By Will McGuirk

Canadian soccer fans may have noticed the new music for TSN’s coverage of the upcoming World Cup in Qartar. The track running behind all the TV channel’s promo features Crown Lands covering the Beatles’ ‘Come Together. Great to see the band with Oshawa roots get such recognition.

Canadian soccer fans will also see another musician at the games, one who is no stranger to Oshawa, and that’s the fab Najjah Calibur host of this year’s World Cup, soccer’s most prestigious tournament. Najjah was last in our city I believe, hosting the debut student homecoming event at Memorial Park September past.

But the connections to the city don’t stop there. Also hosting is TikTok star DancinWayne, no stranger to the streets and beats of the old lady Shwa.

DancinWayne took the time to chat with us. Also thats not us in the picture below.

Slowcity.ca: What will you be doing in Qatar at the World Cup?

DancinWayne: “I will be the stadium EMCEE for all the games (not just the Canada ones) at World Cup. Doing interviews with fans from around the world, getting everyone excited, leading cheers, putting people on the giant screen, and doing interviews with players and fans for FIFA TV.”

SC: Tell me about how the opportunity came about?

DW: “This all started when I quit my job and pursued content creation online on an app called "TikTok." Since starting, I have amassed over 800 million views worldwide. When I began to blow up on social media, I got a message for an opportunity to host an event in Las Vegas for the CONCACAF Gold Cup Final with a pal (Najjah Calibur). I took the chance and leaped. They've been calling for more events since then. I got the opportunity to host FIFA's ARAB CUP in 2021, a big test event for the World Cup this year. It went well, and I left a lasting impression on the Qataris, leading to the call for the World Cup. “

SC: What are you most excited about with this opportunity?

DW: “I'm most excited to entertain people from all around the world. There's no better feeling and having the world watching is a pretty incredible feeling. I'm also happy to represent Canada and show them the values we represent. Kindness and love!”

SC: You pivot well, perhaps its the dance training haha, where do you think this creative hustle of yours comes from?

DW: “What I do doesn't feel like a creative hustle because I've always loved entertaining and uplifting people. It is my inner ballast. It's not who I am. It's what I am.”

SC: Refresh my old brain with a bio please.

DW: “It's all I've ever known. Since high school, I hosted talent shows at Monsignor John Pereyma in Oshawa, then did dance routines and even made funny videos for the entire school to see (all pre-TikTok internet age). Years later, after college, when I moved to BC, I did the Millennial thing and got a corporate job because I thought that was what I was supposed to do. But during the pandemic, I got into a terrible car accident where a drunk driver ran me off the road and almost crippled me. When I was in recovery and back at work. I realized I had lost myself - so I thought, what would make me happy again?

“Honestly, the only thing that came up was how I was before corporate life. So I decided to choose happiness. I started making video content on things I value as a person - inclusivity, relatable comedy, education and kindness. Before you knew it, I surpassed 800 million views online and started hosting events worldwide. I built a large community of other like-minded people worldwide based on content about empowerment and empathy using the basic concept of compassion. The creative hustle comes from choosing my happiness which is now something I preach to everyone. Find your version of happiness and jump two feet in. You'll be surprised how quickly the right things in life gravitate toward you.”

Gigs This Week: Najjah Calibur at the Baby G

Sports fans can look for Oshawa shout-outs at the World Cup.

Gigs This Week: GO7 Music Artists Showcase at the BIltmore