People Profile: Prescilla Una
Meet Prescilla Una:
Music Artist and Community Builder
Like many professional artists, Prescilla Una spends her time not only creating her art but also promoting the work of herself and others. Founder of Peaceful Revolution Music, Prescilla offers a multitude of services including music lessons, event organization and artist development. And she’s starting up a new open mic night Mondays in Toronto!
Prescilla’s first album Music Therapy is available now and she is currently working on her second album, Enlighten. Prescilla’s music style ranges from rock, acoustic, to EDM and jazz. Here’s a taste!
This is her I am music video released March 11 2015
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I posed some questions to Prescilla and this is what she said! 🙂
What is your career?
I am a professional music artist. I perform and also deal with the business side of music as an indie artist.
Is it the same as your passion?
Yes, I have sacrificed a lot to live in my passions.
What is your passion?
I am a music addict!!!!!
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career?
The greatest challenges would be to keep finding ways to keep up with the cost of living while working in the indie music scene. The greatest rewards are when I complete a project: mastered a song recording, released a music video. The initial song writing is fun for me. I also enjoy the work that is placed towards producing. I enjoy the challenge.
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career?
Don’t stop if you love what you do because if you have true passion, it will keep you going through the journey.
What does it mean to be an artist?
I consider my self not a music artist, but, an artist of life. To me, an artist is a person who creates and continues to do so on a regular.
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? Why, why not?
5 years ago, I was thinking I’d have a stable full-time job, but I ended up risking the stability for an adventure in music, well worth it!
Where will you be in 5 years?
In 5 years, I see myself affiliated with a major label, producing other artists music and developing artists. I also will keep creating my on music to release. I will be getting into different styles of music to keep me growing and having fun in music. My music label PEACEFUL REVOLUTION MUSIC will expand.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self?
Enjoy your childhood and stop being so sad.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self?
Keep fit, keep dancing, keep spending time with loved ones.
How lucky are you and why?
I have created my own luck through hard work and, focus and dedication. Nothing has ever been given to me. I feel more blessed, not lucky.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
I am a private person, I’m not sure why I’m in entertainment, but this is where my heart has brought me and I happier than ever. I enjoy influencing culture in a positive way.
What makes you laugh? What is fun for you?
My daughters always know how to make me laugh! Fun for me is spending time with my loved ones.
What makes you question humanity?
People should not be killing people or wanting others to suffer. All of humanity should be helping one another get through because we are all trying to survive, stop making it so hard. If you help more than you take, you are creating positive karma.
What is your favourite quote?
“Be the change you want to see.”- Ghandi
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.”- Plato
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Prescilla’s weekly open mic Diamond In The Rough launches Monday March 21st
at The Tennessee in Toronto – 1554 Queen Street West.
To perform or get more information: – message@prescillamusic.com
And of course to explore more about Prescilla and Peaceful Revolution Music, visit: www.prescillamusic.com Until you get there, here’s another taste of Prescilla’s music!
Enjoy and have a glorious day! 🙂
People Profile: M.K. Wood!
Meet M.K. Wood:
Author, dreamer, light of the world!
M.K. Wood is an author! It’s official! On this auspicious occasion of her first (but not last) book being published, I hounded her with questions about life and art and she answered! Behold! 🙂
What is your career? My dream career…writing, but I do love my job as a Manager in hospitality. I meet the most incredible people, and from all over the world. (One of the hotels is an older resort, I love it, the people, and the ocean view…there is nothing like it! Quality Resort Bayside Parksville, BC).
What is your passion? To me… passion comes from within, and it can arise from different experiences…it is felt more than anything. Really, it is simple for me! I am passionate for the little things in life; things that make me smile or double over laughing or cry or feel love… you get where I am going. Passion is a beautiful word and it means so many different things to me.
