003: Johann

Soooo it’s been a while since my last post here. I guess I could blame the pandemic that hit back in March of 2020 but that’s too easy. Besides, I’m still out here learning and growing everyday. I guess I just got too lazy or too busy with real life to keep up-to-date with this blog. Like I said, I’m still OUT HERE paying these bills, learning to save for the future, and doing my best to keep the creative juices flowing. So that being said, below you’ll see a music video from a Toronto-born singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Johann. Over the last year and a bit I’ve been working with Johann to try and elevate him as a new talent emerging out of Toronto.

This project in particular really reignited my passion for creativity and art in general. I was fortunate enough to take part in my first real music video, from a genuinely hands on position. From pre-production all the way through 2-days of filming. Even assisting through post-production and planning the roll out. Not kidding, we even wrote a PRESS RELEASE which we shopped out to a list of media outlets, and we were honoured to be picked up by the good folk at SideDoor Magazine. By “we” I mean Johann and the team we formed which we’ve been calling Homebody.co.

Together, we’ve released Johann’s first EP on Spotify, I was asked to design his website and we continue to work on his future as a musician. It’s been really fun to be pushed in so many new directions creatively and the best part is we’re just getting started. Stay tuned for new music and more videos ;)

new.wav Toronto

new.wav is a collective of DJ’s and tastemakers who are either spinning or hosting the most sought out events in Toronto.

‘Champion Sound’ was an NBA playoff themed event, which was also their 4-year celebration held on April 13, 2019 @ Jam Factory.

I was honoured to be a part of the event by filming and editing the night’s re-cap along side Gerald Lising of Rite.co

002: Jorja Smith

Incase you were wondering: no, Jorja Smith is not from Toronto. This beautiful voice is a product of the U.K. and is probably why you (and most of north America) have never heard of her. She's actually a big reason I started this blog in the first place. I've always trusted my taste in music and sort of have a track record of being able to spot a star before they glow up. In this case, when I first saw Jorja on BBC Radio 1 do a mash up of Luther Vandross - Never too much and Drake ft. Rihanna - Too good... bruuuh... I was blown away!  Shoutout to my mate from London, Ricky, who played me that video back in 2016. He seriously put me on some greatness. Everything about that video is fire to me. Her taste in music, the oversized Hugo Boss sweater, her jazzy voice and the amazing band! Not to mention she sang Drake lyrics from arguably his biggest banger of 2016. I knew right away that she was one to watch.

If you're unfamiliar with her or just as in love as I am this article might help you get to know who she is.

Performing Get Together feat. Drake

@ Velvet Underground on August 24, 2017

I think she has a very special connection to Toronto, thanks to the 6ix god himself who featured her on his album More Life. The song itself is unlike anything Drake has ever done before, an afro-infused ballad/club banger, and he pretty much lets Jorja Smith sing the whole song by herself. I was lucky enough to be at her concert back in August when Drake made a surprise appearance to perform Get It Together along side Jorja. This year she's set to release her first full-length album sometime in June. Luckily, she's got another show in Toronto on May 5th and 6th at The Opera House and I already got my tickets, did you?

Earlier today Jorja Smith released the official video for her latest single featuring Stormzy. Peep the video down below...

Listen to 'Let Me Down (feat. Stormzy)' - http://listen.platoon.ai/let-me-down Track credits: Performed by Jorja Smith - https://www.instagram.com/jorjasmith_ Stormzy - https://www.instagram.com/stormzyofficial Produced by Ed Thomas - https://twitter.com/edthomasartist Paul Epworth - https://twitter.com/paulepworth Mixed & Mastered by Engine-Earz - https://twitter.com/EngineEarz For tickets, vinyl, merch etc., check out Jorja's webstore - https://jorja.tmstor.es http://vevo.ly/tqvZn4

001 : SEAN LEON

Parkdale's own Sean Leon started the new year off by releasing 'LEAVING SOON...' which he prefers to call an Episode, rather than your average EP. 

Before we get into that new new let's take a step back in time - to when I first heard the Toronto rapper. It was 2015 and a young Daniel Caesar had released his 2nd EP by the name of 'Pilgrim's Paradise'. On it, the song Paradise, an amazing collaboration featuring fellow Torontonians Badbadnotgood and Sean Leon himself. I was already a fan of Badbad from their jazz remixes of Tyler the Creator but Leon was a rapper I was (at the time) unfamiliar with. Even though I had no clue who he was I loved his verse. He sounded like a thug who just came out of church. In one verse he somehow managed to talk about being a father, revin' engines, sex on a Saturday, missing church on a Sunday, and more. He was introspective in the coolest way possible. Bottom line: He had BARS. 

"Do you wanna be a father? Or do you want to take it farther? Leave the woman that you'd break your heart for, at the altar... "

[Fast forward to] January 1st 2018, only 32 days after releasing his album CCWMTT, Leon proves that he is one of the hardest working rappers in the game. What I love about this EP and his music in general is his ability to pack each song with it's own individual story, full of smooth melodies, interesting instrumentals, and bars for days. Another reason I'm a huge fan of his unique style of music is his ability to really create pictures and almost movies in your head. Don't believe me? Just listen to Parkdale Cartel Freestyle II  in your car with your eyes closed. 

So if you've been sleeping on Sean Leon, here's my advice: it's 2018 my guy... it's about time you WAKE UP!

Listen to LEAVING SOON... via soundcloud below