Posts tagged elyse simpson

Originally Published by

Martyr Magazine - July 14 2012

“I’m having the best beer of my life. I don’t know what it is but I’m moving to Canada.”

Though this mid show epiphany probably won’t result in seeing the mixed roots siblings holed up somewhere in the Toronto anytime soon, it’s safe to say The Wood Brothers are welcome on Canadian soil anytime.

Originally growing up in Boulder, Colorado, the Wood Brothers, Oliver and Chris, came to Toronto’s Hugh’s Room, June 25 to support World Literacy Canada’s Satya Concert Series.

Hosted by musician turned Member of Parliament, Andrew Cash the event brought together dedicated musicians and their followers as a fundraiser to support the World Literacy foundation.

Taking the stage after opener Chris Assaad, the brothers and percussionist Jano Rix launched into covers and traditional pieces featured on their new live album, Volume One: Sky High to Wood Brother’s staples such as “Where My Baby Might Be.”

With the crowd warmed up, the two brothers hit a very personal note with the introduction to “Lovin’ Arms”. “This was written about our mum”. No stranger to how wonderfully poignant, vague and heartbreaking this song can be, as a regular on my playlists, even I felt a whole new level of intense warmth when hearing it live.

With percussive guitar and upright bass combined with mashed up rhythm, their sound comes across as if a hootenanny side stepped into a jazz club that got high jacked by a pots and pan blues band.

This genre-crossing is really what makes up The Wood Brothers live show and what they claim makes up Americana musical culture.

“To have all those things from music that we can draw from with our own experience and try to make new combinations,” said Oliver just after eating a post show dinner above the venue.

“It’s fun to go back to the roots of things and then go back even farther and really see where things come from. Then you can add another level of your understanding of the general concept of Americana which has such a vast foundation”

The Wood Brothers jumped from one genre to the next but never losing their crowd with diehard fans scattered throughout the set, enthusiastically singing along to “Postcards From Hell.”

Although there’s no blood relation between the brothers and Jano Rix the percussionist’s sentimental placement in the group whether on drums or vocals was undeniably cohesive.

A standing ovation to the end their set, they invited Chris Assaad and Andrew Cash on stage for their encore. Add another standing ovation and the night finally came to a close.

Looking at The Wood Brothers reaction to Canadian breweries, the crowd’s reaction to the band and the fact this has been only part of a handful of gigs they have done in the Great White North, one can clearly see there’s enough pull to bring these wandering organic brothers back north.

Tweet

Editorial on The Toronto International Music Summit - Commissioned by Tanya Michell (Executive Director of The TorontoIMS)

Director X During his keynote - Photo by Hayley Roscoe

Well, that may be a slight exaggeration. Some presentations did run closer to 45 minutes but overall that was the theme at The 1st Annual Toronto International Music Summit. Key crucial information for musicians and mavens alike in a mere matter of minutes.

I checked in at 10am, coffee in hand at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel on Front and Yonge. Greeted by the massive registration line (hooray for the “we will take you in straight away” press sign-in!) of artists, songwriters and other attendees all eagerly waiting to get inside and start learning. To say the range of the audience was broad would be an understatement. Not even into the presentations, people were already exchanging cards, making connections, rubbing elbows and finding some way to get ahead.

Picking up the program for the event even the most unknowledgeable person about the music industry could tell the speakers were heavy weights. A&R agents, Marketing VPs, Hip Hop Icons, Juno Winners, all reflected on Executive Director Tanya Michell’s background in celebrity event planning and work with well known organizations such as Live Nation.

Conferences in general may tend to make people think of stiff suits, dry speeches and 5 minute question periods. This could not have been farther from the case when I entered the room for the first talk of the day on Music Training. Stiff suits instead were replaced by bright prints and sleek lines and dry speeches with 5 minute question periods turned into animated speakers encouraging an interactive audience.

