In January 2019, I was hired by The 519 to be a part of an amazing team put together to collect information regarding the grueling and growing crystal meth epidemic. Some of the main project goals were to interview 100 individuals in Toronto's Church and Wellesley area (an LGBTQ2S+-centric neighborhood) and find out what social/economical supports are missing in the face of crystal meth use/abuse. We held focus groups, various workshops including a zine workshops where Individuals were encouraged to write "Dear Crystal Meth" letters. Some filled out templates we provided, some created artwork, spoken word, poetry etc. Jonathan Valelly creatively seamed all these wonderful letters together, creating a physical full color zine which we distributed at our project launch. My role was to create and audio-visual component which would encapsulate every contribution shared with us. I tried my best to create audio and video tracks around all of these contributions and I hope that I succeeded in capturing every voice and every story shared with us. I particularly made a point to conceal faces to represent the fact that crystal meth and the very subject of it is still very much a taboo zone. The stigma is real and the lives it continues to affect is even realer. Please share this video as much as you can so the message doesn't get lost in the shuffle and in hopes that more support is created for the many who need it. I have attached my artist statement which is printed in the accompanying zine we created, to further convey how important I consider this project and how privileged I am to be a part of it.
I have always been a firm believer that my art is my statement. However, I can’t overstate how being entrusted by The 519 and Breaking The Ice to contribute an artistic component of our research has been and continues to be an incredible honor. I am grateful to have been given the freedom to use Letters to Meth as an artistic platform to showcase all of the data and artwork collected, and in doing so pay respect to a variety of shared experiences by so many individuals. I am, admittedly, apprehensive about sharing my extensive experiences on this particularly dark subject for the first time in my life. But I am left with a heightened understanding of how deeply our communities are suffering because of the lack of supports and resources, compounded by the stigma toward crystal meth that remains unfortunately widespread. I sincerely hope that anyone who listens and engages with the project can not only find new information about the impact of crystal meth, but be encouraged to join a louder, pressing dialogue about how to respond. Expressing myself musically and artistically has always been a highly personal and therapeutic means to channel my dark experiences and emotions. In doing so, I aim to transform them into something not only vivid and beautiful, but also constructive. I can only hope that I managed to do that with everyone's contributions. I made it my mission to assure that every voice is heard in this project, (sometimes literally). Through my involvement with Breaking The Ice, I have never become more aware of my particular privileges and unique path. This deeper insight is thanks to the brave and fabulous people who contributed. For that I am profoundly grateful.
I have always been a firm believer that my art is my statement. However, I can’t overstate how being entrusted by The 519 and Breaking The Ice to contribute an artistic component of our research has been and continues to be an incredible honor. I am grateful to have been given the freedom to use Letters to Meth as an artistic platform to showcase all of the data and artwork collected, and in doing so pay respect to a variety of shared experiences by so many individuals. I am, admittedly, apprehensive about sharing my extensive experiences on this particularly dark subject for the first time in my life. But I am left with a heightened understanding of how deeply our communities are suffering because of the lack of supports and resources, compounded by the stigma toward crystal meth that remains unfortunately widespread. I sincerely hope that anyone who listens and engages with the project can not only find new information about the impact of crystal meth, but be encouraged to join a louder, pressing dialogue about how to respond. Expressing myself musically and artistically has always been a highly personal and therapeutic means to channel my dark experiences and emotions. In doing so, I aim to transform them into something not only vivid and beautiful, but also constructive. I can only hope that I managed to do that with everyone's contributions. I made it my mission to assure that every voice is heard in this project, (sometimes literally). Through my involvement with Breaking The Ice, I have never become more aware of my particular privileges and unique path. This deeper insight is thanks to the brave and fabulous people who contributed. For that I am profoundly grateful.
|
I August of 2017, I did a "fan remix" of Squeaky Blonde's cover of "Still A Child". His response was so genuine, appreciative and through this experience, we developed a personal and creative team. I am proud to have collaborated with someone who challenged me, and in turn also encouraged me to push his boundaries resulting in 2 complete tracks that are out of my "comfort zone" as far as artistic direction. We officially released the singles "Loaded" and "Daddy" and although the reception was positive, for me personally, the process of this collaboration was truly the most rewarding aspect of this new-found creative alliance. "Fan remixes or re-works" are some of my favorite projects to work on. I obviously choose a track of an artist I respect and admire and hope the create an interpretation they will appreciate, all the while keeping the essence of the original song. One of my proudest moments is winning over Jody Watley, Grammy-award-winning best selling dance artist of all time. After taking a break out of the spotlight to raise her family, she released her single "Sanctuary" which she produced herself on her own production imprint. She is notorious for knowing her dance Dj's and collaborating with some of the best deep house innovators such as the great late Frankie Knuckles. So to accompany the remix, I found all the footage I could find of when she was a young girl and THE LEAD dancer on Soul Train and meshed the footage together, correcting really old, damaged video snippets resulting in a finished product she loved and praised me for. She thanked me personally, followed me on all my social media and even discussed in with RuPaul on his podcast. She is truly one of the most humble, down-to-earth public figures I have ever encountered and it was truly mind-blowing getting that kind of recognition from her when I've been a fan of hers since buying her first album on CASSETTE in 1987.
