This Broken Mixtape

Lexxicon is a dancehall/Afropop artist from Toronto by way of Jamaica and the UK. On his new album, Tropicon Islands, he strays away from his dancehall roots and dives head-first into a rich Afrobeats sound. Guest co-host Amanie Illfated and I talked to Lexxicon about his new album and novel, the third season of Netflix's You, and why Canadian musicians often have to move to another country in order to make it.

Leila Dey is a Toronto R&B singer/songwriter who has shared the stage with Little Simz, K'Naan, and Melanie Fiona.   Her latest EP Detour explores the disintegration of a romantic relationship and its subsequent aftermath.   Guest co-host Amanie Illfated and I talked to Leila about the allegorical nature of her new EP, how the passing of her younger sister impacted her approach to making music, and her adoration for Ms. Lauryn Hill.

Zorana Sadiq wears a lot of hats, including multidisciplinary artist, soprano, actor, and music teacher.   Her latest project, MixTape, is a visceral one-person play that is "part memoir, part scientific inquiry, and part love song to listening."   I talk to Zorana about the art of making a great mixtape, her tenure at Regent Park School of Music where she taught Polaris Prize-nominated Mustafa, and the annoying popularity of Kidz Bop.

Amanie Illfated is a South Sudanese Canadian Afropop/R&B singer/songwriter and model.   By incorporating her past refugee experiences in her music, she touches on themes of empowerment, depression, and self-improvement.   I talk to Amanie about leaving her family in Saskatchewan at 16 to pursue music in Toronto, working through her PTSD and trauma to create meaningful music, and being a closeted Juggalo (an Insane Clown Posse fan).

At the beginning of the pandemic, roller skating culture experienced a resurgence on social media and beyond. However, the recreational activity is more than just another nostalgic phenomenon-gone-viral; there's a rich history of black and brown skating communities that date all the way back to the '70s. Jared and Deejah, aka Rollerouge and Deesh, are two rising talents from Toronto's jam rollerskating scene. I sat down with them to talk about the cultural significance of roller skating in the black community, their unfortunate reality of having to navigate safe spaces, and their preferred soundtrack to jam skating sessions.

Meagan De Lima is A Toronto-based r&b/pop artist that was recently awarded the Top Artist for Social Change in Canada. She has performed at "The Future Series: A Conversation with President Barack Obama, the Invictus Games, Canadian Music Week, and opened for Kehlani. I talked to Meagan about performing for President Obama last year, writing songs about coping with mental health issues, and working with famed rock producer, Bob Ezrin.

Comedians Big Norm and Keith Pedro are like the Filipino counterparts to Method Man and Redman.   As the hosts of the live cannabis comedy show Bare Jokes and members of the hip-hop comedy group Runnin' at the Mouth, their comedy offers hilarious observations about race relations, multiculturalism, and pop culture.   In the second part of our extremely blunted interview, we talk to Big Norm and Keith Pedro about when they first realized they were funny, classic Canadian PSAs ("People think I eat too Many Chocolate Bars"), and who they believed to be the funniest rappers in the game.

Comedians Big Norm and Keith Pedro are like the Filipino counterparts to Method Man and Redman.   As the hosts of the live cannabis comedy show Bare Jokes and members of the hip-hop comedy group Runnin' at the Mouth, their comedy offers hilarious observations about race relations, multiculturalism, and pop culture.   In the first of a two-part blunted interview, I talked to the homies about performing a PG set at a Jewish camp, Keith's trio of new albums, and how aspirations of becoming rappers eventually led them to comedy.

Vince Jamal is a Toronto-based Barbadian R&B/soul singer who is as much influenced by his ancestral island riddims as the classic American soul music he was raised on.   Somewhere in his complicated music DNA, you'll find soul legends like Marvin Gaye and Bill Withers, classic neo-soul ala D'Angelo and Maxwell, the contemporary hip-hop sounds of Anderson Paak, and calypso and soca music.   I talked to Vince about recording an album during a pandemic, the misconceptions of performing on a cruise ship, and his many takeaways from Prince's unparalleled artistry.

Erika Iri5 is a Chicago-based multimedia artist that works with various audio media, such as audiotape, VHS reel, and vinyl.   Over the past 15 years, she's created a countless number of portraits of music icons like Prince, David Bowie, Amy Winehouse, Kurt Cobain, and Madonna.   I talked to Erika about her creative process, making mixtapes as a teenager, and working on a Bruno Mars music video.

