Blackout Podcast

On the way to the forefront of Afrobeats in Canada, aRENYE continues to deliver extraordinary performances around the country and release undiluted, free-spirited music. Check him out @rennygramm

Scott Ellis is a proud Nova Scotian who currently lives in rural Nova Scotia with his partner Brogan Regier. Scott is set on making Nova Scotia the best place it can be. He has dedicated efforts to improving our environment, supporting small businesses, and enhancing our mental health system, all with the goal of creating a better place for Bluenosers. Scott Ellis is a community-oriented leader fr...

Loïc is a Rwandan barsmith from The Umbrella Collective based in P.E.I Canada, his main style is hip-hop, but he has also worked on Afrobeat, Dancehall and RnB-themed instrumentals. His delivery is effortless and groovy while providing the listeners with an insight into his life, he describes his music as therapy sessions where he shares his ambitions, fears, hopes and achievements. Loïc grew up i...

Tamara Steele is a long-time arts administrator and non-profit director by day but has always been an artist at heart. Her musical talent was fostered from a young age as she grew up learning from her grandmother to play piano and watching her father sing in calypso/soca bands in Halifax, Nova Scotia. After high school, Tamara moved to Prince Edward Island to study classical music at UPEI. A singe...

DJ Hotcue is a DJ / Producer from Weymouth, Nova Scotia who, in a few short years, has grown his career from humble beginnings in a small rural Nova Scotian town to DJing at major events and opening for renowned hip-hop artists. DJ Hotcue developed a love for DJing in high school when he was a part of an eight-week DJ course called Rhythm that was taught by Gerald Wheatley and Craig Muise. From th...

For over a dozen years, Caitlyn Hamblin turned a passion for supporting others into a dynamic career. This journey led to the launch of Cait Collabs, a project dedicated to fostering collaboration. Evolving further, she founded Cait Creative, where she now thrives as a Creative Consultant, supporting clients with their online presence and marketing goals. Find out more @cait_collabs

Anna is a 25-year-old adventurer who found herself in Halifax back in 2018 to explore something new, something different, and unknown. These last 6 years have been a rollercoaster of challenges and self-discovery. In January 2024 after years of wandering and trying to find her place, she travelled back home to Moscow, feeling drained and exhausted from life in Halifax. Being away from home for ove...

Kayo describes his sound as ‘Future meets Fugees’ - A lush blend of hip-hop, R&B and Afrobeats mixed with a raspy delivery, unique cadence, catchy melodies and a certain vibration that could only stem from his island upbringing. He is the 2023 ANSMA Artist of the Year, 2023 Music Nova Scotia Music Awards, DJ of the Year, and was also recently awarded the 2023 R&B/Soul Recording of the Year...

As a producer, composer, and mentor, Stak wears different hats in the music Industry. He co-founded Million Vibes with aRENYe to unite diverse communities through music. He guides three artists in music composition and activities, fostering talent and artistic growth. Through Million Vibes and its SNAXX platform, Stak is creating a comprehensive hub for underground artists to thrive, positively im...

Ashley is the owner of Happily Hitched Halifax, an all-inclusive wedding chapel in Downtown Halifax specializing in elopements and minimonies. She is also a full-time Event Specialist at the Halifax Chamber of Commerce. Her event planning journey began in theatre with stage management and production in Toronto. Following her family's roots in Cape Breton, Ashley moved to beautiful Nova Scotia with...

Queensley Chidera is a customer service expert, experienced administrative assistant and Certified Scrum master.   She is originally from eastern Nigeria and currently resides in Halifax Novascotia with her husband. Queensley has over 8 years banking experience in Nigeria and 2 years of administrative experience in Canada.   Queensley has a Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology and a master’...

Coming up in the Open Mic & Karaoke Community, Deves Matwawana has a strong love for pop music which shines through with his catchy hooks and his deceptively heartfelt lyrics. A Dartmouth Native and self-professed comic book geek, he’s the lead singer of the ANSMA Award Nominated, Halifax pop-rock band, CASUAL CRIES FOR HELP. Deves wants to use his platform to show a different side of black ma...

Dwayne Marcial, a dynamic serial entrepreneur, thrives at the intersection of business and the arts. As an accomplished artist manager in the Canadian music industry, he navigates the complexities of the entertainment world with finesse. Dwayne's entrepreneurial spirit led him to be a founder of a groundbreaking music streaming app, revolutionizing the way audiences engage with indie music artists...

