By Will McGuirk

Makers don’t stop making. Even a global pandemic won’t stop makers making and thankfully so. For the rest of us, going forward will require new thinking, creativity, innovation, outside, inside, other side of the box thinking and it will be to the makers we will turn. Here in Durham Region, our artists are woodshedding new ideas and finding new outlets for their creativity. We take a peek behind the stage curtain to see what musicians are doing as shows have been cancelled worldwide.

Each photo will link to the Unison Benevolent Fund.

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Judgement have weathered the trial of Covid-19 quite well, and have helped others weather the effects of the pandemic as well. The Oshawa band have reached inwards to reach out, and not just over the holiday season but for all seasons. They have also managed to sneak in a sweet video shot in the former CAW Hall in Oshawa. . . but here’s Ryley Robertson of the band to tell us more.

“During Covid we have been sticking to our usual works as band. First off we have been in the process of releasing our debut EP as Judgement. Our first two singles “Terra Firma” and “November” were released earlier this year, before the pandemic struck, and our most recent is our third single is, “Define Alive”; released November 24th, 2020 along with a music video. Covid definitely scrapped all of our tour plans, but we have been very thankful to have social media @judgementca to continue to connect with fans and friends.

“We have been writing a lot more due to increased downtime from shows, learning different skills like production, editing, and photography to name a few so we don’t have to outsource as much as a band, and as well as working a lot on music promotion, and increasing/growing relationships. Throughout Covid we have been trying to give back as much as possible. The Canadian Mental Health Association is a company that we have been advocating for for quite sometime now. Judgement has always donated a 10% portion of merchandise sales each year, and earlier this year we raised $420 on that end, $596 through a self-ran GoFundMe for the association, and as well as took part in the, “Hey, Are You Okay?”, fundraiser which generated over $3,000.

“We took a step in the podcast direction this Summer and started our own called, “You, The Artist”, which you can stream on Spotify, YouTube, Anchor, and PocketCast. Our podcast surrounds everything music related really. We have guests and friends from the industry on to talk about their personal experiences of being a part of the music scene, share some wild story’s with us along the way, and also bring value to those tuning in.

“Our newest release and video, “Define Alive”, is available on Youtube and all platforms. We filmed the video for this track in the upstairs part of the old Lazer Xtreme building on Bond St. East in Oshawa, Ontario. As many know the beloved Oshawa Music Hall was forced to close in about June of this year. The owners Ed & Maggie very nicely invited us to check out the beginning stages of their new Oshawa venue, which is planned to be that same building. When we arrived to check it out, all of us couldn’t stop chatting about filming some sort of video in the space, especially because at the time it was completely unfinished and had a very cool vibe to it. Lots of natural lighting, tons of room, and a nice grimy aesthetic is the best way I can put it- we loved it. Huge thank you’s again to all involved, to Terry Coad for spending the entire day with us and helping everything run so smooth, Ed & Maggie Maybee for being so willing to let us use their space, and lastly to our director Roberto Spadafora. Follow us @judgementca and stream us wherever you find your tunes.

“The Simcoe House in Oshawa does a great job at looking out for the community and have been unusually low for donations this year, so we decided to gather up a few bags of non-perishables to donate to those in need. This is something we have started to do on a monthly basis. The donations go to those less fortunate in the community and are especially needed around Christmas time! We encourage you to donate if you can. It all goes a long way. “