Calgary R&B/pop artist Justine Tyrell was named one of Exclaim magazine's "Top 8 Emerging Canadian Artists You Need to Hear".   She recently released her debut EP entitled While You Were Sleeping.   I talk to Justine about Calgary's burgeoning R&B scene, how the music of Amy Winehouse inspired her to find her own voice, and how the title of her EP has more to do with insomnia than the Sandra Bullock rom-com.

R&B artist Seyblu, aka Chelsey Bennett, has spent the majority of the past year writing and recording her new EP.   Entitled the Silk Sessions EP, it is her first major project in more than four years.   I talk to Chelsey about overcoming her recording anxieties at a secluded cabin up north, her favourite dance movies, and how she's been discovering both new and old soul/funk in the last year.

Fion Liu, aka Sad Stab, is a multidisciplinary artist who is best known for their "abjectly adorable" tattoo art.   They set an ambitious goal in 2016 to tattoo 50 touring music acts, which they successfully reached last year.   I talk to Sad Stab about why they prefer using the stick-and-poke method over a tattoo gun, collecting rare vintage records, and their penchant for fixing vintage audio equipment.

Miya Adout is the founder and executive director of Miya Music Therapy.   Along with her fellow music therapists, Miya uses music purposefully within therapeutic relationships to support development, health, and well-being.   We talk to Miya about how a middle school career  aptitude test planted the seed of music therapy, how writing and listening to music helped an elderly man and an autistic teenager, and how Alanis Morrissette inspired her to get into songwriting.

Stacy Darko, aka KÔSA, is a Toronto-based classically-trained R&B/soul artist and producer. Having undergone an early music education at the Regent Park School of Music and the Etobicoke School of the Arts, she continued her studies at the University of British Columbia.   I talk to KÔSA about how RPSM helped to nurture her passion for music; how she grew up on an eclectic diet of classical, top-40 pop, and Afrofuturistic R&B; and her latest EP entitled Tempest Love.

Electro-pop artist Aiko Tomi's music is equally comprised of M.I.A.'s manic hip-hop energy, the lush dream-pop sensibilities of Caroline Polachek, and the undeniable joy of an infectious J-pop hook.   After a long hiatus from music, she's back with a brand new EP entitled For the Love and plenty of more new music on the way.   I talk to Aiko about her new EP, the disconcerting rise in Asian-targeted hate crimes during the pandemic, and her unapologetic bubble tea addiction.  

On March 22, 2016, Malik Izaak Taylor, aka Phife Dawg from A Tribe Called Quest, died at the age of 45 due to complications related to diabetes.   He left a massive void in hip hop music and culture, forever changing the way hip hop sounds, breathes, and lives on.   On S6E06, I talk to Phife's longtime manager, producer, and friend, DJ Rasta Root, about his personal and professional relationship with Phife, the five-year journey of completing Phife's sophomore album, and what we can expect from the upcoming posthumous release.

To quote Nia Long in Love Jones, Kazeem Kuteyi is something of "a Renaissance Black Man". As a DJ, promoter, creative director, photographer, and cultural curator, Kazeem is perhaps best known as the co-founder of youth cultural incubator called New Currency. I talk to Kazeem about the cultural shift that came with moving from Canada to Nigeria during his adolescence, what we can expect from the first issue of New Currency magazine, and launching the Toronto chapter of an international BIPOC birdwatching group.

Rich Kidd is a two-time Juno nominated rapper/producer from Toronto. Over the past 15 years, Rich Kidd has produced tracks for artists like Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Busta Rhymes, Shad, and K-os. We talk to Rich about his legendary production sessions with Kendrick and Jay Electronica, serving as the Recording Arts program leader of The Remix Project, and the pro's and con's of hip-hop producer tags.

Fashion designer Natalya Amres transforms everyday objects like basketballs and duffle bags into custom wearable art. In the past few years, Remixed by Tal has rose from virtual obscurity to partnering with brands like Nike, Adidas Tango, and Kappa. We talk to Natalya about creating custom pieces for Migos, Savannah Ré, and Kennedy Rd; attending a Nike female entrepreneurial event during NBA All-star weekend; and her favourite song remix.

