Puzzle Pieces Zine Issue 2

Puzzle Pieces Make it to Lunch

by Dom Rella Fortune Favours the Bold by

Bryn is Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability The Quiet Confidence of Ethan Rose

Seb

Zenesoul On the Delicate Art of Balance

Life is not a problem to be solved, it’s a reality to be experienced -Soren Kierkegaard

Table of Contents Ethan Rose’s Quiet Confidence..Pg.1 Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability with Bryn..Pg.4 Make it to Lunch

by Dom Rella..Pg.7

Zenesoul on the Delicate Art of Balance..Pg.9 Fortune Favours the Bold by Seb..Pg.13

The Quiet Confidence Of Ethan Rose Q&A

For Ethan Rose, producing timeless music is his goal which is why he’s consumed with his vision.

With the help of his tight-knit team, he’s created a comprehensive plan that’s helped him constatly build on the art he’s creating. After spending years fine-tuning his craft while simultaneously learning about the business side of music, Ethan Rose is now more confident than ever in his vision. I caught up with the RnB artist to understand his upbringing, influences, how to be sustainable as an artist, and his goals.

Your sound pulls from different genres and one instrument I hear clearly throughout your songs is the guitar. You must have a pretty great team that knows you enough to know your sound and what will and won’t work. How did you meet your producer?

I met the executive producer of my first three singles, Aaron Dean, through my friends Matan and Eldan who actually all went to school together. They knew he was talented and thought we’d collab well sonically, so they linked us two and in the first studio session we finished a song in a couple hours, which was something special because a lot of times it’s not like that. There’s a lot that goes into the back end of music and the synergy involved in it. There will be times where 90% of a studio session is mixing vocals for a particular part of a song that I recorded like five times, and picking the best sounding cut from it. It could be really tedious or smooth and that’s why having a great team and support system really helps.

It’s funny with creativity because there’ll be times where you’re staring at your computer for hours and have nothing. I find what works for me is stepping away and clearing my mind then all these ideas come to me. That’s just my process and what works for me, but what is your creative process like when it comes to creating music?

Sometimes I’ll get the baseline of the beat and write something to it and we’ll go right in to record, but a lot of times my best melodies come to me in the shower

Photo taken from Ethan Rose’ Instagram @ethanjoeyrose

alike, the city is becoming global. It also helps that there’s labels like XO and OVO, which your sound is comparable to, is that where you draw your influences from?

Photo taken from Ethan Rose’ Instagram: @ethanjoeyrose

or while I’m on a drive. I’ll usually sing them into a voice note then send them to one of my producers and they’ll either start working on something immediately, or we’ll wait until we’re in the studio with my engineer, Dan D’souza. The studio sessions are so important because we get into a rhythm, whether that’s just laying down a certain melody for the breakdown or adding in some runs, maybe even some harmonies that we haven’t thought of prior. So it’s collaborative but the process is always changing.

It sounds like a very organic process that’s strategically laid out. Was music always in the plan for you?

Sort of! I was always into writing music and freestyling with my boys when I was younger, but I never took it seriously.

Enough time passed and I still had a passion for music so I found an engineer and recorded a rap song in my first session and went into the second session wanting to try to sing. I recorded the song and ended up impressing myself, so I kept making R&B music and eventually dropped one of the songs which gained a lot of traction - but at the time being in the music industry was just a dream and not necessarily a goal.

The song got picked up by a few YouTube collectives, one of which was called Trillion, and in the first week it picked up something like 50,000 streams with no marketing behind it. Ever since then I began to realize my potential and turned my dream into a goal.

