Over the years, The Hustle helped launch the careers of artists like Haviah Mighty, TOBi, Sadboi (fka Ebhoni), and Emanuel, platforming over 120 emerging artists across 44 showcases.

The showcase, hosted by DJ/MC/creative, TREMAYNE, included performances by Beaugé, Datsunn, Leila Dey, TRP.P, Adria Kain, Roshin, and a headlining set by the JUNO-nominated rapper, producer, engineer and director, Clairmont The Second,

Between the performances, Elaquent and OBUXUM kept the vibe going, sharing their own flavours from the DJ decks. OBUXUM is a Toronto-based Somali-Canadian producer and beat maker who you may have seen perform at one of Toronto’s Boiler Room events, at MUTEK Montreal, and Wavelength Festival, to name a few. Her vibrant, unique selection of tracks was perfectly paired with this relaxing afternoon.

Music content creator and producer Datsunn has garnered quite an audience with his social streams and bedroom sessions, and today’s set carried the same easy-going theme. The set was a fun mix of classic hip-hop, soul, R&B, and some original tracks like “Reminiscing“.

Local rapper Roshin, witched things up with his sharp rhymes and pointed lyrics, gathering new and existing fans closer to the stage. TRP.P (pronounced “TRIP-ee”) were a great next act but came across numerous technical difficulties, communally resolved in time for them to promptly enough for them to earn some new fans. Truss and Phoenix Pagliacci have a playful and collaborative stage energy, vibing off of each other. Tracks like “Simpfunny” and “Lies” were an immediate hit.

Rhythm and blues singer Adria Kain took the stage next with a bit of a delay. Joined on stage by a drummer and a keyboardist, Adria worked her way through When Flowers Bloom and a few new songs. “A new album is coming soon,” she shared with the crowd, “but I won’t tell you when”. Kain overlapped her set with the next performer, Leila Dey, slightly catching up on the schedule. Jamaican-born, Toronto-raised R&B singer and songwriter, Leila Dey dedicated a portion of her set to the 90s R&B, performing a handful of favourite tracks, before leading the audience back to her original music.

Clairmont The Second promptly arrived on stage with his own set-up: a couple of vintage box TVs and a VCR player. After tinkering with it for a time and not succeeding with the replay, Clairmont proceeded with his set without visual accompaniments. Energetically pacing in front of the crowd of friends and family, he played a series of new and old tracks, sharing an occasional story about this song or another.

The post The Hustle anniversary highlights Toronto talent appeared first on Quip Magazine.

The last day of the festival was off to a chill start with the calm and collected Elaquent, an instrumental beat maker from Guelph. The back room at the Garrison has a rather cosy feel, the wall benches accommodate all of the lazy attendees’ needs to sit and lean while the rest of them hover by the bar. By the second track, the pack of photographers was joined by excited fans. Elaquent’s set escalated at a slow pace, matching the audience’s involvement. The chill-wave tracks sped up, grew faster and bigger, teasing the seemingly sleepy audience. A solid hour or so later, Elaquent played out his last track, and as the crowd whistled, cheered, and clapped surprisingly enthusiastically, he humbly nodded, picked up his sampler, and left the stage.

The second act of the night began with an interpretive dance of sorts and a rendition of the Canadian anthem read off an iPhone by Lido Pimienta. Needless to say, a mild confusion spread through the room, but before the uncertainty of the night had a chance to set in, Pimienta took off her Roots sweater and jumped right into the set.

Lido Pimienta is a Colombian-Canadian electro-freak-pop singer. Now this might sound confusing, but strip down all attempts of boxing her into a genre and enjoy the electronic tribal rhythm. The performance was both entertaining and engaging as she was joined on stage by a pair of DJs/beatboxers, a saxophone player, and the earlier-mentioned interpretive dancers (flag keepers?). At times, Pimienta would loop her verses, sometimes a little too much, other times just enough, but as the set was coming to an end, someone did have to pull the plug.

The all-Canadian theme carried on with the uniformed crew from The Wet Secrets, a rock and roll marching dance band. Boys and girls, this performance showed serious commitment to the art form. Always on cue and on key, it was a well-rehearsed team performance, but what else could you expect from people in uniform, even if it seems a little too hot and a little too heavy.

As the night got louder, the energy wore off, but it’s safe to say, next year, we’ll do it all again.

The post Highlights from Wavelength Sunday appeared first on Quip Magazine.