What are some of your challenges and rewards? I think age and wisdom (or lack of) has a lot to do with some of my own challenges. I used to repeat some horrible patterns. Each stage of my life is different and I am constantly learning to grow. It is learning to let go and breathe. The greatest rewards are the lessons I have learnt along the way. The incredible people I have also learnt from. I have met a lot of beautiful souls and for that I am extremely rewarded.
What is your advice to others? If you believe in something badly enough, do it, and believe in yourself. If it is something you cherish, listen to that. And do some research! I was trembling when I brought my manuscript in! But I did it.
How does it feel to be an artist? An artist…I don’t know if I ever thought of myself in that way. Thanks! How I feel? I am really happy and grateful. And, a little nervous!
5 years ago did you expect to be where you are today? 5 years ago? I don’t remember what I had for dinner last night!
Where do you expect to be in 5 years? 5 years from now…well right now I am writing down by the ocean and freezing my buns off, (amongst other parts)! So I am kind of thinking… a trip to the Big Island would be nice right now! 5 years from now…at peace with myself and really happy! With several sequels of Piper’s Pond published and they are made into movies…what? I can’t dream? It is five years from now!
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? “Believe in yourself, seriously… listen to that inner voice you hear, and it is okay to accept help sometimes…” I continue to say, to my eight years old self.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? I see my 80 years old self; rocking on the front porch, “Holy crap! We are still alive!”
How lucky are you and why? As sappy as this may sound; I am lucky and grateful, to have a roof over my head, clothes, food, a beautiful family, and loving friends.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I am afraid of whales and clowns…long stories.
What makes you laugh? People with a great senses of humor, the movie Holy Grail, my kids, and I laugh at myself a lot…I find humor in life’s simplest idiosyncrasies.
What is fun for you? I try to see and find the fun in everything…I try.
What makes you question humanity? Unfortunately I am one of those “thinned skinned” people. I can usually sense evil and negativity. I call it toxins or toxic! There is way too much evil in this world right now. But light is stronger, so I try to stay focused on the good. (Too strange of an answer?)
What is your favourite quote? I am going with my Grade 12 high school yearbook: “Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller There are some incredible quotes out there and I could go on forever!
What is something you are proud to be involved in? Look for the Sequel to Piper’s Pond: Piper’s Pond The Unwritten Fairytale. I love volunteering for the Gleaners Organization, but sadly I missed going this year. I usually try to go twice a year into Oliver, B.C., The people there are incredible and have their own amazing stories to tell. The Gleaners can be found throughout the world and with volunteers of all ages working to help feed the hungry. The volunteers I have worked with over the years at the Gleaners are my extended family. My parents, my children, and I have volunteered in Oliver for years! www.okanagangleaners.com
I have a huge amount of respect for a woman named Judy Bergen. I had volunteered to go to Guatemala, and I had only briefly met Judy and her husband, Phillip, who run a project called Love Guatemala. I had no idea what I was getting myself into…it was a leap of faith. I wrote an article for the Oliver Chronicle about it (www.oliverchronicle.com/gleaners-to-guatemala-the-long-road-travelled). Phillip is now Judy’s guardian angel from above; it was an honor to have met and worked with them. Judy is an inspiring woman, loving, strong faith, and an extremely hard worker.
I could go way back and list a lot of really inspiring people that I have met throughout my life! Starting with my grandmother and parents!
People Profile: Glady Ledesma
Meet Glady of Gladycakes: cake baker joy maker!
I have not had the sensational pleasure of having my mouth around one of Glady’s designs yet but I drool at the thought of doing so! We all have a chance! 🙂 Like, look…. I just wanna touch and taste it all!
Before Glady indulged me in flavour she indulged me in conversation! This is how it went down… like a good cupcake! ;p
What is your career? Maker of custom cakes. Bringer of sweet, delicious joy to every occasion.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? Right now, the greatest challenge is balancing my time between a full-time day job (a necessity, for now), my moonlighting as a cake artist and, of course, being mom to my sweet (not a baby any more) daughter.
One of the greatest rewards of being a cake artist is seeing the amazement on people’s faces when they see their cake. I also love being people’s ‘cake lady’. It’s a pretty great feeling.