Sometimes all it takes is a little confidence boost for you to get out of your head and with Toronto having such a great scene for creativity and music

I definitely get told that my vibe emulates artists like PARTYNEXTDOOR, The Weeknd, and Drake, but I draw a lot of my influence from artists that my grandfather put me onto like Carlos Santana and Julio Iglsias. I’m just blessed to be able to make R&B music because it’s a genre that’s helped me through some tough times. I’m a big overthinker so the slow tempo of the songs helps my mind slow down when it’s running too fast for my own good. So, if I’m able to do that with my music and help others, then there’s nothing better in the world than that feeling. I used to be really sensitive as a child and people would always call me out on it, so I kind of grew to shut down that vulnerable side of me.

Music is the avenue that lets me step out of the shell, so its therapeutic for me.

I’m super sensitive too and get emotional over things I shouldn’t (laughs). But the fact that you use music as an outlet instead of drowning in your sorrows is powerful. Now that your music is gaining traction and you’ve found your own lane, is it any easier to deal with being vulnerable?

At the end of the day I’m going to be me whether I have one, or a hundred million streams, but age and wisdom is key to dealing with vulnerabilities because they come with life experience. Thats why you see a lot of older songwriters writing hits for younger artists. It’s just about getting the reps in for younger artists. It’s just about getting the reps in.

You have to get those reps in so you know where you stand in your own life. It doesn’t matter how many times you fail because at least you’re trying and when it comes to something you genuinely want, then why not give it a try?

One of the reasons I love writing is because my words are going to live a lot longer than me, so I think it’s about cementing your legacy. Frank Sinatra passed away long before I was born but I’ll still listen to his songs, and they’ll resonate with me. So, I’m trying to do the same thing every time I go into the studio, just trying to create something that’s lasting.

You have to have a good understanding of yourself to create something that’ll stand the test of time. Nowadays though, you sort of have to understand marketing since it’s a crucial part of the rollout.

How involved are you with that process?

I’m involved from beginning to end. As far as the cover art goes, my singles “Dangerous” and “Attention” I put together on my own, and “Serenade” I made from my apartment with my cousin, Shaun Beno. My team is typically pretty tight knit as far as creative direction goes but were always open for collaboration because that’s when the magic happens.

There’s been times where we’ll hire someone to help out but they just want complete creative control, rather than making the process collaborative so we just butt heads.

That vision can take you so far depending on how serious and involved you are which is why having people that understand your goals is important.

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If you’re in the music business you’re essentially an entrepreneur, so it’s on you to wear all the hats. You have to be willing to go the extra mile to make your art stand out because there is a lot of art you’re competing with? Even if you’re not learning the design elements your vision is another aspect of creativity that you need to make sure is right. Look at TikTok, it changed everything because before you needed a label to get the attention of an audience but now it’s reversed.

Navigating through all the different platforms could be challenging but it’s also essential living in this digital age. One of the things Covid taught me is to roll with whatever life throws my way-I mean that’s just the way I always approached my life anyways-but it sped things up and if you weren’t ready, then you were left behind. If you focus on the negative more negative will come, it’s all about mindset.

We live in a time where attention spans are getting shorter, and things are moving fast. So you have to be able to adapt and it took me a while to understand that but once I grasped hold of that concept I never looked back. As an artist you can’t really spend too much time thinking about the past because it’ll hold you back from trying to plan your next move.

Growth in any capacity is integral to understanding who we are, and it can affect relationships. Your four songs on Spotify deal with relationships so I’m wondering, was there ever a time where you lost yourself or found the other person in the relationship losing themselves?

It was never like that for me, but in my early relationships there was always an internal struggle of love and lust. I was younger and people around me would always tell me to have fun instead of being committed.

When its coming from people you look up to, it sort of stays with you.

In my music you hear that tug of war between love and lust, and when you’re young you don’t really know what you want so it gets compounded that much more. As far as finding your match goes, a man with hustle needs a woman with vision. I’m someone who has trouble opening up to others but when you do, a lot of the time you’ll realize that you’re not going through it alone.

Navigating through your own emotions could get difficult but then add another’s in the mix and it could be that much tougher if you’re not grounded. Which is why communication in any relationship is so important. What do you think one thing any relationship has to have to be a good one?

