SWM FESTIVAL 2022 ARTISTS

SCHEDULE

6:30 pm
NIMKII

7:00 pm
JER

8:00 pm
VOX SAMBOU

9:00pm
LA CHICA

10:00 pm
MONEKA ARABIC JAZZ

1:00 pm
GEORGE CROTTY TRIO

2:00 pm
BENY ESGUERRA & NEW TRADITION

3:00 pm
POLKY

4:00pm
KAZDOURA

5:00 pm
SHAUIT

6:00 pm
SINA SALIMI

7:00 pm
CLEREL AND BAND

8:00 pm
SOUKUSTEK

9:00pm
FUNK LION

10:00 pm
JOYCE N'SANA

1:00 pm
PANTAYO

2:00 pm
BLISK

3:00 pm
TANGHETTO

4:00pm
HAWA B

5:00 pm
FAREED AYAZ & ABU MUHAMMAD QAWWALI

6:30 pm
RAAGRANI
FEATURING HASHEEL

7:30 pm
WOMEN IN SONG: SUMMER THUNDER

SMALL WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL • MUSIC • DANCE • FOOD • ARTS & CRAFTS • SMALL WORLD MUSIC FESTIVAL • MUSIC • DANCE • FOOD • ARTS & CRAFTS

One side of the ocean is Latin America, intense and mystical land. On the other side, there is Paris, Belleville, multicultural, urban and modern land.
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Through her music, La Chica reunites those two worlds by proposing a collage of sound textures, borrowed from her cultural heritage and various modern influences, by breaking the established codes.
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It’s around the piano and keyboards that her universe got built, skillfully mixing her classical inspirations (such as her love for Debussy) with the depth of aerial layers of analog synth.
Unhidden, the french-venezuelian conveys raw emotions, between abstract thoughts and poetical introspection.
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This new album from “La Chica”, “La Loba” is dedicated to her late brother. It is an intimate, sincere opus, filled with magic and rituals. Through these songs, she expresses the first stage of her new learning of life in the absence of a loved one. She goes through different emotional stages such as anger, infinite sorrow, utmost love, enlightenment.

Cité d’or is the story of the wild child wanting to discover his inner self. Music is his poetic framework travelling like a feline of the open spaces. Over a psychedelic rock base, Funk Lion, Quebecer of Haitian origin, composes the tale of his quest for Eldorado like a poetic manifesto of uprootedness. With his psychedelic rock infused with afro-futurism and voodoo-funk, the Funk Lion experience is like a laid-back psychedelic carnival.

A natural-born vocalist, soul singer & songwriter Clerel nurtured his taste for melody in his coastal hometown of Douala, Cameroon, where he grew up listening to music from his parents' record collection, which ranged from church hymns and afrobeat to French chanson.

As a child, he developed a habit of singing his favourite songs to himself as a way to “listen” to them whenever he desired, an exercise that helped hone his signature smooth tone.

Originally from Cameroon, Clerel nurtured his taste for melody during a childhood rocked to the rhythm of church hymns, local nursery rhymes and French pop songs of the moment.

Now based in Montreal, Clerel now uses his influences and his poetic sensitivity to create, solo or in collaboration, simple songs with sounds that invite escape. His songs, whether played in an alley concert or on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert, are carried by an authentic and striking voice from the first listen, as evidenced by the songs of his next French EP, Interlude

JER is a Brazilian alternative rock singer-songwriter and multi instrumentalist and music producer. Beginning her musical career at a young age, JER grew up around the semi-arid cities of Bahia, the magical Brazilian state known for music and celebration. JER is a champion who survives off her own skill and faith. Over the course of a decade she has cultivated several impressive musical projects that span different genres and across continents. Her participation in Toronto’s musical scene is something continuous and wide reaching. Her sound is a mix of electronic, ska, rock, dub, and Brazilian fusion music.

In Partnership with

Pantayo is an all-women kulintang ensemble based in Toronto. They combine percussive metallophones and drums from kulintang traditions of Southern Philippines with electronic and synth-based grooves. They also offer music and cultural workshops to teach kulintang. Pantayo explores the possibility of kulintang through their experiences as queer diasporic Filipinas.

