Ebonnie Rowe

After hearing her radio show special on DJX’s The Power Move show about women in hip-hop, the editors of Mic Check magazine gave Rowe the opportunity to produce an edition celebrating female artists, which spawned a launch party called Honey Jam. Originally intended to be a one-night-only affair, the first Honey Jam was so successful that it pushed Rowe to keep it going. That was almost 29 years ago, making Honey Jam one of the pioneers of female artist empowerment in Canadian music history, with legendary alumni including Nelly Furtado, Melanie Fiona, Jully Black, Haviah Mighty and LU KALA. RANGE caught up with the founder and powerhouse to discuss the why behind Honey Jam and their upcoming annual concert on Aug. 29 at Toronto’s TD Music Hall. 

Before the internet took over, there were no websites or viral videos to advertise Honey Jam and Rowe resorted to everything from homemade flyers to sharing her personal number on live TV. This lack of information also affected new artists, because they couldn’t verify information, especially as the industry began to take interest. “These were very young girls and…they really don’t know anything and someone could be like ‘Oh baby, I’ll make you a star, just sign here,’ and they might just go ahead and do that. Who is there to protect them?” Thus, the core of Honey Jam’s mission was refined to be not only a means to showcase artist talents, but also to educate them as they navigated the ever-changing music industry. 

This is how Honey Jam works: After a live audition for young female artists of all genres and styles across the country, 15 of them are chosen to take part in the Annual Honey Jam concert and the artist development programme. Then the artists are put through rehearsals and vocal and performance coaching – but that’s not even the half of it! In and out of the annual showcase, artists are given opportunities to learn from and network with veteran artists and important industry players through regular workshops and excursions. There, they learn useful skills about publishing music, securing funding, media relations and more. “It’s a forever thing,” says Rowe. It was also important to not have the showcase feel like a competition, in order to foster community among the girls. It’s something that Rowe says has been easy to build. “They just gravitate to one another and you see them exchanging contacts and congratulating each other as they come off the stage. It’s a beautiful thing,” she says. 

At the Honey Jam song camp with producer rxcch. (Photo: Suzisnaps)

This year marks the 29th edition of the showcase and there’s a lot to be experienced! In addition to performances by this year’s selected artists, the concert will feature two tribute performances by alumni, one honouring Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album and another featuring 2022 alum Leah Holtam celebrating the 30th anniversary of Sarah McLachlan’s debut album and her upcoming induction into the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame. The decision for a Beyoncé tribute was a no-brainer: “What she did with Cowboy Carter is unprecedented, is magnificent, the magnitude of it, the barriers that she broke, the intentionality with which she put the entire project together, and the way that she lifts as she rises,” Rowe says. Sarah McLachlan’s work to break barriers in the industry through initiatives like the Lilith Fair, the all female tour and festival she began in the late 90s, is one of the big reasons Honey Jam has chosen to honour her as well. Rowe and the Honey Jam team hope that all attendees have an “impactful and beautiful musical experience.”

With the way the music industry churns and burns out artists these days, it’s refreshing to see the fierce and genuine support Rowe and the Honey Jam team have given and continue to give Canadian female artists. Rowe’s advice to new artists is surprisingly simple, despite her years of experience: “Love yourself enough to know you deserve the best, no matter what anyone else says.”

Honey Jam’s annual concert is taking place on Thursday Aug. 29 at Toronto’s TD Music Hall | TICKETS & INFO