Support is definitely up there for me. I could never be in an intimate relationship with someone that’s trying to hinder my music career and the same goes for my friendships or my creative team. When it comes to music having another pair of ears is important because they’re able to be my audience and because my team is so tight, they’re honest with me.

So I would say support and open communication are the two most important things.

When you feel supported, that’s when the best work/relationships come out. Now you mentioned you’re an overthinker, does that affect your music?

Oh yeah for sure (laughs)! I spent just over a couple of years really figuring out who I want to be as an artist from my look, to social media and marketing, to writing. I have songs from that time that I fell out of love with because I’m not at that point in my life anymore. However, funny enough, the next song I’m releasing is from years ago but if it wasn’t for my team supporting me and telling me that it’s a hit that just needs to be reworked, it would have never come out. As an artist you kind

be an overthinker to some capacity and analyze your work because you’re always going to want to put out the best art possible. It’s one thing to get an audience that likes your music, but once you lost your audience because they don’t like what you’re putting out, then it’s a lot harder getting them back. At the end of the day the music business is just that and like any business, you need to analyze and take your time to make moves, so your business doesn’t go under. Chess not checkers.

You need a sort of business plan that guides you otherwise little distractions will throw you off course. Do you have short or longterm goals that you want to hit?

In five years’ time, I am going to be the most sought out songwriter in the industry. I’m already there, time just hasn’t caught up yet. In terms of short-term goals, I want to put out the best music possible and spread love all while being authentic.

“At the end of the day, I’m going to be me whether I have one, or a hundred million streams”

Photo taken from Ethan Rose’ Instagram: @ethanjoeyrose

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Making music isn’t just a job for indie singer/songwriter Bryn, it’s a part of who she is and how she communicates. However, during the pandemic she had to pivot into a more sustainable way of creating music; which as she tells it, was for the better. It allowed her to dig deeper and discover who she was as a songwriter and as a result, she created a better way of making music. Along with this fresh perspective, also sprung a writing and production team that includes her writing partner and a few others. Now that the pandemic is seemingly in our rear-view, she gives insight into her creative process as well as a few secrets on building worthwhile self-awareness.

Were you always a songwriter?

I actually started off writing poetry-I was a huge fan of itwhich is weird because I don’t know how you could be that big a fan of poetry (laughs).

Musically, when I was living in the UK as a kid, my dad would buy me CDs of Avril Lavigne and Leona Lewis and when I heard “Complicated” and “Bleeding Love”, I feel like I really fell in love with music.

So you grew up in London?

My family and I immigrated to Canada when I was 12 yearsold, which is around the same time I started transitioning into writing songs. I remember

that you’re a totally different person than you were - but then you look back and realize that on a fundamental level less has changed than you thought.

That realization is so relieving, and I find, when I come to a personal self-realization, my writing immediately after is some of my best work. It’s just the idea of being free flowing that comes from a real place that makes my writing that much better.

Photo taken by Cass Rudolph. Instagram: @momentsbyblue

Creating a Safe Space for Vulnerability with Bryn helping my mom clean the dishes one day and I started singing to myself and I remember my mom was asking “whose song is that?” and I very nonchalantly told her it was mine. We spent the rest of that evening writing it out on post-it notes and her recording me singing it on this ancient camcorder - and recently we found that video and it’s appalling! I was this little kid so confident yet so awkward and insecure, it was funny to see how it all started.

It’s crazy to see videos of when you were younger because you realize how much alike you really are to your younger self. How so little and so much has changed.

I think it’s funny because as you grow up you go through phases and you feel sure

And vulnerability is a huge part of making art. I find I end up writing probably 90% sad songs and 10 % happy ones, and I find being vulnerable in a genuinely light space is so much harder. But I also think that we’re taught being in a vulnerable space means being in a negative space and though that is true sometimes, it can be hard (and quite damaging) if you think that. I don’t know the exact reason we feel that way, but I do think about that quite a bit.

