Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, Music Monday

Love at First Listen with Alex Porat

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Alex Porat Interview

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

News flash: it’s Alex Porat’s world, we’re just living in it. With a fresh pop sound and highly-relatable (not to mention viral!) songs about love, life, and exploring your identity, it’s no surprise this 23-year-old, Toronto-based singer-songwriter has quickly attracted over 708,000 monthly listeners on Spotify alongside global critical acclaim.

Last month, Alex gave us exactly what we needed with her repeat-worthy debut album ‘MISS SICK WORLD.’ Songs like “dimension” perfectly capture the feeling of irresistible lust over someone you can’t have, while the sassy “never say ily again” serves as a final farewell to an ex you have no idea why you liked in the first place. 

With a new album comes a new tour and, luckily, fans don’t have to wait long — Alex is days away from heading out on the road with management-mate Ralph for a cross-Canada tour sure to be stopping in a city near you.

Get a behind the scenes look at Alex’s journey as we chat ‘MISS SICK WORLD,’ what you can expect from her live show, and her favourite music releases from 2021.

How does it feel to have ‘MISS SICK WORLD’ out for everyone to hear, and how did you know this was the right time to release your first full body of work?

It feels so great. I’m just about to head on tour with Ralph and I really wanted to perform a project that felt like it represented me as an artist first stepping into the world of live shows. I’m kind of treating it like a first impression or introduction to me as a musician.

What inspired the album title? Does it correlate with any overall narrative or themes the album explores?

The album title came from the track “miss sick world.” I left it last to release because I wanted it to set the overall tone of where I’m at now. The whole project is centred around my life and the story behind “miss sick world” is a commentary on how I’ve grown up navigating my identity. I’ve really struggled with my identity growing up, and it felt right to give such a heavy song it’s own moment on the project.

This era of your career has led to multiple milestones — booking a cross-country tour, landing a billboard in Yonge-Dundas Square, and, most recently, reaching one million subscribers on YouTube. What would young Alex Porat, who wrote music and recorded covers in her bedroom, say to the now 23-year-old Alex Porat?

I’m always in disbelief. It still never feels real to me and I always wonder if that feeling is going to stay. I can’t explain how appreciative I am to everyone. I think young Alex would probably ask me how this even all happened. When I was younger, I used to be able to picture myself on stage, singing, and recording music, but I could never picture what it took to get there. It really was just perseverance. Now, I’m realizing there’s still so much more left to accomplish and do. It makes me feel hopeful for the future because I feel like I can do so much more still.

One of your earliest endorsements was from Shawn Mendes, who loved your cover of his song “In My Blood.” Considering Shawn also rose to fame posting covers online, what does it mean to you to be part of the next wave of GTA artists making it big?

It’s an honour to be considered that, so thank you! I’m super proud to be from here and to be a part of the music community here has been so special. Despite there being so much talent, it’s a really tight community and very supportive. It was definitely a special moment for me getting that recognition from Shawn Mendes because it made me feel like a career in music was possible.

You recently said performing live was one of your biggest goals. Now that you’re about to go on tour and bring your songs to life for the first time on stage, which tracks are you most excited to perform?

I’m so excited! I’m definitely still in the process of adding more elements to my performances. I’m really excited for “dimension” because there’s a lot of choreography from the music video that I want to incorporate in some way at some point. I also really love singing “miss sick world,” even though it makes me want to cry.

It’s wild to think that we’re already approaching the end of 2021. Can you share some of the albums that you loved at first listen this year?

‘Happier Than Ever’ by Billie Eilish and ‘MONTERO’ by Lil Nas X. I’m also obsessed with everything Lisa from BLACKPINK does!

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music

Love at First Listen with Michelle Treacy

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Michelle Treacy New Music

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

Stop what you’re doing and get ready for one last summer dance party. After a half-year hiatus, Michelle Treacy, the Canadian singer-songwriter who was launched to stardom on CTV’s The Launch, is rocking her way back onto our playlists with her aptly titled EP ‘High Heels in the Moshpit.’ It’s groovy, retro, and everything you could wish for in your next favourite record.

For this edition of Love at First Listen, go behind the scenes of Michelle’s experience releasing the EP as we chat about wacky musical universes, “Aha!” moments, and which artists’ concerts are worthy of wearing high heels in the moshpit.

How does it feel to have ‘High Heels in the Moshpit’ out in the world for everyone to hear (and play on repeat)?

This is the first time I’ve felt happy and sad about putting music out into the world. This is my baby and the first time I am in the exact place I want to be. I love this music and I love the person I have become. This is only just the beginning of this wacky universe. Get ready for more!

We last spoke just under a year ago. How has your sound and approach to music changed since then?

