music

A year ago, I moved to another continent just as COVID-19 was finding its feet (sorry, Mum and Dad). Stuck indoors for months and unable to connect to my new surroundings, I found myself seeking out and appreciating Canadian content more than I had when I was home. I began listening more and more to young Canadian artists – Faouzia and Scott Helman, in particular.  

Catherine A. O'Toole's Music Recommendation

Bakar is an artist and musician living and working in London, England. I tripped over his music early on in the pandemic and it was exactly what I needed and continues to be. He released this EP, Will You Be My Yellow? in September of 2019. 

Jessamyn Hope is the author of the novel Safekeeping—winner of the J. I. Segal Award and a finalist for the Paterson Fiction Prize and the Ribalow Prize. Her short stories and essays—originally published in Ploughshares, PRISM International, Descant, and elsewhere—have been selected for Best Canadian Essays, two Pushcart Prize honorable mentions, and a Best American Notable. Her short story "Verified Purchase" is featured in the 2022 autumn issue of The Fiddlehead. She grew up in Montreal and lives in New York City. 

Acadia Currah (She/They) is an essayist and poet residing in Vancouver, British Columbia. Their work explores her relationship with gender, sexuality, and religion. She is a leather-jacket-latte-toting lesbian, her work seeks to reach those who most need to hear it. Their work has appeared in The Spotlong Review and Defunkt Magazine and her essay "Femme Fatales and The Lavender Menace" was featured in the 2022 creative nonfiction issue of The Fiddlehead. 

Anna Moore is a poet and barbell enthusiast from Vancouver Island. Her poetry is featured in the new autumn issue of The Fiddlehead. 

Spencer Knight is a queer writer living in Edmonton, Alberta. His flash and not-so-flash nonfiction stories have appeared in Saltern Magazine, filling Station, and The Bolo Tie Collective Anthology: Volume I. His essay "Snuff" will be featured in the soon to be published Autumn issue of The Fiddlehead. Pre-order your copy of the Autumn issue today!

Kathy Mak is an occasional writer and drawer. She is the author of chapbook Another Day (845 Press, 2020). She creates to capture fleeting moments of life and to reflect on her experiences. Visit her website: http://kathymak.weebly.com/ 

Celebrating Everyday Heroes is a Tutta Musica Orchestra project following themes of community, courage, and resilience. We are celebrating everyday heroes in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic with an original musical composition to be performed in 5 NB cities along with other amazing artistic contributions. And we need your stories, your voices, to make it amazing!

Ellis Scott lives in Canada. His work has been published in The Iowa Review, Yolk, Into the Void, and Hair Trigger, among others. His first story, "Levies," was nominated for the 2020 Pushcart Prize. His story "Nemea" is featured in the all creative nonfiction issue of The Fiddlehead.