Nomadic Sound Series is a fresh and innovative concert series presenting an electric line up of sometimes inaccessible forms of new music in popular genres influenced by the sounds and cultures of the world. Along with musical experience, the Nomadic Sound Series will transport the audience to brighter, sunnier, and more creative states of mind where cross cultural intersections are as important as the party. The inaugural event is set to take place in March 2021. Founder Michael Owen answered some questions about the event.
Michael Owen
What inspired you to create the Nomadic Sound Series?
As a concert goer, I saw a gap in contemporary music that wasn’t being served. Toronto has a rich festival scene, but lineups can be confined by genre or limited by the audiences they go after. Our city is unique, people come here from everywhere bringing with them their own cultural touch points, references, and culture. When those perspectives merge with the lived North American experience, they are making music that can only be made here. It’s that idea of culturally complex Canadian music that we want to highlight and elevate.
I’ve witnessed how the music scenes in New York and Paris are embracing broader cultural references and sounds, where language is less of a barrier for entry to enjoy a piece of art or music. Toronto has the potential to do the same, with access to all points of the world. Nomadic Sound Series will serve those communities directly by making these experiences and perspectives more accessible to a broader audience.
Nomadic Sound Series wants to highlight bands like Delhi 2 Dublin and Lemon Bucket Orkestra who are really securing their place as Canadian leaders in that hybrid-music space, as well as create the opportunity to discover and develop other artists around the world who are exploring cultural influences in their music.
This is an inaugural event. What are your goals for the event?
Well of course we hope to be able to kick off with a physical event, but even if it’s not in person the goal is that we are making space for these types of events, and starting to build connections within our community.
The series is produced in partnership with Made With Pencil Crayons and Trade Routes. Can you tell me more about your creative partners?
Made With Pencil Crayons is an entertainment agency that I founded here in Toronto. We represent artists in Canada and worldwide and specialize in producing events and experiences with an international focus.
Trade Routes is a not-for-profit that we launched in early July, which will focus on creating touring opportunities and infrastructure for musicians. Nomadic Sound Series is the first of Trade Routes’ initiatives, with the organization overseeing the jury selection and creative direction for the festival.
Where is the series going to be held and do you have contingency plans in the event that public health guidelines still require us to practice distancing measures in early 2021?
Due to the circumstances we can’t announce a venue just yet, but Nomadic Sound Series is meant to be a unique and intimate experience that showcases cultural perspectives, and that core value will be reflected in our space. For now we’re moving forward optimistically that it will be possible for us to physically come together in some way next spring, although our community’s best interests are first at heart so we’re operating with a few alternative plans in mind on how we will present these acts in the new year.
One of the greatest learnings we can take away from 2020 is that to make it in the music industry, you have to be willing to adapt and work together for the benefit of the community. The important thing for us in the announcement of the series was to reassure the music community in Toronto that there will continue to be opportunities and infrastructure to support them, and that we’re committed to investing in the recovery of our scene.
What makes this event different from other contemporary music events?
We are accessing the contemporary cultural wealth that only Toronto has, and appealing to an audience that has historically been under served. We can see there is a literal appetite for the expression of the intersection of cultures, in the way Toronto supports fusion food in the culinary scene, and that’s the same spirit we’re tapping into from a musical perspective.
How will artists be selected?
The artists will be selected by a jury made up of diverse representatives from the contemporary music community. The jury will be looking for artists who are tapping into those cultural references for inspiration and experimenting across genres.
What is your timeline?
We will be accepting artist applications until Sep 30. Once we’ve completed our jury process, selected artists will be contacted in mid-fall and we’ll prepare to announce in early 2021.
Interview by Glodeane Brown
All photos provided by Nomadic Sound Series
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