instrumentation combined with electronic elements to create a dreamy yet upbeat and engaging soundscape that will surely make your body move. Currently based in Toronto, Wild Black is writing and recording songs for her debut album release due later this year. Stay close for new music and tour dates!
Madison Olds
Colombie-Britannique
Madison Olds
Madison Olds is a singer songwriter with strong vibrant vocals, breathy accents and an emotive delivery often compared to Ellie Goulding. Her single, “Moments in the Mountains”, played to a crowd of 5000, and was written for the Kamloops’ 2018 BC Winter Games and is the soundtrack to the Pacific Rim Life with the Fairmont Pacific (Vancouver). “Thank You”, launched to Canadian radio 2018, landed her on Hot AC charts and placed her in the CBC Searchlight2019 top 10. Awarded first place with Unsigned Only 2019 in the AC category, other career highlights include opening for Willie Nelson, Kacey Musgraves, Tyler Shaw, Scott Helman and performing in the 2019 Music Matters festival in Singapore. With cumulatively more than 1 million streams on Spotify, her 2019 debut album, BLUE, highlights her acoustic roots. Madison is currently working on her EP for 2020 and fans can expect an edgier pop sound to connect them with her artistry.
Manuela Wuthrich
Alberta
Wuthrich Manuela
2x JUNO-Award nominated Nuela Charles is an alternative/soul singer-songwriter known for her soulful vocals and captivating stage presence. With the release of her latestEPs“Distant Danger”and “Melt”–Nuelaissolidifying herself as a Canadian music staple. Her singles “Do it Right”“Danger” and “Known Better”maintained steady ground on the CBC Radio Music charts, collectively spending over 14 weeks in the Top 20, and had “Do it Right” named as one of 2018’s Top 100 Canadian songs.Nuela has brought her distinct voice to various stages over the last several years and recently performed at Reeperbahn Festival in Germany, and made her UK debut in London this last September. With a nod from uber-coveted tastemaker FADER, a placement on the hit show “Jane the Virgin”and some comfortable real estate on the CBC Music (Radio 2) charts, Charles is ready to release more of her fiery brand of cinematic soul.
2019 ALUMNI
Julie Austin
“jaycouldneverdie”
Ontario
Julie Austin
Although I live in Toronto now, I spent the majority of my life growing up in rural Ontario. I’ve been songwriting since a young age, but I was only able to start working on actual music in my late teens after I met my current partner and producer, Sascha Andor.
Earlier this year, I began releasing music under the name ‘jaycouldneverdie’. Although I’ve released three singles so far, none of them will appear on the EP I have planned for release this November. All new music.
In terms of the bigger picture, I view my sound as a darker reflection of my emotional state and things I’ve experienced in my life, so making that world – the one where jaycouldneverdie exists – as detailed and vibrant as possible is a big goal for me. I want my audience to feel like they’re watching an opera unfold.
Laura Babin Rioux
“Laura Babin”
Québec
Laura Babin Rioux
Le dernier EP de Laura Babin, Water Buffalo (2016), est une œuvre assumée, épanouie, celle d’une ACI étonnante.
Originaire de Rimouski, Laura parfait sa formation musicale à l’École nationale de la chanson. Elle s’est hissée jusqu’aux demi-finales des Francouvertes (2018), où elle a remporté plusieurs prix, dont la première partie de Martha Wainwright au Saint-Jérôme Folk. Lors de la dernière édition du Festival Vue sur la relève (2018), Laura a raflé une dizaine de prix Coup de pouce, dont plusieurs spectacles aux au Québec. À l’été 2017, elle a été sélectionnée parmi les chansonneurs de Destination Chanson-Fleuve, où elle a remporté le Prix audace Desjardins et le Prix Révèle la relève.
Entourée de musiciens talentueux, l’accompagnant dans un son rock atmosphérique frôlant le grunge, elle ose plus que jamais et crée des univers planants, envoûtants. Elle travaille présentement sur un nouvel album, à paraître en 2019, réalisé par Dany Placard.