Rooted in jazz and blues, Moneka Arabic Jazz draws from leader Afro-Iraqi heritage and influences along with Toronto’s multicultural mix to create a distinct, funky, and unique sound. The band’s repertoire introduces maqam and weaves African identity and influences into the mix, with contributions from the diverse members that create a sound embodying Toronto's diversity.

Kazdoura is a Toronto-based band that serves up Arabic fusion with a modern twist. Equal parts nostalgia and reinvention, their style is a cross-cultural blend of Eastern and Western music that blends old-world Arabic classics with jazz, funk, electro-pop, and disco. This project was founded in the summer of 2020, quickly finding success online, where their videos have collected more than 3 million views on Tik Tok. Singer Leen is a newcomer from Syria whose passion for classical Arabic music led her to collaborate with jazz musician Johnny who has a Lebanese background in order introduce this fusion music to a Canadian audience. In October 2021, Kazdoura released their debut single "Wain", song of their Ep, set to be released June 2022. Kazdoura has been performing extensively in Toronto and Montreal and festivals like the Toronto Palestine Film Festival and the Taste of the Middle East.

Joyce N’sana is the voice of Afrobluehop. Also known for her Reggae, the small woman with a huge voice presents music that is a unique and tasty mix of Afro-blues and Hip-hop. The new Radio-Canada Revelation 2021-2022 who grew in the context of the Congolese civil wars delivers a clear and determined message; she spreads an art of peace.

Presented by

Nominated twice as Indigenous artist of the year for the prestigious ADISQ awards gala, Shauit sings about the plurality of the cultural mosaic of the First Nations.

Originally from Maliotenam in northeastern Quebec, singer songwriter Shauit sings songs strongly inspired by his Innu roots and traditional music.He fuses several popular genres (folk, roots, reggae, etc.) and offers honest, committed songs filled with emotions and personal experiences.

Over the last few years, Shauit has played throughout Canada, in the United States and even in Europe, where he has conquered a loyal audience with his innovative style and mixed with the culture of his roots.

Shauit is a proud representative of indigenous culture around the world and is currently working on a second full album to follow up with the warm welcome he has received after the release of his first official album “Apu peikussiaku”.

Focused on the interbreeding and fusion of the musical worlds of Quebec and Innu, Shauit will paint a magnificent fresco of influences against a backdrop of a feeling of reunification and reconciliation.

Soukustek was born under the gaze of the Caribbean Sea surrounding the coastal city of Cartagena de Indias in Colombia.
Combining the rhythms and sounds of guitars that arrived in Colombia from Africa in the seventies with the flavours of the Colombian Caribbean, Soukustek is dance, joy, and history: it is Africa in Colombia.

Soukustek is a combination of the life experiences, dreams and joys that have fed off of a direct connection to Africa. On weekends, as children, the members of Soukustek fell asleep and awoke the next morning to the thunderous soukous rhythms and African guitar melodies blasted out by the powerful and brightly painted sound systems called "Picos" or "pickups."

The project began in 2010 when Cartageneros percussionist, producer Juan Medrano, Tury Morey, and master guitarist, Claro Torres from Baru Island in Colombia, joined forces to form a band to recreate those sounds that were blasted from the "Picos" with the authentic Colombian Folklore from the north coast. Today, this re-interpretation of Nigerian highlife Congolese Soukous, Afrobeat and Colombian folklore is known as "Champeta."

Presented by

Women in Song: Summer Thunder features a stellar cast of powerful women vocalists accompanied by spectacular dancers from diverse dance backgrounds. Presented by FabCollab, the concert will be peppered with surprise guest artists and collaborations, and the festivities will be hosted by spoken word artist Zoey Roy. As always, Women in Song's performers will be accompanied by the award-winning global music ensemble, Ventanas. Summer Thunder is back -- let the tempest roar.

Singers:
Tara Kannangara
Lydia Persaud
Joanna Majoko

Dancers:
Chantelle Mostacho
Raoul Wilke
Cotee Harper
Saga Kwandibens
Sage Myran
Cedar Smoke
Lia Grainger
Tamar Ilana

Host: Spoken word artist Zoey Roy

Backing Band: Ventanas

 

In 2018, Nadia started writing compositions and founded a band called HAWA B. As a bandleader, composer, and singer-songwriter, her passion lies in creating dense and exciting soundscapes, pushing limits with innovative content, and employing a rich palette of colours and textures. As a touring artist, she aims to champion the cultural-artistic wealth that stems from Canadian diversity.