Trevor Murphy contains multitudes.   Whether as the founder of the boutique record label Acadian Embassy, the leader of bands such as Sluice and Quiet Parade, an award-winning publicist, a radio host, or a respected behind-the-scenes player throughout Nova Scotia's culture sector, he acts as a consistent champion for the outsider.   Leaning on almost 20 years of experience in the mu...

Blanche Israël  is the CEO of the East Coast Music Association. A multilingual Moroccan-French Canadian cultural strategist and accomplished professional cellist, she has called Dartmouth, Nova Scotia her home since 2019. Before joining ECMA, Blanche was the founder and lead consultant at proScenium Services, a consulting firm excelling in transformative strategy which helped secure over $10...

Fatu Kaba is an award-winning human rights activist, high-fashion model, and the founder and CEO of HEARTS, a platform dedicated to building an epistemic community where every individual has a platform to learn, share their story, and access tools to create a positive social impact. She is also a novelist with both published and unpublished manuscripts, including "Fiona Sallami" and "Harder Choice...

  Hilary MacCormick (she/her) is an obstetric anesthesiologist practising in Kjipuktuk/Halifax. Her academic research focuses on improving perioperative care for LGBTQIA+ communities. She is a volunteer with @CASIEF, which takes her to Rwanda every couple of years to help teach the anaesthesia residents at the University of Rwanda.   Hilary began pole dancing 15 years ago for exercise bu...

Jay Fisher is the Headshot Photographer for people who hate having their photo taken. He's been fortunate enough to work with many different people from different parts of the arts world. As a former actor and performer, Jay has spent a lot of time on both sides of the camera and uses that insight and experience to make personality come alive in his clients' images. He has garnered the trust of HR...

Oliver Twisted is a theatrical neo-boylesquer with a passion for the absurd, creative costume design and fully immersive theatre. He has been active in the Halifax burlesque scene for almost 4 years and is thrilled to contribute to the further development of our community. He is on the board of the Atlantic Burlesque Co-operative, and he’s the producer and co-founder of Atlantic Boylesque. Oliver...

Tiffani Young is the CEO of Natural Butter Bar, a multi-award-winning company based in Dartmouth, N.S. that launched in December 2020. Natural Butter Bar offers 100% plant-based products that help different types of hair and skin look their best. Their diverse product line includes Butters, Oils, Essential Oils, Gel, Soap, Shampoos, Conditioners and Accessories. Their products help with a variety...

Veronica Post is an award-winning graphic novelist based in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Author ofLangosh and Peppi: Fugitive Days, and Langosh, Peppi and Yeva: Hot to Trot.   Following a brief and disillusioning attempt at university for Philosophy and Fine Arts, respectively, Veronica moved to Montreal where she completed a diploma in fine cabinetry, which suited her much better. She played drums...

Janice Landry has won three national awards for her books and mental health advocacy work.   Janice is a proud Haligonian and is currently working on her seventh non-fiction title which will be published by Pottersfield Press in spring 2025. Her most recent book, Eye of the Ocean, (2022), was a bestseller.   Janice’s biggest inspiration is her family; husband, Rob, and daughter, Laura. S...

Canadian by birth, Ethiopian by ethnicity, traveller by choice. Dinah is from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She grew up travelling back home to Ethiopia quite often as a kid and it has continued to stay with her till this day. She has a huge passion for travelling and doing things outside of her comfort zone as she feels like you learn so much about yourself and the world. Dinah is mostly into budget trav...

Schuyler Vromans is a partner aerial circus artist, osteopath, massage therapist, and acupuncturist. His life revolves around elevating others' health and wellness and pushing the boundaries of physical artistry. In his free time, he's either defying gravity with dynamic aerial routines or finding new ways to blend movement and healing. Every performance, every treatment, is a step towards a holis...

Jasmin Jasko Razic is the dynamic President and owner of True North Events, a company renowned for revolutionizing the DJ & Event services landscape on the East Coast. Born from a legacy established in 2013, True North Events, originally known as True North DJ Services, quickly became a cornerstone in the entertainment industry, renowned for its top-notch DJ services. Jasko's entrepreneurial s...