Author: Celeste Ceres

WSTRN simply doesn’t miss, and their new single “Unload”, featuring BackRoad Gee, is right on target. Preaching loyalty till the end, “Unload” is a dancehall meets grime fusion from the West London trio that salutes day ones and calls out opportunists. WSTRN has been on the up since the group’s inception, and expectedly, that’s when fake friends, long lost cousins and haters suddenly want a piece of the pie. Exuding a menacing self-assuredness, WSTRN loathes the schemes of enemies in disguise. Asserting that their success was always predestined, they solidify a game plan to the top to keep their haters…

From a grassroots initiative to the big stage: local events and cultural incubator AFROWAVETO is hosting its first ever festival on August 3rd. Its eclectic lineup includes Sean Paul, Stalk Ashley, Dynesti, Zenesoul, DOLOTHEGIFTED and Projexx. It’ time to get busy. When it comes to creating opportunities for Toronto’s most diverse talents, AFROWAVETO is building infrastructure in the music scene like no other entity. After producing a series of online showcases, launching a music blog, and releasing a collective album –– AFROWAVETO is now gearing up to host is first ever in-person Black music festival on Wednesday, August 3rd. And…

Black Restaurant Week has touched down in Toronto. Running from July 8th through to the 17th, the initiative puts local Black-owned restaurants on the map. Have you been craving some authentic Caribbean food that will transport you right back to the islands this summer? Look no further, because Black Restaurant Week is live in Toronto. Running from July 8th through to the 17th, the event highlights a plethora of the city’s best African, Caribbean and soul food flavours. From injera, to vegan Jamaican patties, to chicken and waffles, there’s something for everyone. As the only Canadian city featured in the…

2022 Polaris Music Prize long list has been revealed and includes names like The Weeknd and Haviah Mighty. Here’s the full Polaris long list. Musicheads across the country have waited with bated breath to find out who made the cut for the 2022 Polaris Music Prize. They can finally put their minds at ease. Filled with both popular class acts and some of Canada’s best kept secrets, the Polaris Music Prize long list features 40 of the country’s best albums across a range of genres. Graced with familiar faces––from 2019 Polaris Prize winner Haviah Mighty to The Weekend, the list feels…

Let’s go to the EX! Black Music Month Kicks off this Friday at the Canadian National Exhibition. Toronto-based charity, Blissues has curated an impressive lineup of events all month long at the CNE’s Withrow Common that celebrates the magic of Black Canadian artists. Blissues, the brainchild of illustrious artist and activist pHoenix Pagliacci, is a charity dedicated to filling in the gaps in the Black community and beyond through finding the silver lining between bliss and issues.  Here are a few events to check out during Black Music Month. 1. Frequency Fridayz First up is Frequency Fridayz, presented with Scarborough…

In her latest article for SHIFTER, Celeste Ceres takes a deep dive into the new Haviah Mighty mixtape, Stock Exchange. Toronto-based rapper, singer and producer Haviah Mighty skyrockets past the confines of capitalism in search of value that isn’t merely material on Stock Exchange. The sequel to her critically-acclaimed predecessor, 13th Floor, Stock Exchange sees Mighty continue along the path of conscious storytelling and dynamic daringness. Rising above counterfeit pleasures, Mighty is on an upward trajectory and bringing her day-ones along for the ride. For her initial public offering, she has a worthwhile treat for her investors: a reckoning with…

In her exclusive piece for SHIFTER, Celeste Ceres explores why Black professionals are apprehensive about returning to work post-pandemic. On your way to work, a fare collector stares at you skeptically as you place your token into the slot. You take the elevator up to your office’s floor, and you notice a passenger clutches their purse when you get inside. As you walk into the office, a colleague exclaims, “Your hair looks so much better when it’s straight like this!” It’s not even 9:00am yet, and you’re already drained. Incidents like these reflect the daily experiences that many Black professionals…

Between his countertenor vocals, contemplative songwriting and charm, Canadian-Ethiopian singer Emanuel (by way of London, Ontario) is indisputably the most exciting voice to have emerged to mainstream prominence from Canada’s underground music scene during the pandemic. In one short year, he was ushered into the music scene by Idris Elba with his emotive debut “Need You”, was championed by hip-hop legend Kardinal Offishall, and earned a slew of headlines, streams, and award nominations, including a JUNO nomination. But the flashy co-signs aren’t what makes Emanuel’s resume impressive––it’s his innate talent. On his debut album Alt Therapy, Emanuel assures critics that…

Leaving all hesitations at the door, Savannah Ré’s latest release, “24hrs” is a transparent ask for love without limits. With those signature honey-draped vocals, Ré relives each hour of the day spent waking up, catering to, and enjoying the presence of another. It’s a butterflies-in-the-stomach type of love flamed by the everlasting feeling of gratitude. Complete with a single-textured guitar loop and jazzy percussion from YogiTheProducer (Kehlani, Jessie Reyez) and adamjosh, “24hrs” is the perfect summer melody that captures the feeling of finding a safe haven in the arms of someone special. Fresh off a big win for Traditional/R&B/Soul Recording…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, assesses the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cook’s “sitting is the new factor” line. As you’re tapping, scrolling, and swiping on your phone, you probably don’t give much thought to the fact that your apps are consuming electricity -…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, checks the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cooks “sitting is the new coolness” line. What we like: Angled second screen is quite useful. Durability is top notch. Better dual-screen software. Powerful hardware features. What we dislike: Less battery life than other options. Keyboard…

To understand the new smart watched and other pro devices of recent focus, we should look to Silicon Valley and the quantified movement of the latest generation. Apple’s Watch records exercise, tracks our moves throughout the day, assesses the amount of time we are stood up and reminds us to get up and move around if we have been sat for too long – let’s not forget Tim Cook’s “sitting is the new factor” line. As you’re tapping, scrolling, and swiping on your phone, you probably don’t give much thought to the fact that your apps are consuming electricity -…