Soundbattle Royale is doing exactly what they said they would do and bringing light to some of the city’s most talented, yet under-discovered beat makers.  Round 2 winner Memorecks is now added to the line up of who will battle it out for $1500 cash!! You could join him: ENTER TODAY!  Submissions can be made via www.soundbattleroyale.com and the deadline for submissions is August 3rd.  Can YOU flip it?

This Friday July 16^th at  Augusta House, another 8 of the city’s dopest beatmakers will take it to the stage to flip, cut, mix, chop, and do whatever it takes to win $1500 cash and the title of Toronto’s hottest producer.  The never done before, live production event Sound Battle Royal, kicked off their 5 part series last month, providing Toronto and it’s talent a new platform for appreciating a very important aspect of the production process: CREATIVITY!  And who better to judge his fellow beatmakers on how to make it hot (literally!!), than T-Dot’s own Rico Suave on the boards, Rich Kidd.  Producing for some of hip hop biggest talents such as Drake, Frank and Dank, Ill Bill and more, Rich knows a thing or 2 about making music for the masses and shares this knowledge with up and comers in the production game.

Full interview after the jump!

A BIG congrats to Melanie Fiona for winning ‘rnb single of the year’ at this year’s Stylus Awards !!  The grammy nominated soulstress was missed this weekend as she is currently on tour with Alicia Keys in Europe, but that doesn’t stop this Scarborough native from repping T. Dot !!  This Monday, June 7th catch her at the Invest+Empower=Achieve event, a celebration of Toronto youth and neighbourhoods.

This event is FREE!! and will include a performance by spoken word artist P-Air.

Details after the jump!

Date: Monday, June 7
Time: 6 p.m. (event will take place from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.)
Location: Metro Square, behind Metro Hall, 55 John St.
Refreshments will be served

The public is invited to take part in this community event, which celebrates the successful conclusion of the Mayor’s Advisory Panel on making a Safe City Safer.

The event will showcase the achievements of the many programs, investments and individuals that have contributed to community safety since the inception of the panel in April 2004. This free event will also feature a live DJ, talented Hip Hop and R’n'B artists, breakdancers, spoken word, live mural painting, community voices and an on-site social media team.

Melanie Fiona, a Toronto artist, has roots in the Jane and Finch community. She actively mentors young people in the Remix Project – an arts, cultural and life skills incubator for youth that was initiated through the Mayor’s Advisory Panel. The Remix Project is an active member of the panel.

More information is available at http://www.toronto.ca/nan.

Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America. Toronto has won numerous awards for quality, innovation and efficiency in delivering public services. Toronto’s government is dedicated to prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents. For information about non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Media contacts:
Shane Gerard, Senior Coordinator, Promotions and Communications, 416-397-5711 or 647-269-6428, sgerard@toronto.ca
Cher Jones, Senior Coordinator, Promotions and Communications, 416-392-5349, cjones5@toronto.ca

You’ve never seen a contest like this before.  T-Dot producers are challenged to take their skill from the basement to the stage for a chance to wear the crown of Toronto’s hottest producer and $1500 cash!

Deadline June 1st.

Check out www.soundbattleroyale.com for more deets!

Check out a full spectrum of the city’s young talent, panels by industry professionals and eats…all FREE!!! Presented by ArtReach Toronto: the Youth Arts Showcase happens TODAY at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario), 317 Dundas St West.

Hosted by Big Norm!!

Featuring panelists:
Weyni Mengesha
Che Kothari
David “Click” Cox
Libydo
Syrus Marcus Ware
Jesse Ohtake
and the Bossy Girls*

Full line up after the jump!

Show starts at 5pm SHARP!!

Featuring music, dance, visual arts, theatre, spoken word, films, photography, graphic design and more by ArtReach funded projects and artists including:

Lost Lyrics ft. Rich Kidd & Obie
Blitz (Schools Without Borders)
Baby Boyz
Beatz 2 da Streetz
UrbanArts
Kapisanan Phillipine Centre
Nomanzland
IMPACT
People Project
TSZ
ReVeAL Dance Creation
Royalz
Manifesto
Travis Blackman
Project Building Blocks
Elevated Grounds
EGR
SEYA
NISE Clothing
Arts in my Neighbourhood
7th Generation Image Makers
Asian Arts Freedom School
Domanique Grant
Mary Dytyniak
Jae Thou
Zanette Singh
Elle Alconcel
Krystel Pasignasigna
Kristina Guison
Highclass

….and more!