I think you have to have a balance when you’re approaching your vulnerabilities because there is a lot of pain coming from that space. It’s so important to have a good support system to help you through those complex emotions, as well as your own self-help techniques like writing. Which I was wondering, what’s your songwriting process like?

When I first started songwriting I was around sixteen years old, I wrote and released music with the help of my mentor Alfred Chow. Those projects were fundamental to my development as an

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artist and as a writer but I didn’t get into cowriting for other artists until years later. Moving back to Toronto after going to the University of Western Ontario, I threw myself into songwriting camps and even went to Nashville for a camp with NSAI (The Nashville Songwriters Association International). That was such a great experience and so hectic because I knew absolutely nobody and somehow convinced everyone I met to come write songs with me at my airbnb. I went from being a complete stranger to booking sessions for two weeks straight and making lifelong friends and collaborators. Now, there is a general structure to songwriting but it honestly changes artist to artist.

During the pandemic myself and my writing partner, Kirstyn Johnson (Aryss) started what would become our writing team together we call Good Grief. We’d like to think that we could write anywhere whether it’s a million-dollar studio or a make-shift rig or in our car.

The flow is different every time so managing that is a big part of what we do.

The creativity flow is such a huge part of the process but Covid made it so much harder to create. How was navigating through that creativity during the pandemic?

Actually, I think Covid was a major moment in defining myself as a songwriter. I’d been writing and co-writing full time for roughly a year before Covid hit and really long hours! I’m actually glad the pandemic did what it did because going to the studio at 10 am and leaving at 2 am isn’t sustainable.

So, two weeks into the first ever lockdown Kristyn and I were going crazy because we couldn’t connect with anyone and that’s all we ever really wanted to do as songwriters.

We eventually set up a writing and production team with our friend Matt Fudge and basically for that first year of the pandemic, we’d reach out to friends and other artists and

hop on Zoom and that’s where all of our sessions came from. It’s crazy now because we’d create songs and full records through Zoom without meeting the artists in person; and it’s only now that we’re meeting them which is kind of wild!

Zoom is a wonderful tool and I’m glad we have it but it’s nothing like being in a studio where the creative juices are constantly flowing. What did

Photo taken by Cass Rudolph. Instagram: @momentsbyblue

you do to ensure that there was still some sort of energy between all of you?

That was tough especially because there’s latency with Zoom so managing the energy in the room becomes that much harder.

However, we figured out to foster a safe space for vulnerability we would hop on Zoom thirty minutes before the artist was to arrive just to get a sense of where everyone was at, what their days were like and all of that. That way, when the artist came into the session, we were bringing them into a vibe and there was less of that awkward beginning point.

I love that so much I’m going to start doing that! How do you make someone comfortable in an uncomfortable setting? By making sure you’ve done your due diligence in fostering a space for those delicate energies to be taken care of.

Totally! I remember when I first

came to Toronto, I was working with this awesome producer, who was the first one to really talk to me about energy. And however you choose to create, and whatever flow state you’re in, it’s so important to be aware of energies and I found that so illuminating. So, I’ve taken that with me and funny enough many of the people I’ve worked with have that same unspoken approach and understanding.

You hear musicians talk about manifestations all the time but really it just goes back to the basic principle of you get what you give. Although at times it could be tough, if you’re putting in the time, effort, and care then something good is bound to happen. As a songwriter, does it ever get too tough to write some of your songs because they’re so personal?

A very good friend of mine once told me that if I’m not embarrassed about something I’ve written then I haven’t written something vulnerable enough. I wrote my first full album “Freefall” when I was sixteen and in love for the first time, I then wrote “Gone” when that relationship ended and “Tempest” in the midst of trying to find empowerment in a toxic relationship. I think when you’re in an unhealthy relationship in your youth, you’re trying to figure out how to tackle such complex emotions for the first time sometimes and trying to speak frankly and candidly about that can be quite intimidating.

