FME Take 3: The Also Cools' Return to Rouyn-Noranda

The Festival de musique émergente celebrated its 21st birthday this past weekend, returning to the northern city of Rouyn-Noranda. Surrounded by lush greenery and vibrant murals, the Also Cools unpacked our suitcases and jumped straight into four outstanding days of live performance.

Featuring over 350 artists from across Quebec and beyond, FME sprawled across every sidewalk, and we are pleased to report that it shone as bright as the end-of-summer sun. As we bounced between venues, chilled Sapporos in hand, it became progressively more obvious that identifying our favourites would be no small feat – that every memory of this edition deserved to live forever. 

Our adventures included secret shows with sunset backdrops, car parking lots, chalk drawing late into the night, the Bonsound pool-side BBQ, making toast out of a Darth Vader toaster with Truckviolence, and enjoying some of the best music that the indie scene has to offer. Here are just some of the sets that made the séjour a success.

La Sécurité

Although La Sécurité marked our seventh show of the day on Friday, the art-punk quintet packed a rejuvenating punch. Rocking a pair of gas station visor shades, band member Éliane Viens-Synnott exuded carefree cool from the moment she took the stage. Her eccentric delivery and free-flowing choreography commanded the Diable Rond – as did bandmate and drummer Kenny Smith, whose technical precision was impossible to ignore.

Les Louanges

Emotive yet unserious, mellow and multidimensional – Les Louanges held Rouyn-Noranda in the palm of his hand. The Lévis native has garnered praise at lightning speed for his soulful stylings, and his appearance on the main stage certainly justified the hype. Backed by groovy basslines, howling flutes, and a slew of rapturous Queb teens, the artist floated to and fro with a captivating sense of swagger. Catching Les Louanges at this dynamic moment in his career was nothing short of a privilege.

TUKAN

Without question, TUKAN is the name on every festival-goer’s lips. The Belgian group delivered three palpitating performances over the course of the weekend, taking FME by storm with vivid post-rock arrangements. While their jam-packed set at Le Petit Theatre was a strobey-sweet affair, the magic of TUKAN’s final show will be something to remember. Lining 7ème rue with an air of bittersweet anticipation, a sea of glistening bodies gathered to transcend one last time, folding into each rhythm with the desire to make it last forever. And TUKAN? They did too.

AMMAR 808

We met AMMAR 808 on one of the many volunteer-run shuttles we took from our hotel to the main festival grounds. He told us about his long journey from Amsterdam, and mentioned he would be playing a set “somewhere, sometime soon”. Little did we know, our humble new friend is the acclaimed Tunisian producer Sofyann Ben Youssef. We caught his show at the electronic night at Le Petit Theatre, and were absolutely blown away by his masterful blend of traditional African beats and hardcore techno.

Milk TV 

Another post-punk favourite of the festival was Milk TV, a trio hailing from Brussels. Initially not knowing where they were from, we thought they must have emerged from either the Canadian West Coast post-punk scene (think NOV3L, Pottery, and Crack Cloud), or somewhere from the world of Omni, Deeper, or Parquet Courts. Their no-wave energy was electrifying and had the whole crowd moshing by the end of the set.

Myst Milano

Absolutely slayful, and a new discovery for Also Cool, is Myst Milano. The DJ and multi-instrumentalist captivated their audience with their 90s-inspired beats and hard-hitting lyrics, not to mention killer dance moves. Their album Shapeshyfter, which made the Polaris Prize longlist in 2022, now has a permanent spot on the Also Cool daily Spotify rotation.

We once again had a beautiful time in Rouyn-Noranda, surrounded by good music, new friends, and the most incredible end-of-summer vibes we could ask for.

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FME
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What's Also Cool at FME 2023

FME’s full schedule

As August comes to a close, we’re counting down the sleeps until the most glorious festival of the year… FME. The Festival de Musique Émergente returns to Abitibi-Témiscamingue this weekend! 

