Though as most know rap and hip-hop have taken the top spot in charts so hearing gypsy jazz is thought as the trilingual language in music. With indie tunes on the scene, Des Sourcils believes there has been a comeback and more people want to hear this certain gypsy genre. Des Sourcils mentioned it’s not a rare occasion at Jazz festivals these days.
Since their first performance, the band agreed on a lot has changed since then. The way they produce statements, simply music wise by practicing and maintenance on their sound. With their own label Boite Beluga, the band has set their own sails on the water. For the band’s next journey, Europe is on their map as they feel they have left a good enough mark on Québec to expand on the market to make their place amongst the big players and of course….create new music.
Des Sourcils couldn’t put their full thumb on the band’s characteristics, as they try to be diverse by their influences, though deciding who was the funniest seemed to spark a great laugh but only….when they sizzle a cold one.
VisitBoite Beluga HERE and follow Des Sourcils Instagram HERE:
Click the photo to listen to their music
Being any sort of artist, the music playing in your childhood home can make a massive impact on the quality of writing and tunes you produce for the world. Thriller, by Michael Jackson, was just that for John-Angus. He remembers dancing and spinning around the room but that wasn’t his parents’ exact flavor or recipe to John’s futuristic success. John states the possibility of them purchasing the record was simply because he was MJ. John-Angus’s playlist list is a long script of legends including Jimmy Hendrix, the Beatles and Bob Dylan, which he states is what he really grew up on.
Artists like Johnny Cash have made a massive impression on my life for certain healing experiences. With, The Trews latest album coming out September 14th John-Angus hopes that his listeners will feel the same moving forward. “I would love our music to do something for people. Just the stories I have heard over the years, and our songs have helped people in a particularly rough patch, is the most humbling thing you can hear as an artist.” From a personal standpoint, John said it would be tough to chalk up that one artist for him. His family moved to the Caribbean when he was just 13 years old, leaving the east coast of Canada. He remembers bringing a few cassette tapes with him that featured, John Lennon’s “Imagine” and The Beatles “ Sargent Pepper”. He states more than one of those songs off those cassettes has saved his life on more than one occasion.
Music being a massive inspiration lyrically, can also save inspire one to stay on the right track and continue what their heart leads. “I never had a personal Plan B” states John-Angus “ I had my eyes set on making music and touring. I didn’t know how I was going to make money doing it. You learn all of that stuff down the road if you are lucky to learn thing or two about the business.” John-Angus did think about branching out within the business such as writing for other people and producing which he successfully accomplished with 10 years under his belt. Of course, at this stage of the game and level of success, he could never see himself as an accountant. Which we couldn’t see him as that either.
With John-Angus’s longstanding career, we no doubt believed he had some solid advice for those that don’t have the support of family members. Just know John-Angus is cheering you on but make sure you want it badly enough. “ It’s a long road if your goal is to set yourself up for a career in music, there is a lot of disappointments along the way. As well, lucky breaks. We have had a bit of both. You have to ride it out and be in it for the right reasons. If you are not prepared for that journey, I would say don’t start. It’s only going to lead to heartache.”
Speaking of The Trews long road, it also comes with standing out and uniqueness. So from his standpoint, we wondered what characteristics that each member bring that propelled them to where they are now. “Colin is very driven, ambitious and sort of workmanlike in his approach. When we are in the song-writing mode he is writing a song or two every day. Regardless of the results, he always wants to be in that creative frame of mind. Jack is quite the opposite, he is more whimsical and classic artist type. He might not write for a month and not do too much but when he does he will strike out in a flash of brilliance. Chris, the new replacement member of the band is a lot of fun, keeps it light and feeling new, on the other hand, Jeff on the keyboard – is the reality crusher” He jokingly stated. John-Angus believes he is more of the moderator or level-headed of the band. He handles more of the business aspects and touring. He considers himself to be the guy to know what’s going on everywhere, which he states he is the shoulder the Trews sometimes need.
