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| Andy Carey |
Music has been a thread weaving through Andy Carey’s life since the age of 7. Classically trained in piano and voice, Andy switched directions in high school toward the urban folk rock that defines his sound today. Andy’s latest CD, Closing Circle, is on par with the best that Brit pop offers (Cold Play, Keane, James Blunt). After the last notes fade away, one or more tunes or phrases will be stuck in your head, and if your eyes have not teared, your foot has not tapped, your lips have not moved, your heart has not been touched -- rest assured your soul will have stirred – and the thread of music that weaved through Andy’s life will now have started to weave through yours. And as Andy sings on the first track of the CD: “Don’t you worry why.” |
| Joshua Bartholomew |
With over 160,000 MySpace plays, airplay and performances on CBC national radio, multiple appearances on SUN TV’s entertainment news show, winner of the 2006 Annual Songwriting Contest at Toronto’s #1 Pop/AC radio station, Joshua Bartholomew has accomplished a lot without the help of a record label. He has opened for Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings, Ron Sexsmith, Jason Collett [Broken Social Scene] and Kevin Hearn [Barenaked Ladies]. Joshua started playing drums at age 13 and guitar at 15. Songwriting, piano and bass were not far behind. "I would listen to music for hours and hear each part; where it was in the mix, the melodies, the harmonies, the production, I just soaked it all in." Joshua's self-sufficiency in the studio has put him in the role of singer, songwriter, performer, producer and engineer. Towards the end of October 2005, Joshua released his independently produced EP which was written, performed, produced, engineered, mixed and mastered in his home studio. "Music is a language,” he says, “and when people come to my shows or listen to my music, I want them to hear it, feel it, and be inspired by it." |
| Kat Goldman |
Back in 2003, Kat Goldman’s star was rising. She had been signed in the U.S. by a manager famous for the breakthroughs of artists such as Shawn Colvin, Suzanne Vega and Dar Williams. She was being courted by majors like Columbia and Vangaard. By autumn she was planning a move to New York City. But on her way to a recording session in Toronto she stopped at a bagel shop, where a car drove through the window and pinned her to the wall. She needed emergency reconstructive surgery on her hip and leg. She spent two years learning how to walk again, writing and reviewing the events in a bungalow in North York by herself. The experience led to the release of her spectacular album, Sing Your Song, last autumn, which inspires even as it breaks your heart. Kat is back and she’s better than ever. |
| MeaStars |
The foot-tapping music of cellist and singer-songwriter, MEA (www.meastars.com), will get into your bones, and her melodies will stay with you long after her performance. She was recently nominated for the first annual Toronto Independent Music Awards for her creative pop/rock recordings made in collaboration with Jacob King of the band "Dirj" and Nick Bernal of Lastounce studios in Brampton. She appeared with her band in March on Telalatino network’s urban show "Viva Domenica" and has also been featured on CIUT radio on the program "The First Word". She plays with a variety of accomplished Toronto musicians including Marc Nadjiwan (winner of the Aboriginal Music Awards).
In 1998, MEA moved to the city from the small town of Deep River, Ontario to study classical cello at the University of Toronto with internationally acclaimed cellist Shauna Rolston. She was inspired to start pairing the dark and poetic songs she’d been writing since she was a teenager with her cello after hearing Quebec artist, Jorane. Her music has been compared to Bjork, Tori Amos, Jorane and Sarah McLaughlin. |
| Peter Verity |
You may have already heard Peter Verity’s soulful tunes on the CBC or a number of other radio stations in Canada and the U.S. In 2005, he won Best Folk Artist at the Toronto Independent Music Awards. His songwriting talent has been recognized in several competitions and music critics tend to compare him with John Prine, Neil Young and Bob Dylan. Peter started playing professionally when he was just 16, and toured extensively after he turned 19 for more than a decade. He grew up in the Ottawa Valley, but has lived in East York now for more than 20 years. The most successful band he had toured for 50 weeks a year. When he wasn’t on the road, Peter worked in the production department of a major Toronto daily newspaper for 15 years. He loves performing and regularly tours across Canada and the U.S. playing folk clubs, coffee houses, concerts and festivals. His latest CD is called “Sometimes a Journey.” |
| Tucker Finn |
Between tours, singer songwriter Tucker Finn is a Toronto-based set
designer for feature film by day. She started writing her own songs
while living in Hollywood (1996-2000) and working in film under her
original name, Catherine Doherty. Too shy to perform solo, she
eventually teamed up with Lisa Silverman (back in Toronto in 2000) to
form The Jane Waynes (www.thejanewaynes.com). The gals wanted
Nashville-style stage names. Lisa picked the name Travis because she
knew a nice Border Collie named Travis. Catherine looked inside her
cowboy hat, saw the model name, Tucker, and took that. Later she dumped
the Doherty and went with Finn, feeling a bond with the conflicted Mark
Twain character Huck Finn. Tucker was born Sharon Anne Meunier and
adopted by The Doherty's as an infant and renamed. Now she's gone ahead
and named herself. Tucker's personal experience with what it's like to
feel orphaned, brings a rare depth and sophistication to her
lyrics...and she does it, thankfully, with timely spurts of humour.