Featuring 81 artists, this four-day frenzy offers entrancing programming for music lovers from every pocket of the country. We couldn’t be happier to take part in the 21st edition of the festival. Whether you need some help planning your itinerary or you’re looking to shake up your playlists, we’ve got you covered with our top picks!

THURSDAY

N NAO by Naomie de Lorimier and Charles Marsolais-Ricard

N NAO

We had the pleasure of witnessing N NAO opening for P'tit Belliveau a few months back, and it was nothing short of the most ethereal goblin mode music we’ve heard in a while. Generally leaning more towards shoegaze fairy-pop, N NAO brings her dreamy world to life through her strange and wonderful compositions.

Pressure Pin via Taverne Tour

Pressure Pin

High-strung and minimally angular, art-punk group Pressure Pin are sure to hit the grounds of FME with a bang. Originally a pandemic-born solo project of multi-instrumentalist Kenny Smith, the project has since expanded to a full band operation. For fans of Devo, NOV3L, and Eastern Canadian post-punk.

Yocto via Bandcamp

Yocto

Yocto is one of Montreal’s supergroups, and legendary bands emerging from the Esco-Quai Des Brumes-Rockette Bermuda triangle. Inspired by the underground rock of the mid-70s (think Television and the Talking Heads), they credit their creativity to the sci-fi soap operas of the same era.

FRIDAY

Elisapie by Leeor Wild

Elisapie

The ethereal Inuk singer-songwriter Elisapie is set to take the stage in Rouyn-Noranda. Elisapie’s performance comes just weeks away from her release of Inuktitut, a cover album featuring selections from artists like Blondie and Queen that will pay homage to her youth in Nunavik.

Fraud Perry by Alex Apostolidis

Fraud Perry

With an exceptional knack for melding genres, rapper-singer-songwriter Fraud Perry has set her sights on Rouyn-Noranda. Prepare to be charmed by the Montreal artist’s fiery delivery and dance-ready beats.

La Sécurité by Aabid Youssef

La Sécurité

As steadfast fans of Montreal art-punkers La Sécurité, there was no question in our minds about proclaiming them a top pick. Their frenetic arrangements and provocative lyrics make for captivating live performances that are guaranteed to please.

Nora Kelly by Gabie Che

Nora Kelly Band

Previously known for her success at the helm of Montreal punk trio DISHPIT, Nora Kelly has hit a compelling stride with her shift to alt-country. With sickly-sweet vocals and atmospheric instrumentation, Nora Kelly Band offers the perfect complement to fading summer skies.

SATURDAY

Les Louanges by Sacha Cohen

Les Louanges

The poignant lyricism and signature funk of singer-songwriter Les Louanges (also known as Vincent Roberge) are not to be missed. Known for his charming melange of R&B and jazz, the artist has transfixed audiences from Quebec and back again.

Night Lunch via Bandcamp

Night Lunch

Night Lunch are bringing the 80s to Abitibi for their 5 à 7 performance at Les Mooses. Known as light-and-dark pop rockers, Night Lunch sing of the vices of the big city, big romance, and anarchist fantasy. We saw them open for LUCY (Cooper B. Handy), and can confirm that their show is not to be missed.

Truckviolence and Jodie Jodie Roger via FME

Truckviolence and Jodie Jodie Roger

If you’re in the mood for something loud and rowdy, the fin de soirée show at Cabaret de la Dernière Chance will give you the fix you need. Jodie Jodie Roger will kick off the show with her metal-infused punk energy, followed by Truckviolence’s gloomy hardcore sound. Bring your earplugs and get ready to get sweaty.

SUNDAY

Knitting by Alex Apostolidis

Knitting

Bounce around the last day of the festival with Knitting, an indie bedroom pop/rock group from Montreal. By choosing knitting as a metaphor, the band aims to enhance the relaxed, artisanal side of the business. Sit back, relax, but also maybe get up and dance.

SAMWOY via sam-woy.com

SAMWOY

Closing out the festival, SAMWOY comes to rock the cabin with dark hues, on assaults of guitar, sharp synths and cavernous voices, as it should be. Inspired by Division, Bauhaus and Iggy Pop, it’ll be a perfect show to end the weekend.

