Let's Hear It! Live - Celebrating Women's History Month

By Maddy Cristall

The ever-innovative Music BC never ceases to curate exciting content. This is even more impressive amidst the throes of a seemingly never-ending pandemic. The not for profit and province-wide organization provides opportunities to further the careers of BC’s music creatives and professionals. The small yet mighty team is built of industry professionals who recognize and appreciate diversity, equality and inclusion in the music industry. In light of our current state of musical dystopia Music BC has maintained its empowering resources such as excellent live performance series entitled “Let’s Hear it! Live.”

This seven-part series is dedicated to amplifying marginalized voices and celebrating new BC-based talent. To coincide with women’s history month, this showcase features a great range of emerging and independent female talent in Vancouver, co-curated with Women In Music-BC. Most recently a series debuted with a showcase of emerging black performers from Vancouver. This digital performance features the fiercely talented artists: Lowkita, Nicky Mackenzie and Neela along with special guests Old Soul Rebel!

You can enjoy the performances on Facebook Live or YouTube. Each ticket is by donation and the best part is that all proceeds go directly to Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre. We had the pleasure of interviewing each unique artist, learn more below and get your tickets here.

Lowkita

Lowkita is A Vancouver-based Rapper and Singer originally from Calgary. She combines her love of Caribbean Culture and Hip Hop to create her unique sound.

“Just do you! Be you, write about what you know and who you are. Even if you think your not inspiring people someone is watching and appreciates your work”

Citrus Magazine: You are truly unique in the Vancouver scene. In a town known for its coffee shop folk and over-the-hill white rapper feuds, has it been difficult to carve out a spot for yourself locally? Where are the spots that you play frequently?

Lowkita: Thank you so much, haha yes I think I'm in my lane anywhere go. It hasn't been too hard to find my lane either. I'm just being me and either you like it or not. I think the difficult part is trying to work with people who understand my sound but over the last few years, I think it's changed. When I first moved here I played at Venue I think it's my biggest crowd I've played for in Vancouver which was crazy looking back at it. But I love playing at fortune. I've probably played there the most for various events. The first time I opened for Jean Grae, I still remember the crowd rocking heavily with me it was so much fun.

Citrus Magazine: How did you and DJ Floetic link up?

Lowkita: Well, we knew each other because we both worked in the club scene and friends of a mutual friend (shout out Dynasty Boys and OchoKeke) Back in 2016, he said yo let's do an EP I said YASSSSS let's do it. He sent me the beats we went to the studio and boom we did our first 3 track EP. We've been rocking together since then. He's like my Jazzy Jeff and I'm Will, or to keep it Canadian I'm Michie Mee and he's L.A. Luv.

Citrus Magazine: It seems like you write a lot of your stuff, tell us more...

Lowkita: Most definitely. I haven't had anything written for me but I'm open to working with writers in the future. I think to be a true artist and to feel what you're saying and representing you have to have your hand in the writing process. For me, it comes across better, especially when performing.

Citrus Magazine: Tell us about your blog- ‘Issa Rude Ting’?

Lowkita: Issa Rude Ting was started to share my love for all things that I love about my Caribbean culture and to show love to people in it. I've taken a few breaks from the blog posting and starting creating a streetwear line which is another passion of mine. I want to make Issa Rude Ting an umbrella of all my creative endeavours. I've done podcasts as well as every year in May I get a few of my Dj friends to play at a party called Issa BashTing which is my birthday celebration but also a celebration of Caribbean Music.

Citrus Magazine: Lastly, any words of encouragement for the young female-identifying artists out there?

Just do you! Be you, write about what you know and who you are. Even if you think your not inspiring people someone is watching and appreciates your work. Not to sound cliche but Nike hit it on the head with JUST DO IT period!

Check out Lowkita here

Neela

Neela is a multi-talented R&B-pop singer-songwriter, actor and dancer. Her music bears raw honesty, marrying her soulful voice with sensuous indie-R&B musicality.

“I want young girls, and woman of colour to know that you do belong, like yourself. Everything that makes you different is what makes you unique, honour that and trust yourself. Take up space and let yourself be seen, you belong. “

Citrus Magazine: You grew up in Toronto, How does Vancouver compare?

Neela: I love Vancouver. I haven't had the chance to really get to know the music scene here, but I hope to connect with more artists here as well. If your reading this and are an artist in Vancouver hit me up :)

The natural landscape and beauty of the unceded Coast Salish Territories are breathtaking.

Citrus Magazine: You’ve written some club anthems yet you’ve got this earnest, bashfulness about you. How does this dichotomy inform your songwriting?

