Music: Then and Now

New album Save Our Hearts by Indigenous artist Madisyn Whajne has been released!  Save Our Hearts recorded live to tape in Montreal at Hotel2Tango with engineers Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire) and Shae Brossard (Bahamas, The Dears) who she met singing backups for Canadian indie-folk star Basia Bulat. The album is imbued with a visceral sense of loneliness and longing, a burning desire for connection and companionship that propels it endlessly forward in pursuit of something perpetually out of reach. https://www.madisynwhajne.com/ Photographer Jen Squires Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Tafari Anthony is a Toronto based artist blending Pop, R&B and Soul. Exploring his own personal soundscape, Tafari returned with pop anthems, “Centerfold” and “Live in a Dream.” Now he unveils the emotional “No Good,” produced by Alexander Flockhart. Tafari has been featured in PAPER Magazine, Gay Times, MTV, was nominated for a Toronto Independent Music Award, and receives regular airplay on CBC Radio, his single being named one of CBC's Most Influential Songs of 2016. Tafari performed alongside Shangela (RuPauls Drag Race) as well as at Dundas Square and Massey Hall. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems Tafari is now releasing his new EP The Way You See Me. https://tafarianthony.com/

This live interview was recorded as part of Indie Week 2020 with host of Music: Then and Now Jordan B. Wright interviewing Shawnee Kish. Award Winning Two Spirit artist, proud Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River on her mother's side, Shawnee is the first Indigenous winner in CBC Searchlight's 12 year history. Shawnee performed alongside powerful women on TedWomen, is a role model featured on Kids Help Phone, is featured on a new television series on APTN, as well as the Edmonton Regional Finalist for the Canadian Music Week Talent Search. Special Thanks to Darryl Hurs who asked Jordan B. Wright to interview a celebrity for Indie Week to highlight someone within the community. Grave Digger written by Shawnee and Jordan B. Wright, recorded at Metal Works while in the band She King which consisted of Shawnee vocals, Jordan bass, Azur guitar, and Cathy Marchese on drums. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems Warrior Heart by Shawnee

Award Winning Two Spirit artist, proud Mohawk from the Six Nations of the Grand River on her mother's side, Shawnee is the first Indigenous winner in CBC Searchlight's 12 year history. Shawnee performed alongside powerful women on TedWomen, is a role model featured on Kids Help Phone, is featured on a new television series on APTN, as well as the Edmonton Regional Finalist for the Canadian Music Week Talent Search. This live interview was held on Friday November 13th as part of Indie Week thanks to Darryl Hurs who invited Jordan to interview a celebrity. Jordan reached out to Shawnee as they played and wrote together in a band called She King back in the day. Shawnee discusses her journey coming out, coming into herself as Two Spirit, personal struggles with family, growing up, and overcoming suicidal thoughts as a young person. Jordan shares his personal experiences coming into himself as a trans guy after being in the closet for so long. Shawnee talks about the process of being the winner of CBC Searchlight 2020 with her song submitted Building A Wall. Shawnee discusses her experience writing Wild Woman for the voting rights album produced by Gengger Shankar and William Stanbro And She Could Be Next encouraging cultural women's voices in America to stand up and be heard while we now have Kamala Harris being voted in as the first woman of color VP; a time to celebrate! Part 2 coming soon! Stay tuned Cover Art Design by Tania Willems Music: Building A Wall clips - Shawnee Warrior Heart clips - Shawnee https://www.shawneekish.com/  

Darryl Hurs runs one of Canada's largest emerging artist showcase festivals and conference, Indie Week Canada. Indie Week is an online international conference this year focused on education from Tuesday November 10th until Saturday November 14th. Music: Then and Now host Jordan B. Wright will be interviewing talented Two Spirit artist Shawnee on Friday November 13th 5:00 PM EST as part of Indie Week. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems Tickets and info: https://www.indieweek.com/

Indigenous artist Madisyn Whajne has spent most of her life searching: for her purpose, her family, and herself. She was taken from her family, like tens of thousands of other native children, before the age of two by the Canadian government in the Sixties Scoop. Save Our Hearts recorded live to tape in Montreal at Hotel2Tango with engineers Howard Bilerman (Arcade Fire) and Shae Brossard (Bahamas, The Dears) who she met singing backups for Canadian indie-folk star Basia Bulat. The album is imbued with a visceral sense of loneliness and longing, a burning desire for connection and companionship that propels it endlessly forward in pursuit of something perpetually out of reach. Madisyn is releasing her first album Save Our Hearts this December 11th which you can preorder on her website. https://www.madisynwhajne.com/ Photographer Jen Squires Cover Art Design by Tania Willems  