We can’t wait to run from show to show at FME! Keep an eye on our socials to catch our daily live coverage of our favourite small-town festival.

Get your tickets below if you haven’t already, and as always, we’ll see you in the pit.

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FME

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Saturday Sermon: Racquel Jones Disrupts Traditionalism with "Sacrilege"

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Racquel Jones, still from “Sacrilege” music video by Lacey Terrell

Racquel Jones is a vibrant and ruthless Jamaican rapper, visual artist and model. In her recent music video for “Sacrilege,” she brings horror movie visuals into a Catholic church. By simultaneously horrifying and intriguing her audience, Jones forces us to reflect on the dangers of blind faith in religious doctrine. Through rap flows and poetic verse, Jones aspires to disrupt hate-fuelled tendencies associated with religion, and exposes the toxic headspace that tradition can impose; proactively leading us to dig our way out.

We had a chance to chat with Jones about religious identity, spiritual practice, and the personal experiences that led to the making of her music video. Beware: this interview is not intended for people caught up in conventional ways of thinking.

Spencer Nafekh for Also Cool: Between the freaky visuals in the music video, the blaring synth in the song’s chorus and the prayer-like poetry you incorporate to denounce religion, “Sacrilege” is a very incendiary track. The intense anti-religious messaging in your work surely is not without reason, though. From personal experience, can you elaborate on the impact of religion on your life?

Racquel Jones: I am a Black person who grew up in Jamaica (a Christian country), in a very Christian family. My mother is a preacher. I’m a descendant of people who were enslaved and taught this religion, and said religion was also a crucial tool in the enslavement and oppression of my ancestors. The impact of religion on my life is devastatingly vast, more than I will ever be able to adequately express. It is so impactful that it sadly cannot be undone. So devastating that even after now knowing better, my being is unimaginable without the scars and mental rewiring of my true identity and heritage warped and erased by religion.  

Also Cool: I agree, it’s shocking how religion and tradition can warp our identities and alienate us. Do you think spirituality is something that people can practice while still being passionately anti-religious? Would you consider yourself a spiritual person, and if so, what’s a good example of some of your own spiritual practices?

Racquel Jones: For sure. Spirituality has absolutely nothing to do with religion in my opinion. I think the basis of the lies surrounding religion stem from that… They want you to think otherwise. Spirituality, to me, is my deep [soulful] connection with my inner self, my ancestors, the energies in the universe, and the powers within. Examples of spiritual practices I do are: meditation, introspection, forgiveness, self care and self love, practicing empathy and loving in spite of. 

AC: One thing that really stood out to me in the “Sacrilege” music video was the freaky, horror movie-esque aesthetic which your director Alex Di Marco creates through eerie lighting and unsettling special effects and costumes. As a big horror movie buff myself, these elements were all things I could instantly appreciate! Was the purpose of this aesthetic to reflect religious practice in a horrendous light, or does it also come from an admiration for horror movies in general? If you are an avid watcher of horror movies, could you name a few faves?

RJ: It was intentional. I cannot think of anything, aside from racism, that is more horrific, horrendous and evil than religion. Because of this, I do not like horror movies. I have lived through the real horror of cult like practices I’ve seen, and watching horror movies evokes PTSD for me. I could never sit through a horror film, especially the ones with demons, exorcisms or anything religious based. I like The Silence of the Lambs, though. Is that horror?

AC: As your first high-production music video as a solo act, the “Sacrilege,” music video can be set apart from your other video works, such as “Letter to the Editor,” which showcased your rap flows alongside the American electronic duo Thievery Corporation. It was also filmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, which I’m sure came with its own unique setbacks. How was filming the “Sacrilege” music video a novel experience for you? Any funny or interesting behind-the-scenes stories which took place during filming?

RJ: Well I was supposed to have a congregation in the video and that couldn’t happen because of COVID. We were going to simulate a whole church experience, from the pulpit to the pew. Something funny did happen… Well, partially funny. The actor scheduled to play the role of Black Jesus in the confessionals initially, showed up to set breathing heavily, sweating and seemed like he was showing symptoms of COVID. He was kept outside, paid and asked to leave. Turns out he was just having an asthma attack. Needless to say, he was very upset.

