Joy Crookes has shared her most introspective and truthful work yet with the highly-anticipated release of her debut album Skin. The 22-year old singer-songwriter draws on personal experiences from adolescence and early adulthood to present listeners with her full self in the 13-track album. The result: a cathartic collection of stories touching on topics like casual sex, feminism, gentrification, mental health issues, and more with honesty and care. “Skin is my debut album and the proudest work I have made to date,” says Joy, “The word skin massively resonates with me as biologically it is one of the strongest parts…
Author: Nadia Elkharadly
Pick your ambiance: Classical melodies to aid your workday focus Wind down, post-work music to read a newspaper beside your fireplace Relaxing, calming instrumentals to help you drift off to sleep Soothing pieces accompanying your mind-clearing walk through a colour-changing park I guarantee that no matter which of the above you choose, Elliot Cole’s latest release, “Journals (vol 1)”, will fit the environment beautifully. The NYC-based composer teamed up with classical guitarist, Jordan Dodson and classical cellist, Gabriel Cabezas to bring listeners an inspirational and thought-provoking experience. Cole shares, “I usually make music to get outside myself, to explore, to…
Last month, Toronto-based electronic R&B singer Geneva released the sexy chill, 90s-inspired Smoke & Mirrors – Circle Research Remix. While the setting compliments a hot August day by the pool, it also has a vibe that matches a sweater-weather, leaf-changing, pour-yourself-a-glass-of-wine and relaxed kind of Autumn afternoon. Lyrically relatable, haven’t we all experienced that magic trickery in certain situations that obscure the truth? In this case, Geneva bluntly calls out the disingenuous encounters with people that act like your friend but really are not. The song packs a lyrical punch but balanced out by soothing, laid back and lazy G-funk…
A few years ago I made the unwelcome discovery that I was allergic to just about everything. A reaction to a food I’d had many times in the past, lead me to the discovery that I had several allergies, from animal to seasonal to gastronomical. And while taking a pill a day can keep the symptoms at bay, I’m always looking for ways to manage my dust, pet dander and seasonal allergies, especially at home. I often joke that I live in a petting zoo, and with 2 cats and a dog, it’s not a huge exaggeration. I’d already been…
Sam Fender, the 27 year-old UK triple threat (singer-songwriter, musician, and actor), has dropped a few singles throughout August and September to give audiences a little taste of what is to come on his highly anticipated 2nd album, Seventeen Going Under, available October 8th. On August 20th, Fender released “Aye”, a high-energy, powerhouse song expressing his frustrations with the current socioeconomic status and political climate in the UK. In his purposeful rant, he explains: “‘Aye’ is about the polarity between the left and the right wing, and how that leaves working class people displaced with a lack of political identity,…
Hello, and welcome to The Reheat! Each week, I write a column summarizing the highlights of the podcast I co-host with Sadaf Ahsan. Our podcast, also titled The Reheat (what a coincidence!), re-examines the most salacious scandals of yester-year through a contemporary lens. Whether it’s a deep dive into Bennifer’s original love story from the 2000s or a meditation on the time princess Anne was almost kidnapped, we explain why each saga captured our imaginations back in the day. Sadaf and I also ask, would these stories be as scandalous if they happened in 2021? The answers to that question…
Toronto’s Manifesto Music Festival turned 15 this year. The iconic festival celebrated with powerful programming curated to inspire artists across the creative industries to follow their dreams, while helping them build the toolkit full of tips and skills needed to succeed. This educational 2-day summit featured everything from Holistic Healing and Burnout-Combating Yoga to Personal Finance, Business Deals, Influencing, and Storytelling through Marketing. Each day also ended with insightful panels, including Hip Hop’s Role in Raising Consciousness and a fun talk with 3X Grammy Award winning hit-makers, producers and songwriters Cool & Dre. Our biggest takeaway from ManifestoTO15: The Summit…
Hello, and welcome to The Reheat! This is a column where each week, I write about the highlights of the podcast I co-host with Sadaf Ahsan. Our podcast, also titled The Reheat, re-examines the most salacious scandals of yester-year from a contemporary lens. Whether it’s a deep dive into Bennifer’s original love story from the 2000s, or a meditation on the time princess Anne was almost kidnapped, we explain why each saga captured our imaginations back in the day. Sadaf and I also ask, would these stories be as scandalous if they happened in 2021? The answers to that question…
The older I get, the more I find myself embracing simple, classic and comfortable fashion choices. Looking fabulous while secretly feeling like I’m in loungewear is the ultimate goal. I recently discovered a brand that has that vibe on lock: meet Smash+Tess. A homegrown Canadian company, Smash + Tess was created by Vancouver-based mother-daughter-bestie trio, Ashley and Teresa Freeborn and Mercedes Laporte. Their mission is to create clothing that is designed with integrity, timeless style and and the ability to be worn in multiple environments, helping to reduce overall amount of garments in a wardrobe and in circulation. Their signature…
Toronto soul-pop singer, songwriter, producer, and director Domanique Grant has released Airbrush, a video challenging beauty norms and standards on social media through a light-hearted, satirical approach. The video was directed by Domanique Grant and Alim Z Sabir, with choreography by Leon Blackwood (Arianna Grande, Britney Spears), featuring an all BIPOC cast and set of creatives. Domanique expands on the song, stating ““Airbrush is a song that takes Instagram, TikTok and YouTube culture, and turns it into satire. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t wear wigs or makeup, what I’m saying is that if you’re trying to go viral and…
Hello, and welcome to The Reheat! This is a column where each week, I write about the highlights of the podcast I co-host with Sadaf Ahsan. Our podcast, also titled The Reheat, re-examines the most salacious scandals of yester-year from a contemporary lens. Whether it’s a deep dive into Bennifer’s original love story from the 2000s or a meditation on the time princess Anne was almost kidnapped, we explain why each saga captured our imaginations back in the day. Sadaf and I also ask, would these stories be as scandalous if they happened in 2021? The answers to that question…
Skratch Bastid and Friends brought the party of the summer to CityView in Toronto on August 27th, 2021. The stacked lineup featured performances from Haviah Mighty and Shad, as well as two sets with re.verse, a unique full-band collaboration with Skratch Bastid himself. The JUNO nominated DJ and producer, Skratch Bastid, played three sets in between Shad and Haviah Mighty’s performances, warming up the crowd at the start of the show and ending the night with a full-on dance party. Missed out on the fun or looking to relive the action? Check out our photo gallery from the show below!…
Hello, and welcome to The Reheat! This is a column where each week, I write about the highlights of the podcast I co-host with Sadaf Ahsan. Our podcast, also titled The Reheat, re-examines the most salacious scandals of yester-year from a contemporary lens. Whether it’s a deep dive into Bennifer’s original love story from the 2000s, or a meditation on the time princess Anne was almost kidnapped, we explain why each saga captured our imaginations back in the day. Sadaf and I also ask, would these stories be as scandalous if they happened in 2021? The answers to that question…
Golden Hour Fest, a drive-in music festival located in the heart of Prince Edward County at Mustang Drive-In, treated music lovers to a cozy night under the stars on August 22nd, 2021. The show featured a lineup of Canadian folk and pop favourites with Donovan Woods, Hannah Georgas, and Ten Kills the Pack. The festival also featured the Sunset Market, a curated market highlighting local PEC businesses. Arriving at the Mustang Drive-In felt like travelling back in time a little as Golden Hour staff greeted attendees from a vintage bus parked at the venue entrance. Once parked, we settled in…