Author: Kevin Bourne

SHIFTER’s Artist of the Month for February is Marcus Haran, a rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer born in Paris, France and raised in Toronto. Marcus’s interest in performing began at the age of six when his mother bought him a drum set and it was enough to light the spark that led to him discovering his passion for beat boxing, beat production, and rapping. Marcus has a rare and loud skin condition called Vitiligo, a condition that has gripped the likes of pop icon Michael Jackson, supermodel Winnie Harlow, and Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachan, to name but a few. Representing…

Over the weekend, Toronto rapper Top5 was arrested in Windsor, Ontario and charged with accessory after the fact in the January murder of 20 year-old Hashim Omar Hashi. According to police, Hashi had no criminal background. Another man, 24-year-old Emmanuel Missah, was also arrested in connection with the case. According to Toronto police, Top5 was also charged with two counts of failure to comply with probation, three counts of possessing a controlled substance for the purpose of trafficking, as well as possessing items valued at over $5,000 that were obtained by crime. The controversial rapper is set to appear in court…

The 2021 edition of the Toronto Black Film Festival is in full swing and the first film on our radar is Foster Boy, written by Jay Paul Deratany and directed by Youssef Delara. Inspired by true events, Foster Boy tells the story of the dark side of the foster care system in the United States; a system corrupted by greed and private interests. Shane Paul McGhie stars as Jamal, an angry young man who suffered years of sexual and physical abuse while in the foster care system. After being released from prison for his own crimes, he sets his sights on…

Ottawa’s Jaioftherise is back with new visuals for “Take A Soul”, the lead single off his three-song capsule project titled Bad Guy’s Burning Wish  where Jai flexes his creative muscles, introducing us to his alter ego “Halfino”. According to the genre bending artist, the song, produced by a trio of talented Ottawa producers, including ProdbyVegas, Yung Heat, and 4TheWorld, addresses the ins and outs of what’s going on with his life and how he has gotten to be who he is today, as well as his desire to put his mother in a better place. “Promised my momma we ain’t going…

Today, Ottawa-based singer-songwriter and dancer, Marie-Clo, dropped her new EP Shell(e) Pt III along with the project’s first French-language single “Lève tes voiles”. “Making music in both languages ​​is important to me. I embody many things; I am a woman, an artist, a lover, an activist, bilingual and proud of it”, she explains. According to Marie-Clo, the Olivier Fairfield-produced project is about recapturing our power and strength and accentuating the positive sides of womanhood. She goes on to explain the songs on Shell (e) Pt III are even stronger, freer, more confident and features an uninhibited version of herself; a freedom we have…

Following the release of her music video “Worthy” which made her SHIFTER’s video of the month winner for December, Calgary R&B singer Justine Tyrell is back with new single “Radar”, a stripped down, acoustic R&B piano ballad about a former flame who chose to keep their ex on their radar. “Radar is a song that calls out the past lover who is stuck keeping the door to the past cracked open just enough to never fully let go of what they once had”, Tyrell explains. “The stripped down, and intimate mood recounts the one who still keeps an eye on…

Ten years after launching its streaming service in Canada, Netflix has announced it is opening a new Canadian office. To be opened in either Toronto or Vancouver, the office will allow Netflix to be closer to Canadian creators. Netflix also announced it will be hiring a dedicated Canadian content executive to run the office. “…we have built relationships with so many talented directors, screenwriters, actors, producers, animators and more…Canada is an amazingly diverse country and growing our presence locally will help us share more authentically Canadian stories with the world, whether through the development of original content or through co-production…

By Allison Kugel As leader of the legendary multi-platinum selling rap group, The Wu-Tang Clan, RZA, or Bobby, as he is known to close friends and colleagues, had a particular way of putting beats to razer-sharp lyrics that made you feel part of a song’s creative process. Fans feel RZA’s music, both from Wu-Tang and his solo and collaborative efforts, on a cellular level.  An urban-bred intellectual who expresses through a mic or camera lens, RZA is considered prophetic to his community and perhaps a unicorn to mainstream culture. With a penchant for Eastern philosophy as is evident in the…

Ottawa R&B artist and dancer, Queenyy is back with “Distance”, the latest single from her 2020 EP of the same name. The project and single tell the story of the ups and downs of long distance relationships, including jealousy and distrust. “‘Distance’ paints a picture of how jealousy can be contagious in a relationship”, Queenyy told SHIFTER. “I’m the type of person that if I say I’m your girl, I really mean that there’s no one else in my life – ‘When I said I felt it, I meant it.’ But if you still don’t believe that I’m being true,…

Since the murders of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor and the resulting conversations surrounding anti-Black racism, artists and fans alike have been calling for greater Black representation in the Canadian music industry. In celebration of Black History Month, Warner Music Canada is presenting the first ever installment of Black Alliance Vol 1 featuring artists from the labels Black roster. The six song project features covers of legendary Black anthems with a bit of a modern twist, including Charmaine’s cover of “U.N.I.T.Y.” by Queen Latifah, Just John’s cover of Missy Elliott’s “My Struggles”, Amaal’s cover of “Brown Skin” by India.Arie, Myles…

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a damper on live entertainment all over the world, from live music to sporting events, with many savvy entrepreneurs and creators taking to social media and online streaming services to provide fans with a temporary virtual escape in a time when many need it. One of those individuals is comedian, content creator and entrepreneur, Kevonstage, who’s roots in social media and online comedy have positioned him as one of the leading producers of comedic content over the past year. One of his mid-pandemic ventures is the Keep Your Distance comedy show series, now 12 volumes deep,…

Fresh off his appearance on Hello Canada’s “Seven up-and-coming Canadian musicians to watch in 2021” list, Ottawa artist and producer, AP, is back with his trap anthem “On God”. Written and produced by AP and mixed, mastered and engineered by Lindasson, the song blends high energy trap production with a well-needed message of hope for the future, despite how things may seem. “‘On God’ is for anyone who has experienced a discouraging situation and felt like they would never overcome it”, he told SHIFTER. “It’s about speaking life into hopeless situations because I believe there’s always hope for better.” AP…