All the colors of the rainbow: Three minutes with Maylee Todd

video by Max Kosc

Toronto is a place where arts and music secretly flourish between the cracks in the payment, through graffitied alleyways, and far enough west where most tourists would not find their way to.

Like any other place in the world, some of Toronto’s music is original, some is following a trend, and some should just really never be heard outside of bedrooms and garages.

But this city, and as we will find out later, a very eclectic family, gave roots to one of the most colorful performers we’ve ever met, Maylee Todd.

Todd is an independent Canadian musician with deep roots in the arts, a colorful taste in fashion, and a very defined musical style. She is also big in Japan and was recently nominated for the SOCAN Songwriting Prize (kind of a big deal on this side of the hill).

In April, Todd released her sophomore album, Escapology, nostalgically named after her father’s escapology craft (no one in her family has been noted for a dull career choice). The album was very well received. The high brows of The Globe & Mail even called it a “breath of fresh air” which seems appropriately noted. If not just a little bit out there, Todd’s music and performances are wildly refreshing.

A little while back we got together with Todd for an afternoon chat in her Toronto apartment. While we snooped around her fascinating things, she told us about her family, her tour in Japan, and her deep application and connection with the local arts community. One thing that intrigued us the most was a story about Todd’s inspiration and life ways through which her personal style and her character came to be.

And as another Quip exclusive, here is Todd performing “Baby’s Got It.”