***

ArtReach Toronto is a program designed to support arts initiatives that engage youth who have experienced exclusion in under-served areas of Toronto. ArtReach Toronto is made up of partners from all three levels of government and many funding organizations.  For more information, please visit our website: www.artreachtoronto.ca.

This year, Toronto’s long standing institution for promoting female talent “Honey Jam” turns 15! Auditions for the August 15th Showcase will take place Sunday June 13th at the Mod Club, 722 College Street.

After many years of providing a platform for female vocalists to gain local and international exposure, Phem Phat Productions continues to support women in the music industry by going beyond the stage. Honey Jam finalists will get industry insight from international recording artists, as well vocal training and development support through artist workshops.  The event also offers an opportunity for people interested in getting into the music scene a great chance to network and build with the many professionals who have been involved with the event over the past 15 years.

For more information or to volunteer, email: honeyjaminfo@gmail.com

Official press release after the jump!

HONEY JAM

NATIONAL TALENT SEARCH
For Immediate Release
May, 2010

Toronto – Honey Jam, produced by PhemPhat Entertainment Group, is the longest running all-female talent showcase in Canada and the search is on for this year’s line up of undiscovered talent!

While the live auditions are in Toronto, THIS IS A NATIONAL SEARCH. Artists unable to make the audition on Sunday June 13 at The Mod Club @ 722 College Street, can email a link to one of their live performances, even if it’s in their basement! All of the details are on www.honeyjam.com

Please note, there is no charge to audition, but audition spectators will be charged $5 at the door.

Judges include vocal coach Elaine Overholt who worked with actors in the Oscar award-winning film Chicago. The panel will also include reps from A&R departments, radio, music media, artist funding bodies, producers, managers and artists.

Honey Jam, which celebrates their 15th anniversary this year, has delivered one of the summer’s hottest shows featuring some of the electrifying live performances. Whether hip hop, R&B, rock, pop, jazz, soul, country, classical, dancehall – talented female vocalists representing all musical genres can take part.

Artists chosen to perform at this year’s showcase, which will take place on Sunday, August 15 will be announced at the media launch in July. They will have the opportunity to attend a free artist workshop sponsored by PhemPhat and the Harris Institute for the Arts to give them some insight into the industry in keeping with PhemPhat’s mandate to educate and mentor, as well as give exposure to up and coming female artists.

To help fund the show and workshop, a fundraising raffle will be held over the summer. Tickets are $20 and prizes include a 1 week hotel stay at Amaryllis Beach Resort in Barbados.

For info on the history of the Honey Jam and more details about the auditions and showcase, please check out the following websites:

www.honeyjam.com
www.myspace.com/honeyjam
www.twitter.com/thehoneyjam
Facebook: HONEY JAM

Sponsors include Slaight Communications Inc., Nelstar Entertainment, TD Bank, Factor, Yamaha Canada Music, MuchMusic, VerveGirl Magazine, the New FLOW 93.5, Exlaim.ca, Universal Music Canada, The Canadian Independent Recording Artists Association, Ontario Arts Council, the SOCAN Foundation, Taylor Mitsopulos Klein Oballa, Canadian Musician and World Vision.

Questions or inquiries can be directed to honeyjaminfo@gmail.com

“As an artist you still need to know about the business side of things to be successful.” says Junia-T, Toronto MC, producer, businessman and big brother to so much young talent in this city.  “Since I was 15 years old (spitting in our school cafeteria ‘Cafrica’) I was observing and getting mentored by my crew SMC out in Sauga”.

From building schools in India to defining success for himself over 10 years of taking in the GTA music scene, Junia has paid close attention to his fellow scene makers and learnt from some of Toronto’s dopest promoters and artists on how to develop a versatile career.  “I essentially started out as a water-boy.  I was too young to get into shows my crew was performing at so my boys brought me in as the dude with the drinks.  They took me everywhere.  I learned a lot of what I know now from those days”. Since then Junia has continued repping his west side crews Ridgeway and Hustle & Flip, at the same time building up his repertoire downtown and in each corner of the City.

Full interview after the jump!