James Bailey
Ontario
James Bailey
Carving out an alternative and personal voice for himself, James Baley is a unique and multi-talented vocalist who’s high energy performance magnetizes audiences. Performing with the likes of FALANA, After Funk, Dinamo Azari and July Talk, to make a few, James is exploring and creating a space for himself in the Toronto arts community.
In November, James released his sophomore EP, ‘ROADS’ a personal and unapologetic expression of moments in his life. Six sensual and experimental dream pop and soul tracks that take you on a psychedelic and poppy journey through dreams, moments, and memories.
Justin Boissonault
“BOISSINOVA”
Ontario
Justin Boissonault
Hello!
My name is Justin “”Nova”” Boissonnault and I began composing music for an independent rap project under the name “”Boissinova”” (pronounced bwa-sa-nova) in 2015. I have recorded in studios when I had the money and often at at home with my own equipment when funds were not available. I was born in Kelowna, then moved to Vancouver, and eventually moved all the way across Canada to Toronto to pursue music as a serIous way of paying my bills.
Right now, I am working on my anticipated 7-song EP called, “”SOFT BOY”” and it features beats produced by myself, Big Joe From the Coast, and M3Shyneboi. My sound could be described as a mix between Death Cab For Cutie and Lil Uzi Vert or Playboi Carti. I mix all of my vocals myself in my room on my Macbook. I really could use a big break and some financial help.
Marvin Chan
“Samurai Champs”
Saskatchewan
Marvin Chan
Marvin Chan, better known by his stage alter-ego Merv xx Gotti, is the singer of WCMA-nominated Canadian hip-hop/R&B duo Samurai Champs, and Artistic Director of TRIFECTA, a SK-based arts & cultural festival and artist collective.
He holds a BASc in Software Systems Engineering and is currently completing a Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, researching agile software development methodologies in application to the independent arts.
His pursuits in community building have received coverage from Noisey, Gigwise, Exclaim!, and The Line of Best Fit. He continues to work to establish “The New Sound Of the Prairies”.
Kassandra Clack
British Columbia
Kassandra Clack
Kassandra Clack is a 22 year old high energy country artist with a sweet soulful voice that you can actually feel. With a fresh upbeat sound and outgoing personality, this singer/songwriter loves to perform on stage.
After returning from Nashville, Tennessee, Kassandra is now collaborating with writers near and far to bring you a fresh country sound. With Kassandra’s voice, talent and drive, she is determined to make some noise in the country music scene. With her latest single “Are You with Me” hitting radio Kassandra is excited to bring you even more tunes!
Desiree Dawson
British Columbia
Desiree Dawson
Desirée Dawson is well known as the love spreading human who won the CBC Searchlight Competition in May 2016. Desirée currently resides in Vancouver, British Columbia, the unceded, ancestral, and occupied, traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples. Desirée’s single “Hide” helped her win the title of CBC searchlight winner and is her first single on iTunes, Spotify, to play on CBC radio and to garner 1 million streams on Spotify. Her second released single, and title track to her album, Wild Heart, spent many weeks on the CBC Top 20 and was remixed by over 2000 producers from all corners of the globe. Desirée’s debut album, Wild Heart, came out February 2017 and has been added to many prominent playlist on Spotify, Apple Music, Stingray music, and many more stations. Her latest single, “Just Fine,” is was released July 20th, 2018.
Domanique Grant
Ontario
Domanique Grant
A rare combination of talent and whimsical fierceness, Domanique Grant is an Indie-Pop Singer/ Songwriter, whose vocal tone has been compared to a fusion of SIA meets Sade and whose songwriting abilities are known for reminding audiences that its okay to feel something real again.
You might ask how a young artist from Toronto who is only gearing up to release her first EP Album PLAYHOUSE (FACTOR – JSR- October 2018), has sold out TEDx Talks, been invited to appear in the opening ceremonies for Canada’s largest sporting games to 1m + people and has been invited to perform in Argentina, Uganda, Cuba and more. Domanique’s resume speaks for itself.
