Musicians, artists and industry insiders descend on Ottawa, Canada for panels, performances, and parties at the 2025 Cranium Conference and Showcase.
Ottawa’s creative scene is growing at a tremendous pace with new artists, producers, graphic designers, photographers, and more emerging daily. With this comes a greater demand for resources such as funding, professional advice, networking opportunities, and platforms to show their work. The Cranium Arts Project offers all of that and more. From May 1-4, 2025, their annual Cranium Conference and Showcase hosted hundreds of creatives and industry professionals from the nation’s capital and beyond.
SHIFTER had the chance to attend the four-day festival whose goal is to connect active industry professionals with musicians, artists, and people making moves in the art and entertainment business. The weekend featured a variety of networking sessions and information panels, and a grand finale showcase that spotlighted some of the city’s hottest acts, including Shim In The Cut, Taapz, Maeesha B, and Emma Gabriel.
The conference provided deep insights into essential topics like grant writing, how to navigate festivals and showcases, and even DJ fundamentals, courtesy of the legendary DJ EASE and DJ Scram Jones.
Lunch concert + party
The event kicked off smoothly with the Jukebox lunch concert in conjunction with the National Arts Centre, which honed a powerful performance by Paula C, a respected veteran in Ottawa’s music scene with over a decade of experience. That evening, attendees celebrated FRMULA’s 5-year anniversary with Ottawa to the World, a high-energy party featuring DJ Mes, DJ Velvet, and a standout performance from City Fidelia. The vibes were consistent from beginning to end, with folks dancing until the lights turned on.
Conference and panels
Days Two and Three of the Cranium Conference were nothing short of information-packed. Day Two kicked off with a potent networking session where key music related support organizations like OMIC talked about the services they offer. Attendees had the opportunity to connect with major industry players, forming relationships that could shape their careers.
Following the networking session there was a DJ workshop led by DJ EASE, who delivered a 90-minute deep dive into topics like serato, battle routines, and the ins and outs of the DJ world. The day wrapped with the return of the Music Master Lab, a fan-favourite from last year. Moderated by City Fidelia, the panel gave local producers the chance to get live feedback on their unreleased tracks from DRTWRK and DJ EASE—two respected names in the industry. DRTWRK, a Montreal-based producer with credits including Kanye West, Joyner Lucas, and Lil Wayne, joined DJ EASE, who’s not only a globe-trotting champion DJ but also tours with Young M.A. This session was a true masterclass, packed with star power and real-world insight from some heavy hitters.
Showcases
Day Three of the Cranium Conference was stacked and featured standout panels like “Cultivating a Music City”, where speakers including Annalie Bonda (Director of operations at OMIC) and Nathan Hammah (Aukiss Media) explored what it takes to develop a thriving music ecosystem. The highlight of Day Three was of course, the Cranium Showcase. Hosted by Jessie Simmons, the show highlighted some of the incredible talent that the nation’s capital has to offer. Maeesha B stood out with a stellar performance accompanied by dancers and had the crowd vibing from beginning to end. Shim In The Cut, a rising star in Ottawa’s music scene, shut down the showcase with an energetic performance that had the crowd on their feet. Every artist who graced the stage came with the intention of showing out. And they did just that.
Brunch
The weekend closed out with a brunch hosted at Tropikal Restaurant with vibes curated by DJ Meseem Up Beats, designed to bring the scene together to connect and have a good time.
This year’s Cranium Conference was a true reflection of how rapidly Ottawa’s music scene is evolving. It wasn’t just an event—it was a blueprint, a launchpad, and a celebration of the city’s undeniable talent. With every panel, performance, and connection made, Cranium reinforced the idea that Ottawa is taking another step into Canada’s music industry, stepping firmly into the spotlight.
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