While soul music and jazz are undoubtedly clear influences in HAWA B, alternative-rock is also a main source of inspiration. As a young black woman, she is proud to create music that smashes stereotypes about women and artists of colour and their work. It is important for her to challenge preconceptions about black music and remind people that rock is also part of black heritage.

She aims to provide comfort through her lyrics while simultaneously dismantling negative connotations around sadness and other difficult emotions. HAWA B has created her own musical universe to portray sadness in a positive light, inspiring the title of her upcoming debut EP, “Sad in a Good Way.”

Tanghetto is a tango and electrotango band based in Buenos Aires that creates a new form of tango using technology and conventional instruments, combining traditional roots with modern sounds. Inspired by social issues and a pioneer in inclusion in the world of tango, the band has been nominated four times for Latin Grammys and has won two Gardel Awards. Over their 18-year career, Tanghetto has performed at the most important tango festivals in the world, as well as on prestigious stages such as the Lincoln Center in New York, La Ballena Azul at the CCK in Buenos Aires, the O2 Arena in London, and at renowned music festivals including WOMAD and Cervantino.

Presented by

BLISK is a synthesis of polyphonic Eastern European and Balkan song, dance and movement backed by hypnotic percussion. It is described as a musical journey travelling through Ukraine, Poland, Macedonia, Serbia and beyond. Based in Toronto, the members of the group hail from Canada, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan, brought together by a deep love and respect for these ancient songs and dances, bringing tunes to life in the modern world through unique arrangements. Originally put together for multiple performances at the Toronto Ukrainian Festival in September 2017, BLISK made its official public debut in December of 2017 at the Aga Khan Museum opening for JUNO-nominated group Turkwaz. Since then, they have performed at many esteemed festivals, conferences and venues including Sofar Sounds Toronto, Global Toronto Conference, Calgary Folk Festival, Harrison Arts Festival, Mundial Montreal, Folk Alliance International and Ottawa Chamberfest among others.  Roots Music Canada described BLISK as 'beauty – in the voices, the look, and the sounds'.

Presented by

Toronto's own Polky was created by courageous Polish ladies, singer Ewelina Ferenc, dancer Ala Stasiuk, and multi-instrumentalist Marta Solek. Polky, meaning "Polish women," came together through a shared passion for Eastern European music's enigmatic and upbeat style. Joined by Canadian musicians, Polky brings its original sound to Eastern European traditional music by adding a uniquely Canadian and multicultural flavour.

They take you on a musical journey to Poland, the melting pot of Eastern and Central Europe, with Ukrainian, Jewish, and Slovak musical influences!

The band performed at the Danforth Music Hall, opening for Lemon Bucket Orkestra and Boogát, the Aga Khan Museum, Polish and Ukrainian Festivals, Summerfolk Festival, Ashkenaz Festival, Memoires et Racines Festival, Sunfest Festival, and it was an official showcasing artist at Folk Music Ontario and Folk Alliance International promoting Polish and Eastern European folk. Their first EP, Immigration (2018), was inspired by Polish traditional music from the Mazovia region, Polish mountains, immigration to Canada, and... Led Zeppelin! Their debut album, Songs From Home (2020), described by Songlines Magazine as "energetic wilderness," is a celebration of the multicultural city of Toronto and the band’s Polish roots. It was nominated for Canadian Folk Music Awards 2022 in three categories and won the Traditional Singer of The Year Award for Ewelina Ferenc.

Ruben “Beny” Esguerra arrived as a child to Tkaronto from Bacatá (Bogotá, Colombia) as a political refugee with his parents, who were receiving threats for their human rights activism. Today, he is a two-time JUNO nominated multi-instrumentalist/producer, spoken-word poet, arts educator and community worker. in 2021, he was chosen as the laureate of the 2020 Ontario Arts Foundation Arts Educator Award and was nominated and chosen as a finalist for the Toronto Arts Foundation’s Community Arts Award.


