New Show Announced-A Night Of Laughs!
A night of laughs?! Yes please!!!
Black Swan 154 Danforth Avenue, Toronto March 28, 2015 at 10pm $5
Please join us for a laugh- a whole nightful! 🙂
NEW SHOW ANNOUNCED: WonderFest 2015!
Let’s Make Good Productions presents WONDERFEST!
To celebrate International Women’s Day we’re rounding up Wonder Women and Super Men to celebrate by spreading empowerment through art!
This WONDERFEST will showcase many artists such as singer-songwriters, spoken word/poets, story tellers, comedians, visual artists and motivational speakers!
3030 Dundas West
Doors open at 7pm
Show starts at 8pm
$10 at the door
We hope you can come out and be inspired to create by seeing all the incredible artists showcased at WonderFest!
Details on artists to come! WonderWomenWorld.tumblr.com
🙂
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: Kat Harlton!
Meet Kat Harlton:
Entrepreneur, storyteller,
community maker,
artist, dream catcher, genius,
positive force in the world at large.
Photo credit: Patrick Hodgson Photography
Once you meet Kat Harlton, you want her to be part of your world forever because she makes everything better. She is wise and witty, silly and steadfast, innovative and brave, supportive and nurturing; just what is needed to create a formidable empire, which is what she is forming. From the source, The mission of The Harlton Empire is to promote creative works by independent artists in the arts/entertainment industry.
And now an excerpt from this very interview that exemplifies to me the solid embrace that is knowing Kat Harlton. You’ll read it again down below so don’t get confused and think you’re deja tripping. I just think it bears repeating and I’m the boss of this blog, so enjoy. “My greatest sense of accomplishment always comes from being able to stand back and watch as others accomplish their goals and dreams because I supported them. I know how important that support is, so when I see how hard they’re working, and how much it means to them, it makes me want to work harder myself. It makes me proud and I don’t take for granted that they’ve allowed me to be part of their journey.” Right? I know now you just want to hear from Kat herself, so I’ll just shut up and let her answer…
What is your career?
My career is a mixture of all of my favourite things.
Monday to Friday I work at SoCast SRM doing Client Support. SoCast is the leading digital marketing platform for radio and we work with many large clients including Corus Entertainment.
All the rest of my free time goes to The Harlton Empire, Lithium Magazine and Rebel Rebel Music Magazine (UK) all of which I use as platforms to promote music, film and art. I write reviews of albums and shows, cover live events and exhibitions, host events, do interviews with numerous kinds of artists and in general try to encourage and promote a positive, healthy, and vibrant community spirit within the arts scene.
What are the greatest challenges and greatest rewards of your career? What is your advice to others embarking on similar career?
Like all careers, when starting out my biggest challenges were knowledge and experience. Both of which came with time and trial and error. I strive to do my best always, and if there’s something I don’t know, I’ll take it upon myself to figure it out. I was taught from a young age to never be afraid to ask questions or to ask for help, it’s the only way to learn.
The greatest rewards of my career have been by far the relationships I’ve made. Most of what I’ve done and continue to do wouldn’t be possible without the help and support of numerous people. People who took a chance on me, and believed in me when I said I wanted to do all these things I’d never done before and knew nothing about.
My greatest sense of accomplishment always comes from being able to stand back and watch as others accomplish their goals and dreams because I supported them. I know how important that support is, so when I see how hard they’re working, and how much it means to them, it makes me want to work harder myself. It makes me proud and I don’t take for granted that they’ve allowed me to be part of their journey.
5 years ago, did you expect to be where you are today? Why, why not?
Well, 5 years ago is about when I created The Harlton Empire, and my only goals were to help as many independent artists as possible however I could and to give back to the community when I was able. For the most part this continues to be my goal, I’m not after a specific title or occupation, I like to just consider myself a goodwill ambassador of sorts.
That said, I’ve been given a lot of opportunities that I never expected to have, from interviewing celebrities to booking sold out shows and to going on tours. I wouldn’t have anticipated any of that 5 years ago.
Where will you be in 5 years?
To be honest I have no idea, and that thought makes me happy. So far, I plan on continuing what I’ve been doing, I really enjoy exploring new options and connecting with new people and you never know where that can lead you. I’ve done a lot in the past 5 years, so If I manage to do even half of that again in the next 5 I’ll be having one hell of a life. Haha.
What would you say to your 8-year-old self?
Keep on, keep’n on. Don’t change a thing. It’s not always going to be easy, but it’s going to be worth it. P.S: Your future 30 year old self is one happy woman.
What would you say to your 80-year-old self?
Jesus Christ! You’re still alive?!… haha kidding.
I guess this would depend a lot on what I do between now and being 80, but for the most part, I work hard to live without regrets, so it’d probably be somewhere along the lines of “You did good kid”.
How lucky are you and why?
I get conflicted every time I’m asked this question. In one sense I consider myself to be a very lucky woman. I’m blessed with a life that many others will never experience, and I don’t take any of it for granted, which I think has come from a combination of hard work and taking opportunities when they’ve been presented. On the other hand, I don’t believe in coincidence. There have been a few occasions in my life when I’m certain the universe has given me a hand. I believe some things are meant to happen, and that certain people are meant to come into our lives, whether it’s pre-destined or designed by ourselves.
What would people be surprised to know about you?
Hmmm, I guess it depends on who you ask. In general I consider myself a pretty open book. I actively work on being vulnerable and pushing my personal boundaries as I’ve found that reaps the biggest rewards.
Some people might be surprised to know I grew up in rural Southern Ontario, in between two small towns, surrounded by fields of crops and cattle for about the first 18 years of my life. My first job was working as a hired hand on my neighbours dairy farm. Probably not the first thing you’d expect when meeting me. Ha.