To those that may have not seen the Trews live, to give a teaser of their new music ( which I was fortunate to have heard before release..ps..your going to love it) since we were touching on the bands characteristics, what would their new album act like if it had a personality of its own. John-Angus says it’s like a fresh coat of paint, on a good ol’ house. He feels like it’s bells and whistles of youth that is harder to get back as you age in this business. Though the band defiantly should take major credit on our belief John did state they didn’t go it alone without the help of producer Derek Hoffman. “It’s like being optimistic without being nieve would be the personality trait”
Keep up to date with The Trews touring schedule HERE and as well pre-order their album, you won’t regret a thing!
]]>The sport has always been a release for Marcus and now is a principal role in his personal wellness. At the time he knew there was more he could do coming out of his experiences. Not able to put his finger on it right away and combining two paths lead him to Soccer For Change.
As we know Soccer For Change, gives that push over-seas for those who are dealt with misfortune. But the non-profit seems to find a beautiful balance in their own backyard as well just fine. Through their leadership program, they provide GTA school boards certification. There are 5 things participants can expect:
- To develop an understanding of the concept of self-awareness and its importance to personal development.
- To understand the key attributes and competencies which future leaders need to develop.
- Identify the unique strengths you can bring to leading a group of underprivileged youth.
- To understand the “outer game” of leadership which are the skills required for effective leadership. (i.e. communication, self-awareness, authenticity, group/system awareness, and achieving)
- To understand the “inner game” of leadership which is your unique internal operating system (i.e. drivers, what’s important, beliefs, how you define yourself)
They provide a modern approach, taking the discipline of classroom tactics and putting a social spin on mentoring as a development together. Creating more than just a ‘taking notes’ experience.
Speaking of taking notes, we asked Marcus if there were a few points he wished that would change in regards to the game of soccer. Marcus stating there isn’t much he would directly remodel but he wished organizations like FIFA would step up a bit, in some areas. Since FIFA is the governing body for soccer internationally, we couldn’t agree more about being a continuous leader in all fascists.
Being a leader also places a massive image over philanthropy. So what comes to mind when Marcus creates his own moving picture? Like most would day-dream a rich businessman that donates to charity and puts “philanthropist” on his Linkedin Profile. The true meaning of the word is the love of humanity. “When they teach youth about leadership it’s the similar approach” states Marcus. “At the end of the day its one leader influencing another, when you think about philanthropy in the same way. It doesn’t matter how small your drop in the bucket is, it’s going to create a ripple and hopefully, start something to change someone else’s life”.
It may seem Marcus’s encounters have all been pleasant but visiting the Dominican Republic can be a hard pill to swallow. Soccer for Change travels to a place called Sosúa, a town in Puerto Plata. The area is known for prostitution. If you further research past Marcus’s knowledge, visitors on reviews say the same as well calling it a Red light district by night. Even going to the extent some have shot video exposing the truth of Sosúa. Marcus’s recall of 80 to 20 women to male ratio is backed up by unmistakable evidence. We are not also talking about ‘legal’ aged women either. The bendable age bracket coming to Marcus’s camp are 12-15-year-old girls. Which in the Dominican Republic prostitution is legal. Marcus stated most reasoning to exposure are such as, family not having enough money so they send their daughter out to work, education or some peoples husbands are slothful so they send their wives out to the streets to bring home coin. Everyone, of course, hears about prostitution and the consequences of it but in Marcus’s position to listen and view the town around him, we couldn’t imagine how he felt. “These people won’t have a chance to have their story told’ says Marcus. They will be the Dominican girls who on the arm of an American guy on vacation. They won’t really know what’s going on, they will just assume”
To undergo what Marcus takes on is and should be inspiring to all young humanitarians that want to make an impact. Soccer For Change is always open to help, but he did state come with how you want to make a change. “It takes that passion to a whole new level”
The beauty of life is that each individual has experienced or learned something that someone else hasn’t mastered or taken on as we all have different paved roads. If we join those roads to create a highway, can you imagine what the world would be like? It takes one construction worker to ‘employ’ another and another till we have a full team directing those that are lost.
