Monday, June 25, 2012
Monday, June 11, 2012
Q&A with Tasha The Amazon on NXNE
Toronto artist/producer, Tasha The Amazon has gained a lot of attention with her singles, “Scallywags” and “Let It Go”. The femcee has performed at NXNE the past few years and this year is looking forward to opening up for Action Bronson, Raekwon and Ghostface Killah at Dundas Square on June 17.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY OF PERFORMING WITH RAEKWON AND GHOSTFACE KILLAH AT NXNE? It’s obviously a huge honour to be able to do that. I performed previously with the GZA and The Roots. Wu-Tang is a huge inspiration to me so I’m ticking more and more of those people off the list. Anybody I tell, their mind is blown.
WHAT DOES AN OPPORTUNITY LIKE THAT DO FOR YOUR CAREER? It’s hard to say, because it all depends on who comes out to the show and even something like if it rains and it’s an outdoor show, there’s gonna be less people. It may be harder to hype the crowd but it’s always cool to have that flyer. I think personally, it’ll be great because it’s the middle of the summer — a lot of people come out. I performed at the show last year and there’s always a great response. I can only imagine it’ll be wicked.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN PERFORMANCE WISE TO CATER TO A FESTIVAL CROWD? You have to build on-stage chemistry. I have a couple of my boys that are going to come and be hype-men and do a couple verses of their own. JD Era might be coming to perform with Raekwon and him and I have a song together so maybe we’ll pull out that and do a little collab. Maybe I’ll see if Saukrates is around and wants to do the song that we have going on. Just being able to build your own chemistry on stage, then it doesn’t matter so much if the crowd is dry and into it or not. You just kind of bring them into your world.
HOW DO YOU THINK NXNE WILL AFFECT THE VIBE OF THE CITY? I just find that festivals seem to be more positive than shows. At shows, people come across the border and they bring their bullshit with them sometimes. When we have a festival, there’s a lot of people coming together. Some people are conscious hip-hop, some people are street hip-hop and some people are just fun on the line between pop and everyone puts their shit away for a day or for a week. I think it will be good in this kind of climate, because we need shows that are fun and positive.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT DOES NXNE DO FOR THE CANADIAN MUSIC SCENE? I think it’s an opportunity for us to show in an official way what’s going on. Every time I go anywhere else in the world, everyone is like, “Oh, you’re from Toronto? There are so many cool bands and artists and producers that I hear coming from there.” They’re definitely checking for us, but they’re not necessarily going to come up here on a regular Friday and check out what we have going on. This is an official reason for label heads and booking agents and other artists to get on a plane, buy a wristband and check us out for real. It’s a culmination of everything that we have going on.
Honey Jam Auditions
Ninety-three females ranging in age, culture and experience level, with performances of every genre, from all over Ontario, auditioned for a chance to be in the Honey Jam showcase at The Mod Club last Sunday. The showcase, which has run 17 years strong, supports female talent and has been instrumental in the early careers of artists such as Jully Black, Nelly Furtado and Michie Mee.
In front of two rows of music industry professional judges such as Rich Kidd, Boi-1da and Honey Jam founder, Ebonnie Rowe, and a full club of contenders and supporters, each artist had 60 seconds to sing her heart out in order to earn a spot in the showcase on August 16.
Some ladies accompanied themselves with instruments, some danced along to soundtracks, while others performed a capella numbers. Whether they were singing, or rapping, the immense talent in the building was undeniable as shivers were sent down the spines of the people in the packed club, who quietly watched each performer take to the stage, one by one.
Twenty-five-year-old singer/songwriter Stacey who performed at Honey Jam five years ago with a band came out to audition as a solo artist this year, performing the 4 Non Blonde track “What’s Up”, while accompanying herself on guitar. Her confidence and stage presence was evident, yet she says that even experienced artists such as herself get nervous during the audition process, as it all comes down to that one minute on stage to show everyone what she has to offer. “As long as I’ve been performing, I always get a little freaked out when I get up there. My heart goes fast, but it was over really fast. All of a sudden, I was done,” she laughs.
Even though the audition process can be stressful, Stacey explains the surprising support of all the other talented females made it easier. “All the ladies here today have been so supportive of each other. There’s no animosity, there’s no diva-ness — everyone is just really cool here today. It’s been a fun day.”
Stacey’s nerves had left after her piece and she was able to enjoy the rest of the afternoon by staying to watch the remainder of the auditions. She sat back down on the same seat she sat before, but this time as a supporter rather than a contender.
New singer/songwriter Diia, whose first time auditioning was at Honey Jam, says that the audition process is quite different from any other type of performance for an artist and can be a lot more nerve-wracking.
“It’s different, because there are other competitors and there’s judges and there is a difference between playing your own gig and having your family and friends supporting you and fans supporting you, but nonetheless it’s a great experience,” she says smiling.
