Jahmal Padmore is a creative multi-hyphenate living and working in Toronto. In true millennial fashion, Jahmal’s day-to-day is filled with multiple projects for multiple clients, all while balancing his own creative career. With lululemon, Jahmal works as the community lead and with Tokyo Smoke, he produces podcasts. Meanwhile, his band miracles creates music music that merges R&B with synthy pop so that you can catch a futuristic vibe.
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Sy Blake
Sy Blake is an imaginative artist who prioritizes diverse representation by presenting Black life through a fantastical lens in his graphic design and 3D animation. Since mastering a variety of character styles, the UK-export has continued to craft some characters so intricate that they look cartoon ready and others so unique that look like they are “straight from the space continuum”, as his Twitter bio suggests.
Read MoreJamie Webster
Jamie Webster is a multidisciplinary creative at the helm of some of the coolest video content coming out of Toronto. As creative director for OVO superstars, Majid Jordan, Jamie Webster’s expertise in fashion, photography and graphic design are always on full display. In addition to this, Jamie is the founder of Common Good, a Toronto-based directing collective and full service animation, design and VFX studio.
Read MoreJesse Boykins III
in male, music, music producer, new york, los angeles
Where are you from?: I was born in Chicago, Illinois and my childhood was spent in Jamaica, then Miami and New York. Now I’m here, in Los Angeles.
What do you do?: I sing and went to New School University for Jazz where I also taught myself how to produce.
What is your dream creative project?: I believe firmly in collaboration. I feel like that’s what the art of music is; being able to have a band and have different energies combining to make this one entity. I don’t have a problem producing my own stuff; I just never want my voice to be the only thing that’s expressed. I have a lot to say for sure but not only do I learn in the experience of collaborating with someone, but we definitely bring things out of each other. So although I have been collaborating with some people since 2007, I still love to bring in new talent.
Is there something you wish you knew earlier?: I did all right early on; I was an independent artist, shooting all my own things but would have videos on TV and was getting awards for things I didn’t even know I was nominated for. The main thing I wish I knew earlier on in my career is the art of collaboration with brands, like I did last year. It started by just taking a lot of pictures and conceptualizing ideas and then they’d meet me and I’d have more to talk about besides the music.
Tell us about the female project you’re doing and why did you decide to, instead of putting in the music, give women a direct voice with that project?: I always go back to my childhood and think about how certain situations were handled. I felt like most men didn’t necessarily take the time out to understand women. So I thought that was how you’re supposed to be as a man. And then growing older and having to deal with my ego within relationships, I realized that’s not how you should be as a man (laughs). Often when a man and woman have a conversation it feels like a show because of the concept of attraction. So with the women’s project I interviewed women ages 17-65 and asked questions that I felt they were probably never asked before. The questions were: ‘What do you love about being a woman?’ ‘Long term lust or short term love?’ ‘Tell me the first time you experienced love and the feelings that come with it?’ ‘Beauty or danger?’ ‘Climax or balance?’ ‘Chaos or structure?’ ‘All the things you hate about a man?’ ‘All the things you love about a man?’ ‘What’s on your list of a paper perfect man?’ ‘When I say Love Apparatus what’s the first thing that comes to your mind?’ And ‘do you like smiling?’.
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Paul Pusha
in new york, creative consultant, events, male, 2
Paul Pusha is a creative consultant and accessory designer living and working in NYC. After a career in fashion, where he worked for the likes of Alife and Hood By Air, he transitioned into consulting and designing masks and jewelry because he believed that they were better suited for his skills. Today, he runs AK Cartel, where he sells bags, chains, masks and bustiers, which merge high fashion and hypebeast seamlessly.
Read MoreShaquille Gilbert
Shaquille Gilbert is a writer and model based in Toronto. Since migrating from Montreal, he has made strides in journalism and fashion, with ambitions to merge both industries by eventually highlighting queer people of colour in the arts.
Read MoreDJ GetLive!
GetLive is a New York-based DJ who spins everything from classic boom bap to high-tempo club mixes. The Queens native embodies the American Dream, having flipped his SoundCloud mixes into a residency at Schimanski, where he holds court in their Hip-Hop Room.
Stats: 13.8k Instagram followers
Read MoreSam Houston
Sam Houston is a photographer and art director based in Toronto. When he isn’t working towards his Publications degree at OCAD or updating his aesthetically-pleasing Instagram, Sam works retail.
Read MoreJoseph of Mercury
Between his retro style and timeless tunes, Joseph of Mercury has managed to stand out in Toronto’s dense music scene. Before pursuing a solo career, Joseph had an impressive resume behind the scenes, penning and producing songs for Majid Jordan, Nelly Furtado, and Blood Orange. Today, he has a buzzy EP and unique visuals under his belt that has caught the attention of Globe Style and Billboard.
Though Joseph of Mercury’s has over 5k followers, his online reach is over 13k, with 25k impressions. His audience is main demographic is between 25 and 34 years old in Toronto, LA, London, Mexico City and New York.
Read MoreMimi Harris
Mimi Harris is a native New Yorker conquering marketing, modelling and motherhood simultaneously. She also paints and has a passion for music education, adding to the strong multi-hyphenate culture in NYC.