“ I will heighten my life by helping others heighten theirs” – Les Brown
Thank you to Marcus for sitting down with us and sharing his venture with Soccer For Change. Keep up with their incredible non-profit by following them on social media HERE as well as check in with their website HERE
**Photo Courtesy of Soccer For Change***
]]>Just like regular tattoos, it comes with everyone reacting differently to healing. Some cause itching ( which it’s normal on a steady base of course with healing) but according to Authority Tattoo, UV ink has a higher percentage of causing skin reactions, such as benign lumps ( ie: where ink is clumped together). Glow in the dark tats are commonly made with phosphorous, which is not safe for your skin, what so ever. This shouldn’t stress you out totally but this kind of ink you to have to be extremely, and I mean extremely honest and open, about questions and concerns with the shop of choice. There are options for phosphorus-free UV tattoo inks but this may take a little soul searching to find an artist who truly is educated in this section.
In the meantime, while your way out your pros and cons there is no harm in taking a peek at some of your fellow human’s incredible artwork. Maybe just use the lick and stick tats for the next rave party you attend.
Did you grow up in a household full of books and reading material, as well a certain author you looked up to as a child that inspired your writing niche? I never read much as a kid actually. My brother and I were part of a book club at our community library during our summers, and we would go every day but wouldn’t read anything. We were there mostly to play computer games, and the library’s Ethernet beat our dial-up, so we went. But, at school when we had trips to our school library once a week or so, I had a penchant of sneaking away from the group to flip through Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants books, Dr. Suess, and Robert Munsch’s stories, of who’s my favorites are Captain Underpants and the Attack of the Talking Toilets, The Zax, and Thomas’ Snowsuit, respectively, they’re wonderful and I recommend them to everyone.
When did you realize you had the gift of writing for children? I think I’m still realizing it now. Part of what I love so much about telling stories is that the process is explorative for me. I have no formal training in any element of what I’m doing, so I’m at each moment learning and testing, which I think is a very sincere and rewarding kind of self-discovery. There’s a quote from a book I love called A Room With A View by the English novelist, E.M Forester, that says, “Life, is a public performance on the violin, in which you must learn the instrument as you go along.” which I think captures perfectly how I feel.
Was there any doubt this is what you wanted to do, or at any point feeling this was a tuff market? I was full of angst growing up because I always wanted to, out of rebellion for a long while, and only very recently; earnestness, reach outside of what I felt was either implicitly or at times explicitly proposed to me and my peers as ‘realistic’ or ‘smart’ professional pursuits growing up, and try my hand there. I decided to pursue a career as a writer because I fell in love with stories, the World’s, the characters, and the minds which contrived these things that I came to revere. I became infatuated. I think it’s because I’m smitten by them, that I want to be close to them and be part of that Universe.
Are there certain messages you have ‘ in between the lines’ sort of speak in The Very Unlucky Lucky Quaroo? I really enjoy interpreting meanings and messages from literature, I feel that it’s among the most enjoyable parts of experiencing any form of art: the freedom to let and believe what affects you to be. So, I hesitate to explain things too much, but I’m finding so far that, being a Children’s writer you’re almost expected to tell exactly what the thing is about and what message readers are supposed to get from it. Which to me isn’t much fun. When I’m asked, I describe the plot which is about a bird with the gift of sharing eternal luck and fortune at a stroke of its feathers, and then try not to go much further with the hopes that anyone who might read the story will have the space then, to find their own meaning from it, even it’s not the one I intended.
Can you remember the first thing you wrote as a child? I wish I did, but no. My Mother saved some of my early school assignments and she showed one to me recently that I did when I was in grade 3. It was about me helping a baby whale whose mother was captured by Pirates. In the story, I could talk to the whale and breathe water, all without the mention of me having the powers to do so. It was extremely well written.