Darryl Hurs recently hired by CD Baby for market development in Canada has a 25+ year history in the music business including launching and running one of Canada's largest emerging artist showcase festivals and conference, Indie Week Canada. Past positions include graphic design/branding for Live Nation as a freelancer (corporate branding, event marketing assets, including work for known artists such as U2, Nickelback, Madonna, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Dave Matthews and the launching of VIPNATION.com website), retail buyer at HMV, booker for one of Toronto's top live music venues (The Rivoli), and performing in various musical acts. Indie Week is an online conference this year focused on education from Tuesday November 10th until Saturday November 14th. Banda Trampa - Você clip Cover Art Design by Tania Willems https://www.indieweek.com/

Morgan Doctor is a Juno and Dora nominated performer and creator. She currently plays with Andy Kim, Jill Barber, Amanda Rheaume, and Fefe Dobson. She performed on Letterman, sold out theatres and arenas, music videos, and countless full length albums. Morgan performed and won at MTV LOGO's “Artist on the Brink” Award for 2008 with The Cliks. Morgan's session drumming can be heard on CBC Metro Morning, The L Word, and Grey's Anatomy. She received a Dora nomination for her sound design for Between Us Goddess in 2005 and earned a Juno and Dora nomination with her work with The Toronto Tabla Ensemble in 2001. Morgan is a big advocate of music education and teaches at Girls Rock Camp Toronto as a drum instructor and band coach. In 2006 Morgan signed with Aporia Records and has released . Her most recent release, Strangers explores the actions of connecting and disconnecting, and the fragile boundary between intimacy and estrangement. “… it is a rare musician who can make an instrumental album that seems confessional” – Toronto Star Cover art design by Tania Willems  

Emm Gryner is a successful Filipino-Irish pop singer-songwriter based in Canada who started her own label Dead Daisy Records. Emm was signed to Mercury Records for two years, and then continued to release albums on Dead Daisy, signed In Flight Safety & Royal Wood, toured extensively in David Bowies backup band as well as Swedish band The Cardigans. Emm played in Hot One with Nathan Larson of Guided By Voices, collaborated with astronaut Chris Hadfield, was in the documentary Lennon or McCartney and is now releasing a jazz album Just For You. Emm Gryner Photo by Cynthia Moore Cover Art Design by Tania Willems https://www.emmgryner.com/

Emm Gryner is a successful Filipino-Irish pop singer-songwriter based in Canada who started her own label Dead Daisy Records. Emm played in Hot One with Nathan Larson of Shudder to Think, collaborated with astronaut Chris Hadfield, toured extensively in David Bowies backup band as well as Swedish band The Cardigans. Emm was in the documentary Lennon or McCartney and is now releasing a jazz album Just For You. Photo of Emm Gryner by Cynthia Moore Cover Art Design by Tania Willems https://www.emmgryner.com/

Tarun “Tspoon” Nayar toured the world  with his award winning band Delhi 2 Dublin and is now Executive Director of Turtle Islands largest South Asian Youth event 5XFest. Tarun collaborated on a fan engagement app originally used by the Manchester City Soccer Team and now runs music festival 5XFest in Vancouver with concerts, fashion shows, art events, 40 stages, 60+ creators, and over 25,000 people are on the 5XFest app.  Tarun is on the board of Vancouver's New Forms Festival, the Canadian Live Music Association, a member of BC's Ministry of Education Advisory Committee, Vancouver's Music City Task Force, and Vancouver's 2018 Juno Host City Committee. Tarun manages emerging Pakistani-Canadian electronic artist Khanvict, and is the co-founder and owner of digital label  which focuses on the new wave of hybrid South Asian artists. Cover art Design - Tania Willems Music: Tarun Nayar - Kezang La GWS, Cartel Madras - Stay Up All Night Skinny Local - Bass Baje Falling - Chin Injeti featuring Esthero & Tarun Nayar Khanvict - Before Summer Ends courtesy of SnakesXLadders

