After going viral during the pandemic, Montreal’s Alicia Creti traded business school for studio sessions, signed with Atlantic Records, and delivered Self/Less—a soulful debut EP shaped by heartbreak, hustle, and hard-won creative freedom. “I didn’t take vocal lessons. I popped out of the womb singing.” Alicia Creti never intended to pursue a career in music. Yes—she sang, wrote songs, and learned to play piano from a young age. But by the time she got to high school, Creti felt pressured to pursue a career in finance or the sciences. The Montreal-born singer-songwriter majored in Business at Concordia University until COVID-19…
Author: Yannick Mutombo
Toronto R&B artist Haley Smalls spoke with SHIFTER’S Yannick Mutombo about independence and her new album, The Cure IV, where Smalls proves she doesn’t need a label to craft timeless music—just vision, vulnerability, and her signature sound. “Being independent is a grind, and you definitely have to love it. I’m not anti label. I just think that when it comes to contracts, they need to be tailored to the artist”. -Haley Smalls Haley Smalls learned the ropes of the music industry through trial and error. She started working with management companies at twelve years old, and quickly realized how much…
In our Joeboy interview and concert review, the Nigerian artist discusses his experimental new album, and empowering rising artists. “I’m in a spot in my life and career where I feel more confident. I feel more free. I don’t really worry about [the] destination anymore”. -Joeboy Joeboy didn’t come to play (besides music). The Nigerian-born singer recently stopped by the Concert Hall in Toronto, where he performed his latest album, Viva Lavida, to a lively and energetic crowd—complete with a live band. We spoke the morning after his show (one of many interviews he had scheduled that day). His star-power…
Atlanta native Jai’Len Josey, spoke with SHIFTER’s Yannick Mutombo about her Broadway stint, genre-bending single “New Girl”, and her debut album, Serial Romantic. “When you’re in your own space, you don’t see yourself as much as other people may see you. The way you treat yourself is harsher than other people would expect. So when I hear somebody tell me they see big things for me, it makes me feel like, okay, maybe I need to chill. I can breathe for a little bit and continue on this long but rewarding journey.” -Jai’Len Josey A picture is worth a thousand…
Three-time Juno Award-winning R&B artist Savannah Ré talks with SHIFTER’s Yannick Mutombo about songwriting, her new music, and more. Picture this. You’re a three-time JUNO Award-winning R&B singer with co-signs from legendary producer Babyface and music icons like Drake and SZA. You’ve written songs for Normani and Jessie Reyez, and supported TLC, Coco Jones, and PARTYNEXTDOOR on tour. All the while, the music video for your latest single has quickly amassed several hundred thousand views ahead of the release of your upcoming album, cementing your potential to be a mainstay in the Canadian R&B landscape. “Doors don’t open. You still…
SHIFTER’s Yannick Mutombo talks to Xav, also known as Xavier Trudeau, son of former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, about new music, musical influences, and more. Do you remember falling in love as a teenager? The heebie-jeebies. The butterflies. The yes, this will last forever, and no, we are not too young. A grand gesture (read: promposal). Or, releasing a somber, ambient r&b song—inspired by the likes of Drake and Don Tolliver—to prove to her you are not like the other guys. All’s fair in love and war, and at 17 or 18 years old, it’s every man for himself.…
Toronto rapper DijahSB is nominated for Rap Album of the Year and Dance Recording of the Year at the 2025 Juno Awards. If you are tapped into Canada’s underground rap scene, then you are familiar with DijahSB. The acclaimed rapper’s steady rise to national recognition was years in the making—a single Google search reveals how they’ve performed (or is scheduled to perform) on just about every stage, in just about every province. They were nominated for Canada’s Polaris Music Prize—a cash prize awarded to the best full-length Canadian album judged solely on artistic merit—in 2021 and 2024. Now, they have…
From Beyoncé to Kehlani and Chance The Rapper, SHIFTER’s Yannick Mutombo takes a look at the most anticipated Hip-hop and R&B albums of 2024. Phew. 2023 was…a year! Losing the great Tina Turner cut deep. And the ongoing genocides in Sudan, Congo, Tigray, and Palestine — amongst many others — left us disillusioned by the state of the world. Music was the silver lining. Beyoncé was everywhere (in the best way possible), and the female rap boom finally kicked into full gear. We also got to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, and hip-hop veterans such…