Photos: Danielle Da Silva www.danielledasilva.com
Space: Czehoski’s, 678 Queen Street West www.czehoski.com

Junia is also one half of rap duo ‘Smash Brovaz” made up of himself and Crook.  Throughout the years, each has grown into their lyrical style and are ready to take their music to another level pushing out various video and audio releases this year.  On the group side, Smash Brovaz is putting out another album this year and hoping to throw down another successful Boom Box Saints event, which has consistently rammed spots over the past few years.  On a solo tip, Junia is putting out a self produced tribute to 90’s beats.  “A lot of people don’t know I make beats, but I produced the first Smash Brovaz album”.  The new rnb inspired album will feature the sweet sounds of Toronto up and coming soul Diva (shes sweet as pie though) T. Ana Cole and Ishe from Cali.  All this to say Junia is a pretty busy guy and he’s been chopping it up since his preschool days.

I heard you had a pretty well connected reading buddy in kindergarten.  Did he inspire your music career?
AH! You mean Dave Guenette! Yes I was lucky to have a connect reading buddy. He actually indirectly inspired me to do music through what he read to me. He lived down the street, and I didn’t realize he was in the music scene until my older cousin brought home a copy of the first “Tumi And The Volume” CD. Shortly after Crook and I released our first LP, I was reunited with Dave at Alto Basso on a Monday night. I gave him a copy of our record, and since then he has always supported the movements.

Who are the people in the Toronto music scene that have supported your development as an artist?
Wow, there are many…but to mention a few…I’d have to start with Drex & Gavin from The Remix Project. Before there was Remix, there was a studio in the lakeshore area called “Inner City Visions” where myself and Crook learned a lot of our foundation skills in the studio, and met a lot of the people we still work closely with today. For example, Bryan “Be” Espiritu did the artwork for our first LP, Big Pops (Northern Profit) and I also was given an opportunity to go to Cuba through ICV.

Outside of ICV, I.James.Jones also influenced my development a lot. When Crook went to Australia to live for a year, I.James kept a brova sharp through building a lot of music with me during that year, and keeping me on a stage performing. While I was learning the ropes with I.James, I was re-introduced to DJ NaNa through the Good Music Party, which I ended up hosting with I.James . Through the Good Music Party, Nana decided to add me to his movement, and has continually kept be busy and challenged with new opportunities.

And Finally, my home teams…Hustle & Flip Ent, and Ridgeway Ent. Having people like Rich Kidd, Northern Profit, Kemikal and a business minds like Murdock, Addy & Courtney in your circle, you can do nothing but get stronger, and more wise.

You are also a part of rap duo Smash Brovaz.  Who else is part of that crew and what are your upcoming releases?

The crew consists of Crook and myself. We’ve been a team since 2005, and haven’t stopped banging em joints. After we released our EP last year, we decided to take what we’ve learned over the years, and put them into practice for 2010. We’re releasing a full length project supported by videos and all that good stuff. This time around we’re working with all of the people in the city we’ve always wanted to link up with.  From producers, emcees even visual artists. Gonna be a good year…..yuh zee it!

When did you guys start getting commercial play?
Around May last year. We’ve always had the college DJs supporting us, but didn’t really know how to get the music to the next level. After we attended the Stylus awards, we linked up with Ty & Arcee, then the rotations began. BAM! Phat shouts to Real Freqs & OTA LIVE for supporting Smash Brovaz indeed!

Not only do you rap, but I heard you make some sick beats.  Who have you produced for and what new production projects are you working on?
Im glad you’re asking me this question.lol. I’ve been out here for a while, and many heads still don’t know I produce!! I produced 22 tracks on the first Smash Brovaz record, and put out a solo mixtape where I did most of the production too! hahaha. Anyhow, I’ve been producing for I.James.Jones, T Ana Cole, PG, Kofi Kain, Roshin, Rayhaan & Ishe from Cali. As far as projects, I’m looking forward to my R&B compilation. It’s currently untitled, but keep your eyes open for it! It’s gonna be a blast to the past!

I know you have been a part of the REMIX movement.  What other projects are you working on and why do you feel it is important to work with youth?

I’m currently working with a non-profit group called ‘Gettin’ Schooled’ which is raising funds to build schools in India for Dalit children. I first started building on this project when my good friend Danielle Da Silva came back from India, and was inspired to be a part of the change needed over there. At the time I had already worked with “Turning The Tables” through Schools Without Borders, and had also mentored at “Artistic Effusion” and was experienced enough to effectively support her.