When we last spoke, I decided 2020 would be my year to feel sad and that 2021 would be the comeback year. I have spent my time during quarantine experimenting, crying, getting therapy, eating my feelings, and crying some more… until I finally had an “Aha!” moment where I knew exactly what I needed to do next. I just needed to be fully comfortable as myself and create music that had as big of a personality as I do — and here we are. I have a team of people around me who have believed in me even when I couldn’t see it for myself. I couldn’t have gotten here without them.

You wrote on Instagram that you’ve “never felt so passionate about a project before.” Why do you think that is? Were you able to touch on any subjects you’ve never written about before?

To be honest, my producer had been begging me to dive into this sound for five years. For the first time ever, I truly felt like myself while recording. I didn’t judge myself. I wrote what felt right. There was no agenda other than to have fun. The persona is me, as raw and fun as can be. The main theme is losing inhibitions and resisting the urge to self censor. If I thought a lyric would elicit the reaction “wait…did she really say that?” then we left it in!

You spent release night on a Zoom call with your fans. Why was it important to you to share that special moment with them?

My fans mean everything to me. They’re the reason for everything, which is why celebrating with my biggest supporters is the only way to release a record, even if it means doing it on Zoom. I am forever grateful to have such amazing and unconditional support. 

Now that concerts are slowly coming back, who is the first person you hope to see live wearing your high heels in the moshpit?

I got to see the Arkells live and I CRIED. Being back at a show felt so good. The next concert I’m going to is Finneas and I can’t wait.

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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, New Music Friday

Love at First Listen with Felix Cartal

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Love at First Listen - Felix Cartal

We all have those artists and songs we hear that strike the right chord and make us fall in love at first listen. They’re the reason we refresh social media pages, tour schedules and Spotify profiles — because we can’t miss a single release. This is Love at First Listen — a new series introducing you to the emerging, and established, artists with new music guaranteed to upgrade your playlist.

In need of a summer soundtrack? Press play and turn up your speakers for Vancouver-based producer Felix Cartal’s latest release, ‘Expensive Sounds for Nice People.’ The 16-track album is a musical journey through the high-highs and low-lows of life, love and everything in between, and it features some of Felix’s famous friends like pop vocalists Karen Harding, Lights and Kiiara. Whether you listen from start to finish as recommended or join midway through the party, it’s guaranteed you’ll be on the dance floor ASAP.

Fall in love at first listen with Felix’s new album below and read our chat about release week emotions, “expensive sounds,” and how making TikToks compares to making music.

‘Expensive Sounds for Nice People’ is officially out! How are you feeling?

I’m excited and relieved at the same time — and slightly anxious because putting new stuff out is always a little bit stressful. But ultimately I’m happy it’s out in the world and I can enjoy it and also move on!

This album has been three years in the making. Was there any point where you wanted to scrap everything and change direction, or did that mix of stories and emotions shape the final tracklisting?

I have written and scrapped an entire album, so I’m trying not to do that ever again because that was insane. I had the bulk of this done in the first two years and then as the pandemic happened I had extra time to refine things. For me, I mostly just care about consistency because growing up in the late ‘90s, early 2000s musical climate, I didn’t like albums where one song was ‘the song’ and then the rest of it felt thrown together. Hopefully when people listen to my music from front to back they can hear that I thought about these songs being in this order and it’s enjoyable for them.

What inspired the album title and what makes an “expensive sound”?

I feel very fortunate that I get to do music as my job and I’ve gotten to do it since almost 2007, which blows my mind to this day. And to me that’s like, okay, so what allows me to do that? I think it’s so much the people that share my music and are cheerleaders for it. That means so much to me, so I think those are the Nice People and they’re the ones that make my music feel expensive and give it value. This album is definitely a thank you to the people who like my stuff — and the title also just sounds kind of cheeky.

When ‘Next Season’ came out, I asked you this same question. Is there a line on ‘Expensive Sounds for Nice People’ that stands out to you?

I love working with Ofelia K and I think she is one of the most underrated lyricists in the industry. I kind of work with her once in every chapter of my life and I love all the lyrics in the song we did this time, “Old Self.” I especially like the line, “If I told my old self it’ll be okay, would I be better?” I think it’s a really interesting way to think about enjoying the journey a bit more, not always being so stressed about what the next step is and just kind of going along with it, and I think it’s an interesting take on telling your younger self about this.

You seem to have found a new creative outlet in TikTok, especially with your now viral “Banned from the Gucci Store” remix. How has your experience been?

I kind of approach it the way I would make a song. I don’t have a plan; I’m just treating it like the spontaneous, of the moment thing that I think TikTok should be. I also definitely have noticed people going from TikTok to my Instagram or Twitch. On TikTok especially, there’s such a weird mix of people who really know my stuff and then some people who see it and are like, “Who are you?” And I don’t expect people to know who I am, but it’s nice that people will defend me to those people and say, “He makes really good music!”

