People Profile: Carmen Toth!
Meet Carmen Toth:
Singer-Songwriter, copywriter, mystic!
Carmen Toth does some really cool and unique synth music! Here’s a sampling!
Carmen plays solo and also with peeps! You should see her play live! In fact, you should see her at The Horseshoe Tavern this Monday, Jan 16. Doors at 8:30. It’s a FREE show! She will be playing with a band (Jillian Bunting on bass and Kyle Sullivan on drums) and also playing new material off her upcoming EP produced by Derek Downham which will be released early spring 2017! Be the first to hear the tunes!
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Carmen is up for adventure and serious about making the world better with music. She has a mystic smile and a hearty laugh. This is what went down when I asked Carmen some questions!
What is your career? I’m an advertising writer (copywriter) and singer-songwriter.
Is it the same as your passion? I would say yes, because I love expression and creativity.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? For singer-songwriter: biggest challenge right now is the lack of sustainability. Cannot make a living at it yet. Greatest reward is when someone says my music helped or inspired them. For advertising: biggest challenge is having to be creative under pressure. Biggest reward is when I surprise myself by actually being creative under pressure.
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career? Practice, practice, practice. Never stop learning. Get out of your own way. Don’t be too proud to ask for help. Keep an open mind. Be scared, but do it anyway. Stay out of your comfort zone. That all applies to both careers, by the way.
What does it mean to be an artist? If you create art, you are an artist. I create music and concepts with words, therefore, I am an artist.
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? No. I thought I would still be married (I’m now divorced) and I thought music would remain more of a hobby than the focus it now is in my life.
Where will you be in 5? In 5 years, I could see myself playing tours and bigger music festivals and getting some film and TV placements for my songs if I continue to work as I have been doing. I could also see myself still writing for clients. Perhaps that writing for clients will extend to songwriting.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self?
Start learning guitar now. Don’t wait until your 20s.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self?
Congratulations on making it this far.
How lucky are you and why? I’m very lucky to be (for the most part) healthy and living in a free country like Canada. I also have an odd lucky streak when it comes to door prizes and draws.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I honestly have no idea how to answer that. My actual age? (People think I’m younger, which is fine with me!) The fact that I like metal? (People assume I only like light stuff.) That I eat meat? (People tend to think I’m a vegetarian.)
What makes you laugh? A lot of things. But especially funny animal videos and farts.
What is fun for you? Things where music is involved. Playing it, enjoying it. Hanging with friends or my cats. Being in nature. Sunbathing. Swimming. I love beaches on clean water you can swim in. Summer nights.
What makes you question humanity? All of the ugly racism that surfaced after Trump’s win. I had no idea it was still that rampant in North America. It made me very sad. We are all one human race. But those beliefs are learned. So I guess they can be unlearned. Which means there’s hope.
What is your favourite quote?
It’s a tie between Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham.
Lindsey: “If you’re any good, you know you can be better.”
Stevie: “If you are gracious, you have won the game.”
Is there anything else you’re involved in that you’d like to plugto?
Connect with Carmen at these sites! And connect at a live event if you can make it!
https://www.reverbnation.com/carmentoth
https://www.instagram.com/carmentoth111/
https://twitter.com/CarmenToth13
https://www.facebook.com/CarmenToth111/
Have a great and musical day, everybuddy!
🙂
People Profile: Ryan VanDrie!
This is a special BS Fridays edition People Profiles! BS Fridays is a musical networking community where musical souls in the industry from artists, performers, businesses peeps and more get together to pool their resources and expand their support. On Friday August 12th you can come out to The Cameron House in Toronto and meet us and see some of us performing– including me and Ryan VanDrie!
Who is Ryan VanDrie? Well, he’s a kind of road warrior, creative musician and more! He is currently building his own alt rock band project called if & when that has light show programming with live performances. It has been a lengthy labour of love that finally comes to fruition at The Piston for Tues October 18th. Be there if you can!
You can get a sense of Ryan’s music on Soundcloud! Here’s a sampling duo!
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You know I asked Ryan some questions about himself! Here are his answers!
What is your career? I am currently working in Road Operations for a local municipality. I respond to high priority concerns and investigate legal claims related to roads.
Is it the same as your passion? No. Not yet, anyway.
What is your passion? My passion is creating, writing, recording and performing music. I also have a great deal of enthusiasm for concert lighting / visuals.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? Greatest challenge can be dealing with the public. Haha. Greatest rewards are the extended health benefits.
