The Connected Music Series will showcase Black, Indigenous and South Asian music performers and content creators at culturally significant spaces across Canada. The new series, presented by TD Bank and curated by Canada’s Music incubator (CMI), features 20 emerging artists and will be streamed on the Connected Music Series YouTube channel from November 19 to December 20.
“At TD, we know that music has the power to inspire, connect and enlighten. Together with CMI, we are excited to help amplify and elevate diverse voices across Canada through this new, purpose-driven series,” says Michael Armstrong, Vice President, Brand and Corporate Sponsorship at TD. “By sharing these amazing stories with our customers, colleagues and communities, it allows us to learn and grow together.”
“As an organization, CMI’s mandate is to provide professional development and curate live events for artists of all genres and cultures,” says Jesse Mitchell, Director Live Events, CMI. “The Connected Music Series is a platform that will introduce Canadians to a new generation of Indigenous, Black and South Asian artists, their stories, and their communities.”
Four 30-minute performances, primarily produced by Black, Indigenous and South Asian production teams, will be streamed each week over five weeks on the Connected Music Series YouTube channel. The line-up of artists includes Edmonton’s Celeigh Cardinal, Indigenous Artist of the Year at the JUNO Awards (2020). “It’s inspiring to see that TD and CMI are finding ways to employ diverse artists and content creators through the pandemic, while showcasing cultural spaces,” says Cardinal.
“As a developing film creator who is also a BIPOC, the Connected Music Series has given me the opportunity to showcase my work across Canada, not only to fans, but to other content creators,” says Jennifer Hum, a Toronto-based videographer.
“I’m hiring my own indigenous film and audio crew and holding the performance at Friday Knights, my hometown’s DIY merchandise store. It feels great being able to support them during this time, ” says Winnipeg’s Sebastian Gaskin.
Other performing artists include Spin Singh, Desiree Dawson, James Baley, Classic Roots, Jodie B, Sacha, Wolf Castle, Khanvict, Shawnee, Zakisha Brown, Shamik, KARÍMAH, Fateh, Leela Gilday, Logan Staats, Horsepowar, Cartel Madras, and Kirk Diamond.
The performance locations selected by each artist all hold personal and cultural significance including The Garden Strathcona in Vancouver; the Ociciwan Contemporary Art Centre and the Art Gallery of Alberta, in Edmonton; Bullock’s Bistro in Yellowknife; Friday Knights in Winnipeg; Apollo Convention Centre, DC Music Studios, Native Earth’s Aki Studio, 918 Bathurst Centre for Culture, Arts, Media and Education in Toronto; Jukasa Studios in Ohsweken, and the Pabineau First Nation Band Hall in Bathurst.