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career? Do it because you love it. One can easily burn out in this industry, so the passion needs to be there. Also, always keep learning and do your research when it comes to the business side of things. It can be tough, especially if you’re doing it all on your own, so don’t be afraid to ask for help.
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? Nooo…
Why, why not? 5 years ago seems like a lifetime ago; a completely different book, let alone chapter in my life. I’m happy to be where I am now, but thankful for where I was back then. How’s that for cryptic? LOL
Where will you be in 5 years? Hoping the crystal ball has me in my own brick and mortar cake studio, designing and baking cakes full-time and just loving life.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? You’re beautiful in your body. Don’t let anybody tell you or make you feel differently. Also, keep baking. Don’t forget about it.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? What haven’t we experienced yet? LET’S DO IT!
How lucky are you and why? Pretty damn lucky. I have a supportive partner, family and friends that keep pushing me to pursue my cake dreams and help me constantly to make it a reality.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I’m not calm and collected all the time. I have my breaking moments just like everybody else.
What makes you laugh? Moments with friends.
What is fun for you? Serious fun is spending quality time with my family. On the more frivolous side, I can spend all day inside a cake supply store or a craft store and be happy as a clam 🙂
What makes you question humanity? The lack of empathy in todays society. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking at the same time.
What is your favourite quote? One of my favourites is, “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken” – Oscar Wilde
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Glady is hosting her first pop-up event called The Handmade Holiday Pop-Up Shop on December 12th! She and I are SUPER EXCITED for it and hope EVERYONE checks it out! https://www.facebook.com/events/1645257779045751/
You can getcher fill of eye cake at: www.gladycakes.ca!
I believe we can all have our Gladycake and eat it too! ;p
Happy day, everybuddy!
Love Kat 🙂
People Profile: Heather Babcock!
Meet Heather Babcock: Writer and Delighter!
So 5 years ago was when I started to discover my own voice as a writer. Since then I’ve had my work published in many different literary journals, featured as a reader at events such as Lizzie Violet’s Cabaret Noir and will have a chapbook, a collection of my short stories, published by DevilHousePress this Spring.
PEOPLE PROFILE: ADRIANNA PROSSER
Meet Adrianna Prosser:
Actor, Playwright, Geek, Beaut, Friend,
Inspiration and more!
Fierce and fiery, friendly and funny, Adrianna Prosser is a warm spunky light in the room. Gracious and generous, she is a fun-loving arts collaborator and hostess with the mostess. As she lives life to the fullest and processes it as she goes, she has so much wisdom and comfort to share and helps illuminate what is truly important and enriching. She is a free yet grounded spirit and an ambassador to the sense of adventure itself. I am personally so very happy to know her. 🙂
From her website: “Adrianna is an alumnus of the joint Specialist Theatre and Drama Studies program at Sheridan College and the University of Toronto at Mississauga; of which she was recipient of the A.L. Fernie Bursary Award for Outstanding Performance and Production Achievement. Adrianna has also won the Best Performance by a Female in a Feature Role/Ensemble (Play) from Broadway World for her role as Jailer’s Daughter, and was a part of the winning ensemble cast for the 2012 Best of Fringe as Jenny in The Shape of Things. Adrianna was also a part of the cast of Unhappy Happy which won the 2013 TIFF Best Micro-Budget Feature Award.
Adrianna is also the Arts & History Host for Cranium Cookie, an educational webshow about all things Canadian.
Her bereavement piece “Everything but the Cat…” had a staged reading at The New Ideas Festival with Alumnae Theatre and received wonderfully supportive reviews. Adrianna is meeting with teachers and theatre-in-education companies to bring this piece on tour to high schools and universities in the near future. Please visit www.everythingbutthecat.net to learn how you can support or become involved in this important confessional-theatre piece.
Adrianna is also employed as a Historical Interpreter with the City of Toronto where she educates children through theatre-education programs about the Victorian Era at several city museums. Her latest play for the city museums, War for Dessert deals with the reasons for the War of 1812.”