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Racquel Jones, still from “Sacrilege” music video by Lacey Terrell

AC: I’ve heard that you’ve recently been dealing with some issues in getting the “Sacrilege” music video monetized on YouTube, and that you suspect this is likely due to video’s charged religious imagery. I imagine that the issue of online promotion and monetization is especially frustrating for a unique artist such as yourself. Can you speak a little more on this?

RJ: I am not exactly frustrated or upset even, because I expected the backlash. There’s always resistance to change. And there’s always biased censorship. I didn’t expect that people were going to be happy that I’m ripping Bible leaves to roll my joint, burning a photo of “Jesus” and calling the Virgin Mary a bitch. Being anti-religious is a threat to the comfort and hope of people. And for them to find out the lies they’re told, or even exploring the idea that religion is built on the premises of lies, evil, control, segregation and false hope causes pandemonium, fear and panic among people. We are wired to find comfort in the things that hurt us. And religion is the most genius example of that. So, I figured my video is seen as a weapon and a threat as opposed to feeding the narrative they prefer. My responsibility is to put the message and the art out there and let it do its thing. If YouTube or Google fails, there are other ways. 

AC: One thing I find impressive about the “Sacrilege” music video is how much its themes and colours can be paralleled with your paintings, which I’ve seen showcased on your Instagram. It seems as though you are passionate about building your creative vision from the ground up, and mixing artistic mediums to express certain thoughts and feelings. How much does visual art tie into your creative practice when it comes to your poetry, singing and songwriting?

RJ: They are all the same. Sometimes it’s chaos in my head because they all function together, and they all speak to me together at the same time. None can operate without the others. Over time I’ve learned to master listening to them all. I am happy that I finally now have the outlet to do them all simultaneously, because before, being forced to separate them was driving me crazy. It seemed unusual and confusing to people in the past that I do them all, and I was often asked to choose and focus on only one. I don’t listen to people anymore, I listen to the voices of the arts in my head and only those. 

AC: If “Sacrilege” is a reflection of what’s to come on your upcoming album, IgnoRANT, then it seems there will be no lack of killer bars and strong spoken word for listeners to look forward to. Want to speak a little more on this project, as well as the inspiration for its name?

RJ: Man, I don’t think they’re even ready. It’s nothing like I’ve ever heard before and it scares me sometimes. “Sacrilege” is one of the few normal sounding songs on the record in terms of structure. Myself, along with the producers, followed no pattern or mold, but let ourselves be purely obedient to the art and the emotions. It’s scary but brilliant, and everyone who's heard it so far has had a strong reaction. In terms of concept, for me the title IgnoRANT is a rant about ignorance. It’s being cognizant of the fact that we’re all ignorant to something. It’s being vulnerable about being ignorant and the openness to learn and understand. It’s the recognition of the damages caused by ignorance. It’s knowing that it’s impossible to ever know everything and that we will always be ignorant, but it’s possible to love and have empathy despite ignorance. IgnoRANT is really examining and addressing harmful stereotypes under a microscope in an in-depth way and also through microcosm.  It is honest, pure, intense and raw. 

AC: Sounds like lots of thought and experimentation has been put into this project, and I’m really excited to check it out once it releases! Lastly, knowing you are a multi-medium artist, are there any recent artistic undertakings outside of your music that you’re feeling excited about? 

RJ: The record is just half of the project. I’m excited about the visual arts I’m creating to go along with the record. Each song will be accompanied by a piece of art that further explores and explains the concepts in the song. Aesthetically, these are explored through surrealism, expressionism and iconography. I’m excited about completing the art and exhibiting both the music and the art together. I am almost done making the art. 2021 will be an interesting year.

