Poetic, Groovy, Funky at times and Soulful overall, Yao, with his deep voice, succeeds in enchanting with the warm universe of his gentle poetry and his artistic audacity. His vivid writing—imbued with great sensitivity—reminds us of the textual richness of French rap from MC Solaar, Abdel Malik, or Oxmo Puccino, with an eclectic pop side—where musical worlds succeed and intertwine through the antics of this poet.
Wild Black is a multi-hyphenate creative making waves and receiving acclaim from major outlets like AFROPUNK, The Fader, Indie88, Yohomo, Earmilk, The Toronto Star, and Analogue Trash, who dubbed her latest single ‘I Miss The High’ “Madonna and Blood Orange collaborating on a glittering pop bop”. CBC has featured Wild Black on radio shows “Q” and “The Block”, and featured her on CBC Music’s esteemed lists “Songs You Need To Hear” and “28 Canadian albums we can’t wait to hear in 2024”. Wild Black’s music is synced to TV shows such as “Strays” on CBC Gem, “Querencia” on APTN’s Lumi, and “The D Cut” on Crave Canada, and she’s a two-time recipient of the MVP project by RBCxMusic and Prism Prize, supporting the visuals for her singles “Moon Star Lover” and “Stay Dreamin’”.
Playing with moods and blending genres, Wild Black combines influences of disco, 80s/90s dance, pop, and rock into her genre-fluid alternative dream pop sound peppered with hints of Beach House, Twin Shadow, Solange, and Santigold throughout. Her dynamic presence and captivating stage show incorporates live instrumentation with electronic elements to create an upbeat and infectious soundscape, luring your body straight to the dance floor. Now signed to Toronto indie label Next Door Records, Wild Black is gearing up for the release of her debut album and will be announcing more festival and tour dates soon. Stay Close!
“Wild Black hits the sweet spot between dreamy melancholy and forward-looking desire on her dancey new single “Stay Dreamin” which channels the 80s-inflected spirit of Blood Orange and Carly Rae Jepsen” – TORONTO STAR
“Stay Dreamin’ tells a story of optimism, self-love and authenticity, and her smooth, self-assured vocals are set to a dance mix that you’ll be humming for days. – CBC MUSIC
“Now based in Toronto, it’s been super exciting to see her blossoming as Wild Black, bringing an emotionally poignant songwriting perspective to progressive, new-wave dance beats.” – AFROPUNK
Special thanks to the City of Toronto for their support of Toronto #GTMF24 artists.
“1 of 15 Asian Canadian Artists To Watch Right Now” – Entertainment Tonight Canada (May 2023)
Spitty is an Indian rapper and community leader from Brampton, Canada who is creating a monumental buzz with a dedicated following. His music carries a thoughtful yet energetic nature as he strives to inspire listeners through his songs. South Asian samples and instruments blend with North American influence to birth his unique approach to hip hop.
Spitty’s debut album Full Circle was a hit around the world, receiving praise from everyone including Rolling Stone India & Much Music Canada, highlighting his national and global reach. Off the strength of the album, Spitty curated & headlined his own sold out Toronto concert and performed several dozen times in the surrounding area before taking his music on the road for a 6 week USA tour in early 2022. He quickly followed this up with the 22 show Full Circle Tour, spanning several cities in USA & Canada. This included Canadian Music Week, DesiFest at Yonge-Dundas Square, LAUNCH Music Festival, NXNE, Brampton Canada Day with Kardinal Offishall, & much more.
In 2023, Spitty was featured in Complex Canada for being a Brampton Artist Ambassador and putting on free monthly open mic events for the community. His hit single Not For Me was featured on HotNewHipHop and Rolling Stone India. Teaming up with EverythingOShauN, Spitty’s next single, Up Now, was featured on Spotify’s Northern Bars playlist, Shifter Magazine, and HipHopCanada. Over the past year he’s also begun giving speeches at schools, doubling down on his mission to motivate & inspire. In late 2023, Spitty became a global brand ambassador for the historic alcohol brand Chivas Regal.
In 2024, Spitty is set to grow exponentially through brand new music and content.
Special thanks to the Brampton Arts Organization for their support of Brampton #GTMF24 artists.
Formed in 2016 in the heart of Montreal, Sonido Pesao is more than just a music group. Blending Latin-Urban-Rap influences, our unique sound reflects the diversity of our members, hailing from various countries in Latin America and the metropolis of Montreal.
Powerful, impactful, and rooted in the raw energy of disadvantaged neighborhoods, our music transcends boundaries to create an unforgettable sonic experience. The scenes of our performances overflow with contagious energy, where the explosive atmosphere defies conventional classification.
Sonido Pesao’s socially conscious lyrics are a product of our lived experiences, oscillating between the harsh realities of the streets and the unbridled celebrations of life. Through our music, we aim to create chaos while sparking reflection—a unique combination that makes Sonido Pesao more than just a band, but a force shaking the foundations of the music scene.
Join us on this musical journey that transcends cultural borders, ready to resonate in Montreal and beyond. ¡Vamos a romper con Sonido Pesao!
Special thanks to the Bureau du Québec à Toronto for their support of Québec #GTMF24 artists.
Révélation Radio-Canada 2024 and Winner of Francouvertes 2024, Soleil Launière is an Innu multidisciplinary artist from Mashteuiatsh. She released her debut album Taueu in fall 2023, exploring themes of language identity, femininity and matriarchy. On stage, with the musicians of the band CHANCES (Chloé Lacasse, Geneviève Toupin, Vincent Carré) and Simon Walls, she combines vocal harmonies and strong percussion with performance art. This intriguing new soul-roots project transports the audience into a deep and gripping experience.
Special thanks to the Bureau du Québec à Toronto for their support of Québec #GTMF24 artists.