Adri answers the questions…
What is your career? Storytelling.
Is it the same as your passion? Oh yes. Storytelling is a wonderfully mailable passion: I am an actor, a social media content creator and community manager, a historical interpreter, blogger, and playwright.
What is your passion? Telling stories that make people connect with themselves and others. I love being the keystone in networks too, meeting passionate people and connecting them to someone they don’t know (yet) through my introduction- I love it.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? Challenges are always time and money. All of those titles pay in some way or another in time and money – but time doesn’t pay bills and money doesn’t make you happy so it’s the eternal balancing act which can be taxing physically and emotionally. But really, I can’t live without a creative output and storytelling in my life. I tried, and it was hell.
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career? Always be the student: take classes, do workshops, take an online course – not only will you learn amazing new things that enhance your craft but you also meet like minded people and expand your network. It is so often not what you know but who you know! Also say yes when you are scared to say it – that fear means you are challenging yourself to get outside your comfort zone and that is where art tends to happen.
What does it mean to be an artist? It means to create without filter, without restraint, without fear – to make art (in any shape or form that calls to you) to tell your story, be it your personal story or one that begs to be told.
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? Why, why not? Yes and no – 5 years ago my world was turned upside down: my brother died by suicide and that event tripped an avalanche of change. I lost a lot and it took a while to get myself to a place that was good again. During that time I wrote to help my bereavement & that’s how I started Everything But The Cat… as a play and then later as a blog. So most of the people and goals I had in 2010 are no longer in my life now in 2015. It’s amazing how different and totally the same I am when I look back.
Where will you be in 5 years? Hopefully still creating with passionate like minded people. I have had the fortune to have amazing people in my network who want to work with me: Cranium Cookie started as a chat in a comic book store, my children’s book was a joke between me and my partner until he pushed me to create it, my webseries was pushed forward from a facebook conversation, my mental health blog an idea between me and a guy I met on the subway! There’s so much great support around me that it’s hard not to be inspired and take action. In 5 years I want to be doing that: creating with others who believe in me.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? Your first brother has just taken his first steps, love him because someday he won’t be here anymore – make mud pies daily. Oh and don’t let Mom throw out your Roger Rabbit sleeping bag.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? Any regrets I can take care of at my age?
How lucky are you and why? Oh yes, I mean I haven’t won the lottery but I have all that support (mentioned above) plus a loving family who accepts me for the human-Muppet I am. I have great friends who I can travel the world with (and have) and my significant other is just that – he’s significant and loving and grounds me. I may not have money but I do have those intangibles that poets write about. And I say thanks daily for that and the opportunities I have here living in Canada. That too is lucky.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I have darier’s white disorder which is a rare skin disorder that almost made me give up acting. I still struggle with the idea that one day I will just be a mess of spots and no one will want to look at me. (I blog about it sometimes… http://fightagainstdariersdisease.blogspot.ca/)
What makes you laugh? Great writing. My puppy McFly. Jason, my S.O., when he isn’t trying to be funny. The unexpected.
What is fun for you? So many things! Video games, thick books about everything but mostly fantasy historical novels (hi Outlander and Game of Thrones), running in the sunshine, throwing theme parties so we can all dress up, Halloween (for the same reason), playing board games with friends and family… So many things!
What makes you question humanity? My brother’s suicide. Ferguson. People I encounter on the TTC at 8:15am and 5:02pm. Reality TV. Toronto’s G20 riots.
What is your favourite quote? “to thine ownself be true” -Shakespeare, Hamlet
Is there anything else you’re involved in that you’d like to plug or point our attention to?
Check out all these awesome things I have the pleasure of participating in!
