Daniel Caesar is nominated for TikTok JUNO Fan Choice, Single of the Year, Album of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Contemporary R&B Recording of the Year.
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Crown Lands
Slowcity.ca Open Mic: Devontée Woe, Delon Om, Daniel Caesar, Crown Lands, Sunnsetter, Gord Downie with Bob Rock, and Darelle London
By Will McGuirk
“I think it’s extremely important to speak your truest self openly, and to actually mean it. So many people never really say what they truly mean, or what they feel for fear of ridicule. I’ve lived with the struggle of presenting my truest self to the world for a long time, and no longer want to live that way.” - Sunnsetter
“I've always been a fan of long pieces of music. Setting a mood and going someplace, just taking you somewhere. The music was based on that journey, this rising tide of chords, crescendos in the chorus. Somehow I stumbled on this magic chord, a simple minor to a major progression, and it moved me.” - Bob Rock
DancinWayne
Sports fans can look for Oshawa shout-outs at the World Cup.
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.
Drake and DancinWayne
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.”
DancinWayne and Najjah Calibur at Canada 150 in Vancouver
Slowcity.ca Open Mic Local Edition - Crown Lands, Meghan Patrick, Bob Bryden, and Jonathan Greer,
By Will McGuirk
Some great local acts dropping some rad recordingss, and don’t forget to tune in July 20 to hear the 2021 OMA nominee announcement. Link here.
Crown Lands, photo by Lane Dorsey
Slowcity.ca Local Edition with Beams, Crown Lands, Anthony Brown, Sasha Chaa and Devonté
By Will McGuirk
Good week for the Shwarock City Kats and for those in the D-Rawk; Crown Lands, Dizzy, Lennon Stella and Protest The Hero received Juno nominations. Congrats to all. But the tunes go on so yah new music.
Crown Lands release 'End of the Road' - #mmiwg
By Will McGuirk
There are tales to be heard, and shared, and understood, and acknowledged; pain and hurt and woe and deaths to be honoured. I can add no context to this track by Crown Lands with narration by Tanya Tagaq -> It is up to you now.
“ ‘End of The Road’ pays tribute to the Indigenous womxn, girls, and two-spirits who have gone missing or have been murdered on Yellowhead Highway 16 in British Columbia, which is referred to as the Highway of Tears. We are sharing this as reflective address of the disproportionate violence and ongoing injustices experienced by Indigenous communities with hopes to encourage education, discussion and action surrounding this national crisis. We don’t claim to have any answers, but we want use our voice to bring awareness and help make a difference.” - Crown Lands