As an author, if you had to create a mini-biography, even just a few words to describe your artistic process of creating a book, what would those words be? There’s a beautiful song, performed by Ella Fitzgerald that I love called, Stairway to The Stars, the sentiment of which I think answers this question perfectly, and so I think I’m going to answer to this question with a song recommendation 
To the youth who are aspiring writers of all genres, What would be your advice? To go for it, even if you have no clue what you’re doing. A dream paired with inaction is only an ornament of mind, something to pretty your daily thinking, and can be so much more.
If you had to write the next chapter for yourself, What would it look like to you? I’m not sure, I try, and it’s really difficult, not to; to plan too rigidly, too far ahead. I feel like planning, sometimes stops us appreciating diversions that can prove to be more beneficial than where we wanted to be at that point. I have an overarching goal that I’m mindful of, but I’m content at the moment to take purposeful, meandering steps towards it.
To Keep up to date with Magic Mike visit their Instagram HERE and also check out Magic Way’s website HERE
Holy Oak to others was a venue to book shows every night and local music. The venue was extremely supportive to local artists and a platform to the industry, selling CDS and more. Over the span of 10 years, it was time for the space to retire. The Holy Oak was really a home for many, with its open-minded energy. Kate and Adele explained the life behind the café by day and event gathering pad by night. There were queer parties, singer-songwriter music nights, poetry and spoken word. For being a space that was on a commercial strip that installed a huge crowd, it continued to have a lot of meaning. Kate wanted to create stories and capture memories of the ex-paradise, almost as a ghost that keeps on lingering for new generations of the Holy Oak. “Sometimes you need to listen to other voices to understand, listen to waves and frequencies, ” says Kate. “If you didn’t know the area and space you wouldn’t know the importance of it. We are not a news outlet, we are giving a space for voices to resound or we simply would fade away”. Kate hopes when others listen, they can feel the magic and how there was nothing quite like it. Of course, the perfect ending would be for someone to hear this and open another business like the Holy Oak or even themselves visit a spot similar in their city. For some people, going to regular businesses or an area like the Eaton Centre, the space doesn’t feel like a safe place.
As a friend supporting this project, James Durham joined the conversation on building a new platform ( RevMuzik) to bring similar small artists like those that performed at the Holy Oak to a wide variety of venues and book gigs. “It’s made by musicians for musicians” states James. Rev Muzik doesn’t go any bigger than Danforth or smaller than 50 person venues. Considered to be the tinder for music. Fans can suggest artists and get paid for the matches if the event gets booked, it allows them to influence their music scenes instead of being apart of just a statistic. Artists and venues get to rate each other for how the event went and fans are also rated on how good their suggestions were. The best part is that if you don’t pay the artist in 72 hours they lock their account, so the artist doesn’t have to chase around a manager or individual waiting for payment.
With the world inside of our phones, we need to make mother earth feel like home again. We are all humans in one space, and we are treating each other like visitors. As the classic quote follows “ There is no such thing as strangers, only friends that we have not yet to meet”
If you are ever in need of a talented silkscreen artist for apparel or another project contact Addelle McCauley @ [email protected]
How did you first come up with the very original idea of wire sculptures? Was it a light bulb moment creating other pieces of art? These Prayer Machine creations came about when we were living in Germany, actually taking a break from my art career, serving as dorm parents at an international boarding school. I was very stressed and found I couldn’t pray. I couldn’t get words to talk to God. I began thinking, “Well I’m more visual than verbal, what would my prayers ‘look’ like instead of sound like?” I started playing with coat hangers and other bits of wire, making them into little machine-like looking objects. In doing this I found I could talk to God again and so-called them Prayer Machines. After that, the ‘artist’ in me took over and I began developing them more as ‘art objects’. I think there was something in the air in Europe that inspired me!