Www.youtube.com/user/craniumcookie @craniumcookie
Www.everythingbutthecat.net (we are on tumblr too: http://everythingbutthecat.tumblr.com/)
@everythingcatTO
Www.dauntlesscitytheatre.com @DauntlessTO
Www.facebook.com/gibsonmuseum @GibsonmuseumTO
Please provide a link to something you are particularly proud of being involved in… Me? 🙂
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🙂
PEOPLE PROFILE: Marcus Walker!
Meet Marcus Walker: Musician!
Have you heard Marcus Walker strum and croon? Had him whisper a corny joke in your ear? You’ll smile every time. A skilled and solid multi-instrumentalist, Marcus fortifies the performance of others and glows in the beam of the spotlight. He takes gentle command of the audience with the rich rumble of a voice that grips ya similar to that of Neil Diamond, Shawn Mullins and Buju Banton. Marcus is like your favourite cartoon character; clever, charming and goofy in capricious combination.
Marcus faces the questions…
What is your career? Musician
Is it the same as your passion? Oh, yes indeed…
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? THE greatest challenge of being a working musician is finding & maintaining a business relationship with a venue owner that will consistently pay you for your services, willingly. Some other challenges are mostly the usual stuff like remembering lyrics & that kind of thing. Rewards..? The fact that I am making a living out of doing what I love – & what I believe I’m best at.
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career? Practice, ask questions, be & stay informed, practice, be vigilant, practice…
What does it mean to be an artist? To always be looking through the eyes of a child…
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? NO but I figured I’d be somewhere nearby…
Where will you be in 5 years? Hopefully doing the same thing, only better…
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? “Stop picking your nose..!”
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? “Stop picking your nose..!”
How lucky are you and why? Very. My life is fairly idyllic & I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Also, spiritually, I feel better than I’ve ever felt…
What would people be surprised to know about you? Dunno, that’s a hard one. Perhaps that; aside from books, chocolate & sushi; I have no major addictions…
What makes you laugh? Honest, real life scenarios. The kind you can’t stage…
What is fun for you? Bumper cars & jamming with seasoned musicians…
What makes you question humanity? The overwhelming amount of atrocious behaviour some people display…
What is your favourite quote? Man, there’s tons o’ great quotes. Couldn’t possibly narrow it down to one. So, I’ll put down 3 of my faves. 1) “He was kind of charming, totally untrustworthy, conspiratorial, possessing mysterious juice with the ownership, able to operate completely outside the normal chain of command” – Anthony Bourdain, Kitchen Confidential 2) “We have eaten too much fat. Fresh baby pig is very griping to the bowels. There is an everlasting coming and going in the dug-out. Two, three men with their pants down are always sitting about outside and cursing. I have been out nine times myself. About four o’clock in the morning we reach a record: all eleven men, guards and visitors, are squatting outside” – Erich Maria Remarque, All Quiet On The Western Front 3) “Look, look,’ cried the count, seizing the young man’s hands – “look, for on my soul it is curious. Here is a man who had resigned himself to his fate, who was going to the scaffold to die – like a coward, it is true, but he was about to die without resistance. Do you know what gave him strength? – do you know what consoled him? It was, that another partook of his punishment – that another partook of his anguish – that another was to die before him. Lead two sheep to the butcher’s, two oxen to the slaughterhouse, and make one of them understand that his companion will not die; the sheep will bleat for pleasure, the ox will bellow with joy. But man – man, who God created in his own image – man, upon whom God has laid his first, his sole commandment, to love his neighbour – man, to whom God has given a voice to express his thoughts – what is his first cry when he hears his fellowman is saved? A blasphemy. Honour to man, this masterpiece of nature, this king of the creation!” ― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
What is something originating from someone else that you find particularly inspiring?
www.rleonband.com Have been playing with Russell for years. Good songwriter!
www.openculture.com Awesomely informative… “The best free cultural & educational media on the web.”
To see and hear more from Marcus Walker, click upon his links! If you like what you see and hear, drop him a line! He may just tell you a corny joke. Yeah, that’s probably a definite there, matey!
https://soundcloud.com/marcus-walker-music
http://www.youtube.com/stringerland
https://www.facebook.com/groups/49857668943/
Until next time… explore an artist… explore the artist in you!