|
|
|
What I aspire to achieve the most as a musical artist is to hopefully design/compose soundtracks for Fashion shows, Live Art performances, Dance-related productions etc. This video is a 2 year process where I selected my favorite Jean Paul Gaultier runway show and stripped the soundtrack and constructed an entirely new 33 minute soundscape of all original material. My goal was to highlight my specifically crafted compositions to compliment the garments, the models' demeanors, and reflect sonically what I see visually and feel emotionally.
|
|
|
This is a short promotional video I put together to showcase my best friend's new ventures in Art/Painting. She had uploaded several of her pieces to instragram along with time-lapse videos of her in mid-creation process and I composed a soundtrack and assembled her work in a way that showcased her talents. She was thrilled with the outcome which ultimately warmed my heart.
Working with a close friend you have known since you were a young teenager and exploring mutual support is one of the most gratifying experiences. I suggested to her that she should record herself discussing her artistic process and with those vocal tracks, I created an original soundtrack and suggested we create a collaborative piece that reflects our combined artistic offerings. The second video "Timecode" is the result which I'm extremely proud of. |
|
|
In early 2016, I discovered local Toronto musician/songwriter/producer Maylee Todd. I was moved by her ecclectic range of musical styles, her incredible talent and the fact that she produces all of her work entirely on her own. I deconstructed a track she released, remixed it in a stylized way I thought she would appreciate, put a video together comprised of video stills from her live performances and her artwork and sent it to her. Her response was touching, supportive, appreciative and a wonderful relationship developed from it. I have incredible amounts of respect for this lovely human being.
|
|
|
In 2012, I asked my friend Kelly Adams, who I've know since the age of 16 if she would be interested in a collaboration. She's an exquisite vocalist, lyricist and geniuinely wonderful human being. Since we live 600 kms apart, she sent me 7 vocals files. 1 master with all of her vocals and 6 separate tracks of her singing various harmonies, ad libs and I generally told her to send anything she felt inspired to share.
|
|
One of my all-time favorite vocalists/recording artists is fellow Torontonian Esthero. I have always loved her musical diversity, her many many collaborations with a very respectable list of musicians, a voice like a hot knife through a pad of butter and a super charming personality to boot! When she released her last self-produced album Everything Is Expensive, the opening track is a 2 minute "prelude" called Crash. A fuller alternate version is also on the album but I re-arranged the vocal harmonies, creating a choir or harmonies, added some city beats and used various artwork and images I found on her website and created the accompanying video. Not only did she write me personally to thank me and gave me accolades for my work, she asked my permission to post a remix of HER track on her own media pages. I could barely contain myself with excitement that she even contacted me, let alone loved my interpretation. This was truly one of THE highlights of my life...any aspiring independent musician hopes to get that of recognition from someone they have supported, respected and appreciated for over 3 decades.
Allie X started releasing her own teaser videos in 2014. From the start she has made it clear in interviews that she has no desire to become a media celebrity. She already maintained a successful career as a songwriter yet each video and song she released proved this young artist was doing something original and completely on her terms. Once again I re-interpreted the track, with my usual sidekick video treatments and sent it off to her. She immediately responded with praise and once again, a Thank You. I eventually came to the realization that all of the artists I've "remixed" (and there are many) the few that have shown me kindness and words of encouragement all happen to be Canadian ;)
|
|
1990 was an incredibly significant year in my life. I was 18, finishing up my last year of high school, coming to terms with being gay when it wasn't exactly a notion that was embraced, especially deep in the heart of Northern Canada. Deee-Lite released World Clique and considering how often isolating living in such a sheltered community, the title of the album truly helped me feel connected to the city life I would soon discover. Every track on the album was fresh, sharply produced and Miss Kier's kissy breathy lip-smackin' verses just made the experience so fucking cool. Almost 3 decades later and I still consider it to be one of my favorite / influencial albums. Although Groove Is In The Heart is unquestionable their biggest and most recognizable track and the fact that it's been remixed to death, when I stumbled across the studio acapella, I couldn't help but create a mix that Miss Kier would approve of. I have incredible respect for her Dj skills and her refined taste in music so the day she wrote me personally too tell me she loved the mix and that I had talent, well no amount of money, commissions, celebrity etc could EVER measure up to the value behind getting her stamp of approval. This truly was THE proudest moment of my life.
|
In July 2017 Sandra Bernhard unleased her hounds on Donald Trump. She used her podcast "Sandyland" as a platform to call this douche of a human out for all the shady, dirty filth he represents. Just when I thought I couldn't love her more, I was incredibly in awe that this woman just basically handed him his (lack of) balls on a rusty platter. Naturally I felt compelled to use her rant, especially the F bombs, in fact making FUCK YOU the heart of a bitch track. I used footage of her 90's one woman show Without You I'm Nothing where she shakes her tail in a US flag-clad bikini, originally grinding to Prince's Little Red Corvette, not shakin' it to beats I constructed for her, only she didn't know it....until, 3 months after I posted this project, she finally got wind of it and her response was one only she could give: "oh honey you've gone next level! Rant Dance Extravaganza".
|
|