They say children are the future, and being an older brother has truly proved that to me. My brothers look up to me, and my influence does cause an effect. Once I realized that, I started to take my power of influence seriously and haven’t stopped helping the youth ever since.

How can we support your project in India.
If you want to support the project, keep up with the website igetschooled.org . Also, you can join the group on facebook. Keep you’re eyes open, they’re will always be opportunities to support!

Why Czehoski’s?
Czehoski’s has been supporting that quality hip-hop for a minute now. The Beat Lounge has been there for a while, and they’ve had a solid Sunday night with my favorite DJs! Toronto is lucky to have a spot where there’s a dope patio, and they play classic music. Can’t go wrong with that combo! Also Dj NaNa & I will be doing a new friday night weekly there. So come through and see what I mean.

Check out Czehoski’s for yourself.  Every Friday Junia, DJ Nana and the likes of Mensa and L’Oquenz hold it down.  It’s a Party…TONIGHT!!!!!

www.twitter.com/deejayNaNa: http://www.twitter.com/deejayNaNa
facebook: Deejay NaNa
www.myspace.com/deejaynana: http://www.myspace.com/deejaynana
www.epresskitz.com/djNaNa: http://www.epresskitz.com/djNaNa

Full interview after the jump!

Photos: Kevin Robert Fong www.copymyrecords.com
Space: Rivoli, 334 Queen Street W. www.rivoli.ca

After two hours of spilling my guts to someone I hardly even knew, but felt like I had known for years, I realized where Tanika’s inspiration comes from.  This woman really knows a thing or two about love’s ups and downs and silly happy wild’s.  And it’s not just her own experiences that tell the vivid and core shaking stories we have heard on “Think of you” and “Dancing with your Ghost”.  Tanika has definitely come up with some strong women who know a thing or two about soul.  Managed by the multi-talented community educator, Deejay L’Oqenz and back up singer for her dear friend Zaki Ibrahim, Tanika has travelled the world singing her heart out and speaking on life situations that all of us can relate to.  It’s almost surprising when she admits that she never meant to be a singer and actually started out as a dancer with a keen eye for fashion.  After meeting up with Zaki through a mutual friend and kick-starting their all girl group ‘Xavia Zen’ back in Vancouver, it was obvious to both herself and Zaki that there was a future for Mz. Chawls in singing.  And sing she did.  Although Toronto has been it’s usual sleepy self when catching on to the immense talent we have here, Tanika has already toured the world with groups like Bedouin Soundclash and shared the stage with the Roots, Estelle, Erykah Badu and more.

So most people know you from the work you have done with Zaki Ibrahim. How did you get linked up with her?

I met Zaki through a mutual friend while living in Vancouver. Basically, the day we met we were inseparable! We had so many similarities from our choice of music to humor and style. We’ve performed so many shows together I don’t even know where to begin..The Roots, Erykah Badu, Mishka and Platinum Pied Pipers just to name a few…

You mentioned that you were more into dancing than singing. When did you start singing seriously? What were your influences?

Well, I’ve always sang around the house and at talent shows in school but I never thought to pursue it as a career. I thought I was going to be a stand-up comedian! Seriously! My friends always told me to be an actress or do voice- overs because I was always so animated! My father was a huge influence. He played a lot of Jazz and R&B in the house growing up…Quincy Jones, Bob James, Spyro, Gyra, Earth Wind and Fire, and he would make us sit down and listen to riffs that were played or notes that singers made you know. He’d wanted my brothers and I to enjoy the music as much as he had.

You have a very original style that’s reminiscent of 50’s and 60’s Harlem. What inspires your look?

Ella Fitzgerald, Dorothy Dandridge and Billie Holiday..Such passionate music was made during turmoil in their personal lives. I’d like to assume it was love and heartache. Ultimately, their voices, lyrics and the classy style in which they presented themselves.

That’s my inspiration.

Canada is still catching up to you Mz. Chawls! What have been your favorite international spots when touring and where would you like to go next?

Hmm..I think my favorite spots to tour were South Africa and Belgium. I would LOVE to see the world of course, but Asia..I’d like to experience for sure!!

Shoot for the stars!! *insert signature eye twinkle here*

Who are other Canadian artists you would like to work with?