Neela: Haha I love this observation. I feel like some of the greatest entertainers I admire, have that dichotomy including MJ, and Beyonce. Also, I am a Gemini... In terms of songwriting, I would say it helps to be grounded and internal to write the songs and connect deeper with my truth. I guess the extraverted part of me brings the song to life on stage.

Citrus Magazine: The iconic Beatchild has been a frequent collaborator. Have you always worked together? How did that come about?

Neela: Beatchild is my mentor. I respect him so much, he was tough on me. Before we even worked together he sent me off with a dozen songwriting books expecting to not hear from me. But of course, this is my passion and I want to be the best I can be. I finished all those books and assignments, went back and that was the start of our collaboration for my EP, Lovers in Danger.

Citrus Magazine: Lastly, any words of encouragement for other female-identifying emerging artists out there?

Neela: I didn't see myself reflected in the mainstream music industry, thankfully there was

MIA, but in so many ways initially I felt like I needed to be someone else to belong in this industry. I want young girls, and woman of colour to know that you do belong, like yourself. Everything that makes you different is what makes you unique, honour that and trust yourself. Take up space and let yourself be seen, you belong.

Check out Neela here

Nicky Mackenzie

The whipsmart Salt-spring born, Vancouver based artists blends R&B, jazz and pop in a rich collage of mesmerizing sound.

“You define your value and it’s found in the purest and most unique parts of you. Love yourself first and the rest will follow.”

Citrus Magazine-Growing up in Salt spring! How was that?

Mackenzie: Growing up on salt spring was a blessing. It’s such a tight nit community with so much support towards the arts, especially for young people. I think you really develop a special sense of community from the islands that are rarely found in other places, I credit so much of my success to having that family-like support. Plus, it’s incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by nature and the ocean all the time.

Citrus Magazine: You did CTV’s “The Launch”, how did that come about?

Mackenzie: The launch came to me through a casting agent who was scouting through the CBC searchlight competition winners and runner ups. I entered a song when I was 15, I didn’t win, but I was in the regional top 10 and that’s how they reached out to me to ask me to do the show. It was an awesome experience that taught me so much about what happens behind the camera, the number of people it takes to make it work and how many hours go into only 5 minutes of actual air time.

Citrus Magazine: Your grandpa was an opera singer?

Mackenzie: My grandpa was a passionate opera singer on the side of his career. Whenever we saw him he’d unapologetically belt out timeless songs that everyone would eventually fall into singing along to. He always told me to keep singing no matter what, a sentimental slice of inspiration I keep with me to this day.

Citrus Magazine Lastly, any words of encouragement for the young female-identifying performers out there?

Mackenzie: Words of encouragement for young women out there: the world needs your diversity and uniqueness right now so don’t be afraid to branch out away from the stereotypes and stigmas that are pushed so hard on young women to try and determine where their value lies. You define your value and it’s found in the purest and most unique parts of you. Love yourself first and the rest will follow.

Check out Nicky Mackenzie here

Special guests and co-hosts- Old Soul Rebel

Old Soul Rebel is the musical musings of Chelsea D.E Johnson and Lola Whyte. Named one of "11 Best New Bands" by CBC Radio Canada. Serving you badass rock n roll with a little bit of soul.”

“It saddens us that we need an entire month to remind us that woman are human. We are human. Fuck the patriarchy.”

Citrus Magazine: How do you feel about the term “women in music”?

Old Soul Rebel: I think consistently announcing and reiterating that woman and people of all race, gender and age deserve to take part in the music industry, seems to be necessary. Sometimes we wish we didn’t need to make these assertions. That said, the music industry still has a dark underbelly of rampant sexual violence and inequality towards women. Old soul rebel can speak on this from direct knowledge and experience. The term woman in music clearly seems to be a friendly reminder for some and continues to urge all of us to unearth and solve the aforementioned problems.

Citrus Magazine: What does women’s history month mean to you? It saddens us that we need an entire month to remind us that woman are human. We are human. Fuck the patriarchy.

Citrus Magazine: How has the pandemic influenced your life and creativity?

Old Soul Rebel: Happily, we made the decision to take the lemons the pandemic served us and made some awesome lemonade! Our hearts go out to all of the people in the world who have suffered greatly at the hands of this pandemic.

Citrus Magazine: Do you spend time together that doesn’t circulate around music?

Yes! We always make sure to carve out quality friendship time. Our next non-musical hangout was going to be an animal farm in Langley (Aldor Acres) ..get some goat petting time in, ya know.

Citrus Magazine: What do you think the world needs right now?

Old Soul Rebel: Haha.."love sweet love, no not just for some, but for everyone" ...shout out to Jackie DeShannon

Check out Old Soul Rebel here

This series is supported by FACTOR and the Government of Canada, Creative BC and the Province of British Columbia. Learn more at musicbc.org.