Domanique’s debut EP album PLAYHOUSE is her first songwriting debut, produced by KUYA (Alessia Cara, Little Mix) and co-produced by Grant. PLAYHOUSE explores the meaning of home when navigating life in large urban cities.
Aliah Guerra
Québec
Aliah Guerra
My name is Aliah Guerra and i am 21 years old. I am a Neo-Soul/ Jazz artist in Montreal,QC Canada. I’m a vocalist, songwriter, a (self-taught) electric guitarist, multi instrumentalist (guitar, bass, piano, and clarinet), producer, and audio engineer. I have independently released my first body of music entitled “Sounds of a Seed” EP, on May 11th 2018. On this record, I wrote, arranged, produced, and performed all of the songs. I am an independent artist, which has required me to wear many hats. I have been performing since the age of 5, from stages at the Montreal Bell Center in 2008, to Manhattan NYC in 2017, West Island Blues Fest 2016 & 2017, and Montreal Global News, in 2018 to name a few. When I began teaching myself to play jazz tunes by Amy Winehouse on the guitar (2010), I posted the covers on YouTube and developed a following.
Madmoud Ismail
“Mah Moud”
Ontario
Madmoud Ismail
Mah Moud, A Toronto-based artist, displays brilliantly the beauty in brevity with his art. With such an incredible ability to tell stories combined with his versatility with regards to production, instrumentation, and vocal capability, Mah Moud is poised to take the appropriate steps to become a powerhouse in music.
Bella Krys
Ontario
Bella Krys
Bella Krys is a 20-year-old singer songwriter from Toronto, ON. Her musical training began with violin at the age of 3, and she has since learned to play a total of 6 different instruments. While she’s been singing and writing songs since the age of 12, Bella didn’t get serious until 3 years ago: In grade 11 she received the opportunity to record with Stephan Moccio for her high school’s 150th anniversary song. She co-wrote it, and was chosen by Stephan to be featured on it as a soloist. Since high school she has released two songs (available on all streaming platforms), and more recently embarked on a year long project entitled “Project 365”. Since January 1, 2018, she has written, recorded and uploaded a song every single day. Her dream to is create and share music that will positively affect people’s lives, as it has hers.
Dante Leon
Ontario
Dante Leon
Although many see music as a way to escape the world and reality, for Dante Leon, music is actually the anchor which grounds him and the fuel that propels him to explore the world and his craft to even greater extents. From attending arts school from the age of 8, as well as having recognized reggae musician as a father and another as an uncle, music has always been a central focal point in Dante’s life.
While still in high school in Toronto, Dante quickly established himself in the growing music scene that is now generating some of the top artists, producers and songwriters in the world. While Dante continues to lend his songwriting and production services to many renowned artists, the 24 year old creator has simultaneously been able to master a sound not yet tamed by any other young artists in the industry today.
Madeline Ritter
“MADDEE”
Ontario
Madeline Ritter
At just 20 years old and two releases under her belt, MADDEE has already performed for CMW, the AGO Massive, NXNE, Bestival, SXSW, and most recently Field Trip Festival. She has shared the stage with the likes of Willow Smith, Lil’ Yatchy, Basecamp, Tennyson, and many more. MADDEE first gained traction as the key feature on Harrison’s EP Colors released on Last Gang Records. Not only have her vocals been called soulful, captivating and dreamy on various reviews, but also her abilities with composition, lyric, guitar and keyboard are key to her future success as a multifaceted artist. In 2017, MADDEE released her first two solo singles, which were produced by Toronto’s Birthday Boy and Shagabond. The songs were extremely well streamed and resulted in her being selected by Red Bull Sound Select as one of their newest artists. She now sets her sights on releasing her first solo EP.
