This week's episode was actually recorded a few weeks back with the wonderful Javier Vilalta!
Javi was so great giving me some insight into his directing of the recently sold out show, “The House of Bernarda Alba,” that wrapped up October.1st at Sage Theatre. It was Javi’s second time directing this play, but this time with an all 2SLGBTQIA cast. We talked about the relevance of the play (originally written in 1936) to today's current climate and how it is still a lightning rod for communities that feel oppressed and stigmatised.
We also get to hear about Javi’s experience being born and raised in Mexico City to now living in Calgary. And when Javi isn’t directing or working on creative projects, he also loves to travel, to not only see the world, but to have a deeper understanding of the different cultures and communities around us.

IG: @javivilalta
@8rojo_
Twitter: @javivilalta
@8rojo
www.8rojo.com

Bio:
Javier is a Mexican-Canadian visual performance creator, stage director, movement coach, and translator. He resides in Calgary, where he attended the University of Calgary’s Fine Arts department. As a stage director, he has collaborated with companies such as Theatre Calgary (Gross Indecency), Sage Theatre (Scorched), Downstage (Lighting the Way), Lunchbox Theatre (Stage One and Two), The Shakespeare Company (Bard in the Yard), StoryBook (The Smartest Girl in the World), and Arts Commons (Mei-Mei’s Dream).

In 2005 he co-founded, along with Black artist Norma Lewis, the visual performance ensemble 8ROJO. With this group, he has devised five interdisciplinary creations; with which he has travelled around Canada and as far afield as Mexico, Czech Republic, Sweden, France, Taiwan and UK. With 8ROJO, he was awarded the ‘Innovation in Performance’ award at the 2016 STOFF Festival in Stockholm, Sweden; and he was a finalist for a 2021 Off West End Award in London, UK for Outstanding Production.

He has translated the texts ‘100 Love Poems and a Song of Despair’ by Pablo Neruda and Federico García Lorca’s ‘Rural Trilogy’. He translated and adapted the Mexican modern opera Anjou: The Musical Horror Tale for Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Since 2010, he has assessed and developed educational sessions based on body mechanics, movement for the stage and visuals in motion; which he has shared with artists around the world

On this week's episode, I was lucky enough to chat with the lovely and talented, Perpie Atife who was one of this year's recipients of the  Alberta Lieutenant Governors Emerging Artists award!
Perpie shares her journey of musicianship and how she found herself falling in love with playing the saxophone, almost by a twist of fate! Originally from Nigeria, now living in Calgary, Perpie talks about how she grew up listening to everything from Dolly Parton to Don Williams to the rich afrobeat music of her surroundings and childhood. Perpie also tells us what it’s like to work in the music industry not only as a woman, but a mother as well.
From her performance at Studio Bell to this year's Calgary Stampede grandstand show and her upcoming album, “Ije” coming out this fall, Perpie has had a very exciting and busy past couple months!

Instagram:
@perpiesoul
Twitter:
@perpiesoul
Apple Music:
https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fmusic.apple.com%2Fca%2Fartist%2Fperpie%2F1169857627&data=05%7C01%7C%7Cd245cb70dd32400f337a08da89c30ae3%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637973768034973571%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=dbNE%2BzryXdgEgj0dwmN9fxmUKiObpUP4xsIz7V0bFGg%3D&reserved=0
Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/6OOC7piTwf1xSTRBQwsEzH?si=8G7Rp9FSQHK7sR_cq-homg

Perpie Bio:
Recipient of the 2021 CCIS New Canadian Artist Award (NCAA), Perpie is an active recording and performing saxophonist, songwriter, arts manager and event curator. Headline artist at the Canadian Jazz Festival, TDJazzYYC Fest, MUSON Festival and the National Music Centre’s Bell Live Series at the King Eddy, her music draws inspiration from scores of influences including African folk music, traditional musical practices, gospel, country, smooth jazz and soft rock. She is known for her rich and lyrical tone on the saxophone.

I’m pumped for you all to hear this new episode with Canadian country singer,Shawn Austin!

We had an awesome conversation about Shawn’s new EP, Planes Don’t Wait! Shawn is also fresh off his tour with Dallas Smith and chats about his excitement for  all the festivals he will be performing at this summer,across Canada!

We also get a chance to find out what shows Shawn is bingeing these days, and what the least country thing about him is!

Instagram:
@shawnaustinmusic

Tik Tok:
@shawnaustinmusic

Twitter:
@theshawnaustin

Bio:
With over 23 million collective streams to date, Vancouver singer-songwriter Shawn Austin has worked tirelessly to cement his place in the Canadian country music landscape. Nominated for CCMA “Rising Star” Award (2021 + 2019), Austin was a season two finalist on NBC’s Songland, pitching Florida Georgia Line as a contestant. In 2021, Austin launched a new chapter of his career, signing a global label deal with Local Hay / Big Loud Records, and released hits like top five hit “Tailgate To Heaven” feat. Chris Lane, “Planes Don’t Wait,” and newest single to Canadian country radio, “Get You.”