Racquel Jones

Instagram | Facebook | Spotify

Spencer Nafekh is a tireless reader, writer, editor, and advocate for the written word. With an undergraduate degree in Concordia's English and Creative Writing program imminent, he plans to pursue a Master's specialization in journalism so that he can fully realize his career path. When Spencer is not working away, he is probably listening to experimental music while lost in the world of a science fiction novel.

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This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity

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Interview: Viv Imara, Hua Li, Sabrina Sabotage and SLM on the Hip Hop You Don't Stop × Loop Sessions #StayHomeEdition Digital Cypher

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Poster by Shogo Okada

Now this is an event you won’t want to miss! On Thursday November 26th, the Hip Hop You Don’t Stop festival and Loop Sessions will be collaborating to create an innovative concept: a rap cypher over freshly produced beats. A handful of beats will be selected from the previous night (the 50th Loop Session on Wednesday November 25th), and 8 MCs (including Hua Li, Basics, Kayiri, SLM and more) will spit their best bars or freestyle to each track in a set of rounds. Expect guest appearances from producers, crate providers, and a fantastic conclusion to the #DigitalPlanet edition of Hip Hop You Don’t Stop! Guess what? You can tune in and enjoy all the impromptu hip-hop right from the comfort of your own home!

We got the chance to chat with Viv Imara, Hua Li and Sabrina Sabotage, and SLM four local artists participating in this year’s collaborative event. Viv Imara and Sabrina Sabotage are regular “loop sessioners,” and Hua Li and SLM will be two of this year’s MCs! Check out our interview below to meet these artists on this year’s lineup, and hear their thoughts on the Montreal hip-hop scene going digital for festival and cypher like no other.

Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter for Also Cool: Hi everyone! Thank you so much for chatting with Also Cool. To start, can you introduce yourselves to our readers and tell us about how you're involved with the Hip Hop You Don't Stop festival and/or the Loop Sessions beatmaking series?

Viv Imara: Thank you so much for having us! My name is Viv Imara and I am a Colombian-born producer, photographer, graphic designer and actress making beats since 2013. I began uploading instrumentals to SoundCloud in 2017 to show friends what I was up to, when a sudden influx of plays caught me by surprise. It was then that I realized strangers wanted to listen to what I was making! That motivated me to get serious about it. I started experimenting with different styles and gained more confidence in my production chops. The first time I participated in Loop Sessions was about a year and a half ago. I was unreasonably nervous and almost bailed, until Nick Wisdom motivated me to give it a shot. He connected me with Dr. Mad, who became my beat father. Magnanimous is my beat uncle. I love them both to bits. Since then, I’ve participated many times and enjoyed the challenge.

Hua Li: I’m the woman behind alternative hip hop project Hua Li, Symposium Director at POP Montreal festival and I’m one of the hosts for LANDR Audio’s music education video series. I’ll be one of the rappers at the Hip Hop You Don't Stop festival and the Loop Sessions cypher.

Sabrina Sabotage: Holà! I’m Sabrina Sabotage. I was a singer-songwriter, performer (mostly in the Franco scene) and DJ for years, but have been doing almost exclusively music production and sound design for the last 3 years in my studio. I’ve known the guys for a long time now from the DJ scene, and they asked me years ago to participate in the Loop Sessions events. While it really interested me, I guess I wasn’t feeling too comfortable going - is it the “[female artist"]” thing? I don’t know. But I never had bad experiences with this gang, I’ve always felt like we had mutual respect for one another!

SLM: Hey, it's SLM, thanks for having me. I'm about to be a performer in the upcoming Loop Sessions cypher goin' down this Thursday on @hhydsmontreal FB Live

Also Cool: How has the pandemic impacted your approach to your craft and performance style, as well as your relationship with local creative circles?

Viv Imara: I’m a homebody, so the pandemic has only given me better reasons to stay home and create. At first, I was perfectly content to have all this time to dedicate to music production. That quickly became overwhelming. I began to feel this pressure to make the best music I’ve ever put out because, hey, I had loads of time to perfect everything, right? It was hard to drown out that little voice and just take it easy. Now, I only approach my gear when I’m feeling inspired instead of grinding through long hours of forced pad smashing. It’s 2020. What is time, anyway?

