When you think Nando’s the first thing that comes to mind is chicken and maybe the last thing is music, but the two have more in common than you think.
Early month the international dining chain announced that the annual Nando’s Music Exchange workshop would be expanding to Canada through a partnership with The Remix Project. The program was launched in the U.K. after expanding to Australia and South Africa last year.
The program allows promising and up and coming artists the opportunity to connect with chart-topping artists and industry experts over four days. Past mentors include Ella Eyre, Urthboy, Dope Saint Jude and Muzi. This year’s program will take place at the iconic Roundhouse in London from June 4th to June 7th.
With the success of Canadian artists like Drake, Justin Bieber, Shawn Mendes, the Weeknd and Alessia Cara, it’s no wonder Nando’s chose to expand to Canada next.
“We’re thrilled to bring this program to Canadian soil, and showcase home-grown talent at Nando’s Music Exchange for the very first time,” said Ron Cecillon, President and CEO, Nando’s Canada. “Our purpose at Nando’s is to change lives, and our partnership with The Remix Project will help to change the lives of talented young musicians by providing them with a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
Canada will be represented at the Nando’s Music Exchange by Jahmeika “Meika” Reid and Florian Credo. You may not have heard of them yet, but you definitely will soon.
Being of British, Jamaican, Indian and Portuguese descent, Jameika Reid’s diverse cultural background can be heard in her music. At three years old she spent almost a year living in Jamaica and explores British Jamaican culture through her music. She can effortlessly go back and forth between English and Jamaican accents on the same track, revealing a bit of her family ties to Manchester, one of the hotbeds for West Indian culture in the U.K.
Meanwhile, music producer Florian Credo, a Filipino-Canadian born and raised in Toronto to immigrant parents, has his own unique style, mixing up tempo and down tempo beats that blur the lines between hip-hop and electronic music. True to his Filipino culture and values, Florian knows the importance of family, community and hospitality.
Together they represent the international flavour that is the future of Canadian music.
Click here for more information about the Nando’s Music Exchange.
