Photo by SOCAN. Left to right/De gauche à droite : Hagler, Aidan D’Aoust.

“Cooking Beats” with Hagler highlights IMSTA FESTA 2019

Story by Howard Druckman with files from/avec la collaboration d'Olivia Cummings et Aidan D’Aoust. | Tuesday October 15th, 2019

SOCAN presented a “Cooking Beats” panel with multi-platinum artist/beat-maker/producer Hagler at the SOCAN-sponsored 2019 edition of IMSTA FESTA, a free, one-day music tech conference held in the Rogers Communications building at Ryerson University on Saturday, Oct. 12, 2019.

Hagler landed his first major beat placement on Drake’s third studio album Nothing Was The Same. In addition to his work with Drake, Hagler has racked up credits for work with artists such as Chris Brown, A$AP Ferg, Teyana Taylor, Ty Dolla $ign, Vince Staples, and many more.

Young beat-makers, producers, artists, and industry personnel packed the room for the panel, moderated by SOCAN A&R Representative Aidan D’Aoust. The star producer focused on his authentic approach to beat-making. He doesn’t follow rules or strategies, and instead writes using his own emotions as inspiration. Re-submitting his beats to producers, and simplifying his beat-making process, were recurring topics of discussion during the session. He broke down tracks like Drake’s “Trophies,” and demonstrated some of his techniques for the audience.

SOCAN members attending the workshop included 2019 Polaris Music Prize winner Haviah Mighty, as well as Vivian Barclay, a member of SOCAN’s Board of Directors, and General Manager of Warner Chappell Music Canada Ltd. Attending on behalf of SOCAN, in addition to Aidan D’Aoust, were Olivia Cummings, and Saba Seyedi.

There were also various other panels, booths, demonstrations, and master classes available to all attendees at IMSTA FESTA 2019.

Photo by Marie-Michèle Bouchard

Yvon Deschamps Interview: “Aimons-nous” inducted into Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame

Story by Eric Parazelli | Wednesday October 16th, 2019

The Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame has inducted the song “Aimons-nous,” written by Yvon Deschamps and the late Jacques Perron, on Oct. 15, 2019, in Montréal. It took place during the inauguration of the Palestre Nationale pavilion of the Association sportive et communautaire du Centre-Sud, which is supported in part by Yvon Deschamps’ foundation. SOCAN interviewed him, and he told us about how this landmark song – a hymn to love that has withstood the test of time – came to be.

Apply now for Ma Première Place des Arts

Story by Marie-Michèle Bouchard | Thursday October 10th, 2019

Fanny Bloom

Fanny Bloom (Photo: L.M. Chabot)

Artists and bands are invited to apply now to the 2019 edition of the can apply now to the Ma Première Place des Arts competition, before the deadline of Nov. 1, 2019.

Ma Première Place des Arts allows the contestants to get personalized mentorship, and to perform during a televised event held in the Salle Claude-Léveillée of Place des Arts. They also receive comments on their work, benefit from promotional visibility, and participate in workshops alongside industry professional. Not to mention networking opportunities with established artists and other industry players, all while having a chance to win several grants and other prizes aimed to help launch their career.

For 26 years now, the Société pour l’avancement de la chanson d’expression française (SACEF) has championed up-and-coming musical talent in the competition. This year, SACEF has asked Fanny Bloom to create the song the contestants must sing for the Hydro-Québec la chanson à chanter 2020 prize.

For more details about the contest, and the work of SACEF, visit the Ma Première Place des Arts website.