30 minutes or less later the highly anticipated keynote from music video maven Director X started. Passionate, educated and hilarious, his speech made the perfect opener to keep a potentially restless crowd glued. Being in the audience for his address and chatting with him one on one afterwards in the lovely media room curtsey of the people at Audio Blood, I got the sense that the energy of the speakers and the audience were matched. People eager to learn stepping in stride with people eager to teach all in one place.

The rest of the day rolled through with panel discussions, a highly emotional spotlight speech from Kardinall Offishall and a chance for attendees to sign up for a demo deconstruction mentoring session with industry artists and producers.

Like with any good music/rock and roll type event the day ended with an after party.  So one quick change and another cup of coffee later I was greeted at The Hard Rock Cafe by sponsors including Redbull and Jagermeister.

Entering into a room of dim lights and VIP passes galore it was obvious we were at the right event.

The live performances of Top independent artists, Dane Hartshell, Taya Marquis and a personal favourite of mine Solid Mas as well as others were already hitting full force to an even louder audience. A fashion walk through, hired crowd dancers, obscene amounts of flash photography would lead people to believe that this could not be the first year running of the event.

Settling down post-show to our event dinner in the downstairs of The Hard Rock with our greatly appreciated if not a little random swag bags (sugar free Redbull and NY Yankees hats anyone?) my photographer and I mulled over the event.

Heavy networking, short sparks of information, loud clubs, what could be closer to a mini boiled down version of what the music industry really is?

Hoping to attend next year I wait to see what other high game players the Executive Director will bring out and the momentum this newbie conference can gain.

Never staying still throughout the entire day the event really did bring the music industry home to Toronto in 30 minutes or less.

Tweet

Originally Published by

Oakville Today - April 08 2010 

NORTH OAKVILLE TODAY – Fashion icon Jeanne Beker has a message for Halton teens: “Don’t be afraid, never give up and most of all be fearless.”

 ”What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, it forces you to sometimes think outside the box and to really pick yourself up, dust yourself off and keep on going,” Beker confidently announced at the 6th Annual Women as Career Coaches event, March 25 in Burlington. 

The Women as Career Coaches event hosted by the Halton Industry Education Council (HEIC) attracted 711 participants. Half of them high school girls, grades 10-12, from participating schools throughout the Halton Region looking for career direction and guidance. 

The other half were mentors, successful women in the workplace who volunteered an evening of their time to share career advice with Halton’s female youth.

Special guest Jeanne Beker, host of Fashion Television, author and of course fashionista continually worked her way up through the ranks over the course of her career. 

Approaching the podium for her scheduled speaking segment for the event, hundreds of hungry teenage eyes lit up in anticipation as she opened a door into the life of her career. Growing up as a self proclaimed “TV Baby” Beker decided her career path at a young age. Pursuing a post secondary education in New York City and then later returning to study at York University, Beker’s early years were spent honing her craft.

 With a distinct vision of having her own TV show Beker dabbled in everything from acting to ballet to mime.

After finally moving to St. John’s Newfoundland, Beker found a comfortable niche in local radio. 

Using her tenacity, radio test tapes and with three years of experience under her belt she returned to Toronto to hunt down her dream job. After working at CHUM, while making a continuing, lasting impression, the station bought the now ever popular City TV. 

 The New Music show (along with Beker’s first TV Hosting Job) was born. After six years of working on The New Music, keeping her heart, mind and of course eyes and ears open, Beker fought for the role she was born for as host of Fashion Television.

 As her speech cams to a close for the event, the applause was deafening. As gracious as she is successful, Jeanne Beker spent her time afterwards answering questions, taking pictures and signing autographs.

 After hearing of Jeanne Beker’s eclectic jobs, struggles and constant confidence in herself and her ambitions, the young females of the audience finally left the event knowing truly what it meant to be “fearless.”

Elyse Simpson is a North Oakville student  and entrepreneur who launched her record label, Jangle Records, earlier this year. Learn more about Simpson and her label online at www.janglerecords.com.

To learn more about the Halton Industry Education Council, visit www.hiec.on.ca, email info@hiec.on.ca or call 905-634-2575.Originally Published by Oakville Today - April 08 2010

 

Tweet

(Source: )