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#TMITuesday: 10 Questions With Toronto R’n’B Artist Geneva

One of my favourite things to do aside from sleeping and eating mac and cheese is listening to new music. This week’s feature is a gifted artist who should truly be added to your Spotify playlists…like now. Right now…

I’ll wait.

Geneva and I discuss music, life and a whole lot more in this all-new #TMITuesday interview.

1. Who or what inspires your music?

Anything can be inspiration if you let it – pain, heartbreak, love, longing…LIFE! When I feel disappointed or upset about something, I find writing can be very cathartic. It helps me process what I’m feeling and obviously when other people can relate to those feelings and experiences in the music, it makes it even more rewarding / meaningful.

I’m always excavating past experiences, moments, situations, feelings, memories for inspiration. The gift of a good songwriter is to communicate these every day feelings in a unique way that feels true to the artist and their audience.

2. Since today is #TMITuesday can you tell the readers something about you that they may not already know?

I’m technically a “halfmerican” – my biological father was originally from Miami so I’m technically half American. Also, I used to play cello 🙂

3. How important is it for you to be your authentic self when creating music?

Very! The moment you start creating from a place of “what will other people like”, you’re not creating from an authentic place. I think the more honest and vulnerable I am in terms of my songwriting, the more the right people will gravitate to my music and relate to me as an artist and person just going through this crazy journey we call life together.

4. If you could choose one song by any artist to be your ‘theme song’ what would it be and why

Honestly, “Win” by Jay Rock gets me hype. There is so much rejection and weird shit that goes down in this industry, and people can switch up on a dime, so you really need to have thick skin to make it anywhere. You can’t let other people derail you or let outside opinions interfere with your vision. Not everyone is gonna get it, that’s not your problem. Keep pushing! In the words of Jay Rock, “You either with me or against me, ho!”

5. What is an average day like for you?

Admittedly I don’t have a super wild and unpredictable day-to-day life most days – I work a 9-5 and have a 7-year-old daughter so I’m not living any type of glamorous lifestyle for the most part. However, stability, consistency and limiting distractions has resulted in me going beast mode these past couple years over COVID and I currently have over 25 song demos in the chamber so I guess there’s something to be said for being a bit “boring” 😛

I try to carve out time for songwriting / studio time as often as possible and also work with a voice + performance coach weekly. I have been investing heavily in my craft.

6. Who is your dream artist to do a collab with?

I would love to work with SAINt JHN, he’s such a dope songwriter and I love his vibe. I feel like we’d do a crazy song together. I’m a huge fan of other songwriters / artists like Tiara Thomas, Ari Lennox, Stacy Barthe…I’d love to work with them. In Toronto, would be sick to do a song with Sean Leon or Runway the Catwalker. I love Clairmont the Second also.

7. I write a lot about reality TV on here, are you a fan?

Girl yes! The trashier the better. The last thing I watched was The Ultimatum which was delightfully chaotic.

8. Do you have a celebrity crush? If so, who?

We can go with SAINt JHN here too. He’s so hot and stylish!

9. What are your thoughts on the new Drake album?

I actually like that he did a house record, I’m not mad at it, but I feel like he did it in like a week. As an OG house head the bar is pretty high so I’m probably more judgmental than the average listener. Anything that can introduce the next generation to the culture is dope though, so I hope his younger listeners dug into the genre and the history more. There are some great books on electronic music history so…study up!! Modulations, Last Night a DJ Saved My Life, Energy Flash to name a few…

10. What’s next for you?

I have a pretty large body of work at the moment so would love to release a proper full 12-track album but I have to bide my time with some singles for now. I’ll be releasing “Larry Hoover,” a collab with S4G4 late fall, “Body On Me,” a dancy bop produced by KYU in early spring around March, and then a summer jam in May called “Down Bad” featuring Basi Azul. In the meanwhile, if you like house, “The Vibe” just came out not too long ago. It’s a vibe, as its namesake suggests!

Keep up with Geneva!

https://ffm.bio/geneva (Main DSP/music links)

Spotify / Website / Instagram / Twitter / Facebook

Link to the latest release: https://ffm.to/thevibeftgeneva

#WCW: Big Brother 24’s Taylor Hale

Queen of the Lays Taylor Hale (vote Taylor for AFP) is this week’s #WCW.

Netflix’s Dated and Related Is A Real Show…

Thankfully, the show is not about siblings who are dating one another…but it does have a premise that gives me the ick.

