In 2020 he released his sophomore album, Studio Monk, which brought him national recognition. It was shortlisted for the Polaris Prize, awarded annually for the best full-length Canadian album based on artistic merit. He’s carved out a unique space for himself producing for anyone from Little Simz to DillanPonders. When he’s not doing his own shows, he’s Jessie Reyes’s tour DJ. 

In conversation with RANGE, he shares his experiences, reflecting on his musical journey, his personal growth, and giving us an update from his world.

You were a part of Toronto Jazz Fest this year, and it was an incredible set; you opened for Yussef Dayes. What was that experience like for you?

The experience of opening for Yussef Dayes was a wild one. He’s a drummer, my father’s a drummer. To see a drummer be highlighted as a lead artist is something that hasn’t been done in a long time, and it’s a beautiful thing to experience and to be a part of. I’m a big fan of just supporting musicians in the art space. So it’s nice to see a musician winning and to be a part of the celebration like that.

Why do you think Toronto Jazz Fest is important for the City of Toronto?

It’s a place where other musicians get to meet each other and get to see people having fun with their craft, and I think it’s important that we are aware of who else is in our city because collaborations are important.

What can you tell us about your upcoming project with Tea Fannie?

Oh, Tea Fannie is one of my favourite people. She’s the most improved artist I’ve seen evolve. You know, [from] when I first met her, five, six years ago, and to watch how dedicated she is with this craft and how much she’s grown. It’s been a beautiful process making music with her.

What do you remember about that time in 2014 when you were thinking about quitting music?

I was just not looking at life through the right lens. I was letting the hardships win, you know, but it was nice to have people that helped me see my experience and my circumstances in a new way. I was able to just make different types of choices, and that’s what brought me here. So I’m thankful for that. It was the first time I decided to do art full-time, and I was just becoming a father. So it kind of felt like a lot of challenges were stacked up on me, but with the support, I was able to think outside the box to make things work and be thankful for those people that held me down.

Who are the people in your life that make you feel the most like yourself?

My daughter makes me feel the most like myself. Family in general.

What was the last book that you read?

The last book that I read was the Quadrivium, which is a book about math and numbers in a variety of ways, which is based on the Mystery Schools of Pythagoras. That’s what I’m on.

What would you tell your younger self if you had a chance to give them a message? 

If I could tell my younger self something, it would be “You’re doing great, you’re doing great.” I was stressing out. I didn’t realize that I was on my way.

What title would you give this chapter of your life?

The Atma Weapon is what I would title this chapter of my life. For people who don’t play RPGs or Final Fantasy, there’s a powerful sword called the Atma weapon, and it looks like a little simple sword. But when you use this sword over and over and over throughout the game, it becomes the most powerful sword. So I feel like I’ve made the chapter of my life while I’ve been refining the skill. And now I’ve entered truly being able to use my skill. That’s why I’m the Atma weapon now.

What’s a motivational quote that you remind yourself of?

Whenever I’m feeling in a funk, or things are going slow, I just remind myself that everything doesn’t happen in a day. My homie Element told me this and it stuck with me. He always told me that everything we want is a result of compound choices. So it’s the reminder that you’ve got to let your decisions stack, you’ve gotta let your todays and your now stack. So if I’m feeling that I’m at a lack, it’s like, okay, that moment is not supposed to be the now, but I have the power to do something now to bring it closer to that.