I came across a quote that read, “You don’t know how toxic a situation is until you breathe fresher air.” It’s hard to get out of that cycle once you’re in it, but if you can pull yourself away then it’s super rewarding because you’re taking control back of your own life.

That’s where songwriters come in and it’s a lot like therapy because an artist will come in with a certain emotion that they think

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from one specific instance, but when you start to pull at the threads you quickly realise it’s usually something bigger. If you’re able to take it a couple steps deeper, it becomes more relatable and human which is why vulnerability is so powerful as it connects us as people.

One of the many things that Covid taught us is to take a good, long look in the mirror to figure out who and what we really are. You seem to have a good sense of self as your musical influences sound like they range from Lorde, Of Monsters and Men, Florence and the Machines, to even Metric. Do you pull from any of those?

I love all of them! I actually covered “Yellow Light” by Monsters and Men at a high school talent show but the real kicker is I mashed it up with an Eminem song (Laughs)! I actually have Florence’s poetry book and on the back, there’s a quote that goes something like, “When I’m making music I can never tell if it’s a memory or a premonition, and sometimes it ends up being both.” I always think about that because as we get older meanings change as we do. When I wrote “Making Monsters” it’s about anxiety but it was prepandemic, so I didn’t even know what was to come in the few years after.

“Healthy habits like getting enough sleep, exercise, taking small breaks, and I’m a huge advocate for therapy are super important for wellness.”

Wow that’s deep! We talked about that flow state, and it’s almost like you’re speaking things into existence. Although I do believe you need a work-life balance otherwise you’ll burn out and it’ll be much harder to get into a groove. When you’re creating you need time away from your art so you could think clearly for when you’re back at it.

With me, I love what I do so much that I struggle with separating the two. I’m allconsumed with what I do because it’s my outlet, craft, the fabric of my life and how I communicate so there’s really no break from it. Inspiration can come knocking at any time and you have to be ready since it’s like a muscle that you have to keep working out. You have to let that flow state happen when it happens regardless of what’s going on and somehow balance that with breaks so you can cultivate a healthy space to create in - it’s hard.

When that creative spark hits you have to ride that wave or else you could miss an opportunity and it’s hard to get back into a groove. It’s also got to come naturally, so I’m wondering how important you think health and wellness is to being a musician?

There’s this negative stereotype in music that says the only art you could make is from a dark place. Don’t get me wrong some great work comes from that place but it’s just not sustainable to be in that dark place constantly. You’re already battling an industry that doesn’t have a 9-5 schedule, so it only makes it

Photo taken by Cass Rudolph. Instagram: @momentsbyblue

tougher if you’re not in the right headspace. Healthy habits like getting enough sleep, exercise, taking small breaks, and I’m a huge advocate for therapy are super important for wellness.

With social media being a driving force in culture nowadays, you’re seeing the negative and positive effects of it on people’s wellness.

As an artist, how do you view the platform?

Well, I think with anything there’s two sides it just depends on how you look at and use it; social media is incredibly detrimental to people’s mental health and it’s also an incredibly powerful tool - it’s both.

Things are changing so rapidly with the help of platforms like TikTok, that are completely redefining the music industry and other industries alike, so I try to look at it as a dynamic ever-changing landscape with a lot of opportunity. As well as trying to be mindful of my time spent on them and realizing how overwhelming it is for independent artists to navigate.

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Make it to Lunch Morning breaks, the sun’s bright & I’m always up late. Weird dreams, dancing prancing multi-coloured fantasy. No scream, thank goodness.

It’s the late 2000s, 3 am, Peter & Richmond…. Horse-carried pigs patrol the drunk and disorderly. Millenial youth, escaping the reality of the financial crisis. Existential dread. Can’t get a cab….Neon purple reflection of my shadow, in the puddle, Faint beat billowing outside the emptying clubs. the alley ways of Hogtown don’t scare me; the liquor had clouded my judgement, all night, I’m in need of a serotonin boost. Luckily, a forgotten friend is found in the crevices of my torn Steve McQueen wallet, from another lover. She’s just who I needed and although my reality is skipping through motor oil-seasoned puddles, in my mind I’m skiing down the slopes as my fantasy arrives. Graffiti alley always holds such an emphatic charm when alone and catching.