Surprisingly, I feel just as connected to my creative circles as I did before. The methods of communication have changed, but the ties are still there. It's interesting to be in the same predicament as all other creatives on the planet at the same time. None of us know when it will end, and we will make attempts to return to our version of normality, but ultimately the healthiest approach is to find ways to enjoy the ride together.

Hua Li: The pandemic coincided with a lot of personal challenges as well as the death of a family member, so I’ve been away from Montreal a lot this year. In a way the shift to online helped me stay connected with my local music scene in a way that I don’t think I would have been, had this not been a pandemic year. So, it’s a blessing in disguise in that way.

Sabrina Sabotage: Well... I stopped DJing in bars and clubs 2 years ago because the lifestyle mostly was exhausting and slowly killing me. That’s when I transitioned to pursuing producing exclusively. I started working on a bunch of amazing projects: interactive games, sound design, installations, and audio for all kinds of expositions and events. It’s been crazy… [I’m] learning a lot, and feeling like I am where I should be, and that’s the best feeling ever! It is a little lonely though working alone at my studio, and the pandemic made it difficult to link with people. So I guess I needed the Loop Sessions events for the community and the exchange that I so miss with other musicians and producers. I also got more confident in my own producing [abilities], and finally decided to start participating online this year. It’s been nice exploring that side of production for me. It’s a well needed moment in the month where I can just go wild, and do anything and I seriously never know where the beat will go, it’s a vibe!

SLM: The pandemic's actually allowed me to focus more on improving myself as an artist, vocalist and musician. It's allowed me to connect with new people around the world who are in the music scene and make new connections. I've really appreciated the time to slow myself down and really hone in on things I've always been interested in, but never had the full capacity to commit to perfecting.

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Hua Li by Molly Cameron

AC: What aspects of transitioning these events from IRL to online resonate with you in a positive way? Have you noticed any changes in engagement or accessibility, say?

Viv Imara: Yes! I have. People find it simpler and more convenient to attend. I’ve had non-producer friends tune in to Loop Sessions live and comment on submissions. It’s great to be able to continue to provide a much-needed creative channel for both artists and listeners, and even inspire newcomers to share their work. I’m excited by how accessible it’s become for anyone to join in.

Hua Li: I deeply miss being on the road, but at the same time I’ve enjoyed taking more time with my shows and creating special productions for the rare performance opportunities I’ve had. I’m doing a live stream performance for Suoni TV on November 28th where we will be creating a luscious garden set inside La Sala Rosa. Something like this would have been so extra pre-pandemic, but now it’s justifiable… So that’s been a fun creative outlet for me. I also feel like having stuff online has increased the reach in really interesting ways. For instance, with my work at POP Montreal, a lot of people who wouldn’t have been able to attend the festival normally have been checking it out. I got to access far-reaching speakers for POP Symposium that I couldn’t have flown in had all our events been in person. I love the energy of being in physical proximity with people but something online events have brought to the fore is how deeply connected we are across the globe.

Sabrina Sabotage: I never participated IRL, so for me online events changed everything! It made me more secure to share I think.

SLM: I honestly wish outside would just open back up so we can stop with all the virtual performances, but events like these are a real dope way to connect with new audiences, globally, and showcase one's talent. It resonates because since the pandemic's made it hard to see people in real life, online events don't completely lock you off from reaching your loved ones and people in general altogether, especially as an artist who's building their career from ground zero. So I'm just really grateful for all of the experiences and opportunities to go off!

Sabrina Sabotage by @cleobolduc, @marieme_qc, @diastronauts, @lou_belanger, @stlaurenttv, @disquesstlaurent

AC: Of course, the overlapping of both of these events this year is super exciting! What are you looking forward to, and what can folks expect to catch this week?

Viv Imara: When I found out it was happening I was ecstatic! I think these collaborative events are just what we need right now. I’m looking forward to seeing a rise of online events that link artists of various disciplines together. I think we’re doing the best we can with the tools we have. It’s only going to get more immersive from here on out!