Over the past three years, Tucker has made an impact in Nashville as a
truly original writer. Her songs have placed high in numerous
international song writing contests. Recently, she's enjoyed opening
for Fred Eaglesmith at various venues in the U.S. Tucker is currently
working on her first full-length album with a grant she received from
the OAC. (www.tuckerfinn.com)
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Listen to some of the artists who will be peforming on this day.
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| Artemis Chartier |
Artemis Chartier founded S.A.S.S. (School Alliance of Student Songwriters) at the high school where she taught in 2003, believing in the importance of listening to kids, teaching them to articulate their feelings with intelligence and style, and the power of young people to "change the world through love and music". Artemis' album, "More Light", contains her responses to some of the issues her students have shared.
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| Dale Russell |
Dale Russell, the co-Founder of S.A.S.S., was lead guitarist for The Guess Who from 1983-2000. An award-winning producer, songwriter and friend to all who know him, Dale has made music his home for nearly 40 years. Now a grandfather, he takes great pride in helping to nurture the next generation of Canadian music creators.
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| Justin Bridgemohan |
Justin Bridgemohan is a Hip Hop Artist whose focus includes topics such as
war, poverty and domestic violence. Since his introduction to the
SASS program at his high school, Justin has developed his writing skills and
has grown an immense appreciation for the art of Music. In the
preliminary stages of a project, Justin is compiling new tracks and
exploring his musical opportunities. He believes that the Canadian urban
music
industry will flourish if young artists reach their full potential.
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| Lindsay Broughton |
Lindsay Broughton has been penning her own songs since 2005. From her first efforts she won recognition for her outstanding vocals and natural writing instincts. In 2005 and 2006 Lindsay's songs were chosen to appear on the S.A.S.S compilation albums, representing the best of 1,000 students currently involved in Canada's School Alliance of Student Songwriters. In 2006 she was nominated to co-write with great Canadian songwriters DamnHait Doyle, Stan Meissner and Justin Gray at Metalwork’s studio in Mississauga Ontario. Since then Lindsay has had the opportunity to co-write with other great Canadian song writers such as Dean Mctaggart, Eddie Schwartz, Pete Lesperance and Cyril Rawson just to name a few. Lindsay Broughton is a young writer and performer with many musical friends that believe that her outstanding accomplishments over the past few years are only the beginning of the bright future that lie’s ahead. |
| Tafar-I Davis |
Tafar-I is a talented singer/songwriter who at the tender age of 20 has already written an impressive repertoire of songs. Writing since the age of twelve, Tafar-I demonstrates a superb gift for generating music of many genres, "His ability to mix different genres in his composition of original music is remarkable," says Dale Russell, award-winning producer and former lead guitarist of The Guess Who, Russell goes on to say, "Tafar-I embodies the essence of classic R & B and Soul in a very contemporary way."
It was at "Pickering Teen Idol" in 2003 that Artemis Chartier, Founder of SASS, noticed Tafar-I’s powerful vocal delivery and an improvisational ability beyond his years. Tafar-I has become a role model in the S.A.S.S. program, with his writing and vocals showcased on several tracks of the "We Are S.A.S.S." CD.
Tafar-I released his debut album "Almost A Star" in March, which includes the single "If You Leave" which was released to top 40 radio in 2004 and the new single "Everyday". With the release of "Almost A Star" Tafar-I has been able to showcase to the world what he is all about.
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| Joey and Cierra MacDonald |
Cierra and Joey MacDonald were both independently involved in music from the time they were very young. Growing up in a musical household, they were both encouraged in the arts. Cierra was very involved in music competions and musica theatre, and Joey was a self taught aspiring guitarist. When Cierra was entered in a singing competition where Artemis Chartier, co-founder of the SASS program was one of the judges, she won a songwriting session. To this session she brought her brother Joey to accompany her on guitar and their first song, "I Don't Believe", was written and recorded to be included ont he first SASS cd. The duo continued to produce songs that reflected their life experience and dedication to the field. Writing together, they have become the dynamic duo of the SASS program, helping to initiate the involvement of many schools in Durham in this wonderful program. Cierra and Joey now mentor for the program, and work alongside Dale Russell and Artemis Chartier, as well as many of their peers. The pair have performed at such venues as the Hummingbird Centre in Toronto, and the Markham Theatre, opening for the band Orleans and are definately a group to watch for in the future.
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| Lindsay Regan |
Lindsay Regan lives and breathes music. The SASS program has been a huge
part of her high school years inspiring her to reach for her goal to become
a music teacher. She is currently in her second year at the University of
Toronto Faculty of Music. Her time spent with teachers, mentors, and
students has allowed her to expand her musical capabilities such as
developing songwriting and vocal skills. She has won mulitiple songwriting
awards within the SASS program and was honoured to be part of the
Metalworks studio co-writing workshop surrounded by some of Canada's top
songwriters.
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| The Bungalows |
The BUNGALOWS, we are an original rock band including Jim Parker (former touring partner with Ernie Coombs "Mr. Dressup"), Ray Gauvin, Heather Johnson, and Artemis Chartier. Two of us teach songwriting workshops in the SASS program. For more on the Bungalows, please visit www.artemissong.com
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