Interviews, Take 5

Take 5 with ‘Rudy’s Belly of Bees’ Author Shannon Schaefer

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Shannon Schaefer Rudy's Belly of Bees Interview

Shy, quiet, timid, reserved—these are just a few of the labels children may be given growing up. For Shannon Schaefer, these labels masked what was really the beginning of her journey living with anxiety. Now fresh out of university, the Guelph-based writer has turned her lived experiences into an educational resource with the release of the illustrated children’s book ‘Rudy’s Belly of Bees,’ which is already helping kids, parents, and teachers around the world. 

Following its November release, Schaefer’s book has been picked up by the likes of Google and Apple Books, Indigo, Walmart, and Amazon, landed on multiple bestsellers lists, and, thanks to its earlier-than-anticipated release, become a welcome Christmas gift for many kids experiencing their own “belly of bees.”

As she continues to reflect on a whirlwind year, I connected with Shannon to get the backstory on her quick transition from journalism graduate to published author and the milestones that have mattered most.

Rudy's Belly of Bees Cover
Cover art for ‘Rudy’s Belly of Bees’ by Shannon Schaefer. “Rudy is me in a lot of ways, but she’s also a lot of other kids. For the actual illustration, my illustrator Becca Marshall got a bunch of baby photos from me and based it off that, except with way curlier hair!” Schaefer shares. (Photo courtesy of Shannon Schaefer)

Tell us about ‘Rudy’s Belly of Bees’ and what inspired you to write it.

We meet the main character, Rudy, on the day of the school relay race, which should be a really fun day, but instead of feeling excited she’s feeling what we call a “belly of bees,” or anxiety. We get to follow Rudy throughout the day as she navigates the new emotions and what they make her act like and feel like, and then also as she starts navigating coping strategies. She’s not overcoming those emotions as if they’re gone forever but learning how to live with them because with anxiety, that is what life can be like. Rudy speaks to and was written from a place of my own experience but also something that I think is so relatable to so many kids.

Referring to anxiety as having a “belly of bees” is a very fitting analogy. Can you share more about how that description came to you?

The way I’ve always explained my anxiety is that I feel like I’m buzzing. Sometimes that’s in ways that make me feel anxious and jittery, but sometimes it’s very internal and my stomach actually feels like it’s rattling. When I thought about that noise and feeling, I started to think about beehives, especially when the queen is in it and they kind of shake. That beehive is exactly what I feel my stomach would look like sometimes. Everyone knows what a bee is, we know the sounds that they make, we know what they do in the hives, so it’s easy to kind of visualize that for children.

What role do you hope ‘Rudy’s Belly of Bees’ plays in the broader conversation about youth mental health?

I feel like we’re getting a lot better, but I think this is a situation where the more people we have presenting different ways of explaining that feeling of a “belly of bees” and different coping strategies, the better. I just definitely wish that something like this was around when I was younger so that there was a character that I could have had to be like, I am like Rudy and I can see how Rudy gets through this and I can mimic that. I am 100 percent a book person and I think we can all find so much safety and so much of ourselves in books sometimes, so I hope for children they can also do that with my book.

We met in journalism school. Did you find that degree helped you with writing and publishing the book, and if so how?

In journalism you have to be very succinct and get your message across quickly and with kids, even though you can elaborate a bit, you actually don’t get that many words either. Most children’s books are originally 700 to 900 words, which when you’re trying to do a full plot, especially describing emotions and introducing coping, it’s not that much to work with! So, I think journalism helped with figuring out, for example, on the first page, what do I need readers to know to understand the rest? I would also say there are similarities in the sources and accountability aspect because I have a minor in psychology, but when my book was getting edited I had a children’s psychologist read it. I thought that, like a journalist, I wouldn’t just go into a community acting like I know everything and start writing about it.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CW_Rgo9pnSy/

This is just the beginning for you and ‘Rudy’s Belly of Bees.’ Is there one milestone in particular that you’re especially proud of ending the year?

I think the best milestones are when I’m able to distribute this resource that I am hoping is exactly what some kids are going to need. I had an individual comment on my Instagram that they read it to their class of 30 kids, and that is beyond how many books you sell or lists that you make. The fact that I can maybe help one or two kids avoid some of the things I didn’t get to avoid is very exciting. I hope for any kid they can better understand the classmate next to them or their friend and be able to say, “Hey, I know about this one technique. Do you want to try this mindful breathing exercise?” The stronger your support system, and the more resources within your support system, the better chances you’re going to have success yourself.

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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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Interviews, Love at First Listen, Music, Music Monday

Love at First Listen with QUIETLOVE

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Love at First Listen - QUIETLOVE

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 (virtually, for now) 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.

Welcome to the world of QUIETLOVE, a new project fronted by Canadian singer-songwriter Brendan DiStefano. You may recognize Brendan from his previous solo releases or as the lead singer of indie-pop trio Navigate the Sky. After four years of behind-the-scenes planning, QUIETLOVE represents a name and identity that he says “exactly conveys the right tone” for the alt-pop music he’s been writing.

Get ready to fall in love at first listen with “The Dream,” QUIETLOVE’s catchy, self written and produced debut single about battling through self-doubt and remembering why you started your journey. Take it from me that this is just the beginning of a very exciting journey ahead for QUIETLOVE!

While you play “The Dream” on repeat, check out my new interview with QUIETLOVE below for the inside scoop on defining ‘the dream,’ the songs he’s loved at first listen, and what’s next.

“The Dream” is your first single as QUIETLOVE. What does this song mean to you, and why did you think it was the perfect song to introduce your new project?

“The Dream” is a very honest song for me. It’s about chasing your dreams and the harsh realities that sometimes come along with doing so. I felt the message was relatable to my peers, and I knew it had to be the first single to establish who I am. I hope someone hears it and it helps them through their own battles.

Where were you the first time you heard the final track and what was your reaction?

I’ll never forget. I was on the TTC in Toronto and I received the first mix to my email from my mixing engineer, Jack. I remember riding around the city and listening for the first time with an ear-to-ear smile. It was definitely a memorable moment for me.

Inquiring minds want to know: What exactly is “the dream”?

I honestly think it varies for everyone. Whatever you define as success to yourself, is the truth to you. To me, ‘the dream’ would be making music for the rest of my life and living comfortably doing so.

For fans who have followed you throughout the years, how would you describe your sonic evolution?

It’s tough to describe. I’d say the songs lyrically have gotten more and more personal, closer to the heart. Sonically, a year or two ago now, the band and I started producing ourselves, which I think really helped find an authentic sound.

How do you plan to continue, or even integrate your releases as QUIETLOVE with and/or alongside the work you’re doing with your band, Navigate the Sky?

I think it’s a fun way to keep the creative energy flowing, whether I’m writing as QUIETLOVE or with the boys. I really look up to bands like The Maine and Alexisonfire where they’ve managed to steadily release songs over multiple projects or side projects. As a listener or fan, you’ll always have new content to consume.

Music has been a close friend to so many of us over the past year. Can you share some of the artists or “quarantine anthems” that you simply had no choice but to love at first listen?

Oh, too many to count. I recently discovered a local Toronto-based artist, Verzache, who produces himself and is very DIY as well. Check out his song called “Think About It.” He’s definitely one to watch blow up over the next year or so — mark my words. Also, “Listerine” by Dayglow has been on repeat the last month or so.

What’s next for QUIETLOVE?

More everything. Now that my debut single is out, I feel like I’ve finally established who I am to the world. I’ve still got so much more to say. I’m looking forward to the future of QUIETLOVE. Keep your eyes peeled to my socials for more!

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