Music
17 Canadian artists tell us their favourite music moments of 2017
We look back at 2017's most profound songs, artists and music moments with a selection of Canadian talent, including Jessie Reyez, Lido Pimienta, FrancisGotHeat and Pierre Kwenders.
2017 was nothing short of eventful. Drake challenged the definition of an “album” with his sprawling 22-track playlist, More Life. Columbian-Canadian musician Lido Pimienta won the 2017 Polaris Music Prize for her independently-released, Spanish-language album, La Papessa, which addresses politically-charged topics including the global water crisis and patriarchy. Rising R&B star Daniel Caesar performed alongside Chance the Rapper on The Late Night with Stephen Colbert, and then picked up two Grammy nominations for his debut LP, Freudian. From chart-topping pop and rap hits, to left-field house and techno, Canadian music this year was diverse, boundary-pushing and unafraid to shine a light on controversial issues. As the year comes to a close, we spoke to some of our favourite artists across the country to uncover the songs, albums and concert moments that left a lasting impression on them.
a l l i e performs at 3 Days in Toronto
© Maria Jose Govea
"I felt so inspired after seeing Sevdaliza perform during the Pride Festival in Toronto. Her performance was so visceral, and every note and movement had so much intention behind it. Seeing a woman own her power in such a fierce, unflinching way was so compelling. The potency of her performance demanded everyone's attention and it's one I won't forget anytime soon."
Andre Ethier, The Deadly Snakes
“One record that has really stayed with me through 2017 is Joseph Shabbason’s Aytche. It’s a really natural, organic sounding jazz record that is unafraid to be obscured and enhanced by technology. Like a zen cyborg, it’s helpful in the kitchen.”
Beverly Glenn-Copeland in Montreal for Red Bull Music Academy Bass Camp
© Maria Jose Govea
“My concert at SappyFest, a yearly festival in Sackville, New Brunswick, was one of the most important experiences in my life. Not because of what I performed, but because it afforded me an opportunity to connect in a profound way with the youthful generation now in their twenties and thirties. This connection was cemented by so many young people coming up to tell me over the next few days that they felt seen, heard and celebrated. It was a watershed that has defined my reason for writing and performing at this time.”
“One of my favourite musical moments of 2017 has to be my dear friend Sign Libra’s The Vernal Equinox mixtape. This mix epitomises storytelling as she journeys through each act so eloquently. The mix begins with a prologue where you can almost feel the gathering of animals and humans coming together to rejoice over the spring equinox to come, and then the night begins and a calmness is felt as a single voice makes itself present. The feeling is ceremonial and pure. As we move into the second half, the sun begins to rise and the celebration of earth shines through. The mixtape closes with one of Sign Libra’s own pieces entitled “π,” which provides a beautiful reflection on the transient balance of night and day that has come to pass.”
“An artist that has inspired me immensely in 2017 is LA Timpa. We toured together endlessly and I was moved by his performances day in and day out. We did 48 shows in two months. He never got desensitized which I find is rare. His song "Blue Animal" is one of my favourite of 2017 and I can’t wait to see what’s next.”
“I was in LA this summer, doing sessions and taking a few meetings, when Toronto was just on a crazy wave. Jessie Reyez and Daniel Caesar were all over TV and media, and I saw billboards of Danny in the middle of Hollywood. The most asked question I got wasn’t even ‘Do you know Drake?’ It used to be, but now it’s 'Do you know Daniel Caesar?’ I was just genuinely happy for the city that the world is really noticing us and we are winning.”
Gene Tellem at Red Bull Music Academy Bass Camp in Montreal
© Maria Jose Govea
"A night that really stuck with me was back in October at Club Lambiin Montreal, when Anthony Naples and Huerco S played 5 hours together. They both have history and a relationship with the city, and it was a pleasure to take part in their experience. There was also a beautiful feeling of commitment between the DJs and the dancers: when you allow yourself to get lost in the sounds, 'cause you know you’re being taking care of. Uplifting and reassuring. That’s exactly the groove I’m looking for. Those types of nights are essential, they feel like a push towards the right direction."
“This year I was really inspired to see so many female artists openly and proudly supporting each other. I was also inspired by watching Princess Nokia speak openly about the different adversities a minority female hip-hop artist has to face in a male-dominated genre. I love watching her encourage young girls to be themselves and to stand proudly in who they are – flaws and all.”