Read MoreDarren Messam
You can follow Darren here.
Who are you?
Darren Messam, Father, Fiance, top shotta.
Where are you from?
Brampton, Ontario
Freetown, Jamaica
Living in Toronto now.
What do you do?
Day Job: IT guy for some pro sports teams and dabble as an Actor also a Father
Night Job: Professional Ad-libber.
What is your dream creative project?
Want to able to be multifaceted. Podcast, Acting, etc....
What's your strategy for creative block?
Keep at it. Start slow and keep it simple.
If your life was a movie what would be on the soundtrack?
R&B specifically the New Jack Swing era and early 90s Dancehall
Jhanelle Peters
Where are you from? Toronto
What do you do? Day Job: Social Housing Manager / Night Job: Netflix and No-Chill Specialist
Do you consider yourself a freshman, sophomore or senior? Sophomore
What needs to happen before you can "graduate"? I can finally say I graduated when I can look back at marginalized communities in Toronto and see less stigma and stereotype surrounding the need for psychological support. In order to do that, I will need to finish this Masters!
What is your dream creative project? And what's stopping you from it? What do you need? Creating a program in the Afro-Canadian community where youth can receive psychological support for direct/in-direct contact to trauma. Many of these youths are overlooked, and then penalized later on in life for their behaviour, when they received no outlet support during their hardest times. There is nothing stopping me from getting this done, I'm on my way.
What's your strategy for creative block? Don't force it. Inspiration has no expiration date.
If your life was a movie what would be on the soundtrack? 90's R&B, remixes and dancehall
Where can we find you on a Friday night? Roaming the streets of Toronto looking for a new food spot.
You can follow Nelly here.
Matthew Medeiros
You can follow Matt here.
Who are you?
I am 29 years old and live with my guy Ryan and our dog, Nomi. I am a lover for all things beautiful. I enjoy coffee, interior design and weed. I love working out and run with a Nike Crew that focuses on bringing awareness LGBTQI in fitness.
Where are you from?
I grew up in Brampton and moved to Toronto in 2009. I live at Queen and Ossington.
What do you do?
I work in fashion.
What is your dream creative project?
To have a small collection and present it in Paris.
What's your strategy for a creative block?
To immediately seek inspiration.
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
You can find me at home with friends.
Carlos Achoy
Who are you?
I am Carlos, 37 a hospitality professional and gym enthusiast with interests in music, films, fashion and arts.
Where are you from and where do you live?
I am from Culiacan, Sinaloa in Mexico. I moved to Toronto, a place I now call home, in 2004. I live in Corktown.
What do you do?
I manage a Mexican restaurant in the entertainment District. MIlagro, a traditional Mexican eatery inspired by the great Mexico City cantinas of the golden era.
What is your dream creative project?
Musicalize fashion shows, run parties and/or coordinate events for a big art gallery or museum.
What are your top 5 songs of the moment?
1. - Arisen my senses by Bjork
2. - Visions of Gideon by Sufjan Stevens from the Call Me By Your Name Soundtrack
3. – Orcus by Kaiserdisco
4. – Sanctuary by Anja Schneider
5. – Speak to silence by Ghost Note
Where can we find you on a Friday night?
At Milagro Mercer and if I am not too tired after work I am either hanging at one of my friend’s place or entertaining at home ;)
Bobby Bowen
A creative multi-hyphenate who has been called “the face of fashion in Canada’s creative capital” by Paper Magazine. After styling multi-platform projects for the likes of Nike, Nylon and OVO, Bobby recently launched Bully Magazine, an LGBTQ publication where he serves as founder and editor.
Each well-styled post receives an average of 360 likes from his 5.6k followers, with a stellar engagement rate of 6.6%.
Read MorePaolo Roldan
With campaigns for Giorgio Armani and his BFF Phillip Lim, Paolo Roldan is one of the faces at the forefront of Canadian men’s fashion. Since making his debut walking for Givenchy he became one of Ricardo Tisci’s muses and was catapulted to the forefront of the industry. He is now known to grace runways and sets around the world, and gets some shine his own eclectic personal style as well.
Read MoreIan Isiah
in creative consultant, fashion, male, influencer, music, new york, 1
According to SSENSE, Ian Isaiah is a “Brooklyn choirboy turned ‘hood-maternal’ vocalist, a sensual R&B songstress with an ascending trajectory.” His ascent is multifaceted; his industry clout and inimitable style has bred collaborations with Longchamp and ongoing contributions to his bff’s brand Hood By Air. Meanwhile, his smooth vocals has bred collaborations with Chromeo and a tour with Blood Orange.
Stats: 42.6k followers
Read MoreLouis Cremades
Louis Cremades is a French expat living in Toronto. As a songwriter, producer and vocalist he seeks to transcended beyond sonic limits and norms, just as he has travelled beyond borders.
Read MoreKarim Olen Ash
Karim Olen Ash is a Toronto-based DJ and content creator who has established himself as a staple in Toronto’s emerging art scene, and is gradually taking his influence beyond his hometown and into other markets. In addition to DJing, Karim curates events with Something Special and is one of the creative heads of Freshman Friday!
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