Speaking of collabs, this album features your JUNO Award-winning single with Lights, “Love Me.” Can fans expect another collab in the future?

We’re always talking about stuff and we both want to do another song at some point, but we’re not going in with anything lined up yet. It would be insane for me if we didn’t do another thing — or even more than one other thing because we have a good friendship going now. I have the utmost respect for her as an artist and we have similar lengths of careers and we’re the same age, so that’s what we’ve gelled over a lot — just knowing the industry and some of its bullshit that we’ve been fighting through for a while. That’s why I love working with her and hanging out with her.

I expect songs from ‘Expensive Sounds for Nice People’ will be on a lot of summer playlists! What new summer singles have you been loving at first listen?

I love the new Gorgon City album that also came out on Friday. I actually toured with one of the guys from Gorgon City way back in the day when he had another project. I love seeing people that have been in the industry for a while or who are my friends win like that, so shout out to Gorgon City. My other artist who I love from a pop side of things is BENEE. I just want to have “Find An Island” on a constant loop every day when it’s hot out. 

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Interviews, Take 5

Take 5 with Eco Explorer Mario Rigby

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Mario Rigby Interview

Toronto-based eco explorer Mario Rigby spent the first week of May, National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, redefining what it means to seek adventure during his latest physical mission. The Caicos Challenge, a five-day human-powered expedition, took him back home to Turks and Caicos to fulfill his dream of crossing the islands, from one end to the other, by land and water — doing nothing more than running, cycling, kayaking, paddle boarding and swimming. 

By completing the mission, Mario has become the first known person to make such a crossing from Salt Cay to West Caicos — a 250-kilometre spanning feat. And this isn’t his first time making headlines: His original “claim to fame” came in 2018 following his Crossing Africa expedition, a two-year, 12,000-kilometre voyage from Cape Town to Cairo.

As he catches his breath from the Caicos Challenge, I had a chance to Take 5 with Mario and chat about being a “son of the soil,” staying focused, and always persevering.

Your remarkable adventures have taken you all over the map and you show no signs of stopping. What got you into this way of seeing the world?

I am an eco explorer and I focus on expeditions that are in line with covering social and environmental injustices, but at the same time they have to be really adventurous. A tourist goes to places with expectations; you’re going there to view the culture in a way that you would view a painting. A traveller is someone that goes with the flow, sees things for what they are and experiences the culture they’re around. The explorer is the one who unearths new experiences that no one else has seen before and kind of paves a way for humanity to follow, much like other great explorers in the past. Us explorers have an impact and a responsibility.

What I try to do is impact the places I’m at and the social causes I try to raise awareness for, and hopefully that inspires people. I also raise money for charitable organizations that are linked to whatever expedition I’m on. During the Turks and Caicos expedition, I was raising funds for the Turks and Caicos Reef Fund to help underprivileged youth learn how to swim and learn about marine life.

Thinking back to reaching the finish line of the Caicos Challenge, what did it mean to you to finally cross off your goal of completing an expedition where you grew up? 

Ever since I was born, Turks and Caicos has been like my playground. One of my dreams was always to traverse the length of the entire islands. I think the combination of showing that there was an adventurous side to the place, raising money and awareness for marine life conservation and educating the youth, encouraging people to be responsible when they visit and understand the ecosystem of the islands, and at the same time making it fun really underlines the principles that I follow for all my expeditions.

Travelling through Turks and Caicos this way must have been an entirely new experience. What was one of the most breathtaking moments or views during the challenge?

The first one that comes to mind was when I kayaked from Salt Cay to Grand Turk, which no one has ever done before. I had met Chev (Dixon, a professional sea kayaker) — a young kid from New York, also born in the Carribean — on Instagram and asked him to come join me for the crossing. As we were kayaking, there were dozens of dolphins breaching beside us, which was a beautiful sight. But I think the most special thing that I witnessed during the expedition was the community aspect of it; really getting to see people come together and support the expedition, but also being very proud to see that their own people are doing this. They call me the “son of the soil,” so every day where I landed there was fanfare and people with flags and it was incredibly special. 

Given that May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month, can you share how you prioritize physical and mental wellbeing during your expeditions?

What I do is really focus on the day-to-day aspects. You have to be wholly focused on what you’re doing, because as soon as you’re distracted it stops you from being able to push to your ultimate limit. I definitely pushed to my ultimate limit on this excursion traversing to East Caicos for 13 hours across sharp rocks over the sea. If you make one tiny mistake, that could be the end of your life right there, or you could be stuck there for a day. With all of these expeditions, I know mental clarity is the most important aspect of these huge, physical challenges. Once you have the mental fortitude to be consistent and to hone in, for everything else on the outside, let that distraction go and focus on the moment. I focus on every step, every breath, every heartbeat.