Born in Paris, Chef Romain Avril has trained at some of France's top Michelin Star restaurants. As the former Executive Chef at La Societe Bistro and Lavelle, he was set to open his own restaurant, only to have his plans on hold as the result of the pandemic. We talk to Chef Avril about the ongoing toxicity in restaurant kitchens, discovering Florence and the Machine during their busking days in London's Hyde Park, and his highly-anticipated upcoming vegan cookbook.

The music of R&B artist Kennedy Rd. sounds like Aaliyah on LSD -- a euphoric haze whirlwind laced with honey-dipped nostalgia. Her sophomore EP Still Luv exhibits remarkable intentionality and confidence, making it resoundingly clear that 2021 will be her breakout year. Shelica and I talk to Kennedy about making and releasing new music during the pandemic, the importance of aligning herself with producers over mere beatmakers, and why she is forever indebted to Mary J Blige's Share My World.

Originally hailing from Ottawa, Shelica Miller has been a lifelong music fan.   As the host and producer of the podcast Hi Shelica, she has interviewed dozens of musicians and other creatives.   In this season 5 finale, I talk to Shelica about her joining This Broken Mixtape as the new co-host, being exposed to a range of music by her DJ father, and why she was utterly speechless when she met Snoop Dogg.

Aiza's music seamlessly blends the genres of R&B, Afro-pop, and funk, instilling a sense of unbridled euphoria. The Allan Slaight JUNO Master Class winner is also an accomplished actress with many film and television credits, including the massively popular comedy series, Workin' Moms. Guest co-host Chelsey Bennet and I talk to Aiza about growing up listening to her dad's eclectic mixes spanning from Congolese to Classical music; how the pandemic cancelled her Juno Awards performance but led to her developing a new CBC show with her sister; and the power of music during these isolating times.

It's hard to believe that hip-hop/R&B artist Ro Joaquim wasn't always confident about his vocals. His richly textured voice has a buoyant quality that soars above the atmospheric production of songs like "Touchdown", "Inner Peace", and "Water Fights". Guest co-host Chelsey Bennett (aka Sey Blu) and I talked to Ro about learning how to pivot during the pandemic, the benefits of shooting a music video during lockdown, and his new protest song about the Black Lives Matter movement.

As DJs and promoters, the Gillespie Brothers have thrown some of the best parties in Toronto for nearly two decades. But with the pandemic shutting down all parties for the unforeseen future, Dave and Ray have been forced to pivot like many of us. Together with my former co-host, Jeff Woo, we talk to the Gillespie Brothers about what they've been listening to during COVID, how they organize their vinyl collection, and that infamous night in 2009 when Diplo crashed their house party.

Since quietly opening its doors in the spring of 2011, Poetry Jazz Cafe has become a popular live jazz, funk, and soul venue in the heart of Toronto's Kensington Market. However, like most music venues around the world, Poetry was forced to temporarily close in mid-March to prevent the further spread of COVID-19. And while it was able to resume its indoor service in July, the Ontario government restricted all bars to only patio service shortly after this interview was conducted. I talked to the owner, Sean Pascalle about the struggles of running a live jazz venue, the absence of live music as a result of the pandemic, and the evolving sound of the coolest man who ever lived, Mr. Miles Davis.

Pop Music is an independent record store located in the East Chinatown district of Toronto. Owner Derek Antonio, who was previously the GM of the now-defunct HMV Superstore, offers a less-judgy crate-digging experience compared to some of his competitors. I talked to Derek about adapting to a new business model during the pandemic, building his music collection through Columbia House as a young child, and Record Store Day 2020.

The women-led Toronto band OKAN seamlessly blend their Afro-Cuban roots with jazz, folk, and international flavours. Their music evokes a great deal of passion, so it's rather fitting that their namesake stems from the word for heart in the Afro-Cuban religion of Santeria. I talked to band leaders and real-life couple Elizabeth Rodriguez and Magdelys Savigne about their upcoming sophomore album Espiral, the political turmoil in Cuba, and the trick to keeping their romantic and professional relationships separate.

Minzi Roberta is a woman of many hats, including DJ, promoter, writer, filmmaker, and designer. As the co-founder of the arts and music collective Kuruza, Minzi has thrown some of the hottest parties in the last two years. On S5E03, I talk to Minzi about growing up in Japan as a biracial person, the importance of listening to a playlist in order, and how to be a better ally to the black community.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Ezra Furman has spent more than a decade making honest and intelligent punk rock music. On the heels of soundtracking two seasons of the popular Netflix series Sex Education, she's back with her eighth album entitled Twelve Nudes. We talk to Ezra about the new album's self-assured lyricism, how she recently came out as transgender, and the enormous impact of discovering Lou Reed and The Velvet Underground at 15.

