Ep. 1 | Kevin Howes is Voluntary In Nature

Welcome to Sound Travels – a listening experience produced by Sonic Fold. We connect with CommUNITY Cultivators, discuss their journeys in music and hear the records that have gone the distance.

This is our inaugural episode, and I am honoured to share a special conversation with my friend, Kevin Howes – also known as Voluntary In Nature - and Sipreano, when at the helm of turntables.

Kevin Howes is Voluntary In Nature. In all facets and forms of those three words.

More than a definition by which he identifies – VIN, the acronym, the last three letters of his name – but an ethos, a spiritual force and a mission. Since the start of our friendship, I’ve known him to be one with the outdoors; whether here in Toronto, amongst the city's sprawling and under-explored ravines, to the west coast, where his soul space British Columbia – is embraced by the Pacific Ocean and vast forestry. Voluntary In Nature is the root, the foundation; that’s what Kevin goes back to, after all, when it comes to his passion for music.

Always giving, seeking, learning, growing – like a tree…or flowing, like a river.

A celebrated journalist, GRAMMY-nominated producer, innovative DJ, expert crate digger, passionate historian, and intricate archivist – above all, a genuinely awesome human and pal. You likely know Kevin for the Voluntary In Nature label, sharing incredible compositions from the likes of Wayne McGhie, Doug Cho, Willie Thrasher, John Angaiak. Or his internationally celebrated compilations, Jamaica To Toronto, Our Lives Are Shaped by What We Love, Motown’s Mowest Story, to being nominated for multiple GRAMMY Awards, for his production on Native North America, and beautiful writing for the Willie Dunn anthology, Creation Never Sleeps Creation Never Dies.

LISTEN:

In this episode of Sound Travels, I facilitate a chat with Kevin that focuses on the records that shaped his life, mentors he’s learned from along the way, his respect for the craft, a mission to build an equitable music industry, and intentions for impactful change.

Kevin spends most of his time uplifting others, so I’m here to talk about Kevin – aka Sipreano, as he is affectionally known as a DJ – Howes – Voluntary In Nature. Grounded – like the cables that connect to your mixer, rotating – like wax on a turntable – around the globe with keen ears and sharp vision.

Songs heard in this episode:
Questions In My Mind – Rasa
Don’t Bother Me - The Beatles 
The Adventures of Grandmaster Flash on the Wheels of Steel – Grandmaster Flash
Ste-Mélanie Blues – Contraction 
Man in the Street – Don Drummond
Voices – Doug Cho 

Connect with Voluntary In Nature: Bandcamp | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Blogspot

Connect with olasconola: Instagram | Mixcloud

Content Advisory:
Please be advised that the following episode contains discussion around addiction, suicide, loss and grief. I understand how this information can be distressing. To skip these sections, times for can be found in the show notes below. For support and resources, please visit the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, CAMH (the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) and more listed below.    

Skip ahead at:

6:10 - cancer, loss
17:00 - injury
35:00 - loss, addiction

Support resources:
CAMH – Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
CBCN – Canadian Breast Cancer Network
Canadian Cancer Society
Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
Breast Cancer Canada

Producer’s notes - for context - see Instagram reel here.

At section 1 hour 20 minutes in, Kevin mentions some words of wisdom from his friend, Peter, former Executive Director of Suono Per Il Popolo Festival in Montreal - although no longer in the role, Kevin notes that they collaborated at Suoni’s 2016 instalment for the release of Native North America. In 2019, Kevin found himself in Montreal so see The Sadies perform. During that time, he connected with Peter, and showed him a pre-release of the Willie Dunn anthology (Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies) at a time where he was facing some challenges in the industry - Peter’s words stuck with Kevin, so he felt compelled to share.

Sharing the land:

Sound Travels is produced in Tkaronto (covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit) – it is an honour and privilege to create this work on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many Indigenous communities from across Turtle Island.

Sonic Fold Respect Mandate:

Sonic Fold is founded on CommUNITY, all caps on UNITY – we do not tolerate any form of racism, hate, bigotry, sexism and violence. Every conversation is a conversACTION. It is an honour and a privilege to do this work – and a continuous opportunity to learn and grow. Thank you for sharing this with me, and those who listen.

TUNE IN TO SOUND TRAVELS:

EVERY FOURTH WEDNESDAY, 1 TO 2 PM ET - LIVE on JOLT RADIO

Jolt Radio is an amazing community-driven platform that supports local, national, and international independent artists, producers, radio hosts and DJs. They are broadcast from their Allapattah, Miami, FL studio and listened to worldwide. Much gratitude to John Caignet for the trust and support! Bringing my two fave cities together for this initiative is a true blessing.  Support Jolt Radio HERE.

Sound Travels is curated, hosted, produced by: Ola Mazzuca/ olasconola Sonic Fold
All photos by Ola Mazzuca for Sonic Fold