Hua Li: I’m most looking forward to hearing everyone else’s verses! I’m not a freestyle rapper, like stubbornly so, but I’m trying to change that about myself. I don’t believe in non-improvising jazz musicians, so why should I let myself off the hook in this other genre I care about so deeply? Folks can expect from me, hopefully vulnerability and a good shot at something out of my comfort zone!

Sabrina Sabotage: Houuuula, I am excited to participate and mostly hear what everyone comes up with beat-wise and seriously... I just hope I’ll find the right loop for me and produce something decent that day!

SLM: I'm most looking forward to pushing & testing myself to a new level through this challenge, show out and have fun! You can expect a lot of confidence and hot bars outta me - regular shit LOL. I'm really excited to see what everyone brings to the stage!

AC: Before we end off, are you working on any exciting projects that we should look out for in the near future?

Viv Imara: I just released a very informal EP on Bandcamp and SoundCloud called Unreleased Tracks + Lost Beats, featuring some roughly mixed and unfinished beats from 2017. I have a bad habit of hoarding projects, so it felt good to finally share them before releasing any current work. I’ll be releasing my first real project by the end of February of next year.

Aside from that, I recently launched my online thrift shop Junkselekta. I sell a variety of gender-inclusive vintage clothing from the late 80’s to the late 90’s. My goal is to incorporate local producers into the brand and use it as a platform to promote Canadian artists who also appreciate that 90’s flavour. Exciting things to come!

Hua Li: Please tune into my livestream concert on Suoni TV November 28th. It’s the launch event for my EP Yellow Crane, which I wrote this year dedicated to my mother’s hometown, Wuhan, China.

Sabrina Sabotage: I do have music coming out, a song I produced for singer Mia Martina, and I’ll be posting about it soon!

SLM: Yeah! I just announced a giveaway to promote my upcoming album dropping early December called The Complete Flex Season. It's a full length project, curated and sequenced to play completely from front to back. It's supaaa fire and I can't wait for y'all to see the rollout, it's really special. It was originally supposed to drop in October but... Nothing ever really goes according to plan with releases, as most artists will tell you. You can plan and plan and plan, but with the amount of shit you gon’ end up adding and subtracting to that plan. It's gon' come down to ending up doing shit two months later, sometimes more. And you just gotta let it rock and know its’ all ultimately for the best. My team and I worked really hard to make this a reality, and I can't believe it's finally 'bout to drop! You can keep up with this and other releases by following me on Instagram.

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SLM

AC: And lastly, what is your favourite aspect of being a part of the Montreal hip-hop community?

Viv Imara: The way it feels like a big extended family. Had I known 5 years ago that the door was this wide open, I would have walked in sooner. The amount of genuine support I’ve received is heartwarming. No judgement whatsoever. I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made that have inspired me to keep going.

Hua Li: Sometimes I don’t at all feel a part of the hip-hop community since I operate on this weird, indie rock fringe often, but I do love calling such amazing talents such as Backxwash and Strange Froots my real friends.

Sabrina Sabotage: Right now, I feel like every event saves me from my own anxiety and just makes me feel like a human, connecting with other humans. I feel heard. and that’s the best feeling in this weird apocalyptic-type vibe we are all in. Feels like one of the very rare places in the general hip-hop community where it’s not overly toxic... Not to go into “girl-guy” dynamics, but it’s not easy being a woman that produces music. Feeling safe is one of the most important things, and Loop Sessions has always provided that for me, [and] made it easier for me to share [my work]. Seeing other women feeling the same way it’s priceless! And I just love listening to what people come up with. It just amazes me!

SLM: That there's so much talent here. Being able to put on for a city with so much talent the world has yet to get hip to and have my art be a part of that is a great feeling. It's great to be doing what I love, among such great company.

Hip Hop You Don’t Stop × Loop Sessions digital cypher event

Hip Hop You Don’t Stop

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Loop Sessions

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Viv Imara

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Hua Li

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Sabrina Sabotage

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SLM
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This interview was conducted over email and has been condensed and edited for clarity

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