MEET THE PANELISTS

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Arun Chaturvedi

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Ask Us Anything: Mentor Edition 

Arun Chaturvedi is a Toronto-based producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. He has worked with a diverse roster of artists including Lamont Dozier, Felix Cavaliere, Luke McMaster and Jim Brickman and for record labels such as Sony, Universal, Green Hill, Killer Tracks and many more. In addition to winning Western Canadian Music Awards for Producer of The Year, Best R&B Recording, and Best Aboriginal Recording, Arun has multiple JUNO nominations as producer for artists Little Hawk and Desiree Dorion. The classically trained pianist is also an in-demand composer for film and television, whose credits include hit TV shows like Keeping Up With The Kardashians, General Hospital, PJ Masks, Pretty Little Liars, and many more. Arun currently serves as Treasurer of the Songwriter’s Association of Canada, and is a director of The SOCAN Foundation.

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Dale McArthur

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Masiniaha: A Discussion with Indigenous Songwriters

Dale McArthur (aka Dale Mac) is a songwriter/producer from the White Bear First Nations. He has first-hand life experience as an Indigenous artist of 20 years. Dale has spent time as a liaison and Indigenous voice on different boards, juries, and festival committees such as RSO Indigenous Advisory, Forward Currents Festival, BuffaloFest, Sask Culture Days, City of Regina’s National Peoples Day, and Sakewewak Storytellers Festival. Dale is a strong supporter of local music and local arts agencies such as art galleries, live venues, local festivals, and local radio stations. Dale’s own music career has produced a handful of albums, music education through Berklee College of Music, live performances in Nashville, at the Banff Arts Centre, and many festivals. The storytelling in his lyrics and driving music are both backed by his soulful and energetic guitars. Whether performing acoustic performances in intimate venues, amp-driven blues, or rock-based stage shows, Dale’s guitar writing is also the energy behind his range of songwriting. He has two releases under his belt and a third on the way that engages his language, culture, and more of his guitar-driven storytelling.  

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Dale continues to produce his own upcoming blues/rock/roots music and offers guidance to emerging Indigenous artists across Turtle Island by sharing his experiences and encouragement. 

 

Dale Peters

Sunday, January 23rd, 2022

Releasing to Radio

Dale Peters brings over 30 years of experience in the music business to projects. Confident. Creative. Authentic. Knowledgeable. Eccentric. Straight forward. Strong. Passionate. Not fully filtered. Genuine and honest. Dale is an original. From his start working in a record store to  doing promotions for RCA Canada and BMG, to launching Dale Speaking offering marketing and radio tracking in 2005. 

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Artist Highlights: Kermit the Frog, Aretha Franklin, Kenny G, Foo Fighters, Whitney Houston, Puff Daddy, Notorious B.I.G., Alan Jackson, Martina McBride, Jess Moskaluke, Don Amero, Mikhail Laxton, David James, Five Roses, Chad Brownlee, Tyler Joe Miller, NSYNC, Backstreet Boys, Christina Aguilar, Brittney Spears (bitch), Dave Matthews Band, Pink, Shawn Desmond, to name a few. "Kermit and Dave Matthews were my favourites."

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Danny Keir

Sunday, January 23rd, 2022

The Future of Live Music: UK Edition, Getting Outside Canada: Planning an Export Campaign

(Bio TBA)

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Donny Parenteau

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Masiniaha: A Discussion with Indigenous Songwriters

Donny Parenteau is a proud Metis country music artist born and raised in Prince Albert SK. Donny’s Saskatchewan Metis heritage goes all the way back to Louis Riel and the Northwest Rebellion 1885. Donny’s grandfather was a fiddle player who supported his family by playing dances and performances all around Prince Albert and area. Donny picked up the fiddle at age 14 and his musical journey began, becoming a multi-instrumentalist-singer songwriter and highly nominated independent act. Donny spent twelve years touring the world with Neal McCoy, recording on multi-platinum selling albums and playing numerous shows including The Grand Ole Opry andThe Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Since starting his solo career in 2003, Donny has garnered over one hundred nominations at eight major award shows, including three JUNO nominations.