Can’t keep up the resistance Toe taps Ye raps Body groovin’ Feet movin’ Street lights dim I begin to grin Snowfall imminent I’m getting into it Night begins to fade Beat strayed Slip and drop my phone Time to go home It’s almost dry, my party of 1 is relatively done as the new day breaks, the sky looks euphoric.

The baby blue backdrop with strings of purple and pink. Orange over the horizon, the high is now low and I’m back to the suburbs for some Sunday Sugo.

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Let’s Be Friends

The Delicate Art of

Balance with

Zene

soul

The Balancing Act of Zenesoul One thing is very clear about the singer- She has a great understanding of self. Attribute that to her upbringing, her influences or simply her nature but whatever it is, she understands how to navigate the world. Stamping a clear divide between her full-time job and music career is integral to her lifestyle, and that dedication rewarded her with a recent Juno nomination and lots of other music-related opportunities. People are starting to take notice of the time, effort and hustle that Zenesoul has put into her music and rightfully so.

I love music so much every time I hear a song I like, I create a playlist. I have one for every mood (Laughs)! I wake up with a different song in my head, so music is like a soundtrack to my day.

I try and avoid listening to music every day because I don’t want to accidentally take a melody when I’m writing one of my own songs. I’ll listen when I’m getting ready to go out so it’s just in the background and I’m not really focused on the song.

Because you actually make music you also don’t always want to be consumed by it otherwise it feels like a job.

That’s what I don’t want! I don’t want it to feel like a job because then I won’t love it which is why I like experimenting with new sounds- that’s fun to me. I still work full-time so I could still use music as a hobby and have my job as a means to sustain myself.

What is your full-time job?

I work as a Physiotherapist Assistant and Occupational Therapist Assistant in a hospital.

That’s incredible! I can imagine it being hard sometimes though because both music and your actual job could be demanding so I’m wondering if you ever felt like, you just want to stick with music?

All the time (Laughs)! It’s like having two full-time jobs so it could be overwhelming at times especially because lately there’s been so much opportunity

coming from music. I know myself so much that if I would let my physio job go and work solely on music, I wouldn’t love music as much. If music was bringing in enough money to sustain myself then it would be a different story but right now it’s just not feasible. Yeah, its tiring and hard, but nothing you want comes easy, you have to put in the work. So I’m just going to keep putting in the 10,000 hours doing both until I feel confident to let go.

Well both jobs are extremely rewarding, for two different reasons. Was working in the hospital something you’ve always wanted to do?

I always wanted to work in a hospital, but I didn’t know what for. I actually went to university for psychology, and it wasn’t until my final year that I found out about occupational therapy so after I got my degree, I went to college for that. Both jobs are super rewarding because with one I’m helping people gain their independence back and then with music its therapy but in a different way.

That’s the important thing because you always hear people say, find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life. It may take some time to get to that point, you may have some part time jobs you didn’t like, but it’s all a part of the process.

Yes! I had a job as a ride operator at Wonderland in high school and I hated it (Laughs)! I loved Wonderland and it was pretty cool since I got to ride the rides for free, but the job just wasn’t for me.

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inadvertedly, you have this layered singing voice. It’s mature, but also there’s this confident vulnerability. Is it difficult expressing certain things on record?

I always felt bad for the workers they never seemed happy (Laughs)! I loved going there though, I practically spent my childhood there. One summer I was afraid of heights, and the next summer I was a ride warrior. So other than your part-time jobs, did your childhood consist of a lot of music?