Australian indie rock singer-songwriter Alex Cameron hails from New York by way of Sydney. Though some critics have compared his songwriting and music to Bowie and Nick Cave, Alex himself says he's most influenced by Roy Orbison. We talk to Alex about his third album Miami Memory, his personal and creative relationship with actress Jemima Kirke (Girls), and collaborating with The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers.

project that features lo-fi dream vocals and minimalistic beats. As one-half of indie art-rock duo Lilla Drömland, Pallas Athene explores the theme of man vs machine in an increasingly dystopian world. We talk to Breanna about her new self-titled EP; meeting her musical hero, Massive Attack's 3D; and being the musical black sheep of her family.

After archiving hundreds of Toronto concert flyers on Instagram, Daniel Tate teamed up with music professor and historian Rob Bowman to expand the project into a comprehensive book. Published by Dundurn Press, "The Flyer Vault: 150 Years of Toronto Concert History" is a fascinating exploration of the city's most seminal live music shows. We talk to Daniel and Rob about some of their most memorable concerts, Toronto's dark history of racist minstrel shows, and convincing Rush's Geddy Lee to write the book's foreword.

Toronto lo-fi, hip-hop/punk band M.I.N.D. conjures the sounds of early N.E.R.D., Rage Against The Machine, and the Beastie Boys. Tweens Mazin (vocals), Oscar (drums), and Wolf (keyboard) formed the band four years ago after meeting at an alternative elementary school. We talk to the boys about their disparate musical influences, their debut EP Fire, and how sometimes parents just don't understand.

As the executive director of Regent Park School of Music, the man behind experimental pop project Friendly Rich, and the host/producer of Industry Tactics podcast, Richard Marsella wears many hats. He's set to release his 11th studio album with accompanying music video, which will premiere at Friendly Rich's Indie Arts Festival on November 2nd. We talk to Richard about RPSM students being sampled on the new Taylor Swift album, his DIY approach to music videos, and the hellish monstrosity of seeing Billy Idol live as a young child.

The Awesome Music Project is a Canadian fundraising initiative designed to further research relating to music's profound impact on mental health. Through their new book and a series of events, the nonprofit is spreading awareness on how music can reduce stress, ease depression in the youth, improve the quality of life for dementia patients and even help premature babies grow and develop. We talk to co-founder Rob Carli about AMP's long-term goals, their upcoming book launch, and his work as a film and television composer.

Darby Wheeler is an accomplished television producer and filmmaker whose credits include The Strombo Show and Matty Matheson's Dead Set on Life. His latest project, Hip-Hop Evolution, is an award-winning Netflix docu-series that profiles the history of hip-hop music through in-depth interviews with influential artists. We talk to Darby about assuming the enormous responsibility of telling the story of hip-hop music, why host Shad got nervous while interviewing Q-Tip and KRS-One, and that time in high school when he and his friends drove to Detroit to see a Public Enemy concert.

Turntablist and producer DJ Cosmo started as a scratch DJ in the early 2000s, winning the Halifax DMC Competition, before moving on to become the first Canadian Redbull3style Champ in 2009. As the backup Dj / musical coordinator for rapper Azealia Banks, he has performed at major festivals around the world including Coachella, Glastonbury, and Lollapalooza. Guest co-host Maya Killtron and I talk to DJ Cosmo about his latest EP, what it's like to work with Azealia Banks, and that time he played Karl Lagerfeld's birthday party.

Atlanta's The APX is an electro-funk duo comprised of married couple Dee and Erika Rhodes. The duo is as equally inspired by funk staples like Zapp and The Gap Band as they are by more contemporary electronic acts like Kaytranada and Chromeo. I talk to Dee and Erika about their sophomore album Amplified Experiment, drawing the attention of Teddy Riley and Jody Watley, and how to sustain a successful personal and professional relationship.

