Shoba

Winners of Toronto Independent Music Awards receive a series of industry-connected prizes ranging from graphic design services, to artist management. This year's winner for the Best Urban category.

Her name is Shobha, and her cool blend of husky vocals, pop melodies, and urban back tracks, makes her a fun and contemporary example of music fusion. Here’s what the friendly and humble Halifax native had to say about her career and how she got to it.

I've been dabbling in music since I was little. I guess my involvement with the industry began as more and more opportunities would present themselves. I never really thought I would be doing this professionally until all of a sudden I was doing it professionally! For example, I would get invited to play different events, and one day the opportunity to record my original material came up. I kind of just went with the flow and learned what I had to learn as I went.

I remember Googling venues in Toronto, trying to book shows and reaching out to other artists to share bills. I definitely put my time in! It didn't take long though. After about a year I managed to meet the right people and become pretty well connected in the Toronto music scene.

I want my music to make people dance, cry, think and relate. I really want people to get what I'm saying. My favorite artists, they've all influenced me in the same way. For example John Mayer is just a phenomenal songwriter.

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Kardinal Offishall

In the last two years the music industry has seen the dramatic growth of MCA recording artist Kardinal Offishall. His 2001 release "Firestarter Vol.1: Quest for Fire" showcased Kardinal’s unique writing and production skills.

Quest for Fire introduced the world to the T dot (Toronto) sound, which included a collaboration with Epic recording artist, and fellow Toronto native, Glenn Lewis. The strategy of the project was for MCA to license and then release some older Kardinal material to use as a tool to familiarize consumers with the name Kardinal Offishall.

What MCA received was an overwhelming response from radio and club DJs wanting to know more about this artist and his music. There was also immediate evidence of the establishment of a significant fan base. There was so much interest in Kardinal in fact, MCA decided to release two videos in support of the two hit singles. The first single, "Bakardi Slang" depicted life in T dot and was an instant hit in Toronto. Bakardi Slang also became an international hit, as Kardinal witnessed while touring the U.S. and Europe. The impact of "Bakardi Slang" became fully evident when superstar reggae artist Bounty Killer (No Doubt, Swizz Beats ) approached Kardinal

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Trish

Trish is the epitome of a triple threat, earning the right to reach for the sky and fly with the stars. Perhaps it’s the relentless depth of her passion or the intoxicating quality of her voice, but the dance-driven, electro-pop infused entertainer has an undeniable star power. Earning the coveted title as the “next big thing”, her music intertwines the elements of electrifying R&B and captivating funk with an edgy hip-hop feel.


Born on a leap year into a family of musicians, the stunning beauty was taught the value of arts at a young age. Her father is a guitarist who has shared the stage with icons such as Peter Tosh and the late Bob Marley. Trish was constantly surrounded by a creative outlet that enforced singing and performing as a form of self-expression. Even before graduating high-school, she had developed an impressive resume as a runway model.

“Can you imagine if all singers sounded and performed alike?” Trish says of her project. “My musical taste is so diverse, that definitely comes across in what I release.” With a voice to match her charismatic spirit, Trish has a tone that catches the attention of the audience and with a four-octave range so rare, industry professionals have begun to take note.

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Elias Manuel

Elias Manuel is a young urban artist, a strong leader and an entertainer who is all about his fans. As everyday passes more and more people are hearing his hit single “Day I Die” which is finding its way onto several radio stations. Conscious of and up to date with what matters to people, Elias is prime example of a flourishing modern day artist.

Watching Elias Manuel develop plans for his next music video on an outdoor patio of a cafe, one couldn’t help but listen into the conversation of the r&b, pop and hip hop musician. He remained collected yet enthusiastic the entire time as his team threw ideas out and bounced them off of each other. He is in charge of everything he’s doing, and although Elias had labelled his previous work as underground, he is certain that this second one will be a mainstream hit. With such a grounded personality and dedicated work ethic, the name Elias Manuel and his latest album “Risking It All” are quickly becoming known and loved.

Born and raised in London Ontario, Elias’s passion for music blossomed at age thirteen. Michael Jackson and Boys 2 Men have both influenced Elias from a young age. Just this April Elias has graduated from Fanshawe College with a degree in Graphic Design, so not only is he a talented singer, but he makes a mean website.

Many of the songs off of “Risking It All” can be heard on Elias’s MySpace page, myspace.com/hit9entelias. His entire original album is free and he has even made it possible for anyone to use and mix his music without charge. There is also a deluxe album that can be purchased from his personal website, eliasmusic.ca. Buying this edition will get you three extra songs, all ring-tones, all instrumentals and lyrics as an instantly downloadable package.

From MySpace, Elias has made it possible to connect to his own website, where fans will be blown away by the work Elias has put into it. The site demonstrates how serious he is about being a top artist, a business man and mostly how important staying connected to his fans is for Elias.


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Nirvana Savoury

"Beauty, brains and talent, I'm a problem! And once the industry realizes, they’ll be in a lot of trouble." She laughs... Never intimidated by what is said to be impossible, Nirvana Savoury has no limits on what can be done. Whether it's facing the challenges of motherhood, performing on stages across the country, and simultaneously launching a brand. Her experiences have molded and shaped her to move in an iconic direction.



Born into a family of entertainers, Nirvana and her older brother Imperial from POINT BLANK strive to make Canada their stomping ground.

In 2002 Nirvana launched her professional career in Canada with the female trio X-Quisite, where she garnered such accolades as: #1 Most Played Female Group and Urban Group in All Formats, CHR, and most played group A/C Radio. The group received nominations as Best New Artist at the 2002 Urban Music Awards of Canada and Best New Artist (CHR) at the 2002 Canadian Radio Awards

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Erik Flowchild to release new album next year

If he wasn't in the music business, he would be trying to get into it. Erik Flowchild, ripe with talent and generating a loud buzz because of it, is sending music lovers a wonderful gift. His new mix tape "The Delivery Boy", which should be complete in early 2009, is a collection of music that reflects a "more fine tuned" artist who has learned from his experiences and used them to compose his best work yet.

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Daniel Daley

“Girlfriend” is Daniel’s most popular song right now. It begins with an intricate beat and goes on to reveal the variety of octaves Daniel can comfortably sing in. The song delivers a sound that is nothing less than professional. It is not a slow jam, but a mixture of the three genres Daniel works in. To personally sample more of his music, check out Youtube, Imeem, or visit his MySpace page at www.myspace.com/danieldaley . Also, don’t forget to look for “Wanna be Loved,” the latest track, soon to be released by the artist.

Ultimately, Daniel’s goal is to be the first Canadian pop/r&b act to perform on the same level as the top singers of today. As for now, Daniel is trying to open up as many doors as possible while continuing to make music that provides people with a feeling of satisfaction yet causes them to yearn for more.

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