No feedback was given from the judges after the performances, just a small round of applause from those in attendance after each audition. The ladies could only reflect on their own opinions of how they did in anticipation to hear back from the showcase organizers in the weeks to come to find out if they have been chosen to be a part of this year’s Honey Jam.
Photos By: Fitzroy Facey
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Stylus Awards
The 7th annual Stylus Awards was presented at the Danforth Music Hall last Monday to a room full of DJs, artists, producers, industry heads and supports of the culture who came to Toronto from all over the country to celebrate the talent and accomplishments of the DJ through the premiere event recognizing the work of the DJ in Canada.
During an energetic night, hosted by comedian TRIXX, the talent of the Canadian music industry was undeniable with enthusiastic performances by The Airplane Boys, who opened up the show, and A-Game, as well as soulful pieces by singers Kreesha Turner and Dru.
Highlights of the night included a tribute to the late MCA from the Beastie Boys by Canada’s oldest b-boy crew, SUPERNATURALZ Crew, and a performance melody by the legend, Michee Mee, who was inducted into the Stylus Hall Of Fame.
The big winner of the night was The Weeknd who received awards such as Canadian R&B Single of the Year and Artist Mixtape of the Year. Breakthrough DJ of the Year was awarded to Toronto’s Charlie Brown, Keith Dean won the award for Montreal DJ of the year and Lissa Monet became the first-ever female to take home the award for Toronto DJ of the Year.
DJ James Redi, who five years ago was a volunteer at the Stylus Awards, was nominated for Breakthrough DJ of the Year at this year’s awards. Although he didn’t take home the award, Redi said what the nomination of a Stylus Award stands for is an even greater gift than winning the actual award. “Canada has the best DJs in the world and to be recognized among them is truly one of the greatest joys a DJ can ask for. It’s less about the actual award itself and more about the recognition among peers who are the greatest in the world,” he says.
Events like the Stylus Awards help make an imprint of the Canadian music industry on an international scale, says Redi. “Toronto and Canada is very much on the come-up right now and having things like Stylus it’s just [saying] hey, we are here and we recognize the people that are doing good and it builds that sense of community.”
This year, for the first time, Stylus showcased videotaped rap ciphers throughout the evening which involved emcees from Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto with artists such as Rich Kidd, Adam Bomb, Sese and Blake Carrington to further acknowledge Canadian talent and the relationship between the artist and the DJ.
Toronto rapper/producer Blake Carrington who presented the award for Breakthrough DJ of the Year and participated in the cipher series with a memorable verse, spitting while holding his baby daughter, says that artists such as himself must pay homage to the DJ for breaking records and getting music heard. He adds an opportunity such as the Stylus Awards for artists, producers and DJs to network is just a plus. “DJs break records and to have a DJ award show is genius, especially if you’re an artist that’s invited.”
Talib Kweli Concert Review
The Sound Academy was a packed sea of hip-hop heads ready to witness the presence of hip-hop excellence as Talib Kweli hit up Toronto on his Prisoner of Consciousness tour last Friday. Toronto’s own 4th Pyramid and Seattle emcee J. Pinder opened the show to an energetic crowd who braved the rain to take in the lyrical talent of three artists who are bringing it back to the roots of old school hip-hop.
Brooklyn lyricist and former Black Star member, Talib Kweli, jumped on the stage with intense confidence, rocking a jean jacket, NY fitted and frames, yet showed his humble personality by shouting out his opening acts, which most headlining artists never take the time to acknowledge.
With a live band, he started off the show with his own rendition of “No Sleep Till Brooklyn” and dedicated the concert to the late MCA. Even as a hip-hop legend himself, Kweli paid homage to the greats of the game that we have lost, dedicating songs to Pimp C and rocking an Andy Warhol T of Ol’ Dirty Bastard.
With the announcement of his upcoming album, Prisoner of Consciousness, Kweli took the opportunity to debut a single off the project, which is yet to have a release date, and spit over DJ Khaled’s “I’m On One”. All attention was on Kweli as he performed solo tracks such as “Strangers (Paranoid)” off of Reflection Eternal, “Lonely People” off of The Beautiful Mix CD, “Down For The Count” and “Gutter Rainbows” off of Gutter Rainbows, as well as Black Star joints such as “Another World” and “Definition”, which had the crowd screaming for more through the smoky haze. If concert goers weren’t high off the music and energy, just breathing in the air at the Sound Academy was enough to do the trick.
An army of hundreds of hip-hop heads bobbed their heads in unison and rapped along with the emcee who has impacted the game with his stimulating messages and inspiring mindset. Kweli had nothing to prove on the stage and no effort was needed to get the crowd hype. His OG stage presence, powerful voice and technical thought-provoking tracks were all the crowd needed to jump, dance, sing and rap along to every word and focus on every move. It was refreshing to see that much love and positive energy at a hip-hop show in Toronto, especially with the violence that took place at the same venue just a month prior.