Tarun “Tspoon” Nayar toured the world  with his award winning band Delhi 2 Dublin and is now Executive Director of Turtle Islands largest South Asian Youth event 5XFest. Tarun collaborated on a fan engagement app originally used by the Manchester City Soccer Team and now runs music festival 5XFest in Vancouver with concerts, fashion shows, art events, 40 stages,60+ creators, and over 25,000 people are on the 5XFest app.  Tarun is on the board of Vancouver's New Forms Festival, the Canadian Live Music Association, a member of BC's Ministry of Education Advisory Committee, Vancouver's Music City Task Force, and Vancouver's 2018 Juno Host City Committee. Tarun manages emerging Pakistani-Canadian electronic artist Khanvict, and is the co-founder and owner of digital label  which focuses on the new wave of hybrid South Asian artists. Cover art Design - Tania Willems Music: Tarun Nayar - Kezang La GWS, Cartel Madras - Stay Up All Night Skinny Local - Bass Baje Falling - Chin Injeti featuring Esthero & Tarun Nayar Khanvict - Before Summer Ends courtesy of SnakesXLadders      

Leroy Moore & Keith Jones discuss disability politics, music, history, the incredibly talented artists with Krip-Hop Nation, the making of the music track for Rising Phoenix trailer, and the need for more content by people with disabilities on Netflix, Sony, and HBO.  Rising Phoenix about the Paralympics is now out on Netflix. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems http://kriphopnation.com/

Leroy & Keith discuss history, music with black disability politics, highlighting black disabled artists within Krip-Hop Nation, and the making of the song/trailer for new documentary on Netflix Rising Phoenix about the Paralympics. Krip-Hop Nation's Mission is to educate the music, media industries and general public about the talents, history, rights and marketability of Hip-Hop artists and other musicians with disabilities. Krip-Hop founded by Leroy F. Moore Jr. an African American writer and activist with cerebral palsy who wanted  to use rap culture as a way to reclaim negative language associated with disability. From Harvard to The Whitney Museum to media engagement for disability in Johannesburg South Africa, Leroy Moore has more than twenty years of activism, journalism, writing; lecturing on race and disability. Moore is one of the founding members of National Black Disability Coalition and activist around police brutality against people with disabilities. Rising Phoenix with Keith Jones:  Krip-Hop Logo by Cool V Leroy Moore Photograph by Pamela Juhl Keith & Leroy photo by Alice Wong Cover Art Design by Tania Willems http://kriphopnation.com/

Zaynab is a Canadian-Trinidadian globe-trotting multi-instrumentalist, who openly embraces her creative and personal expansion through her dynamic style and passionate expression.  She transmutes the raw material of her experiences and voice into songs that “quietens your spirit”.  With a diverse musical input ranging from Bob Marley to Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding and Billie Holiday, Zaynab's output flows with elements of improvisation influenced by Jazz, Soul, R&B and Afro-Caribbean. Born into a steelpan playing family band based in Montréal, music and sound flowed with diversity throughout the family home giving Zaynab rich cultural and musical roots to explore. In 2014, she earned a Bachelor of Music on drums from Humber College then continued with her musical dynamism through debuting her own project, MoZayic, and in supportive percussive roles with Jason Wilson, Alysha Brilla and other local and international projects. In 2018, Zaynab welcomed a new level of deepening with music when she released as a singer-songwriter and has since performed her original project across Canada, in the USA and Australia, receiving radio airplay on Canada's CBC and Australia's ABC.  Zaynab is planning to start her own podcast, The Music Cabinet, which will explore music/art/storytelling as a therapy, medicine and healing tool. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems https://www.zaynabwilsonmusic.com/

"Let's walk with empathy. We're all born with something; we all have to face some struggle...understanding that. We have to journey down something and it's not always going to be peachy. I am very grateful for my upbringing...instead of getting caught up with labels and identifications, just keep with who you are." - Zaynab Wilson   Zaynab Wilson is a Canadian-Trinidadian globe-trotting multi-instrumentalist, who openly embraces her creative and personal expansion through her dynamic style and passionate expression. She transmutes the raw material of her experiences and voice into songs that “quietens your spirit”.  With a diverse musical input ranging from Bob Marley to Norah Jones, Esperanza Spalding and Billie Holiday, Zaynab's output flows with elements of improvisation influenced by Jazz, Soul, R&B and Afro-Caribbean. Born into a steel pan playing family band based in Montréal, music and sound flowed with diversity throughout the family home giving Zaynab rich cultural and musical roots to explore. In 2014, she earned a Bachelor of Music on drums from Humber College then continued with her musical dynamism through debuting her own project, MoZayic, and in supportive percussive roles with Jason Wilson, Alysha Brilla and other local and international projects. In 2018, Zaynab welcomed a new level of deepening with music when she released as a singer-songwriter and has since performed her original project across Canada, in the USA and Australia, receiving radio airplay on Canada's CBC and Australia's ABC.  Zaynab discusses plans of starting her own podcast, The Music Cabinet, which will explore music, art, & storytelling as a therapy, medicine and a healing tool. Cover Art Design By Tania Willems https://www.zaynabwilsonmusic.com/