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career? Whatever it is that you choose to do, make sure that you love it. Skills can always be developed, but passion is something that you will either have or will not have for a certain career.
What does it mean to be an artist? To me, a true artist unapologetically creates and performs with self awareness and intent, and without the burden of inadequacy and indiscretion.
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? Why, why not? Five years ago, I didn’t know where to expect I should be today. Mostly due to of a lack of foresight. I’m content with my current situation, but there’s so much more I desire for myself. Needless to say, I’m planning a little harder now.
Where will you be in 5 years? Cover of the Rolling Stone? Hah :p
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? “Give me your lunch money”. Seriously though: Don’t listen to the discouragement of others. Focus on what you want and make sure you’re willing to work your ass off to get it.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? I’m sorry.
How lucky are you and why? Pretty friggin lucky. Good things seem to just come to me.
What would people be surprised to know about you? I’m kind of a physics geek.
What makes you laugh? What is fun for you? Brooklyn 99. Love that show.
What makes you question humanity? The current state of the impending US election. It’s terrifying to think that “President Trump” might actually be a thing in less than a year.
What is your favourite quote? If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe. Carl Sagan
What does being involved with the BS Friday’s group and community mean to you? Being a part of BS Fridays means being connected to hundreds of incredible musicians and music business entrepreneurs and using those connections to share valuable information which helps us to be better, and helps to create a better local music scene.
How long have you been involved and what have you gotten out of it? I’ve been involved with BS Fridays for about 3 years. I’ve made some great friends and relationships as a result, and learned things that have changed and strengthened how I function as a musician and member of the music community.
What can people expect from the BS Friday’s networking and showcase event in August? You can expect fun times with great people.
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For more on Ryan if & when, and to connect:
www.ryanvandrie.com
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram = @ryanvandrie
Twitter & Instagram = @ifandwhenband
Facebook = @ifandwhen
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And of course, come see us play at The Cameron House Friday August 12th 9:00pm!
Look at the spectaaaacular lineup! 🙂
Click for Facebook Event here!
People Profile: Michael Oesch
Meet Michael Oesch:
Musician, digital media artist,
grant writer, walker and more!
Michael Oesch is a musician, digital media artist, grant writer and walker, among other things! Michael is BEACH DIGITAL MEDIA, working with musicians and spoken word artists to help them attain funding to record spoken word or musical projects. This year’s successes include Cathy Petch for “Mel Malarky Gets the Bums Rush”, Richard Lett’s one-man show about men’s health “One Nut Only” and Valentino Assenza “Postcards From Sicily”.
One of Michael’s current big projects is his documentary Walking: The Wisdom of The Road in which he explores more than just our great nation during his trails. This guy doesn’t sit still for long, eh! Look at him go! I asked Michael some questions about himself and his walking mission.
What is your passion? I am passionate about creating and helping people use the creative process to find out more about themselves and more about their place in the world.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your passion/career?
In life there are always challenges and in the past I sometimes let fear stand in the way of me accomplishing my goals. I have come to learn that fear is mostly an illusion and the greatest reward is working past the fear with love, kindness and tolerance until I no longer am motivated by my negative thoughts and instead come at the projects in my life with love as the underlying principle to success.
What does it mean to be an artist? I used to think being an artist was staying up late at night and contemplating the unknowing questions and answers. By this method I almost killed myself. I used to suffer for my art, and suffer I did. I have come to learn that being an artist today for me is more therapeutic. As artists we use our own experience to reflect the world around us. I have come to accept that pain in life is unavoidable, but suffering is an option. Through my art I have come to learn to let go of those things that would keep me up until the dawn. With my art I have learned that by working through the pain there is a sort of redemption that lightens my load and allows me to live in the moment.
What would people be surprised to know about you? In 2002 in the state of suffering I decided I needed to get out of my life and find new stimuli. So I sold everything I owned and left my home here in Toronto and walked for eight months out to Labrador and back, covering 6800 km. It was an amazing experience but it didn’t settle this restless soul of mine and in 2005 I set off once again on foot and walked from Toronto to Vancouver. In my spare time I was a slow-pitch baseball umpire for 20 years.
What makes you laugh? Children and animals make me laugh. Their honesty is so refreshing. Also, people who don’t take themselves so seriously are just a joy to be around.
What is fun for you? Playing music is fun.