SAUKRATES, I.JAMES JONES (Dope Toronto MC), Omar Khan (The Hastings Set Vancouver), Styrofoam Ones, Emma-Lee Dee, Glenn Lewis, Sarah Shafey…Should I keep going or…..

Whats next for Tanika Charles?

EP Release party May 8th @ Revival first of all… and I’m actually working on my album as we speak!

Why Rivoli?

My very first live show was at Rivoli! For a ‘Good People Party’ in 2007/08..Remember those? Such a great response considering I was new to the city.

So many great hip-hop shows have happened and continue to happen there!

Such fond memories….

Last words?

Well, this is what my dad says to me EVERYTIME we finish speaking on the phone..I’d think this is fitting for last words..haha

“Tanik, Drink yuh Milk ,Take yuh Vitamins, Doh smoke and Doh drink, ok?”(spoken in a thick Trini accent)

“OK Dad.”

Listen to your parents! They are wise.

Tanika’s pops isn’t the only wise one….Take in some Mz. Chawlz’ soul shaking wisdom tomorrow night at Revival, 783 College Street!!

SATURDAY MAY 8th, 2010
The Main Ingredient @ Revival Night Club
783 College St. (at Shaw)

MZ.CHAWLS EP RELEASE CONCERT

w/ Special Guest Deejay
DJ L’OQENZ (DOUBLE DRAGON)

feat. Resident Deejays
AGILE (MORE)
SEAN SAX (SOUL ON ICE/CHUUNE)

Hosted By
WAN LUV

and in the STONE LOUNGE…

THE SIDE DISH

FEATURES
SPANKDELICIOUS (DOWN ONE) REUNION

FEATURING…
DJ ROYALE (GRAND GROOVE/HEAVY ROTATION)
BIG PHILLY (SOLE PURPOSE/HIP HOP LOVE)

COST: $15 CONCERT+PARTY l $10 CONCERT ONLY l $10 PARTY ONLY
REDUCED GUESTLIST RSVP
DOORS OPEN AT 10PM | 19+EVENT

When you experience Brendan Philip you know you are encountering an old soul.  A backbone of 88 Days, he is quiet and reserved with a lot to say.  Calm and serene, his music talks about young love and trying to navigate life. His sound is heavy with sentiment, but light footed.  It reminds me how confusing and torturous love is. It also reminds me of how much I like being there.  You’d say he has the sound of a folk singer with his guitar but Brendan Phillip started out as an MC, kicking rhymes in hallways back in his high school days…

Full interview after the jump!

Photos: Kevin Robert Fong www.copymyrecords.com
Space: Soundscapes www.soundscapes.com

So I hear you started out as an MC, when did you start rapping?

I started rapping at around 14 or 15…well it was more like really bad spoken word. I didn’t really have a concept of stanzas or creating lines with the right amount of words so that each rhyme lined up nice. It was just bad long winded sentiments mostly, or just trying to create something clever or impressive, as most rap music exists today. But it wasn’t all bad, I loved the fact that I got better through freestyling and just being in the moment I remember feeling really good about myself, no matter what I think it looks like in hindsight, I really still do have fun rapping by myself when a beat comes on my ipod on shuffle.

Who were your influences back then?

I really liked Jay-Z and Nas, at some point I was into DMX and Ja Rule, a lot of the Def Jam artists. But on occasion I would dabble in Rakim or Beastie Boys; Dr. Dre’s Chronic 2001 was one of my favorites, I managed to burn a hole in it from playing it so much. I liked Eminem, Snoop just about anything that was maintstream from like 92/93 to 2001 or 2002.

What led you to picking up a guitar and singing about Mountains and girls..?

Well my writing began talking about girls, as a young man that was a focus, impressing a girl…I don’t know that I cared to be in love or anything of that nature, I just wanted a girl. As far as guitars came in the picture, that was influenced by some good people who I was spending a lot of time with, primarily some brothers of mine, Grant and AHI (pronounced “I”), a lot of years spent with those fellas who constantly reminded me that it was ok to just be me and work hard to be the best me possible. Great experiences there! So I bought a guitar and was learning through different folks, one cat in particular was named Ricardo, who I built a lot of things with. As far as mountains go, I don’t know they’re cool…they have their own stories to tell, can’t say anything too deep about them.

How is having a son effected your music career?