"Rae Spoon is one of the most important musicians working in Canada today" - NOW Magazine Rae Spoon is an award winning non-binary performer, composer, music producer, visual content producer/director and author based on the territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples in Victoria, BC. They published First Spring Grass Fire, a book of short stories about growing up in Alberta and Spoon was awarded an Honour of Distinction for LGBT writers in 2014. Spoon began the music label Coax Records "out of a love for indie music and as an answer to under representation for many groups in the music industry". Photo by Dave Todon Cover Art Design by Tania Willems https://www.coaxrecords.com/

"Rae Spoon is one of the most important musicians working in Canada today" - NOW Magazine Rae Spoon is an award winning non-binary performer, composer, music producer, visual content producer/director and author based on the territory of the Lekwungen speaking peoples in Victoria, BC. They published First Spring Grass Fire, a book of short stories about growing up in Alberta and Spoon was awarded an Honour of Distinction for LGBT writers in 2014. Spoon began the music label Coax Records "out of a love for indie music and as an answer to under representation for many groups in the music industry". Song: I'll Be A Ghost For You - Rae Spoon Song: You Can Dance - Rae Spoon Cover art design photos by Tania Willems

Land Back Camp is a peaceful Indigenous occupation which sidelines as a ceremonial meeting space. The toxic effects of colonization with residential schools forcing assimilation are still evident with drug abuse, poverty, suicides, missing and murdered Indigenous women, disproportionate representation in the criminal justice system and lifelong scarring from trauma and abuse. With our government breaking treaty promises to putting in pipelines through First Nations land, Truth and Reconciliation is not being followed and the only small change we have seen is land acknowledgements in schools and at the beginning of meetings. In Kitchener, Waterloo, in Victoria Park Indigenous activists such as Amy Smoke, Terre Chartrand, and Shawn Johnston have been taking a stand to exercise their treaty rights and retake a small piece of traditional meeting grounds. Shawn Johnston, Amy Smoke, & Terre Chartrand all being two-spirit; Amy discusses the incredible youth who showed up to help and participate who mostly identify as two spirit, queer, non-binary, & trans looking for safe spaces to reclaim their culture. Photo Erik O'Neill Cover Art Tania Willems https://www.landbackcamp.com/

Interview with Venus Fest founder Aerin Fogel (Queen of Swords) who talks about the online festival hosted by Sook-Yin Lee, the Mentorship Program applications available Monday September 21st (program begins week of October 5th), the conference and reveals much more about this exciting new festival in it's fourth year available internationally. Lineup includes Lido Pimienta, Ansley Simpson, Wild Black, and Ceréna Sierra as well as videos, artist interviews, panels, a town hall, and mentorship sessions. Visual videos are curated by Dainesha Nugent-Palache, Caroline Monnet, Jamiyla Lowe, Lido Pimienta, Mohammad Rezaei, Monica Berger, queer anishinaabe artist Natalie King, Vanessa Rieger, video editing by Brittany Farhat, and graphic design and visual concept by Misbah Ahmed. Venus Fest is sponsored by Factor, Ontario Creates, SOCAN, Music Ontario, and The Ontario Arts Council as well as partnered with POP Montreal. Song - Joy Will Be, Queen of Spades Song - Run It To Ya, Black Belt Eagle Scout [Merlin] Saddle Creek (on behalf of Saddle Creek) Song - Moon Star Lover, Wild Black Song - A Mixture of Fralities, Ansley Simpson Song - Quiero Que Te Vaya Bien, Lido Pimienta Song - Book On How To Change, Hand Habits Sook-Yin Lee Photo in background self portrait Aerin Fogel photo in background @threecrownsbranding Progress Flag Photo in background by John Tlumacki (Boston Globe) Cover Art Design Tania Willems    