Toronto singer-songwriter Charlotte Cornfield combines confessional lyrics with a conversational vocal delivery, reminiscent of icons like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell and Neil Young. Having studied jazz drumming at Concordia University, she is well-versed in a myriad of other instruments, including piano, guitar and French horn. Guest co-host Tara Kannagara and I talk to Charlotte about her latest album being longlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, collaborating with members of Broken Social Scene, and her favourite Kevin Bacon and Jack Nicholson movies.

As an emcee, producer and one-third of hip-hop group The Sorority, Brampton's Haviah Mighty is a force to be reckoned with. Her solo debut record 13th Floor showcases her versatile delivery and flow, raw lyricism, and innovative production chops. Justin spoke to Haviah about her album being shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, experiencing racism while growing up in East Toronto, and the hyper-sexuality of female rappers.

To celebrate the two-year anniversary of This Broken Mixtape, we held a live storytelling event in early July. The event features a talented lineup of musicians, comedians and music industry players, including David Hayman, Tara Kannangara, Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll, Maya Killtron, DJ Cosmo, Rhiannon Archer, Gaurav Sawhney, Chelsey Bennett, and Big Norm. You'll hear stories about how various albums and songs remind our storytellers about growing up, fitting in, and discovering themselves.

Harnessing a true nomadic spirit, DJ/producer Dre Ngozi has always been moved by music spanning countries and cultures around the world. In any given set, you'll hear her spin everything from classic hip-hop and R&B, to island riddims and Afrobeat, to electro and house, and everything in-between. Guest co-host Tara and I talk to Dre about her humble beginnings as a "radio DJ" at the age of nine, opening for Frank Ocean at Wayhome Festival, and practicing and teaching health and wellness -- both in-person and on social media.

On Jeff's final episode, Justin and Jeff discuss the exciting future of This Broken Mixtape, recent concerts and albums they've explored, and the Toronto Raptors' history-making journey to the NBA Finals.

Louis-Philippe Celestin, otherwise known as Lou Phelps, is a Montreal rapper and producer. Hip hop heads first took notice in 2011 when Phelps and his older brother -- producer Kaytranada -- released their first album as The Celestics. Since then, the Haitian-Canadian brothers have gone on to pursue their own solo careers. We talked to Lou about his latest album Love Me, the time Madlib compared Kaytranada to the late J Dilla, and the Montreal hip hop scene.

Singer-songwriter Sasha Sloan was only a few months into her studies at Boston's Berklee College of Music before she signed a publishing deal. After a few years of living in Los Angeles -- writing for some of the biggest pop artists in music -- she decided to focus her energy on her own singing career. We spoke to Sasha about writing for artists like John Legend and Charli XCX, the folk-Americana music her mom raised her on, and getting a case of the butterflies when she performed on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Rodrigo Fernandez-Stoll is man of many hats: comedian, actor, singer, and a self-professed 'Filterhead'. He currently stars in Kim's Convenience and Northern Rescue, and is releasing his first comedy music album this spring. We sat down with Rodrigo to talk about his obsession with Venom, how he's convinced several people he is Adam Duritz of the Counting Crows, and that time in high school when he stayed up all night burning mix-CDs for a crush.

Singer-songwriter Taylor Upsahl, aka UPSAHL, started playing guitar and piano at the tender age of 5. Influenced by a wide range of artists, including The Shins, Spoon, Lorde and Beyonce, she decided to postpone her college plans to move to L.A. to pursue a music career. We sat down with UPSAHL to discuss her new EP Hindsight 20/20, how falling in love with her male gay best friend inspired her song "The Other Team", and the best jams for making out.

Brooklyn indie-pop duo Wet seamlessly blends synthpop, folk, soft rock and '90s R&B sounds into a melancholic gumbo. Their sophomore record, Still Run, builds on their emotional-pop sound with 10 songs that embody an overwhelming sense of loss. We sat down with lead singer-songwriter Kelly Zutrau to talk about how their co-founding member's departure impacted the band's dynamic, how she continues to deal with intense performance anxiety, and how she witnessed a breakup at a rollerskating rink soundtracked to "Unbreak My Heart".

Montreal singer-songwriter Daniela Andrade began performing and posting originals and covers on YouTube a decade ago. With more than 1.7 million YouTube subscribers, she's cultivated an impressive career that includes three EPs and extensive touring around the world. We sat down with Daniela to talk about transitioning from a YouTube singer to a bonafide artist and producer, recruiting luchadores in Mexico for her "Genesis" music video, and Solange's fantastic new album and accompanying film.