Happy day, everybuddy!
🙂
PEOPLE PROFILE:Candice Sand!
Meet Candice Sand!
Candice Answers:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/against-concrete-walls-ep/id890178291?ls=1
Wonder Women LA: Meet Crystal Fabos!
Meet CRYSTAL FABOS of Wonder Women LA!
Crystal is a visual artist who has studied at Mission Renaissance, and taken painting lessons from Julie Snyder. In her words, “I began taking classes with Julie and in 6 months time my passion and joy and understanding for what I wanted to create was right there staring me in the face, it was so close, closer then I had ever seen it before! I was a professional artist not just a student and I will draw and paint till I’m old, on my porch in the country. I continue to practice and learn more every day as the key to perfection is practice and the key to happiness is persistence and working towards your dreams!”
I took a gander at Crystal’s work on her website and fell in love with her style! It’s tangible art in a chunky colourful approach that makes you feel the artist’s presence in each stroke of paint. Here are a few samples:
I asked Crystal:
What does empowerment mean to you? It is having a voice and have the strength to tell others what you can do and feeling the pride of actually doing what you wanted to accomplish.
What does being an artist mean to you? It means being able to reach out and touch your audience and them feeling what you are feeling and getting them to see what you see.
What is your career? I am a Fine Artist, I paint portraits, landscapes, still life and I work at Mission Renaissance Fine Art Classes.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? As an Artist my greatest challenge is making sure I set time aside to draw and paint and keeping discipline in enough so that I keep myself on track. I have to stay very organized with time management and priorities everything.The rewards come from the working hard and patients, when I have an idea in my head and it comes out better. That is my greatest reward with art.
Advice to others embarking on similar career? If you want something you have to keep working towards it, persist and don’t be afraid to mess up. When you can see your mistakes and work through till the end that’s when you win.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? Keep drawing and don’t be afraid what people are going to say, you will only get better with practice! (I quit drawing when I was 9 or 10 because I was made fun of; I picked it back up when I was in my 20s)
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? You are only as old as you believe you are. So go outside and paint, the beautiful day is calling you!
What would people be surprised to know about you? Nothing really I’m a pretty open book.
What is your favorite quote? “An Artist can change the world through their creativity” I heard this on a movie trailer a while back not sure who the originator was but I loved it!
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Please do yourself a favour and head over to Crystal’s website for her BEAUTIFUL art!
You can also find out more about the show and the rest of the Wonder Women LA lineup here!
Hope to see you there in sunny LA! 🙂
Click for tix to Wonder Women LA!
Photo shoot with Lisa MacIntosh
BABE ALERT! It’s not often that Cate of Life With More Cowbell is the subject of her own blog as she generously and beautifully uses her prose to promote others. As anyone who’s spent time with Cate knows, she is a force to be reckoned with and a charm of a character. She has so many talents, so much wisdom, the one of the kindest and truest hearts I have ever known, and she is also quite the looker, as these photos taken by Lisa MacIntosh illuminate. I for one am tickled inspired by these shots and so I share them with you. 🙂
Don’t forget to visit Cate’s blog Life With More Cowbell for news and insight on the Toronto arts scene and subscribe so you never miss a jingle of the Cowbell! 🙂
Had so much fun on Saturday, spending the early afternoon with photographer Lisa MacIntosh and makeup artist Rebecca Kupferstein up in the Studio at Alumnae Theatre for my white tie and tails vintage photo shoot.
Inspired by Lisa’s shoot with actress Kate Drummond, who sported a fab vintage look, as well as my experience playing Cecil Graham in Alumnae’s production of Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan several years ago, I decided to go with a period look as a male impersonator, in white tie and tails. For the makeup, we were inspired by Julie Andrews as Victor in Victor/Victoria.
Here are some select pics from the shoot. Thanks so much to Lisa and Rebecca for their beautiful work!
KAT LEONARD 