Interview with Venus Fest founder Aerin Fogel who talks about the online festival hosted this year by Sook-Yin Lee, the Mentorship Program applications available Monday September 21st (program begins week of October 5th), the conference, town halls including Is Change Happening? focused on the push for inclusive representation. Lineup includes Lido Pimienta, Ansley Simpson, Wild Black, and Ceréna Sierra as well as videos, artist interviews, panels, a town hall, and mentorship sessions. Visual videos are curated by Dainesha Nugent-Palache, Caroline Monnet, Jamiyla Lowe, Lido Pimienta, Mohammad Rezaei, Monica Berger, queer anishinaabe artist Natalie King, Vanessa Rieger, video editing by Brittany Farhat, and graphic design and visual concept by Misbah Ahmed. Venus Fest staff have received safer space training with the Dandelion Initiative, which is a organization that focuses on Gender-Based Violence Prevention, Response, Education, policy development, survivor support, workshops to better support our community. https://www.dandelioninitiative.ca/ Venus Fest is sponsored by Factor, Ontario Creates, SOCAN, Music Ontario, and The Ontario Arts Council as well as partnered with POP Montreal. Collage with photos of BBES, Aerin Fogel, Natalie King, and Jordan B. Wright created by Tania Willems Videos will premiere via YouTube and Facebook livestream October 1st, 8PM EST: Lido Pimienta, Hand Habits, Ansley Simpson October 2nd, 8PM EST: U.S. Girls, Black Belt Eagle Scout, Wild Black, Ceréna Sierra Aerin Fogel photo by @threecrownsbranding Progress Flag by John Tlamacki Boston Globe Cover Art Design by Tania Willems  

Nibi is a love song for the water. Nibi translates to water in Anishinaabemowin. Maddie Resmer, a camper at O:se Kenhionhata:tie Landback Camp, speaks about water which is such a huge burden in Indigenous Communities to some degree; having to constantly fight for clean water. To protect water and to be able to use water which is part of traditional lands in traditional ways; to fish in the water, collect water from natural springs and streams to use.   When singing Nibi, as much as it is singing praise and love for the water that is around us, it is also a call for hope to a lot of the communities that don't have that access to clean water and are still fighting for protection of their waters.When we say water is life we really mean that in the literal sense. - Maddie Resmer Photo by Erik O'Neill Cover Art by Tania Willems Support: https://www.landbackcamp.com/get_involved

Since June 20 activists have taken back a small piece of the park in Victoria Park. Historically this was a gathering space for many nations; they built up a youth camp there prior to National Indigenous People's Day. Shawn Johnston, Amy Smoke, and Terre Chartrand all being two-spirit; Amy discusses how amazing it is to see the youth that showed up to help, to participate who mostly identify as two spirit, queer, non-binary, and trans looking for safe spaces to reclaim their culture. These activists and campers have reclaimed the land since then in Victoria Park, Kitchener, Waterloo. Photo in background by Erik O'Neill Cover Art by Tania Willems Visit website to support:   

Leroy and Keith discuss their song ADA Story addressing the Americans with Disabilities Act. From Harvard to The Whitney Museum to media engagement for disability in Johannesburg South Africa, Leroy Moore has more than twenty years of activism, journalism, writing; lecturing on race and disability. Moore is one of the founding members of National Black Disability Coalition and activist around police brutality against people with disabilities. Krip-Hop Nation's Mission is to educate the music, media industries and general public about the talents, history, rights and marketability of Hip-Hop artists and other musicians with disabilities. Krip-Hop was founded by Leroy F. Moore Jr. an African American writer and activist with cerebral palsy who wanted  to use rap culture as a way to reclaim negative language associated with disability. Krip-Hop Logo Cool V Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Krip-Hop Nation's main objective is to get the musical talents of hip-hop artists with disabilities into the hands of media outlets, educators, and hip-hop, disabled and race scholars, youth, journalists and hip-hop conference coordinators. Keith Jones of Krip-Hop Nation addresses politicians stance on Disability Justice. According to the world health organizations estimates 12-15% of the population has a disability which is 1 billion people. Krip-Hop was founded by Leroy F. Moore Jr. an African American writer and activist with cerebral palsy who wanted  to use rap culture as a way to reclaim negative language associated with disability. Photographer Leroy in suit by Pamela Juhl Photographer Keith & Leroy by Alice Wong Logo in background by Cool V  Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Krip-Hop Nation's Mission is to educate the music, media industries and general public about the talents, history, rights and marketability of Hip-Hop artists and other musicians with disabilities. Krip-Hop was founded by Leroy F. Moore Jr. an African American writer and activist with cerebral palsy who wanted  to use rap culture as a way to reclaim negative language associated with disability. From Harvard to The Whitney Museum to media engagement for disability in Johannesburg South Africa, Leroy Moore has more than twenty years of activism, journalism, writing; lecturing on race and disability. Moore is one of the founding members of National Black Disability Coalition and activist around police brutality against people with disabilities. Rising Phoenix with Keith Jones: Krip-Hop Logo by Cool V Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Rosheeka Parahoo completed her Master's degree in Musicology at the University of Western Ontario supervised by Pop Musicologist, Dr. Norma Coates. Rosheeka discusses her thesis work which focuses on unfolding the ways in which we understand and portray queerness in popular music. She hopes to bring a new and fresh perspective to queer studies as well as musicology and make these fields more accessible to the public. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