According to Tom’s Guide, the core concept is fairly simple: a diverse group of single people travel to a European villa to find love, but the twist is they’re accompanied by a sibling who is also on the hunt for a soul mate. As you can probably guess this leads to all sorts of awkward encounters. After all, there’s nothing more distracting when attempting to woo a potential partner than having their sibling within earshot. The show also makes liberal use of the double-date format, only this time it’s two pairs of siblings on a date together. There’s also the expected collection of group activities and challenges, not to mention plenty of producer-driven chats.

The show has a pathetic 4.1/10 on IMDB so I cannot see the series getting a second season.

I’m not sure I’d be too hyped to be on a dating show with my brother, will you be adding this show to your rotation?

Round Off Your Long Weekend In Toronto On Monday With A Beach Party

With 22 years of Promise Cherry Beach parties, the team behind the underground techno takeover in Toronto is still going strong.

With recent notice from BlogTO and Exclaim! the weekly events (that run June 5th to Sept 5th) offer a mini-vacation on Sundays 3pm-11pm. They’re family-friendly and feature some of Toronto’s best and brightest DJs and international headliners. So sure you could spend 300+ on VELD tickets this weekend, or have a taste of Toronto beach life for a fraction of the price.

This weekend’s event will happen on Monday (with Ciel & Lis Dalton headlining) and run from 3pm to 11pm. Get your tickets now and pretend that Ontario is a tropical haven.

#TMITuesday: 10 Questions With Canadian Artist Tremayne

Tremayne is a Toronto grown hip-hop artist, known for his prolific performances and universally respected for his visceral songwriting. Born and raised just west of Toronto, in the suburb of Brampton, Tremayne began his career under the moniker T-Mayne, a nod to his birth name. Known for wearing his heart on his sleeve, whether on stage or on record, it has become a calling card for his style of music. Floating somewhere between the poetic, introspection of classic Chicago hip hop, and the contemporary trap soundwaves of New Toronto, Tremayne explores the interpersonal workings of the artist mind, the bleeding heart and the human experience. His pursuit of a career in music has taken him across the globe from London, New York, Montreal, Germany to performing at Atlanta hip hop festival, A3C. He and his collective, StayOutLate, look to leave an imprint on the entertainment industry.

Since today is #TMITuesday what can you tell the readers about you that they may not
already know?

This is a tough one because I’m pretty much an open book, but that actually gives me a good
answer. If you follow me on Instagram you might not know my handle is an acronym. Most
people fuck it up when they mention me. It’s not idaati, it’s Ldaati and it stand for Life Death And All Things Inbetween. The name came from the fact I wanted to treat my Instagram like a reality
TV channel. so you can go back to my very first post ever. Nothing has been deleted or
archived since, I think I started it in 2014?
Who or what inspires your sound?
This unpredictable, highly experimental, chaotic thing called life. Most of my music, whether
bright or dark sounding, dances in a vast, often uncomfortable world of existentialism. I often try to mimic the peaks and valleys, and always venture to explore things less explored.
If you were to collab with any artist who would it be and why?

Honestly this question is tough, because as an artist that changes depending on a million
different factors. But if the scenario was that I was locked in a room with one artist and we
couldn’t leave until we made a hit on my terms it would probably be either Jill Scott or Erykah Badu. I’d have them teach me how to sing, which would drive them crazy cause I’m a terrible singer, but I think they’d be able to help me find my pocket. We’d talk about life for probablydays. If it’s Erykah I’d convince her to be the doula of my first born child, and somewhere within all of that we’d end up making an album worth of music, that if you know me might never seethe light of day lol.
I talk about reality TV a lot on this site, would you ever compete on a show like Canada’s Got
Talent, or The Voice?

I personally wouldn’t. It’s not fitting for me. Ima super emotional, theatrical, grungy artist. If they allow the audience and judges to be on a shroom trip when I perform maybe. But stripped down I think my content is more disruptive than entertaining.
A simple one, whats your fave movie?
Lmfao! I don’t even know if I’m allowed to say the movies I’d like to say, but I’m going to say it and you edit if you want afterward. It’s either Lars Von trier’s – Antichrist or Gaspar Noè’s –
Irreversible. Both incredibly hard movies to watch. Gaspar’s has the most beautifully redeeming moment in the end that very few people can make it to. I always connect with things that challenge my safe place. I believe a huge and dangerous flaw in most of us is our inability to navigate uncomfortable things. It often pushes us to a place of black and white when nothing on this planet is completely black and white.
What is a song that you are most proud of?
Probably my most recent release, Daddy issues ft. Backxwash and Charlie Noiir. It’s an
extremely vulnerable song and sound wise not really something I’ve expressed as an artist. It’s a song that I thought would alienate a lot of people who listen to my music, but on the contrary it ended up connecting with a lot of people, which I’m proud of.
What is an average day like for you?
Being tormented with a list of 100 things to do. Always deciding to let things flow as they may, and wearing whichever cap I’m most connected to at the time. Having a million deadlines and trying to complete them all in one day. Being concerned I’m not living up to my potential. Being obsessed with making the people around me better.
If you could choose one song to be your ‘theme song’ what would it be and why?
It would definitely have to be Kanye – Power. No song gets me as hype and makes me feel as
determined and destined as that song. Whenever I feel lazy or like giving up or uninspired I play that song for a charge up.