Having a child came along way after I started considering myself a musician or songwriter or whatever. So not a whole lot as far as the content of the art, but as far as taking the art seriously, its made reality a very stark experience, one where I feel like anything I go through with I should be really sure about, because I don’t want to be a miserable person based of feeling like I had to sit at a desk for him to have a good life. I feel like the more I keep focus on music and art, and the more that I am fulfilled by my ability to follow through with it, I can then relate something clearer to him that I can genuinely and cliché-dly say “Boy you can be anything you want to be just make sure it makes you happy”.

Who would you like to collaborate with in the future?

In the future I would like to collaborate with KJ more, we originally along with some other kids, started learning about recording and writing and all those things, but its been a while since we just sat around and built something. I mean I used to get on my bike rain or shine and show up to his crib just so we could work on songs. Most of them were just dubs, but what a great exercise it was. Nowadays we have actually become like brothers, so we talk about what we’re doing and such but we haven’t talked about doing something together in a while. I know it would be fun and really good, we have both come along way in the 7 or 8 or 9 years we have known each other

The 88 Days collective has taken a really unique approach to addressing the lack of opportunities and support that is sometimes found in Toronto. What do you hope to achieve with the collective?

I think we’ve achieved what we wanted. People always want more cus our eyes are too damn big BUT, all of us have achieved creating and participating in a platform where we can share our art. I will say though this is a personal sentiment, I haven’t said this too anyone else but I feel we got what we needed as far as building the confidence to want something and then make it happen and be pleased with the results. It’s a beautiful thing, but yet and still we have our eyes still set on our own goals. We all want different things from the art we put out in the world and that in of itself is a personal 88 day journey that we can all support each other in but will still probably have to walk “alone” and figure it all out as well.

What is your dream performance/stage/country?

For some reason I really just wanna be in Paris, I don’t know what it looks like never even been on that side of the world, but it feels like there is something there.

How do you feel about your style?

Well I’m a pretty big scardy cat…When I began doing songs on guitar all that stupid ego of mine could think was, “is anyone gonna like this???” As I shifted to more beat based music again, like the stuff on Sex Symbols & Love Conspiracies, I began to get more comfortable about it. But what was also cool is that due to the fact I recorded most of it by myself with no one in sight, I got a chance to fall pretty deep into the work where I didn’t have a voice in my head that I could hear except the one I was writing from. There was no silly self criticism in the process, maybe upon reviewing the tracks, but I was in love with them, I was really happy about the flow of things and just the confidence and the ideas, it was great. Now I feel like I have found a good balance between an “organic” and “electric” feel, I think its perfect for performances, to be able to present the music in various ways because its not all created in one format.

What are upcoming projects/releases?

My upcoming project is called Blood & Dust. Its really about my philosophies I suppose. Ones that I have learned from people along the way and lessons that only I had to face and how I had to deal with it and what I learned from it. I’m taking my time with this one, the last release, “Song of Songs” felt a bit rushed for me and as a result I don’t enjoy it the same way I enjoy “SSLC”. So “Blood & Dust” will have more TLC involved and will feature some new voices accompanying mine, and be mostly minimal in its musicality. I am excited about it, and that may show up in September. Hopefully by July it will be finished and then I can start rehearsing for shows and putting together the way I want it to be heard live.

Any last words?

These could be my last

….

These won’t be his last. See Brendan and the rest of the 88 Days of Fortune fam: abstract random, Ayo Leilani, T. Ana Cole, Yannick, KJ, Deon, Wolf J, THEESatisfaction, Maiko Watson, Amenta, Brendan Philip and Nadine.

Cine Cycle, 129 Spadina (Down the ally way)
19+

$10 @ THE DOOR – OR $6 GUEST LIST IF YOU EMAIL YOUR NAME TO 8daysoffortune@gmail.com or ayoleilani@gmail.com

Proceeds going to a program close to my heart:

LOST LYRICS PROGRAM -

Lost Lyrics is an alternative educational program which uses Hip Hop culture as a base to understanding self-identity and the complexities surrounding young individuals in stigmatized communities. Lost Lyrics operates out of sites in Malvern and Jane and Finch for youth between the ages of 11 to 14. The young people critically engage with issues which reflect their fluctuating self-identities through the art of rhyme, rhythm and visual arts.

COME OUT AND PARTY WITH THE WHOLE 88 DAYS FAMILY – SUPPORT GREAT PROGRAMS LIKE ‘LOST LYRICS’ !!!!!