"Queerbaiting" is a term used to described the use of queer elements or queer characters in a variety of movies, media, or music in order to appeal to the queer community, but without explicitly allowing queerness to thrive. It also reduces it only to the sexual aspect of it; there's no relationship, no falling in love, or actual story. "Dykesploitation" refers to the lack of butch women of gender queer non-binary folks when comes to female queer relationships in the media. Rosheeka discusses the first instance of an extreme depiction of queerness; how mainstream culture views queerness. She asks what are the big events that major news stations and people who have no experience with queer communities that they are getting their impression of queer people from? The first thing that comes to mind is Pride Parades. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Gaga fans sometimes observe that her concerts are more queer positive than your annual Queer Pride Parade. She is actually creating queer safer spaces. She's doing it in such a fantastic way; that's the commonality she has with Ziggy Stardust because she's continuing that legacy. Pride events are huge events which not everyone feels comfortable going to. What Bowie and Gaga have achieved in the greater scheme is creating a sonic space for inclusion; a way to trust, to cooperate, to laugh with, and to share music with a complete stranger knowing that they hold no prejudice over who you are as a queer person. Queer is all encompassing; as a trans guy it can talk about both my sexuality and my gender. Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Rosheeka Parahoo speaks about the distinction between Identity and Performance When you're talking about identity and performance; if it was Ziggy coming out was it just a performance or was it an identity of how Bowie felt...? Nobody ever asks "When did you realize you were straight? Why are you straight?" If identity is something you feel internally, there's no way for people to know that because it's something you feel. How Lady Gaga unifies her fans is through her sense of belonging Rosheeka Parahoo discusses the article "Diva Worship and The Sonic Search for Queer Utopia" by Craig Jennex Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Selam Debs is an Ethiopian-Canadian who was born in Amman, Jordan, grew up in the projects of Regent Park & Scarborough, a mother of a teen boy, the owner of Juici Yoga studios in Waterloo, a yoga & meditation teacher, a Lululemon Ambassador, a Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Master, singer, songwriter, and poet. Selam مرحبا Debs is inspiring many including her own son Jaleel who is an advocate and spoken word artist speaking up about the importance of black lives. Selam talks about the pride and challenges of having a young black teen who is active on social media and starting his own podcast. Selam in Arabic & languages spoken in Eithiopia/Eritrea means peace. Selam is most passionate about advocating for the rights of people of colour, the upliftment of black voices, and the importance of educating communities on racial inequality, diversity, inclusivity and social justice. Photograph of Selam Debs by Tyler Slaney Cover Art Design by Tania Willems Selam Debs is the Owner & Director of Juici Yoga studio and creator of

Selam discusses Black, Indigenous, People of Color, and Caribbean people; the incredible things they are doing within our communities. Black Lives Matter bringing the message of defunding the police to the people who need to hear it. Seeing a shift with thousands of people feeling like the issues around Black Lives; that they matter. This is largest Civil Rights Movement in History with all 50 states and 18 Countries protesting. Photograph courtesy of Selam Debs by Tyler Slaney Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Selam Debs speaks about the trauma from the violence against black people and BLM protests. Selam helped organize a Black Lives Matter march hoping for 30 people to show up and then 36,000 people showed up in Kitchener, Waterloo to protest and support Black Lives. Selam Debs teaches anti-racism courses online and is the creator of selamdebs.com Photograph of Selam Debs by Tyler Slaney Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Selam مرحبا Debs amplifying the voices of black, indigenous, and people of color and re-educating our community to have conversations about race so that it is no longer hidden. Waking people up to the anti-racism collective community. Selam talks about the Indigenous Landback Camp in Kitchener area, the Victoria Park area, asking for specific land to create ceremonies and support systems for indigenous youth. Selam Debs is an Ethiopian-Canadian who was born in Amman, Jordan, grew up in the projects of Regent Park & Scarborough, a mother of a teen boy, the owner of Juici Yoga studios in Waterloo, a yoga & meditation teacher, a Lululemon Ambassador, a Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Master, singer, songwriter, and poet. Selam مرحبا in Arabic & languages spoken in Eithiopia/Eritrea means peace. Selam is most passionate about advocating for the rights of people of colour, the upliftment of black voices, and the importance of educating communities on racial inequality, diversity, inclusivity and social justice. Selam Debs is the Owner & Director of Juici Yoga studio and creator of Photograph of Selam Debs by Tyler Slaney Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

