Guest: Aaron Kazmer

From https://www.nonsoamadi.com/about/:

"Nonso Amadi is a Canadian-based Afro-R&B, soul singer, songwriter, and producer from Nigeria. Beginning his musical career while studying in Nigeria at Covenant University and then Swansea University in the UK. Nonso transformed into a sonic-globetrotter after his move to Canada – leading him to fuse the soul & rhythm of African music with modern soft textures of R&B. With an affinity for contemporary R&B, Nonso developed a desire to explore North America and Africa in equal parts – citing Toronto-native Drake’s genre-hopping capability as an inspiration for his own creative fluidity. Amadi’s music is powered by borderless infusions and intention. “I really loved Mary J Blige, Brandy, Wyclef Jean, Paul Play. I love R&B because it’s slow enough to allow you to feel,” he says of his early experiences with the artform.

Nonso’s refreshingly honest yet tranquil approach to music has allowed the likes of Juls, Santi, and Odunsi The Engine — the latter of whom he collaborated with on the War EP’ — to entrench his arrival across Nigeria and the continent at large across the late ‘10’s. With over 100,000+ million streams across platforms, Nonso Amadi refuses to be the typical straight A-student stereotype. Instead, he stands tall as a constantly evolving, textured lyricist able to translate Alte, Afro-fusion and hip-hop into his R&B-canvassed approach to storytelling, best represented on his last EP Free (2019), which features Afrobeats heavyweights Simi and Mr Eazi.

Spontaneously, afte… Read More

From https://www.countermeasuremusic.com/about/:

"Since forming in 2010, Countermeasure has earned standing ovations and critical acclaim worldwide. Led by award-winning composer/arranger Aaron Jensen, the group has shared stages with a cappella giants including Naturally 7 and The Swingle Singers and top 40 stars like Corey Hart and Blue Rodeo.

Countermeasure features 13 of Canada’s top vocal talents, performing innovative arrangements of pop favourites, classic jazz standards, and original songs. Their diverse songbook has equipped the group to headline international choral concerts, play the main stage at jazz festivals, entice club-goers onto the dance floor. Incorporating innovative live looping, instrument imitation, and vocal percussion, Countermeasure enthralls their audiences worldwide with their dramatically choreographed shows and flawless harmonies. They have won multiple awards from Contemporary A Cappella Society of America, include Best CAL Album, best video, and for songwriting."

From https://singtoronto.com/about-2:

"SING! The Toronto Vocal Arts Festival is Canada’s premier a cappella festival (singing without instruments). Held every year in May, SING! presents 10 days of outstanding concerts featuring the human voice. We bring together thousands of professional singers (Canadian and international), students, teachers, divas and in-the-shower belters.

We aim to:
**Create a safe space for learning.
**Illustrate that the voice has no limits – knows no constraints of genre, language or cultural background.
**Ask participants to step outside their comfort zones and try something new
**Educate and inspire todays’ youth
**Foster a new and revitalized patronage for the vocal arts. "