Where do you pull inspiration while transforming, almost nothing into something? Do you find hints in music, other art or life experiences? I think inspiration comes from the intersection of my interior unconscious flow: what I’m thinking about at any given moment, at any given level, joining with what I constantly see, hear, smell, taste or feel all around me consciously. I’m constantly processing a lifetime of thoughts, feelings, and impressions that continually respond to my current environmental experience and thus respond to it.
You taught art to elementary and high school pupils, did their drive to be an artist and projects inspire you to leave teaching to do what you love full time? I found the time being with young people and the school environment I worked in stimulating, but I knew very quickly I had to have more real-time in which to explore the world within myself that I needed to bring out in a material form. It was a matter of hours in the day. I taught for five years, I’ve been practicing as an artist full time for thirty years now.
Your series are beautiful, especially the Kensington series that caught my eye, which is also where you grew up. Is that your little home away from home you like to visit to pick up bits of familiarity for your new creations? I’m glad you see my work as beautiful. I think beauty is very important and worth defining and pursuing in one’s life. Growing up in Kensington market had a profound and long-reaching impact on me, perhaps because of the nature of the neighborhood itself or perhaps because I spent my formative years there. I don’t get back there that often, though I wish I did, and now that more of my pieces deal specifically with that place I think I will visit it more.
Since joining the Outdoor Art Fair in Toronto and many other places your creations has roam, how has the positive feedback and curious nature of consumers changed your personal outlook on the up and coming new generation of art, are there certain things you look forward to adding to your prayer machines? I’ve been very humbled and pleased by the positive response to my Prayer Machine creations and the way they seem to speak to people. I am trying to understand the objects better, to know what it is I’m doing with them that makes that strong connection between me and my audience, but I still want to keep them spontaneous and myself open to inspiration’s leading.
Give the best piece of advice you could give to someone wanting to venture into being a full-time artist? What is the ‘one thing’ you would attempt in your life if you were guaranteed you wouldn’t fail? Answer that question then summon the faith to do it.
Do you have any hidden gems or certain places you go to find your ‘puzzle pieces’ for your sculptures? Such as some find the most unusual stuff like stained glass at antique or recycled shops? Actually, I don’t incorporate ‘found pieces’ into my work. I like to make every element myself. I do find a lot of visual inspiration for my art objects in industrial sites, at steam engine shows, in old farm equipment and old motorcycle designs. Any kind of industrial/machine type applications where people and whirling, spinning, moving machines come together.
Your painting featured on your site is so detailed orientated and well…perfect. Will you showcase more of your paintings in the future or is that something personal you like to keep as your relaxing sanctuary away from the imagination for your sculptures? At this point in my life, it is all about time. I am consumed with building the 3D machine-like objects, however, I am trying to develop them into a 2D format as well, either as silkscreen prints, etchings or paintings. Regarding the painting I used to do, I would like to do more again, especially landscape, but I would have to either have a lot more time in my day or they would have to be able to be my voice for what I am saying now.
If your sculptures were human, what would their personality traits be? Somewhat introverted and reflective, but welcoming and desirous of relationship at the same time. They would want to give and share with another but also receive from an open and honest spirit so that a mutually sustaining relationship could grow and be enjoyed. The reason I place the hand crank on the moving pieces at just above waist height is so that when the viewer holds it, to turn it, and activate the motion of the machine, they are engaging in the same place they would shake hands with another person. It is a welcoming interaction.
What is next on your map to where we can see you and your art or maybe something you would like to see happen in the near future with your creations? I will be showing in Miami, Florida in December and hopefully at The Artist Project show in Toronto next February. What I’d like to see happen is to keep doing the small intricate pieces, the ones most anyone can afford and have in their home or apartment; but I’d also like to also to keep growing the other pieces bigger, both as free-standing sculptures and as wall pieces. I’d love to get the wall pieces up to large mural size for public spaces or even have the standing pieces that moved in outdoor settings: ones that were 20 or 30 feet in height. Pieces people could even climb inside. I want to get more of them made and see them everywhere!