Selam مرحبا Debs is inspiring many including her own son Jaleel who is an advocate and spoken word artist speaking up about the importance of black lives. Selam talks about the pride and challenges of having a young black teen who is active on social media and starting his own podcast. Selam Debs is an Ethiopian-Canadian who was born in Amman, Jordan, grew up in the projects of Regent Park & Scarborough, a mother of a teen boy, the owner of Juici Yoga studios in Waterloo, a yoga & meditation teacher, a Lululemon Ambassador, a Holistic Life Coach, Reiki Master, singer, songwriter, and poet. Selam in Arabic & languages spoken in Eithiopia/Eritrea means peace. Selam is most passionate about advocating for the rights of people of colour, the upliftment of black voices, and the importance of educating communities on racial inequality, diversity, inclusivity and social justice. Selam Debs is the Owner & Director of Juici Yoga studio and creator of Photograph courtesy of Selam Debs by Tyler Slaney Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

This episode takes a closer look at black female DJ's who are unapologetically disrupting Toronto's music industry. It examines how these DJ's are paving the way for a generation of women and LGBTQ people, previously excluded from the social and cultural norms of the hip-hop world. Sarafina McIntosh is a Creative Director, filmmaker and a contributor to Radio One Hip-Hop Detroit. Along with Demi Valentine and Sunita Miya-muganza, McIntosh co directed the documentary Badassery. Her love for music inspired her to chronicle the experiences of women in Hip-Hop in her debut documentary. Sarafina realizes the influence that music has, to create dialogue, evoke change and provide healing. She will continue to use film, journalism, and music to bring about impactful change. Badassery: rule breakers, risk takers, authentic, and uncompromising This incredible new documentary is available on Vimeo Cover art design Tania Willems

Taking a closer look at black female DJ's who are unapologetically disrupting Toronto's music industry. It examines how these DJ's are paving the way for a generation of women and LGBTQ people, previously excluded from the social and cultural norms of the hip-hop world. Sarafina McIntosh is a Creative Director, filmmaker and a contributor to Radio One Hip-Hop Detroit. Her love for music inspired her to chronicle the experiences of women in Hip-Hop in her debut documentary. Sarafina realizes the influence that music has, to create dialogue, evoke change and provide healing. She will continue to use film, journalism, and music to bring about impactful change. Cover art design Tania Willems

Ember 子玉 Swift is a Canadian musician and writer who has been living in Beijing, China since 2008. She addresses the unjust racism China has faced, the challenges of being bisexual or pansexual, and a preview of songs from her upcoming album, and will soon be releasing her new book. Ember has released 12 albums and continues to have a loyal fan base across many national borders. Ember speaks Mandarin and is a student of Chinese culture; her music melds these two traditions. Ember has a daughter called Echo (国如一) and a son called Topaz or “Paz” (国世龙). Specifically known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals, additional styles include folk, rock, jazz, swing, R&B, funk, pop, and blues.  Photo of Ember by Frank Post Music: Then and Now Cover Art by Tania Willems

A little taste of upcoming episode with Ember 子玉 Swift a Canadian musician and writer who has been living in Beijing, China since 2008. She addresses the unjust racism China has faced, the challenges of being bisexual or pansexual, and a preview of songs from her upcoming album, and her new book. Ember has released 12 albums and continues to have a loyal fan base across many national borders. Ember speaks Mandarin and is a student of Chinese culture; her music melds these two traditions. Ember has a daughter called Echo (国如一) and a son called Topaz or “Paz” (国世龙). Specifically known for her unique, jazz-influenced guitar playing and elastic vocals, additional styles include folk, rock, jazz, swing, R&B, funk, pop, and blues.  Photo in background by Frank Post Cover Art by Tania Willems

