I caught up with Shaunt and Raz Tchakmak, owners of Antikka Cafe and Records in Toronto's Queen West neighbourhood and Kensington Market’s thThe Oud and the Fuzz, to hear about what has been keeping them inspired, how they're engaging with the community, reflecting on the value artists and creatives hold and why the meaning of #supportlocal will transcend time and space.
Read MoreOn April 27, Trevor Twells, Founder of Toronto-based non-profit, Make Room, joined Ola for a #CommUNITYCatchup to discuss his incredible organization breaking barriers to support emerging artists and how he has pivoted his physical gallery space practice to a digital space through a fundraiser exhibition called the #SupportCollection.
Read MoreOn April 21, I had an awesome #CommUNITYCatchup with Bo Large, aka The Alshemist, into the The Fold to discuss a variety of wellness practices we can incorporate into our daily lives, especially as artists and creatives. Bo shared insight about breathwork, vocal toning, somatic healing and more, as we navigate how to access wellness at home, and methods to get inspired and stay connected with the creative flow of life, within ourselves, and in confined spaces.
Read MoreOn April 14, Ola's dear pal, Toronto-via-San Diego artist and creatrix, Sabre, joined the CommUNITY Catchup on Instagram Live. They discussed the approach of choosing love over fear 24/7, how this acts as a foundation in her work, a recent online collab for IsoLab, created by award-winning producer, Rainer, and sharing insight with other artists on how they can share their art and explore opportunities to build and create with others in a meaningful way.
Read MoreIt sounds like community at Antikka Cafe & Records in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood. Owners Raz and Shaunt Tchakmak are brothers in business who now share their bond with the people around them. Whether local regulars to traveling visitors, all are welcome in their cafe and record shop hybrid that celebrates music and art in a unique, inclusive way. For this episode in The Space mini-series, we discuss the concept around community spaces, the challenges and rewards in running + supporting local businesses, the power of music, family bonding and what Antikka has in the works this year, including a fresh new spot called The Oud and the Fuzz – it’s going to be big.
Read MoreThe Fold Podcast heads into a new direction this month as we kick off our mini-series covering music communities with Joseph Galiwango (aka DJ Spin So Nice), Founder/DJ/Dad of Records With My Daughters, who shows us how #ThePlatform can change the way we share art and culture within families to inspire greater connection.
Read MoreIn this episode, we acknowledge International Day of Persons With Disabilities. My dear friend, and artist/activist/writer/model/musician + more, Rachel Romu, delivers insight on their experiences with disability, accessibility (in various forms) within the arts and creative industries and the spaces they have found inclusion and community in along the way.
Read MoreOn Saturday, October 19, Sonic Fold was blessed by an opportunity to host a podcast recording activation at G Day Toronto 2019. In partnership with Syzygy Toronto, part of our multimedia art-making ExpressionSpace was a Soundbooth, where G Day attendees recorded affirmation notes and words of wisdom for a collaborative audio doc shared with everyone who experienced the event.
Read MoreRahel Beyene is a missing link. You learn this about her when she walks in a room. Introduces you to someone new. Recognizes and highlights your gifts. Pursues a new idea. Born and raised in Toronto, Rahel is a thread that weaves through the city’s fabric, showcasing creativity with meaningful opportunities to collaborate and share through her company, Creatives Connect. In this episode of the Fold, Rahel and I discuss industry ecosystems worldwide, family matters, leading by example and how fusing focus with passion manifests magic.
Read MoreMake Room is a Toronto-based non-profit is holding space for artists, helping them to grow, removing labels and breaking barriers to creativity. In this episode, Ola gets into The Fold with founder, Trevor Twells, to discuss the project’s evolution, his diverse career background, Toronto’s indie art community and how we can foster collaboration with a wider lens.
Read MoreJessica Compton is rooted. Her resources are the branches that extend to communities local and beyond. Tree Of Stars is her sandbox, where she builds programs that support mental health awareness and addictions recovery . We get into the Fold to discuss Tree of Stars’ active practice, collaboration and change needed for communities to thrive.
Read MoreTanya Mok has always been a huge inspiration in not only my career, but my life. The journalist and multifaceted creative from Toronto has always brought innovative vision to the table. Now, she shares this with the communities around her. We get into the Fold of her Toronto upbringing, work ethic and storytelling method, city issues in focus and how we can show up for our community, and one another, with compassion, understanding and a vibrant lens.
Read MoreSam Grosso, owner and founder of Cadillac Lounge, in Toronto’s Parkdale neighbourhood, embodies a work ethic and innate ability to connect with others that is rooted in his upbringing. A safe space to enjoy music and friends, the iconic institution takes its final spin down Queen Street West on July 14. We get into The Fold to discuss Cadillac Lounge’s legacy in Toronto and the community that will live on after the engine is turned off.
Read MoreThe [204] Design Collective is an environmental design group that exposes inequality by bringing their own building blocks to the foundation, for the construction process amplifies voices, while engaging with the world. Ola and the [204] get into The Fold for a global chat over Google Hangouts to discuss their alternative approach, project repertoire, educational vacations, and supportive work methods.
Read MoreISO Radio founders, Jayemkayem and Freeza Chin, unfold to discuss the UK trip that inspired it all, their complementary skills, developing their Bare Selection record label to cross the pond through sonics, and resources that can help bring people and platforms into The Fold.
Read MoreIn this episode, Ola had the pleasure of speaking with Anna Wiesen, Kalyn Fantasia and George Davies of Somewherelse about their innovative vision, foundation and the recipe for a team that brings people into #TheFold.
Read MoreEmily O’Brien, Founder of Comeback Snacks shares insight on life in prison, compassion on all fronts, perseverance through popcorn and bringing ex-cons into the Fold to eradicate stigma and inspire growth.
Read MoreCUCCI CUCCI CUCCI’s Founder & Creative Director, Hannah Nakawatase, gets into The Fold to discuss the seeds of her growing community, and how race, identity, accessibility, dialogue and inclusion fan the flame that brings people into the fold.
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Through innovative programming, outreach and consulting, Sulafa Silim delivers a safe, inclusive space for womxn of colour to connect through Dawa Apothecary. Dawa programs are grounded by intention, open to any age, culture, gender or faith. Ola and Sulafa get into The Fold to discuss her career roots, heritage, the strong womxn in her life, showing up and making space for others.
Read MoreOla got into The Fold with Marie Alcober of Dual Citizen, a documentary series exploring the eureka moments of the Filipinx diaspora. We sat down for a meal at Lamesa – a Toronto landmark that has been pushing the diaspora from time – to discuss Marie’s dual citizen upbringing, inspiration for the series, assurance vs. imposter syndrome, asking big questions, and the in-betweens when producing impactful, empowering work for a culture as a whole.
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