Author: Kevin Bourne

SHIFTER’s Artist of the Month for January is Makadi – an American R&B/Soul and Hip-hop artist of Zimbabwean descent but currently based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. A champion of versatility and melodic finesse, Makadi consistently pushes the envelope of authenticity. He currently releases music based on “The Color Spectrum” which explores what colour music sounds and feels like. In January 2019, Makadi released his debut album YLLW (pronounced yellow) and in February 2020 he released his sophomore album BLU. His third project TNGRNE released on July 31, 2020 and his fourth project BLCK recently released in December 13th 2020, which…

South Africa is set to host its first annual South African Music Week with the help of some friends from the Great White North. The two nations will partner on the first edition of the event to “build a robust cross-border music industry based on collaboration and making the most of ‘Music in the 4IR’”. Inspired by Canadian Music Week, SAMW 2021 will see South Africa and Canada come together to explore ways in which to maximize how music, technology and business are converging, and to forge a new path for success for all musicians. SAMW is free to attend and…

On December 23, Brandon Gonez sent shockwaves through the city of Toronto when he announced he was leaving his post as a reporter at CP24. Even Champagnepapi himself, Drake, took to Instagram to give him a well-deserved send off. Some assumed Gonez was moving on to a bigger opportunity at another major broadcaster, but in the end he decided to bet on himself. On January 17, Gonez will be taking his talents to YouTube with the launch of The Brandon Gonez Show, a weekly show with a mix of news, entertainment, local business coverage, and good news stories. The move…

Following the August release of his summer single “Highway”, which has over 82K streams on Spotify to date, Ottawa rapper, singer and songwriter, Hueso, is ending 2020 with the release of a brand new single “Prime”. For the genre-bending artist, who fuses hip-hop storytelling and flows with R&B melodies and vocals, his latest release continues the vulnerability and introspection we’ve seen from him on previous releases. Through his easy and effortless vocals, he tells the story of transition and maturation as he leaves a toxic relationship for a newer and, hopefully, happier one, reflecting on both the pain he has…

Ottawa native Dax recently took to social media to once again tease his long-awaited surprise collaboration. In the end, the rumours were true. Dax ended 2020 with his biggest collab to date – none other than Ohio hip-hop artist Trippie Redd. Together, the pair have dropped their new single “i don’t want another sorry”, a story of pain, heartbreak and love gone wrong. Known as one of the most gifted lyricists in the game today, Dax goes back to his roots as a poet as he wears his heart on his sleeve on the Trademark produced track. Two wrongs don’t make…

On the heels of their summer smash “Between The Groove”, which landed them on CityTV Toronto’s Breakfast Televsion and CTV’s The Marilyn Denis show and etalk (the latter calling it “the song of the summer”), Vancouver duo IAMTHELIVING x Teon Gibbs are back with visuals for their follow-up collaborative single, “Puppa”. Released in late September, the track has over 53K streams and counting on Spotify. With crisp lighting, pops of colour, and an all out dance party, the Sterling Larose directed video is a throwback to simpler times when we were just focused on having fun. “We really tried to…

Yesterday, Toronto native and hip-hop producer, Eva Shaw, ended 2020 with the release of her latest single “Addicted” alongside DB Bantino and ILLYMINIACHI. The song also features Montreal’s Nate Husser, SHIFTER’s artist of the month for September and one of the hottest rappers in Canada right now. The single is a follow up to Shaw and Husser’s previous collaborations “I Been Doing Great (You Can Stop MFing Asking)” and “Foot On They Neck”. Husser recently appeared on Le WarmUp FM in Montreal where he talked about how he met Shaw and their time together in the studio. “We had linked up…

In time for the holidays, Ottawa rapper Lindasson blessed fans with his debut self-titled album LINDASSON. Although the cover art (created by Lindasson and Jdinero), as well as his name and the title of the album, are all a nod to his late mother, for Lindasson this debut release is about introducing fans to his name and brand. Recorded, mixed and mastered by the artist at home in his kitchen, with no features, this offering is the epitome of a solo project. Featuring a roster of all Ottawa producers, including ProdCr, Moreno, Dejesvs, Sweezy and Lindasson himself who produced two songs…

Directed by George C. Wolfe, produced by Denzel Washington, Todd Black, and Dany Wolf, and based on the Tony-nominated play of the same name, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom takes place during an evening in Chicago in 1927 and tells the story of how legendary Blues singer, Ma Rainey, and her band recorded the song “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. The film, which stars Viola Davis (How To Get Away With Murder, Fences) as “The Mother of the Blues”, Ma Rainey, also stars the late Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther, 42) as trumpet player Levee Green in his final role prior to losing his battle with colon cancer…

On December 11th, the Frank E. Abney III directed and by Paige Johnstone produced animated short film Canvas came to Netflix. The film tells the story of an African-American grandfather and painter who has lost his creative inspiration after the loss of his wife. We find him waking up alone next to the empty spot where he wife once laid as he is forced to embrace his new reality. Years later, it would be another woman in his life – his young and curious granddaughter – who would help him find his creative touch again. Through revisit old paintings he’s able to reconnect with…

Ottawa raised and now Toronto-based artist Kaptev recently dropped some new visuals for his new single “Miracles”. The song was written following the NBA Finals championship game which saw the Los Angeles Lakers defeat the Eastern Conference champion Miami Heat. Inspired by seeing Lebron James overcome the doubters and haters to win another title, similar to how the Raptors did a season earlier, Kaptev penned this inspirational yet wavy track about overcoming the odds when people don’t want to see you win. “‘Miracles’ is about striving for the heights. It’s about not caring what the naysayers project, and staying loyal to…

Today, Ottawa rapper Lance Lorenzo released his brand new EP Vive la 808, a follow up to his previous 2020 release müde. The five-song project was conceived and recorded during the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic, from May to November of this year. If you’ve followed Lorenzo’s trajectory since his 2018 debut, you’ll probably agree this is the best music we’ve heard from him yet. According to Lorenzo, the project is a reminder of the pre-COVID times of going out and having a good time with your squad. “The idea was very heavily inspired by the new shift in our society, where…