Sina Bathaie is a Multi-instrumentalist, Producer and Composer with more than 55 million streams on digital platforms. Originally from Iran, he is known for his unique style of playing traditional instruments such as the oud and ukulele and bringing an eastern touch to his electronic music.
Sina has performed at festivals and events including Burning Man, Luminato, Folk Music Ontario, CINARS, and Mundial Montréal.
His single “Breath of Life,” has amassed 20 million streams and achieved charting success in countries including Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey. His single “Seven Ponds” became trending with millions of streams upon release in early 2024.
He has been signed with record labels such as Hoomidaas, Windcatcher Records, Tibetania and Camel VIP and has performed internationally. Sina began learning the santur at the age of seven from his father, Javad Bathaie, and studied Persian music with the instrument Oud.
Special thanks to the City of Toronto for their support of Toronto #GTMF24 artists.
Salin is a Thai-born drummer, Juno nominated producer and composer. Her current sound explores the enchanting sounds of Northeast Thailand and marries it with the 70’s psychedelia of West Africa, all through the lens of a modern soulful production.
ln 2021, she released her debut album Cosmic Island with which she had the opportunity to perform at a variety of festivals, including the beloved Montreal International Jazz Festival.
The following year, Salin traveled to Northeastern Thailand where the local culture, music and instruments sparked an idea for her next project: to bridge elements of traditional Thai instruments and Isan music with the rhythm and groove of Soul/Funk and 70’s West African Afrobeat. Working with both local Thai as well as Canadian musicians, Salin is bringing together elements of East and West in the form of her second full-length album, set to be released in 2024.
In 2023, Salin, in the role of producer, was tasked by female Haitian duo Bel & Quinn to lead the creation of their first album Donte Sann Yo, which would go on to be nominated for Best World Album of 2024 at the Juno Awards.
Through her music, Salin ponders themes of identity, spirituality, and humanity (all paired with a dose of fun) to create a unique sonic journey for her listeners. She divides her time between her Canada-based studio and stages across the globe.
Special thanks to the Bureau du Québec à Toronto for their support of Québec #GTMF24 artists.
ROSINA is a musical group that creates narratives through poetry, techno and avant-garde performance. Is composed by Rosina Kazi, lead singer; Franny Galore Wingz as drag performer & Producer Nic Murray in the cords, inspired by techno culture, equity activism & and atypical performance ROSINA creates an otherworldly sound bringinh the prophecies of ‘multiple futures’.
Special thanks to the City of Toronto for their support of Toronto #GTMF24 artists.
“Best New Ambient – [Olsen] reinforces just how far he’s stretched the cello from its familiar environment.” – Bandcamp Daily
“evocative, experimental, and emotional” – American Songwriter
“flows along with the same gush of honeyed ecstasy as a great mid-period Cocteau Twins track…. one glorious rush of beauty and sadness. In the right setting, this one is tough to listen to without tears.” – Paste Magazine
Michael Peter Olsen is a Toronto-based composer, cellist, producer and Grammy nominated songwriter, who is known for his work with artists such as Drake, Arcade Fire, Ed Sheeran, Sharon Van Etten, Haim, K-OS, Jim Guthrie, The Hidden Cameras, Electric Youth, Zoon and many more.
After decades of playing and experimenting Michael has created his own sound, “Post-Cello”, a rethinking of cello and the various roles it plays in popular music. Michael’s new eponymous electric cello based solo project is CMU approved and has been heard on BBC3, NPR, KEXP, CBC Radio, Canadian college radio and by 10K monthly online listeners. Michael’s second full length Narrative of a Nervous System was released Oct 2023 on Hand Drawn Dracula/Red Eye International featuring collaborations with Zoon, Owen Pallett, Mairi Chaimbeul and Alaska B (Yamataka Sonic Titan). 2023 saw several solo tours of Japan, Europe, Scandinavia and and the debut of the new live band featuring Owen Pallett, Alsaka B, and VR artist Shawn Chiki at a special locational surround sound multimedia performance in Toronto.
Special thanks to the City of Toronto for their support of Toronto #GTMF24 artists.
Award-winning flutist and bansuri player, Lara Wong and flamenco guitarist, Melón Jiménez, make flamenco their universal musical language to traverse musical territories. Their music ebbs and flows with elegance and emotive power, as they fuse the soul of flamenco with the inventive spirit of jazz and the rhythmic improvisations of Indian music.
Wong is a distinctive and promising musical voice who studied flamenco in Andalusia after completing her degree in classical and jazz performance at McGill University. Over the years, she has become a respected figure in the flamenco scene, best known for playing flamenco music on the Indian bansuri flute. Lara is also the winner of the “Filon” first prize award for best flamenco instrumentalist of the Festival Cante de las Minas, making her the first foreigner to win in any category of the festivals 60 year history.
Wong’s approach is a natural fit for guitarist Melón Jiménez, who first extensively explored the intersections of flamenco and classical Indian music as a member of Anoushka Shankar’s Traveller Band in 2013. Jiménez was born into a musically and culturally diverse family that encouraged him to learn the music of his Andalusian gitano (Spanish Roma) roots and to use the flamenco guitar as a doorway to innovation. His musical versatility has led to collaborations with artists of all genres such as: Enrique Morente, Richard Bona, Niña Pastori, and Jorge Pardo.
This groundbreaking duo first met on stage in 2018 in the flamenco jazz capital of Madrid. There was an instant connection and an intuitive understanding that Wong and Jiménez shared compatible musical visions. The rest, as they say, is history and they have been creating beautiful, transformative music together ever since. Together they have performed across Europe, Asia, and North America at venues such as, Vancouver Folk Festival, Blue Note Shanghai, Mariposa Festival, Suma Flamenca, Festival de Tradiciones du Monde, SunFest, and many more.