Producer

Award Winners, Canada, JUNO, Miami, Perspective, Producer, R&B, Songwriter, Soul, Toronto, United States, Video, Voice October 14, 2019

U.S. immigration crackdown inspires Jessie Reyez’s charged new music video

Nick Krewen Special to the Star Oct 07, 2019 In the visually compelling video for her latest song “Far Away,” Toronto’s Jessie Reyez pulls no punches when depicting immigrant persecution in Trump’s America. During the two-minute-and-50-second scenario directed by Peter Huang, Reyez’s character and her male love interest are dancing at a party that is suddenly stormed and tear-gassed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, who end up…

Murda Beatz is in the House

Arranger, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Canada, Composer, Ed Sheeran, Engineer, Grammy, Hip-Hop, JUNO, Justin Bieber, Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, Producer, Songwriter, United States July 31, 2019

How did hip hop producer Murda Beatz connect with Migos, Cardi B and Drake? Lots and lots of networking

Fort Erie record producer Shane Lee Lindstrom has made a name for himself in hip-hop circles as Murda Beatz. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star July 31, 2019 Raw talent is one thing, but how does a budding producer from the Canadian border town of Fort Erie become a top dog in hip-hop and work with the likes of Migos, Cardi B., Drake,  Nicki Minaj, Chance The Rapper and…

Bass, Canada, Composer, Electronic, Engineer, Experimental, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Mixer, Piano, Pop, Producer, R&B, Songwriter, Soul, Toronto, Voice July 22, 2019

Clairmont The Second is up for a climb

Nick Krewen Special to the Star July 20, 2019 Clairmont The Second may be one of the more ambitious rappers out there, but he’s in no rush to achieve the lofty stardom to which he aspires. “We knew from the start that it was going to be the long game,” said the Juno-nominated hip-hop artist born Clairmont Humphrey, who hails from the Jane and Weston area of Toronto and brings…

Frank Dukes at Regent Park School Of Music

Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye, Arranger, Aubrey "Drake" Graham, Business, Canada, Composer, Engineer, Experimental, Grammy, Hip-Hop, JUNO, Lorde, Los Angeles, Marshall "Eminem" Mathers, Mixer, Music Industry (Trade), Music Publishing, Nicki Minaj, Piano, Pop, Producer, R&B, Rock, Songwriter, Soul, Taylor Swift, Technology, Toronto, United States July 22, 2019

Meet Frank Dukes – the go-to producer for superstars like Rihanna and Drake

Nick Krewen The Toronto Star July 12, 2019 He’s the go-to guy when you’re a pop music superstar looking for a hit – and he’s from Toronto. Frank Dukes may not be a household name to the general populace, but the 35-year-old songwriter and producer is on the speed dial of everyone who is anyone in pop music these days. Lorde, J. Balvin, Post Malone, Rihanna, Eminem, Travis Scott, Camila…

Arranger, Composer, Dance, David Bowie, Engineer, Funk, Gaming, Grammy, Guitar, Madonna, New York, Pop, Producer, R&B, Rock, Rock 'N Roll Hall Of Fame, Songwriter, United Kingdom, United States April 20, 2019

‘Unknown band’ is opening for Cher in Toronto — but their leader is not worried

Nick Krewen Special to the Star April 18, 2019 Nile Rodgers is discovering during the Cher opening slot that Chic’s relative anonymity is working to his advantage. “We’re an unknown band opening for a big star,” he says over the line from New York. “We walk out onstage — most people don’t know who we are — but by the end of the show they go, ‘Jesus Christ, I know…