I was born in Nigeria then came to Canada, then moved to New Jersey for a year then permanently moved to Canada after. My parents always knew I loved music because I would always sing around the house, but my parents wanted me to stick to the books. When I was in elementary school, I tried out for the talent shows as a singer, but I never got picked which discouraged me a little, but not enough to keep me from writing lyrics, poems, and short stories.

In high school, I actually wrote a song for a Black History Month play which was cool because that was the first time I wrote something that was going to be performed on stage. I still wasn’t really taking it that seriously so I went to university and joined a student group that would put on shows and I would perform which was very encouraging, but I still wasn’t too confident. Eventually I was in a relationship, and he bought me studio sessions and that became my first EP “Worth”. It’s funny, because of how well I’m doing with music my parents are like my biggest fans now.

I feel like that’s what it takes for parents to understand our dreams sometimes. There’s a disconnect between the two generations because we have so much at our disposal nowadays.

Education seems like a safety net for a lot of the older generation, but times have changed. These days,

people keep changing jobs so, did that degree really matter if all jobs want are experienced workers?

And how am I supposed to gain experience if you don’t give me a chance? Whether it’s paid or not, all I need is a chance so just give me that opportunity (Laughs)! But I understand its more complicated than that.

It’s like that in music too! If you want to get to a certain level, there’s a certain amount of networking and experience needed for opportunities. There’ll be sometimes that I’ll get messages asking for favours, and I’m more than willing to help, but it took me years of releasing music without any recognition before I got recognized; it didn’t just happen overnight!

You have to grind, but you also have to be okay with getting no recognition for a long time.

You have a very mature singing voice, did that come naturally, or did you have to work on that?

I think it came naturally but that could be the result of me listening to mostly old school music. I don’t force anything so like I was saying previously, I just try to have fun with it. It’s not like I sat down and said I’m going to do music like this, I just kind of did what felt right.

When I’m writing I just say whatever I feel. I don’t intentionally write to be vulnerable it just comes out so when I look over it I’ll ask myself, is this something I want to share with the world? Since I’ve started music, I always said that I’d be authentic because if I’m feeling a certain way, someone else is too so to and it’s that connection that I care about. Music is to heal and bring people together so I’m always going to use it for that reason and maybe that’s where the confidence comes from. I’m confident in who I am because I’m figuring out who exactly I am, and that process is something that gives me comfort.

Music is the best way I know how to process those vulnerable emotions because I don’t like communicating them.

“I don’t want to be put in a box where I’m only labelled as a certain type of musician, because again, that’s not authentic to who I am.”

Being vulnerable is such a tough thing to do because you’re dealing with intense traumas and bad experiences so confronting them is scary. However, if you could figure out a way to stand in front of that fear, that’s even more powerful. Are there any ways you deal with being vulnerable?

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I don’t like being vulnerable except through music (laughs). When I’m faced with something hurtful, I normally just get quiet and don’t say anything, which isn’t good because it just piles up and then I feel bad for whoever’s around me (laughs). I have this habit of keeping myself busy to avoid thinking about certain things because I am a big overthinker; I’ve been trying to get over it but its hard. So the way I deal with it is through music but it’s funny because I never intentionally think about writing something emotional, I’ll freestyle to a beat and then once it comes together, I’ll listen back and surprise myself.

It takes a lot for me to actually sit with someone and let them know how I’m actually feeling about a certain situation, I get kind of awkward (laughs).

I do the same thing (laughs)! I’m a chronic overthinker which I’m trying to get better at, but it’s a process. But having outlets like poetry, or writing is a huge help with sorting out certain thoughts.

I feel like the reason I keep it to myself more times than not is because there’s an underlying fear of not being understood. I’ll be so scared to communicate my feelings that I get nervous, and it doesn’t come off the way I want it to; especially if the person doesn’t understand what I’m trying to say.

For a long time, society ignored mental health so that stigma still surrounds topics like vulnerability; even though it is definitely getting better.

