Jamaica to Toronto

What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?

The banality of the lead up to the next American presidential elections has (literally) driven me to our collection of Civil rights era music that inspired people towards positive social change: from Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, to Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, to Peter Tosh’s Legalize It, The Clash’s London Calling, mixed in with some Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…and there’s nothing like listening to some John Trudell, an incredible Native American spoken word artist and musician. 

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

While we’re on the topic of civil rights, many African Americans, Jews, women, etc., fought, died and bled for the right to vote (it’s all there in your history books)– so, it’s almost sacrilegious not to vote. It would mean we are unintentionally desecrating on the graves of those who gave their lives for this right. And being a passive recipient to everything that happens around us civically-speaking, or not weighing in on how we’d like our society to be is not cool. Civic engagement is crucial. Mahatma Gandhi said to “be the change you want to see in the world” and that message is truly timeless....
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What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?

The banality of the lead up to the next American presidential elections has (literally) driven me to our collection of Civil rights era music that inspired people towards positive social change: from Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, to Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, to Peter Tosh’s Legalize It, The Clash’s London Calling, mixed in with some Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…and there’s nothing like listening to some John Trudell, an incredible Native American spoken word artist and musician. 

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

While we’re on the topic of civil rights, many African Americans, Jews, women, etc., fought, died and bled for the right to vote (it’s all there in your history books)– so, it’s almost sacrilegious not to vote. It would mean we are unintentionally desecrating on the graves of those who gave their lives for this right. And being a passive recipient to everything that happens around us civically-speaking, or not weighing in on how we’d like our society to be is not cool. Civic engagement is crucial. Mahatma Gandhi said to “be the change you want to see in the world” and that message is truly timeless....
Show More

What music are you listening to / art are you checking out these days?

The banality of the lead up to the next American presidential elections has (literally) driven me to our collection of Civil rights era music that inspired people towards positive social change: from Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On, to Bob Dylan’s The Times They Are A-Changin’, to Peter Tosh’s Legalize It, The Clash’s London Calling, mixed in with some Gil Scott Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised…and there’s nothing like listening to some John Trudell, an incredible Native American spoken word artist and musician. 

Why should people, especially youth, vote?

While we’re on the topic of civil rights, many African Americans, Jews, women, etc., fought, died and bled for the right to vote (it’s all there in your history books)– so, it’s almost sacrilegious not to vote. It would mean we are unintentionally desecrating on the graves of those who gave their lives for this right. And being a passive recipient to everything that happens around us civically-speaking, or not weighing in on how we’d like our society to be is not cool. Civic engagement is crucial. Mahatma Gandhi said to “be the change you want to see in the world” and that message is truly timeless. 

For you, is there a connection between art and democracy? What is it?

Young people are more apt to respond to the words of a Bono (versus Tony Blair) or a K’naan (versus Stephen Harper) when it comes to getting politically motivated and engaged, and to address the needs of the “people” around issues related to jobs, the environment, racism, sexism – there is a direct correlation between the two. Uh, Murray Lightburn (The Dears) for President!


Why do you care about community, when it is so easy not to?

All artistes, musicians are products of their “community”. In fact, much of their artistic output reveals their trials and tribulations of just being.

What do you look for in a politician? What do you expect from your MP?

Politico double-speak is never good, and neither is reneging on promises (especially ones that are recorded and heard on CBC by millions nationwide). Not to sound cliché, but the youth are our future, so if your local MP is not concerned about youth issues, then he or she clearly doesn’t care much about the future of our country. Youth issues should be one the top five areas to be discussed at their debates.
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