What message do you hope your challenges send to people who are following along from home or hoping to follow in your footsteps?

Perseverance is so important. Say you have a dream; many people give up before they even start and say, you know what, it’s just a dream, it’s just not realistic. If you dreamt it, it can be realistic just due to the fact that you fathomed the idea. The easiest part is to come up with the idea, but the second part is you have to do the work. Most people are afraid that with the investment they’re putting in, it might not pan out. Well, that’s the risk you have to take. At least half the expeditions I’ve planned didn’t even make it into fruition because it was just too difficult or the technology didn’t exist yet. You just have to do the work to eventually get there, and keep doing the work until it happens. Your doubts are distractions.

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Interviews, Take 5

Take 5 with Social Media Star Jessii Vee

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Jessii Vee Interview

Canadian YouTuber and TikToker Jessii Vee always offers up one key piece of advice to anyone who asks how to get started in the industry: “There are millions of people in this world, so being unique and staying true to who you are will make your channel and videos stand out.”

This advice is something Jessii has stuck to since day one. In 2014, she started blogging and posting authentic and relatable YouTube videos about her life, including the ups-and-downs of dating and creepy neighbours. As her channel took off, it grew with her, evolving into a hub for videos about all things strange and unusual — a theme inspired by the dark and mysterious worlds displayed in pop culture and created by her favourite director Tim Burton. With content that’s equal parts entertaining and educational, Jessii’s audience (2.6 million subscribers on YouTube and 3.7 million on TikTok!) can learn about topics like cursed towns, lost TV shows and, most recently, why everything they know about mermaids is wrong.

Screenshot of YouTuber Jessii Vee's latest video uploads

As passionate as she is about her subject material, Jessii is also someone who cares deeply about others, and she lets her young viewers know they’re not alone if they’re struggling with anxiety or bullying like she did growing up. In this Take 5 interview, hear from Jessii how she’s prioritizing making the internet a safer space, raising awareness about Lyme disease, and being inspired by her viewers.

At the heart of your brand is your desire to create safe spaces for youth to engage with your content and each other. Why is this important to you?

When I was growing up, anxiety and mental health weren’t spoken about enough. This was one of the reasons why I decided to start posting personal stories on my YouTube channel. I wanted kids to be able to relate to my experiences so they would feel less alone. It has made me so happy to see comments from kids telling me how relieved they feel knowing someone else is going through the same thing as them. It’s so important to know that millions of people are suffering from loneliness, anxiety, depression or being bullied.

Just before the pandemic began, you had started a platform called You Are Not Alone (YANA) and grown it to 50+ schools and counting. What was its mission, and how do you continue to keep the message alive virtually?

YANA’s mission is to be a group in schools where people come together as a community and reach out to others that are feeling isolated or being bullied. It’s meant to be a safe, non-judgmental place where students can be supported and make friends. I was passionate to start this movement because I really struggled in school growing up. I had terrible anxiety and I was very shy. Because of this, I was a target for bullying and I found myself spending my lunch breaks alone in the library. On really bad days, I would have my lunch in the bathroom stall. If I had a group like YANA at my school back then, things would have been so much easier for me.

Unfortunately when the pandemic hit, it became difficult to continue these YANA groups in person, so we moved them online. I created an Instagram page called @yana_group where I posted weekly inspirational quotes to add positivity to people’s timelines. I also do monthly live streams called “Jess Checking In” where I discuss different important topics like bullying, mental health, chronic illness and isolation.

In addition to this being Mental Health Awareness Month, it’s also Lyme Disease Awareness Month — something you’ve publicly struggled with since 2017. How are you using your platform to draw awareness to Lyme disease?

My subscribers have been along the journey with me since day one. I wanted to be completely transparent because I was surprised to find out that not many people know what Lyme disease is. It’s incredibly hard to get treatment in Canada, so I’m hopeful that spreading awareness will change the way Lyme disease is diagnosed and treated in my country and around the world. I’m also donating a dollar from each order placed on my merch website towards The G. Magnotta Foundation’s research. They are aiming to improve a person’s ability to enter a clinic and get a test that will accurately report infection status after having been bitten by a tick. 

How have you stayed inspired during the pandemic?

Taking some mental health days has been super beneficial for me. I also love to draw and paint. Letting myself sit down and be creative for a few hours really helps with my video inspiration. But I actually mainly look to my subscribers to stay inspired. I get so many amazing comments and DMs on my social media each day from people telling me how much my videos have helped them during the pandemic, which motivates me to keep going. They also send me some really cool video topics and ideas!

Do you have a message you want to share with your dedicated Vee Team?

A message that I always stand by and love to tell my subscribers is to embrace your weird side because normal is boring and people will love you for who you really are!

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