They call her the mama of 88 Days. My friends call her the next gen Jill Scott. We say “Ayo! Leilani, what you say g’yal?!”. Kenyan born Leilani got her extended name from hip hop notable KJ, also from the 88 Days of Fortune crew. This sweet voiced lady has a mighty presence on stage. She’s that calm and collect, tell it like it is type, singing straight from raw emotion.  As a little one she was making up songs with family in Africa, then later migrated to Canada and started up the west-end Toronto version of the “Cousins Band”…

Full interview after the jump!

Images: Kevin Robert Fong, www.copymyrecords.com
Space: The Boat, 158 Augusta Avenue, Kensington Market

So I heard you first started your music career in Nairobi Kenya, tell me about that ? *smile*

I wouldn’t actually call it a career – more like a love for music that sprung from an early age. I was born in Kenya and was there until I was four – I come from a large family and every Sunday was spent at my grandmother’s house for lunch/dinner – all the kids in the family would get together and make a “show” for the adults – we were the “cousin’s band” – hahaha! not really a band…. more like kids playing around……

How did moving to Canada change your family dynamic and your interest in music?

It didn’t really – my parents are world travelers and we were able to assimilate to the Canadian culture pretty easily – my interest in music pretty much stayed pretty constant.

Who are your musical inspirations?

I grew up listening to Paul Simon, Tracy Chapman, Crosby Stills Nash Young, Mary J, AAliyah, Janet Jackson…… But to be honest my TRUE inspirations are the people who I know and the people who I see working hard to make their music heard through out the world:

KJ, ABSTRACT RANDOM, BRENDAN PHILIP, WOLF J, T.ANA COLE, AMENTA, MAIKO WATSON, THEESATISFACTION, ZAKI IBRAHIM, TANIKA CHARLES, OOH BABY GIMMIE MORES, THE CARPS, THE STYROFOAM ONES, SPEK WON……ect.

Were you always such a passionate performer?

No! I actually use to be so scared to even sing in front of my friends – to the point where I would get physically sick with anxiety! But not anymore – sometimes I’ll get a tad bit nervous but nothing like what I use to be like – really though, I never thought I would get over it… the fright… I’m happy I did.

How did you get connected to 88 days?

I’m actually the founder of 88 Days of Fortune… It started with a psychic telling me that I was going to have 88 days of fortune – 8 looks like the infinity symbol – so I took her message as, “I was going to have double infinity days of fortune”…. I had a meeting with KJ, Brendan, Nadine, and Yannick and brought to them the idea of a city wide tour called “88 Days Of Fortune” – from there it took on a life of it’s own, picking up other artists along the way and evolving into a collective of supremely talented people.

Where did the collective first lay it down?

Our first show with the original members of 88 Days was at Heartbeat960 – it was the most magical night ever…. it was the night that I believe everyone involved realized exactly what we had and how far we could go with it.

Have you experienced challenges being part of the queer community and representing the urban genre?

To be honest, not really. I find that the people who know me and who I surround myself with are open minded people who see me for my music and talent and not for being queer. I tend to stay away from anything or anyone that puts me in any type of box. I am me – vibration on this planet just like everything else.

What are the projects you are working on and who are you collaborating with?

I’m working on a few different projects at the moment. The first is my Soulful House Mix Tape called “Been Lean” – producers range from myself, LoverSun from abstractRANDOM, Lord Quest, and a few others. I’m collaborating with performers like WolF J, Brendan Philip, THEESatisfaction and so much more!

I’m also working on my Debut Album “Black Water Project” – It’s more of a political/social justice type vibe. Hip hop/experimental… So far I’ve done a track with mfp {Masaki} from Japan and LoverSun from abstractRANDOM.

Who do you want to work with in the future?

It would be awesome to work with Zaki Ibrahim , Lauryn Hill, Nneka, The Roots, Amel from Groove Theory, umm…. Tracy Chapman… the list goes on and on I’m sure – I just can’t think of any more..haha

…

Catch Ayo Leilani tonight w/Abstract Random and THEESatisfacton as part of the Black Weirdo Tour and Jam #2 of the 88 Days of Fortune 1 year anniversary celebrations.

Tonight!!

The Rearview Mirror, 193½ Baldwin Ave. in Kensington Market

Doors open at 10pm, www.88days.ca