Keep up to date with James and his creations visit https://jdpaterson.com/
Where did the ol’ ‘support the artist’ term go? Though I am sure Banksy isn’t scrapping pennies anytime soon, the exhibit isn’t going back into his art or donations to charities for example that cannot afford supplies. I understand why some of the 416 humans don’t agree with the exhibit being open.
But say you have never really dipped your paint brush or can into the world of his political and influential pieces, you can view his artwork via his own Instagram HERE or view his website by clicking the photo below of his ‘ outdoor and inside’ projects. Banksy’s website also claims he is not affiliated with any commercial galleries, its safe to say until he himself decides to open up an exhibit with actual graffiti, showcases unreleased sketches/work or open another Dismaland Bemusement Park, leave the art in the streets where they should be.
Just like the art of Banksy exhibit states and Banksy himself believes: ‘Writing graffiti is about the most honest way you can be an artist. It takes no money to do it, you don’t need an education to understand it, and there’s no admission fee’.
“Art has always been an integral part of my life” states Nicole “My earliest and most fondest memories involved winning a coloring contest at Dairy Queen (that picture hung on my family’s fridge for years) and creating portraits of people I admired. I also daydreamed about becoming a fashion designer. I would wrap my bed sheets in different ways imagining an array of designs.”
After years of straying from her true passion, Nicole felt there was something missing in her life, so she gravitated to painting without technical and institution-like boundaries. “Painting became an outlet for me to express myself unapologetically. I focused my energy on developing my own style. My inspiration stems from the strength of Mother Nature, the female form and the workings of the brain. My artwork aims to deconstruct dualist views”
Paint stroke after paint stroke and exhibiting around North America, Nicole wanted to challenge herself and also dive into the waters of fashion. Having what she calls that “pivotal moment” with personal shopper/stylist Wendy at Wdxclusive, ‘fused’ their creative endeavors, Nicole’s hand paints clothing and accessories for men and women while Wendy sources out goods from around the world, to form a sizzling mix of fashion and art. “We believe in bringing affordable art and fashion to our community”.
What does Nicole’s crystal ball predict? well, in this case, the cards are in her hands “I envision Fusion opening a boutique style storefront in the core of Downtown Toronto, where we continue to bring pieces that are as unique as each of our customers. As well as having Pop Up Shops in other cities around the globe”
Nicole dreams of one day having her own fashion line, creating statement pieces that can be collected like art. Can we foresee a fashion styled art gallery from this artist in the future? No doubt.
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The conversation slowly moved on to the importance of refugees and economics. Proudly and confidently Mrs.Clooney spoke how grateful she was via personal experience to enter a country that showed compassion to the community, and economic benefits for refugees having proper education, to put back into the country of chosen. I had to think about how this provides a small link to cases that are happening here. Though Canada is known for the land of free and diversity is our strength, controversial news in Toronto, or should I say #onpoli has been filled with tweets and conversation in regards to the 800 migrants (asylum seekers) currently housed in college dormitories. John Tory, the current mayor of Toronto and re-elect candidate for 2018, mayoral election has sparked rapid viewpoints of citizens across the city. Toronto, currently not providing proper care or housing for homeless veterans and youth homelessness crisis growing, Mr.Tory and refugee agencies claim they are running low on resources and the option of shutting down community centers and programs for these migrants are very soon to become reality. Those on social media platforms have expressed concern for students returning to their residency they have paid for, the un-need of the a billion dollar subway expansion investment, capping the border for illegal immigration and even why they are not being sent to a city like Ottawa, where Mr.Trudeau resides, based on his decision to rescue.
Mrs. Clooney even subjected the discussion of human trafficking in Toronto, is one of the main hubs, which raises another issue for investment especially deepening into the futuristic pool for females. So the question here is, putting an end to un-needed budget for glamourizing subway maintenance and not electing the right people to create a chance of balance while helping motherland citizens/current citizens of Canada the answer?
Well certainly, $1 beer isn’t going to solve any political problems.
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