Jon Saldanha
British Columbia
Dave Sampson
Nova Scotia
Dave Sampson
Dave Sampson writes heart-on-your-sleeve folk/pop songs, delivered with a captivating and authentic voice that could blow down a brick house. His knack for crafting simple ear-worms and his high-energy shows have been winning him fans across Canada. Collaborating and sharing the stage with some of Canada’s top exports such as Classified, Gordie Sampson, Neon Dreams, Alan Doyle & Donovan Woods as well as being chosen as one of Canada’s Top 5 emerging artists by Canada’s Walk of Fame, Dave is sure to make waves with his anticipated 2018 Nashville recorded release.
Connor Seidel
Québec
Connor Seidel
Based in Montreal, Canada – Connor Seidel spent the last decade searching for and producing emerging artists. His focus today is in pop & indie but he has had the chance to dive deep in the franco-quebec music scene.
At only 24 years old, Connor thrives to find real intimacy in his recordings – focusing on the message, emotion, and feel of the music he works on. A vibrant energy in the studio and a background in jazz guitar give Connor an edge in writing sessions and production situations. He loves to be in both the writer and producers seat and always innovates with a hybrid sound – blending live instrumentation with digital production to make true modern music.
The recent success of “”Solitudes”” by Matt Holubowski has catapulted Connor into the Quebec & Canadian music industry.
Linnea Siggelkow
“Ellis”
Ontario
Linnea Siggelkow
A faint voice and a fervent guitar make their match in a cluttered bedroom, each song finding itself in a growing folder of recordings stamped by initials “L.S”. Ellis is the music project of Linnea Siggelkow. Daughter to a travelling book salesman and a piano teacher, Ellis flips the words from the books she once read, intertwining vulnerable with bold into the songs that she now sings. Having already made her mark as a solo performer in the Toronto DIY scene, the project has evolved into a 4-piece band, inspiring a grittier take on the same solemn refrain.
After cultivating a following opening for the likes of Soccer Mommy, Palehound, Casper Skulls and Young Galaxy, Ellis is releasing her first official single The Drain off her upcoming debut EP (expected out in fall 2018).
Annie Sumi
Ontario
Annie Sumi
Annie Sumi is a critically-acclaimed, ethereal-folk artist from Southern Ontario. Since the release of her debut-album, “Reflections”, in 2015, she has received nominations for “Best Singer-Songwriter” (TIMAs, 2015), “Contemporary Roots Album of the Year” (Hidden Roots Collective, CFMAs, 2017), and more. With the release of her latest album, “In the Unknown”, this songwriter has brought colour and vision to the Canadian music scene. Her live performance is vulnerable; she consistently gives her heart to the stage, and inspires the audience to feel something. With over 300 live performances across Canada, the United States of America, and Continental Europe, this old-soul has shared her songs and stories with audiences around the world!
Vincent Turcotte
Québec
Vincent Turcotte
Vincent Turcotte is a composer, guitarist, music teacher and sound engineer in audiovisual post-production. He has accompanied touring artists throughout Quebec as a guitarist. He has also written for corporate videos, commercials, short films and television. After a DEC in jazz / popular guitar from the Collège d’Alma, he applied for a Bachelor’s degree in Popular Music from the University of Quebec at Montréal then at the DESS in Music of films of the same establishment. Since the spring of 2013, he has toured Quebec with author and composer Clément Jacques.
In 2017 he finished second in the SOCAN Foundation Awards for Emerging Audio-Visual Composers.
Joanna Worthington
“Jo Jo Worthington”
Ontario
Joanna Worthington
Kitchener-Waterloo artist, JoJo Worthington, has won numerous awards + accolades, yet hasn’t stopped pushing her work to uncomfortable boundaries. Forging ahead with Epoch producer Connory Ballantyne + engineer William Crann, Worthington’s latest work ’’ or ‘Two Lines’ is a surge into new territory. Her vocalizations reminisce of Kate Bush, her ingenuity with looping techniques remind one of the omnipresent Canadian force of Owen Pallet, and her completely refreshing take on the [often blasé] ukulele is pushing the experimental-folk musician to create some of the most forward-thinking music of her generation.