What makes you question humanity? I used to be revolted by society and all the things in it. That’s why I went for my walk. But I’ve come to learn that we are all troubled souls and that we are all on our own journey of discovery. And the most we can do is to help those around us, and by doing so we make a little contribution to making this world a better place.
How lucky are you and why? I think I’m lucky because I have walked to the edge of the world and faced myself at the precipice and come back a stronger person through that experience. I’ve learnt not to sweat the small stuff and that in reality it’s all small stuff.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self? Live Learn and Love.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self? Lay off the cheeseburgers.
What is your favourite quote? “I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good, therefore, that I can do, or any kindness I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it for I shall not pass this way again.” – Stephen Grellet
What do you hope to achieve through your documentary Walking: The Wisdom of The Road? Currently I have decided to share the experiences I had while walking. I have talked with others who have decided to go on long walks, and we have shared our collective wisdom. I am directing this documentary, and we propose exploring the spiritual, emotional, and physical benefits of walking. We intend to examine the motivation and collective consciousness these people have gathered on their journeys.
What is the most-challenging aspect of this project? The most-rewarding? In 2014 I started filming the documentary by following the Bhaktimagra Swami as he finished his fourth walk across Canada. The Walking Monk, as he is affectionately called, is a spiritual leader of the Hari Krishna’s here in Toronto. We also gathered some footage of Dana Meise, the first person to walk to all four oceans on the Trans Canada Trail. And of course I include myself in this project, but the challenge is how we can show the benefits to the ordinary person. This summer in 2016 we are following four participants on a pilgrimage in Quebec. The Chemin des Santuaires is an 18-day 375 km walking pilgrimage from St. Joseph Oratory in Montreal to Ste. Anne-de-Beaupré. We need to get an honest perspective by regular people to show that walking can benefit anyone. You don’t have to walk to the edge of the world like I did.
What are you most proud of with this project? The narrative of this documentary is taken from the journaling of walkers as they are on their travels. It allows the viewer to get an in-depth perspective of the thoughts of people when engaged in a pedestrian lifestyle. Because this documentary is all narrative and no one speaks to camera we plan on doing it in several languages, English and French to start and possibly several others.
What did you learn from doing your walk in the past? I learnt that you can walk almost anywhere if you are willing to take the time– and that only Jesus can walk on water… LOL
What would people be surprised to know about your creative process? This documentary is unscripted – We aren’t trying to sell this to a major corporate television audience. We have some concepts that we want to explore and will work hard in the process, but we are willing to let go of expectations and outcomes and let the experiences of those involved create an authentic testament to the benefits of walking.
What words of advice would you give to anyone about creating art? About embarking on such an adventure? Coming up with the idea is usually easy. And the first steps on any journey are usually easy. It is only through good planning and perseverance do we really achieve our goals. Sometimes by working hard and letting go of controlling the process we end up with something better than we could have ever envisioned.
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Some wise words there! If you would like to follow and/or contribute to Michael’s walking journey, please visit the Walking: The Wisdom of the Road crowd-funding site here. Good luck, Michael! Bon Voyage!
Love Kat
🙂
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: Annalisa Falco!
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career?
What is your advice to others embarking on similar career?
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? Why or why not?
Where will you be in 5 years?
What would you say to your 8-year-old self?
What would you say to your 80-year-old self?
How lucky are you and why?
What would people be surprised to know about you?
What makes you laugh?
What is fun for you?
What makes you question humanity?
What is your favourite quote?
“Perhaps the butterfly is proof that you can go through a great deal of darkness, yet become something beautiful.”
Anything inspiring you’d like to point our attention to?
Here’s a link to the United Way of Peel. Right now I’m volunteering with them as part of their Young Leader’s Council. I find United Way of Peel inspiring because they help support people in the community through various sectors such as empowering the youth, and helping the less fortunate. http://www.unitedwaypeel.org
Other inspiring organizations I really like are: virgietovar.com. She’s a very highly educated activist and amazing woman. She believes in losing hate not weight.
Reesee Zigazaga is another amazing woman who created Abuse Survival Stories it’s another great non-profit organization that works to give a voice to people that suffer from abuse, a platform to share their stories and freedom from the pain of their past. http://www.abusesurvivalstories.com
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I hope you enjoyed learning about Annalisa as much as I did! Wishing everybuddy an inspired and empowering day! Let’s all make the most of our interactions with ourselves and others. What if we had everything today that we were grateful for yesterday? I think that’s a wonderful way to live. Dare to live! Dare to love! 🙂
KAT LEONARD 