9. Do you remember the first song you ever recorded?
I don’t remember the song exactly, but I remember the time period. It was high school. My
friends Scotty IV, who at that time went as Spooks and Prezident Jeff all had just got into
making music. They were already talented producers and rappers and I was just a kid who liked to write. To this day I have no clue why they let me rock with them cause I was really horrible, but I was committed. I’m still committed.

10. What’s next for you?
No clue really. I want to do a lot of things, but we’ll see what the universe has in store. If you’re following my socials you’ll see it all play out.
Twitter – @tremayneSOL
Instagram – @Ldaati
Tiktok – @treyoutlate

Cover image by: Dusty Loops

#TMITuesday: 10 Questions With MTV’s Syrus Yarbrough

I was buzzing to find out that I would get to speak with this week’s LEGEND. The Challenge would not be where it is without this man.

I sat down to talk with Syrus Yarbrough about his upcoming wedding, returning to TV and more in this week’s #TMITuesday.

1. You and your beautiful partner are engaged, can we expect a big reality TV guestlist for the event? (I’m sure I could as that so I will wait for mine in the mail)

Hahah… She is not the type to be filming our private/intimate wedding. I mean I’m sure there is a price that would make her think…. But she ain’t into that type of thing. That’s all me.

2. How do you feel about the current representation of Black and POC in reality TV?

I feel like there has definitely been a movement toward more substance in the different characters but I think we have a ways to go. And I honestly don’t group POC with The Black community.

Just feel like we’ve been through too much to be grouped with others. Not saying they don’t struggle but our struggle is a whole different every day every hour thing. No disrespect to anyone or culture just speaking my feelings.

3. What has been the best and what has been the worst part about returning to The Challenge?

Oh man… the return has been awesome! Nothing bad about any part of it. I mean it’s a game. Yes I want to win and yes it’s a lot of money but… money & me have a great relationship I don’t worry or stress over it.

4. Since today is #TMITuesday can you tell the readers something about you that they may not already know?

Hhhhhmmmmm….. I’m pretty much an open book but let me see? Some people in college only remember me from “Bay Watch” I had a few roles on there it was my college summer job! Oh and it’s filmed in my home town of Santa Monica,CA

5. Who were you rooting for on All Stars 3?

No comment

6. Do you think that you could beat TJ Lavin in:

A pole wrestle:
A puzzle:
A Hall Brawl:

Wow. Well, let’s just say I think I can beat anyone at something. I think that everyone has their day some have more days than others. So yea tj…. Let’s go! The funny thing is… u can be a complete expert and make one mistake and boom you’re done.

7. You are a man that KNOWS how to throw a party. What are 5 essential things for the perfect party?

Location, theme, timing, organization & execution

8. What is a typical day like for you?

I do intermittent fasting for 16 hours including sleep. Wake up say my positive affirmations. Look at my socials, organize day, off to the gym for a min of 10 miles or an hour cardio, quick weights! Mon weds fri is the beach as some beach run and bball cardio before the gym. Sometimes I go back to the gym after for a double dose with my lady then I do another 10 miles. I have snacks when my fast is done and we eat dinner with the animals after and watch our shows ! Be creative and write or design throughout the day. Meetings sprinkled in. And repeat!

9. If you could name one song as your ‘theme song’ what would it be and why?

Oh my … I was just asked this for a podcast… right now… “Mary J Blige & DJ Khalid “ “Amazing “

10. Whats next for you?

Still writing shows and my Autobiography. Staying in shape and hoping to get on either challenge and win. Wedding and maybe a “Lil Sy” or if it’s a girl “SY-Anara “ ! Other than that just continue to be creating and doing what I do! Bring it to the world and see how they feel about my vision