Urvah Khan عروه خان is a Canadian Pakistani punk rock performer who has honed her craft in Toronto since 2010. She has developed a unique hybrid sound, fusing heavy rock with South Asian, hip hop & world sounds which she calls Scrap Rock. Khan's music has been featured on BBC radio and she has performed at numerous festivals and venues in Toronto, LA and the UK. She created ScrapFest Muslim Pride online during quarantine to celebrate muslim queer and trans folks.  ScrapFest is a multicultural, immigrant friendly performance series showcasing alternative artists with varied geopolitical backgrounds and a common outsider perspective. ScrapFest seeks to bridge cultural differences by showcasing artists with a shared queer inclusive narrative. Since its debut in 2019, ScrapFest has collaborated with the Sur Sangum Foundation, Institute of Islamic studies (From the University of Toronto), El-Tawhid Juma Circle & QTBIPOC Sauga to produce Queer + Trans + Muslim + POC empowered events. June 2020 also marked the debut of ‘ISHQ- Muslim Pride' virtual event presented in collaboration with ScrapFest. The show featured various Queer + Trans Muslim musicians, drag acts and poets. Mid 2020 Covid-19 Pandemic, the show entertains and leaves an enlightening experience for the future to look back at. Cover art by Tania Willems    

A little taste of music by Tush and our interview about the history of disco including an excerpt from Leh We Guh with Alexa Belgrave on keys. Bandcamp Fridays 100% of money goes to the artist: Cover Photo by Samuel Engelking Cover art by Tania Willems

A little taste of upcoming episode with special guest Urvah Khan عروه خان who created Scrap Rock and Muslim Pride Scrap Fest   Cover art by Tania Willems

An interview with Kamilah Apong & Jamie Kidd from Tush discussing how disco would not exist if not for Black Queer and Trans folks and the political background of disco with roots in Latinx, R'n'B, and Blues. Includes newest Tush track Leh We Guh featuring pianist Alexa Belgrave (recorded live with Tush at Sous Bas in Hamilton, March 7, 2020) with an excerpt from 'Poinciana' written by Nat Simon  Kamilah and Jamie discuss how Leh We Guh came to be, fusing together various cultural elements of Kamilah's background (but not all), including Soca inspired rhythms, a sample of Ahmad Jamal's take on the jazz standard, Poinciana, also a prominent flowering tree from her father's homeland of Trinidad. Interview also includes Don't Be Afraid featuring DREAMY group vocals by Lydia Persaud Music, Shahi Teruko, R. Flex, Tafari Anthony, and Miles Gibbons on drums and Darnelladon (and beyond). Download Tush songs: More info: Cover Photo By Samuel Engelking Cover Art Design By Tania Willems   

Interview with Nichika Ramadoo (she/they) from Hillside Festival now Hillside Homeside which is more accessible during quarantine. Find out the inside scoop on which Black, Indigenous, People of Color, Queer, Trans, Disabled Artists are available to watch on Hillside's website. Learn about peacemaking workshops in dismantling racism, loving kindness meditation, and reducing conflict, Hillside Homeside T-shirts/Masks, and Hillside-y food you can enjoy at home! Cover Art Design by Tania Willems Visit their site for more info: http://www.hillsidefestival.ca/

Teiya Kasahara 笠原貞野 (they/them) talks about blending Japanese taiko drumming with opera and spoken word addressing their own polarizing identities. Teiya is a queer, gender non-binary multi-disciplinary performer and creator and first generation Nikkei-Canadian settler proud to make Tkaronto their home. Teiya comes from a background of over a decade of  singing both traditional and contemporary operatic roles across North America and Europe, most recently praised as “a force of nature” by the Toronto Star and “an artist with extraordinary things to say” by the Globe and Mail. They combine opera, theatre, and Taiko in their artistic  practice and also co-lead Amplified Opera, a new initiative which is bringing Tkoronto an “injection of creativity and politics of inclusivity” to the opera community with their recent concert series Amplify highlighting stories of equity-seeking artists. Cover Photo by Janet Timber Cover Art Design by Tania Willems

A look at the music industry and how it's changed over the years; how COVID-19, systemic racism, transphobia, homophobia, discrimination, and intersectionality is affecting artists during revolutionary times of BLM protests and how this may all affect the future of music. Interviews by your host Jordan B. Wright will focus on highlighting BIPOC, two spirit, Queer, LGBTQ+ and voices typically silenced throughout history. Host Jordan B. Wright discusses the history of music; who is recognized, the hays code, lack of representation in the media, courageous conversations, personal experiences, coming out as trans, and living in quarantine during a revolution with special guest Deanna Bickford. Podcast Cover Art by Tania Willems  For more info visit: