Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Haviah Mighty, Mustafa, Haley Blais, Seether, Samantha Fish, Kim Beggs, Ben Arsenault, and Homeshake
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Matt Holtby
alt image: Katie Cruel
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Matt Holtby, Katie Cruel, Art Bergman, Allison Russell, Alana Springsteen, Andrew Bird, Nubya Garcia, and Haviah Mighty
“This guitar represents the lingering presence of something (in my case, someone) who’s gone but also very much not. Every time I think I’ve written my way past the hurt, I’m reminded that I have a long way to go” - Alana Springsteen
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Haviah Mighty
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: The Odds, Danny Michel, Haviah Mighty, Haley Blais, Bells Larsen, Matt Paxton and the Pintos, The Sextones, and Johnny Eaton
"I want people to feel they’re not alone, and still find hope in things that are painful,” - Danny Michel
“Anytime I listen or play this song, I can smell the basement of my childhood home, or my best friend’s cigarettes (she quit now), and I can see myself, talking to myself in the mirror, doing my best Late Night show wisecracks” - Haley Blais
Haviah Mighty
Alt image: Kasador
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Haviah Mighty, Kasador, Allison Russell, Rachel Bobbitt, Katie Tupper, Theo Tams, Frankiie, and Alex Exists
By Will McGuirk
“I use music to try to figure myself out and to think about my identity.” - Katie Tupper
“The song is a defiant anthem about the importance of being skeptical and critical in an age where information and opinions can be easily manipulated and distorted.” - Alex Exists
Daniel Caesar, Facebook
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Daniel Caesar, B1 The Architect x Eddy Jones, Haviah Mighty, Separator, Jerry Leger, Ken Yates, and Del Barber,
By Will McGuirk
“Ambition is what drives us to get up every day, but if we don’t nurture our relationships with friends, family, partners, etc., they may not be there for you in your darkest moments.” - Ken Yates
By Divine Right, photo Catherine Stockhausen
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Haviah Mighty, Ria Mae, Julian Taylor, Ernesto Cervini, David Myles, By Divine Right, the Blue Stones, LS Dunes, and Q
By Will McGuirk
“Overall, this song is a reminder that nothing…is surface deep." - Haviah Mighty
“You’re done conforming, you’re done caring, you’re over the hanging weight of shame, disappointment, or unchecked goals. You’ve let go, and it’s the most freeing feeling you’ve ever experienced. You just don’t give a shit, and it’s fucking great.” - Tarek Jafar, The Blue Stones
Ria Mae with Virginia to Vegas at the Biltmore Theatre Thursday Nov. 24 2022
Ombiigizi, photo by Rima Sater
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Ombiigizi, Haviah Mighty, Keb' Mo', Birds of Bellwood, Canyon City, Avi Kaplan, Gov't Mule, Louie Short, Mike Block,
By Will McGuirk
"These ideas around perceived value got me thinking about the Stock Exchange. Seeing parallels between the way it flows - the constant rising and falling – all dictated by the general public’s perception of an entity’s value, and ultimately how that influences the moves that we make as individuals." - Haviah Mighty
“Whether it be anxiety or depression, anger or addiction, there are parts of ourselves that can lead us down a path that is detrimental to our being. This song is about acknowledging that part of oneself and overcoming it.” - Avi Kaplan
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Julian Taylor, Haviah Mighty, Charlie Houston, Geoffroy, Felly, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, and Dave Monks,
By Will McGuirk
“These days, I don't have time to waste, so I’m getting better at determining early on who/what is worth investing my time into. This song focuses on the fact that I know I'm a prize, so act right, or you'll miss out." - Haviah Mighty
“It’s definitely one of the most introspective songs on the album. I guess it’s a very mature version of myself who wrote this, hah. It’s about accepting and coming to terms with the fact that a relationship has come to its end. It’s about moving on, letting go, and feeling okay about it." - Geoffroy
“It's the feeling of like, once you've gotten over your heart hurting for someone else that it's not even about them anymore - it's about you. Your longing to not feel crushed anymore. It's almost this pathetic request to feel ok, to feel loved.” - Felly
“For me this album and the sum of its parts are a discovery of that bigger and truer sense of “me”. The title which came from a dream and stuck, could be my charmed reaction upon realizing that. Like I’ve just heard the final masters and blurt out, “Well, good! I’ve always wanted to be me!” - Dave Monks
The Halluci Nation
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with The Halluci Nation, David Strickland, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Haviah Mighty, Amythyst Kiah, The Human Rights, Jean-Michel Blais, and Clinic
By Will McGuirk
“We never thought that a song could translate our sound into words like this so well, from beat to voice to instrument. We are in such awe of these incredible artists we are proud to call our family, and the opportunity to all come together on this track”. - The Halluci Nation
“While much of this song talks about the things that I feel I’m on my way to achieving, some of which being those nice-to-have material things - for me, these things are symbolic of something more abstract - a lifestyle that I couldn't fathom prior.” - Haviah Mighty
“I tried to give a moment to every instrument, like solos or bring outs. For example, I did things like giving the Second Violin some moments on their own too. Usually they are there to support and accompany the First Violin, but when the Second Violin player came to look at the music, she thought there was a mistake. She was the only violin playing. I’d have to tell her ‘It’s not a mistake, it’s your time to shine. There’s often been this idea in classical music that one instrument is the chief, the king of all the instruments, and the others are in the background merely supporting.” - Jean-Michel Blais
Haviah Mighty
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Haviah Mighty, James Vincent McMorrow, Andrea Ramolo, Troy Junker, Nathan Lawr, Coda Facto, John Orpheus, and Ben Sefton,
By Will McGuirk
“While we’re always a work in progress as humans, I feel much more stable now that I'm more comfortable with myself and what I have to offer. This is a reminder that if you're not confident in your own strides, you'll end up following somebody who is!” - Haviah Mighty
(“why don’t I just dig out my rollerblades and film myself learning to skate again in the park behind my house?”) - James Vincent McMorrow
“The whole point of the song was to not overthink it and just have fun. It's important to me to remain authentic and to always give 100 per cent in everything. That's the wave." - Troy Junker
Slowcity.ca Open Mic with Haviah Mighty, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Valerie June, Alex Cuba, Overcoats, Metric, Lukas Nelson, Tedeschi Trucks Band
By Will McGuirk
“This song is my protest – a reminder that regardless of all the conversations, the chatter, the media, the justices and injustices – this feeling and fear we walk with, is as present as ever. After all these years, encountering the police as a marginalized person still triggers pure fear. These feelings within the production – the intensity and depth of the chords, the stress and tension of the pacing – it all mirrors the feelings of paranoia, fear, control, and our innate will to survive when encountering law enforcement. Having UK-based artist, Yizzy, bless this record brings it full circle. From a light skin male’s perspective from somewhere else on the globe, our experiences still mirror one another, a further testament to the eerie similarities of trauma among Black folks.” - Haviah Mighty
“The community was able to look on the bright side even though news media still fail to see and recognize us as human beings. No matter what label you throw at us, we know who we are and where we come from.” - Young D, Snotty Nose Rez Kids
“It took me a really long time to come back to the home in my heart. In a physical sense, that’s Texas and Hawaii. But in a spiritual sense as well—I think I finally decided not to run from who I am and who I am destined to be.” - Lukas Nelson
“When I began to imagine this album, I knew I didn’t want it to be small in any way. Neither did I want it to be known forever as the album that was born out of the pandemic. I was convinced that it definitely was the moment to aim at creating something very special, unique and vibrant, fuelled by the very deep emotions that this time has brought out of all of us.” - Alex Cuba
”This song is heartbreaking but we think it tries to show that there can be beauty in the wreckage." - Overcoats
Slowcity.ca Open Mic Spotlight with Haviah Mighty, and iskwē
By Will McGuirk
***
“I've navigated life off the strength of my parents’ teachings, and one of those [notable] teachings is to be mindful of the company you keep and of those you call your friends. Being of Caribbean descent, I’ve heard many stories throughout my life of 'Obeah man' and 'Obeah woman' from family and friends, 'Obeah' being an occult power and celebrated secret religion which disturbs the natural flow of events by way of spells, spirituality and hidden practices. “Though difficult to define, it is a religion of resistance, a belief that you can manipulate yours or other peoples’ destinies - often used in the context of those people that are close to you but aspire to cause you harm by thought or action. This song, using this Jamaican reference, speaks directly to the idea that the energy around you can bring you down, and that sometimes it's those that are closest to you that you need to be aware of. This theme is one many can relate to as they grow within their chosen realms.” - Haviah Mighty.
"While I wasn't physically in the room with the FILMharmonic Orchestra while recording, being able to finally have a long-standing vision of performing and recording with an Orchestra come to life was one of my happiest and most soul-satisfying moments. I can't fully put in words the sensation it brought, but I felt a sort of bliss and pride like nothing I've experienced before." - iskwē
An Evening With iskwē
Thursday, March 4th @ 8 PM EST
Join iskwē to celebrate the release of The Stars
In conversation with Tom Wilson & for a special performance from Revolution Recording
Register for your free ticket, or purchase a VIP Package add on
Wednesday, February 17th at 10 am EST @ www.iskwe.com
Haviah Mighty, photo by Yung Yemi
Haviah Mighty and Devontee Woe team up, new single 'Antisocial' released
By Will McGuirk
Always great to see someone do it their way and it hasn’t taken that long for Haviah Mighty to go from playing the Diezel Room here in Oshawa to winning the 2019 Polaris Music Prize, the first Hip Hop artist and first Black woman. It was for her album ‘13th Floor.,’ an apt title for someone who has created her own stepping off point. Along the way a relationship was struck up with Devonteé Woe, another cool kat doing things his way and doing well doing it. From Durham to LA, could be a song.
Haviah Mighty has a new single, ‘Antisocial’ out and we reached out to Devonteé via Instagram for some insight.
“I sent her a beat pack last December 2019 and over the year she built me the records on the beat and she sent me the final. She’s a beast,” he says.
In a press release Haviah says ““I remember listening to the beat months ago, feeling really energized by the hard cuts and bouncy percussion. That energy within was bottled up as I sat on my bed, hanging out alone, socially distancing - something I spent a lot of time doing around the time I wrote this song. As I got comfortable and familiar with being alone, I focused on self-help and self-care. As someone who generally only felt comfortable on the go in the messy hustle and bustle that is life, this time of slowing down to better get to know myself was important.”
The track features Old Man Saxon, of Denver CO.