The MOD Club was graced by a lovely group of femme and gender diverse artists this past Saturday May 30th. Returning for its third year, Our Music Festival puts the voices we don’t typically hear or see in the mainstream first and foremost – which is what makes this night of music so special. And with Juno award winners and nominees taking the stage, these are the voices we should be giving a listen to. Here is a little deep dive of every artist who performed this year.
Beginning the night was Kimmortal, combing spoken word, emotional truth and honesty, all tied into either hip-hop or an alternative – their music will grip you by the throat. Being able to do a fake cry during Sad Femme Club with them was very therapeutic and we should incorporate more emotional regulation in music performances.
Maïa Davies was on next, she graced the stage with a near haunting and raw performance of songs from her Juno Award Winning Album Lovers Gothic. The tune transported me into a empty castle straight out of the 180os, walking around the halls life holding a candelabra. She took time in-between songs to speak about her personal experiences within the music industry and life, which helped set up the following song in the set-list. Ammoye, should be coined the next queen of Reggae. Her performance left me dancing along but also feeling empowered, especially during her song Soul Rebel. I have been singing “you’re a rebel, the greatest ever” off and on since the show, a lyric can that easily be turned into a mantra. We need more of this feel good type of energy in our lives! Anyma Ora’ performed for the very first time in Toronto and delivered a powerful and rich performance, while also sharing important parts from the Wendant tribe (which is where Anyma comes from). Be it for a moment of pause or story telling through dance, it was more than just a music performance it was a moment of sharing important things from her culture. 
Closing the night was Alysha Brilla, who was performing in Toronto for the first time in about seven years! She delivered a set that was so sweet and felt very much like hearing your friend play in your backyard. Mind you this was after some technical difficulties, which her and her band mates handled with such grace that led to a much more intimate performance. Although we have festivals such as the larger scale All Things Go or something more local like the upcoming Loud Women fest (November 6th @ The Baby G In Toronto) there is still a lot of work to be done within the music industry in order to show cases all voices properly. Not just the folks land on the Billboard Top 100, but to those who are using their talents to speak up for what they believe in. Make sure to check out all these amazing artists, have a listen to our curated playlist here.
Check out our exclusive photo gallery just below for some visual highlights from Our Music Festival in Toronto. To learn more about the festival’s values and history, check out our interview with Andrea Ramolo ahead of last years festivities and last year’s review in the Musik Mirage archives. Follow the festival on Instagram for more @OurMusicFestivalTO.
Photos and Article by San Veliz (@spacemanmediaproductions)