What makes you laugh? What is fun for you?
What makes me laugh? My boyfriend, Brandon. He’s always sending me funny memes from shows we watch, or jokes he makes up, or links to ridiculous stuff he found on the internet. He’s not afraid to be goofy or silly which is awesome.
As for what I can consider fun? Meeting new people, going to shows, collaborating, coming up with new ideas, experiencing new things, travelling. I’m an explorer at heart, and I’m always searching for something unique-something that fosters connection. That said, I’m also quite content to just chill in a park all day, or explore the city. I’m easy to please.
What is your favourite quote?
‘Aut Viam Inveniam Aut Faciam’ it’s a Latin phrase, which roughly translates to ‘I will either find a way or make one’. I consider this my personal mantra, so much so that I have it tattooed on my body. It’s how I govern my life, if I can’t find a way to do something, or I can’t do what I want through existing channels, then I’ll make my own way.
What inspires you?
It’s constantly changing. Though I frequently find myself drawn to the work of Patti Smith. There’s something about how raw and real she is in everything she does that inspires me to continue to search and create. I’ve read her autobiography ‘Just Kids’ numerous times and it’s something I find myself returning to over and over again.
____________________________________________________________________________________
For more and more, please enter the empire and connect with Kat in any forum below!
If you haven’t already, I hope you are lucky enough to meet her in person one day too! 🙂
Twitter: @harltonempire
As always, have a groovy day, everybuddy!
🙂
New Show announced!
Hear ye hear ye! We are two weeks away!
Fri August 29, 2014: Musedy Tag Team, Rando Bando, Kat & The Mp3 at The Black Swan Toronto
Musedy Tag Team (Kat & Arlene)
Rando Bando
(An eclectic assortment of comedic performers who delight and offend in relatively equal measure!)
Kat & The Mp3! (That’s me!)
Please join us for a night full of Music Comedy! We’re also gonna do some musical improv and YOU could be a part of the action!
Suweeeet! Come one, come all!
WHERE: The Black Swan – 154 Danforth Avenue, Toronto-3rd floor
WHEN: Friday August 29, 2014; Doors 8:30 Show 9:00
HOW: Pay What You Can (Suggested $10)
Four Winds Unite!
(Heather, Meghan, Arlene & Kat)
Artwork drawn by Ava Hill
The Four Winds Collective united to rehearse for this Sunday’s show at
Lizzie Violet’s Cabaret Noir at The Central in Toronto!
Here is some proof.
Of course, you’d never know Kat was on the cajon
because she accidentally hit delete on the picture instead of send. Gah!
<— Arlene, multi-instrumentalist, here with geeetar and uke.
Meghan is also a multi-instrumentalist. Here she is with her beloved bass. —>
<— Heather, known for flouting, ukeing and tickling keys.
[insert colourful high-angle shot of Kat sitting atop the cajon and winking with laughter as Arlene pushes the button on the iPhone. It really was an artistic awesome shot. Imagine something like this but really cool and with a cajon.]
Here we are together…. for optimum enjoyment!
Come see us Sunday night at the Cabaret!
We’ll be playing our #1 Hit, going down in the annals on a post-it note. 🙂
Please note that Marcy Rogers is unable to attend the Cabaret, so Four Winds and Brandon Pitts will be entertaining you… along with a plethora of Open Mic talent! Come sign up and share your talent with us! See you this Sunday July 13 at The Central 7-10pm. 🙂 xoxox Kat
JUMP with DELROSE!
Delrose! A giggling unassuming bright bundle of joy she is. She’s worked very hard on releasing her first CD and it was effort well-placed, in my opinion. I find Delrose’s voice instantly soothing and her music immediately singalongable. It is said that the reason we as humans write and perform music is to attract a group to sing along with us, to gather a crowd and mount a force of voices to keep the lions at bay. If this is true, there be no lions at a wienie roast where Delrose’s Jump be playing. It is sure to inspire a singalong. It is a delightful soundscape for the everyday and I recommend you Jump in and take a listen for yourself!
-Photography by Jeremiah Hill
“JUMP released on April 12, 2014 and Delrose is more than ecstatic to share her music with a wider audience. Her songs run high on emotion. Her performances are heart-felt and true. Music is her way of life. It is what drives her. Singing is her drug of choice and songwriting is her therapy.”
-Photography by Jeremiah Hill
By the amount of glee emanating from this pic of Delrose with Owen Huot and Juan Santos at Placebo Space in Toronto, I’d say Delrose’s musical drugs and therapy are working!
The sounds of Delrose are available for owning on iTunes and for soundscaping on Soundcloud!
For more on Delrose, visit her website!
Why not take a leap and go for a Jump! Get it? Get it!
🙂 love Kat
New Show Announcement!
Amsterdam Bicycle Club
54 The Esplanade, Toronto Ontario
Thursday April 24th 9:00-11:30pm $6
Come enjoy Heather Hill, Innersha, Angela Saini, Guy Stefan, Matt Gerber, Prescilla and me as we give you a Positive music experience!
Get it? 🙂
Check out more about Positive Music Imperative here!
Wonder Delights
Some sights and delights from WonderFest 2014. Please see also Life With More Cowbell and WonderWomenWorld
WonderFest is here!
Click here for WonderFest 2014 artist info!
Click here for advance price tickets!
Click here for Arlene and my interview with Life With More Cowbell!
WonderFest happens this Sunday April 6 at Revival Bar in Toronto.
See you there!
xoxox
KAT LEONARD (Kat & The MP3) 