“I'm always inspired by the support I get from people who order directly from my Bandcamp page. In fact, I was considering changing my name to “Giorgio More Orders" last week as I still ship out vinyl from my apartment all the time. I was thankful to play some gigs in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec this year, and I was stoked to meet younger folks up there who are passionate about DJing and creating real community spaces and events. Be it record shops like June orLa Rama, or through all the tight streaming opportunities at n10.as in Montreal or Invisible City in Toronto.
I'm also stoked on playing new releases lately, and this year, I noticed that all my fave ones are from Canada, especially Gene Tellem, Adam Feingold, D. Tiffany and Raf Reza. Things are looking up for 2018!”
"There were a few moments during the Ottawa show of the New Constellations tour where Lido Pimienta, Leonard Sumner, Jeremy Dutcher and Shad shared the stage with A Tribe Called Red. The moment was fire. It felt like a new world bursting through the old. I forgot where I was, just completely and totally immersed in Indigenous and Black brilliance and power. It was unlike anything I've ever witnessed. And then less than 24 hours later in Kitigan Ziibi, my sister Lido brought up four young Anishinaabekwewag from the community to sing a round dance song during her set, and again surrounded by Indigenous brilliance and love.”
“This year I was most inspired by Gucci Mane. Since I heard “Make Love” featuring Nicki Minaj, I knew the album was going to be good, but I did not expect it to be so inspiring to me. I have learned to really love not just Gucci Mane’s music, but Gucci Mane, the man. His story and the love that he has for his wife and their children is all I want for myself and those around me. The album [Mr. Davis] has been on rotation since its release simply because of the stories he tells and how he tells them, and how he does so with a poetry that is accessible and fun. Each song in this album sounds different too; there are songs that are hard, there are songs that are funny and there are songs that are sad, but it all makes sense and doesn’t sound forced. His interviews, live show videos and his book [The Autobiography of Gucci Mane] is fantastic too. It has been a great year for him. His music has helped me go through very hard times, and still does. I love Gucci Mane!”
Mind Bath poses in a denim suit
© Forever aka June Moon
"Very on brand here, but Beverly Glenn-Copeland's lecture on the RBMA couch was really the most hopeful and inspired moment for me in 2017. That message was real and so emotional and I've felt him in my spirit ever since. His music in between had all of us crying and "Ever New" joins Nina Simone's "Another Spring" as songs that can bring me out of the dark.
Close calls: Pierre Kwenders' Makanda LP was summer love, Brandy live at Echo Beach was flawless (she rapped Mase's verse in "Top Of The World" while the sun set), Form Arcosanti in Arizona was stacked and mystic, and lest we forget, Frank Ocean's azz in the Gucci glitter tights."
"Future and his concert at Coachella. My creative director worked on his stage design and projections, and wanted me to organize a house party with my collective (Thug Mansion Family) to shoot footage that would be used in the background of his performance. When he sent the video of the live show with me and my homies getting lit in the background on the projections, I just felt like damn, it's such a small world. We can be so close and so far at the same time. It was an eye-opener. Some inspiration and definitely a good sign from the universe."
"In 2017 we were excited about Shamir Bailey’s Revelations. Full disclosure, we toured with him on a leg of this record. Fuller disclosure, we were fans first and are fans foremost. Revelations speaks directly to the people who need to hear it most. We find ourselves magnetized when Shamir begins to play or even talk. It's impossible not to wander to the front of the room and try to catch his eye. Shamir is open and honest and warm and passionate and a true artist and funny as fuck. He is important in 2017."
Pierre Kwenders at the RBMA Montréal Weekender
© Karel Chladek
“Douk Saga was certainly the most outstanding artist for me this year. Not because he would have released a new album. No. Rest in peace. His impact on African music and especially the timeless coupé-décalé, a style he created during his lifetime, had a big impact on me. His ideology of joie de vivre is contagious. His art and music speak a beautiful philosophy of life. King Douk is dead, long live the king.”
Albums: Four Tet - New Energy, Scott Gilmore - Subtle Vertigo, Mich Cota - Kijà / Care
EPs: Bernice - Puff, G & Doro - If I See You
Songs: Toro y Moi - Girl Like You, Person of Interest - Skyline (Angel's Theme), TOPS -Further, Moon King - In & Out
Jasmyn Burke, Weaves
"One of my favourite albums from this year was No Shape by Perfume Genius, and I basically listen to “Sides” featuring Weyes Blood at least once a week. I just think it's an amazing album and it sounds so beautiful. Also produced by Blake Mills, whom I can watch play guitar for hours.”