There was a time where it was the norm to not talk about your feelings but as humans we’re complex so we should be encouraged to examine them.

Switching gears to your music, on the Juno-nominated “Love and be Loved” you have a line that goes, “Don’t it feel good to be loved and feel love, I know I’m complicated there ain’t no

perfect lady.” I think the fact that I’m complicated it struck a chord with me (laughs).

Relationships are tough work especially when there’s a lack of communication. What do you think the most important thing is for a relationship to work?

writing to it as authentic as I could because that’s how I always like to not just write, but carry myself as well. I just wanted to say, women love yourself, regardless of what anyone thinks because there will always be someone out there that loves you just the way you are.

Respect for your partner as a whole. No one is saying to completely change your life to suit their needs but at least care enough to listen to what they have to say and consider their wants and needs. I feel like without respect all the little things that make a relationship amazing cant happen.

There’s 7 billion people in the world, but there’s only one of you so why not just be yourself? The latest song “Is it Love” is more afrobeat than R&B so it’s got such a nice groove to it. Is that something you want to explore more of?

You’re coming from two different experiences so how do you come together as one if you’re not communicating properly? Speaking of respect and self-love, your song “Glowing” is such a powerful song. Talk about how the song came about and the message of the song.

So right now, my hair is in locks but before, it wasn’t and it took me hours to wash my hair so I was so tired of doing that whole process.

But my black skin is something I’ve always been proud of so I’m like let me talk about my features. I heard the beat and loved it so I started

When I first released, I had some afrobeat-centric songs but stayed into more of the R&B sound, I was so scared to release it because I didn’t want people to think I was all over the place. So, I focused on making the song as authentically afro-soul as could be, but eventually the goal is to release neo-soul, R&B, plus the afro-soul in one album. I just want everyone to know that when I release music, it’s going to be soul.

I don’t want to be put in a box where I’m only labelled as a certain type of musician, because, again, that’s not authentic to who I am.

Well, you came out with an album in 2019, then in 2020, 2021, so could we expect an album in 2022?

Of course! It’ll be afro-soul and it’s pretty well finished. Actually, “Is it Love” is going to be on it.

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Fortune Favors the Bold A message to pursue, to persist, to achieve And to wear your heart - on your sleeve.

As I gazed upon that frozen peak I knew my journey would not be for the weak The bitter wind that slapped my face The hands of millions who went without a trace The mountain guides to its starting pass Where the mud turns hard and becomes rock from grass One foot beyond the other I venture higher Wishing to be around a soothing fire.

Alone I climb with my thoughts my companion Claustrophobic quarters until that first canyon And as I step out onto the flat plane I realise there is still so much more to gain.

Despite weakening legs I soldier higher Looking to quench the explorer’s desire.

Feet now trembling, I hook myself on a root Sending myself careening - destitute.

Laying on my back with my gaze to the cloud Reminiscing on the times I’ve been cowed.

But not today with firm endeavor To get to the top I’ve got to be more clever.

Getting back to my feet I set my sights up above This is no task to fall short of.

After what feels like a lifetime I come across a patch clear blue That lets me ponder all I’ve been through.

A moment’s rest before I pick up again Almost done with my campaign.

Towards the top the air turns to ice Ever further from the aquatic paradise.

The tips of my toes turn to black But I know I cannot yet go back.

Trudging up I must make it now Any other sentiment I disavow My chest starts pounding as I overcome Frostbite gripping from pinky to thumb Difficult to breathe in the altitude But determined still with thoughts renewed.

And after hours of my labor past I finally reach my place at last A beaming sun cracks through the gray And the birds sing in the most triumphant of ways I know this would have been an experience lost Had I turned back at the first sight of frost.

13

ing gets accomplished Nature does not hurry, yet everyth Lao Tzu

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Because of the subjective nature of art, our goal is to show the different ways to experience the various mediums of expression that’s inspired us.

Although our inspirations vary, each piece fits into the same puzzle.

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