As a musician/producer and spoken-word poet, he leads New Tradition Music, performing regularly in national and international festivals. As an arts educator, he has designed courses taught at Canadian Universities and currently facilitates interactive virtual and in-person drumming, storytelling and beat-making workshops in schools across Ontario. As a community worker, he is the music director/facilitator of several community arts programs within organizations such as: Vibe Arts, Right Path World Arts, Casa Maiz and Children’s Peace Theatre among others. In addition, he co-leads the NTM Wheel It Studios mobile project which provides access to equipment and mentorship to Jane Finch artists across different neighbourhoods. Ruben is a PhD (ABD) candidate in Musicology/Ethnomusicology specializing in Colombian traditional music and Hip Hop culture. His latest album –Northside KUISi (2021)–combines Hiphop with Latinx music styles released through Lulaworld Records.

In Partnership with

Sina Salimi is a Toronto-based singer-songwriter whose work is influenced by both his Iranian roots (mainly evident in his use of Persian poetry and also his own lyrics) and Western songwriters and composers such as Leonard Cohen, Tom Waits and Philip Glass. He always accompanies his songs with his santour (Iranian hammered dulcimer) which brings a unique character to his collaborations with bass, drums and guitar. Guest musicians on instruments such as saxophone, violin and accordion are also frequently featured in his live shows and recordings.

RaagRani star Hasheel is joined by world class artists Yanchan (mridangam), Lady Pista (producer), and Brigit (electric violin) in this fusion of  Tamil, Hindustani, hip-hop, electronic, and more! The set features a mix of Bollywood, electronica, and afro beats blended with soulful Indian Classical music, culminating in a joint performance with Toronto's Bollywood Drag Queen, Sanjina!

Presented by

Nimkii is a proud Anishinaabeg hailing from Wiikwemkoongsing, Unceded Territory (Ontario, CA). A world renown hoop dancer, champion dancer and singer on the powwow trail, he was nominated for the Best Indigenous Artist/Group of the year with Nimkii & the Niniis in 2021. Over the years, Nimkii has collaborated with and performed on stage with award-winning artists, and is now blazing his own path, blending traditional singing drumming and dancing styles with contemporary music and modern dance.

The George Crotty Trio roams wild realms beyond the pale of the cello’s classical roots. Known for an expressive fluidity and modal orientation, their second album, 'Chrontope'  engages in cross-cultural interplay between post-bop, South American grooves, Indian Raga, and  Arabic Maqam. 


George Crotty has forged his own vocabulary on the cello. Following his graduation from the  Berklee College of Music, he immersed himself in New York’s jazz and world music scenes,  joining several ensembles such as the Brooklyn Raga Massive and the Detroit-based  National Arab Orchestra, in addition to collaborating with Paquito D’Rivera, Anat  Cohen, and Darol Anger. 


Powered by drummer Matias Recharte (Kuné, Jesse Cook) and bassist Jonathan Chapman (Travis Knights, Laura Anglade) their collaborative sound deviates from a trio's typical hierarchy.

Presented by

Vox Sambou comes from Limbé, Haiti. He writes and performs in Creole, French, English, Spanish and Portuguese. He is a founding member of Montreal-based hip-hop collective, Nomadic Massive. He performed across North America at the Kennedy center in Washington; Grand Performances in Los Angeles; Le Printemps de Bourges, France, Chile, Brasil, Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso, Colombia, Brasil, Morocco, Spain and USA.

His music is a fusion of traditional rhythms of Haiti and Afro-Latin elements on afrobeat, reggae and hip-hop. As a songwriter, he recorded Lakay in 2008, Dyasporafriken in April 2013 and The Brasil Session in 2016, accompanied by musicians from different backgrounds. Vox Sambou is a committed musician who is not afraid to denounce injustice, social imbalances and inequities.

In Partnership with

Fareed Ayaz & Abu Muhammad is a legendary ensemble dedicated to qawwali, a form of devotional Sufi music with origins in ancient Islamic poetry.

Known as “the path of the heart,” qawwali expresses the devotion of Sufi mystics. The music begins by drawing the audience in with a meditative rhythm of chants, melodies, and percussion. Steadily, the rhythm builds, reaching ecstatic peaks that transport both musicians and listeners closer to the divine. 

The musical roots of this ensemble, one of Pakistan’s favourites, date back 700 years in the tradition of Qawwal Bachon ka Gharana of Delhi. Lead singers Fareed Ayaz and Abu Muhammad, accompanied by singers and percussionists, weave together devotional and secular traditions for a transcendent musical experience.