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Donny received a 2019 nomination for Indigenous Artist of the Year with the Saskatchewan Music Awards and the 2020 Saskatchewan Country Music Award "Legends & Legacy." Since the pandemic, Donny has put his focus into songwriting and his Donny Parenteau School of Music, as well as his message of inspiration and “Bully Free Zone” tours at schools across Western Canada. Donny’s 2021 singles are "Snow White" with Kenny Shields (Streetheart), and "These Days", charting in the Indigenous Music Top 40 Countdown.

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Forrest Eaglespeaker

​Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Masiniaha: A Discussion with Indigenous Songwriters

Award-winning singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Forrest Eaglespeaker is no stranger to overcoming adversity. Defying the odds and paving his own path, Eaglespeaker has used music as a vehicle to break the cycle of addiction and trauma that he was born into and consumed by. "Music was the only thing I ever felt any good at, and it turns out there's more to me than that," Eaglespeaker says. "But no one ever bet on me, so I never bet on myself."

 

Finding true confidence and love for himself in sobriety, Eaglespeaker shares his melodic narratives in the musical duo The North Sound with his partner Nevada Freistadt. Loss, grief, addiction, despair and living in chaos are just a few of the themes found in Eaglespeaker's writing and performances. The message of hope and connection is at the core of Eaglespeaker's art, and he aims to share it with those who need it. "Music is a language we all speak," Eaglespeaker says. "Whether it's traditional or contemporary, or as a creator or listener, we all feel rhythm and melody. We all want to connect, and we all have a story."

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Joseph Naytowhow

Friday, January 21st and Sunday, 23rd, 2022

Opening Greeting and Closing Message

Joseph Naytowhowi s a gifted Plains/Woodland Cree (nehiyaw) singer/songwriter, storyteller, and voice, stage and film actor from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation Band in Saskatchewan. As a child, Joseph was influenced by his grandfather’s traditional and ceremonial chants as well as the sounds of the fiddle and guitar. Today he is renowned for his unique style of Cree/English storytelling, combined with original contemporary music and traditional First Nations drum and rattle songs.

 

An accomplished performer, Joseph is the recipient of the 2006 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award’s Keeper of the Tradition and the 2005 Commemorative Medal for the Saskatchewan Centennial. In 2009 Joseph also received a Gemini Award for Best Individual or Ensemble Performance in an Animated Program or Series for his role in Wapos Bay series. That same year he was also awarded Best Emerging Male Actor at the Winnipeg Aboriginal Film Festival for his role in Run: Broken Yet Brave and won Best Traditional Male Dancer at John Arcand’s Fiddlefest in Saskatchewan. Recently, Joseph was awarded the Saskatchewan Arts Board’s Arts and Learning Award for his far-reaching work with many organizations, students and artists. He has performed for the Prince of Wales, the Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan and many other notables. His demanding schedule continues to take him to conferences, symposia, festivals and art/research projects both nationally and internationally.

 

Fifteen years of study with a Buddhist master, combined with his nêhiyaw/Cree traditional knowledge and experience as an interdisciplinary artist has nurtured Joseph’s generosity and compassion for sharing cultural knowledge. A much sought-after speaker, counselor, and educator for youth and adults alike, Joseph frequently enjoys opportunities to work as a resident artist and outdoor educator. From 1995 to 2000 he served as the Storyteller-In-Residence for Meadow Lake Tribal Council. More recently Joseph served as Emerging Elder with the Indian Teacher Education Program in Saskatoon, Emerging Elder/Artistic Advisor with Living Sky School Division, and regularly serves as advisor/knowledge keeper with various universities across turtle island.

Joseph holds a Bachelor of Education degree from the University of Saskatchewan. As an innovative artist, mentor, and committed arts educator, he fully embraces his own lifelong learning curve.

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Kate Matthews

​Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Ask Us Anything: Mentor Edition

Kate began her career in 2006 while finishing her Marketing degree at the U of S. Soon after convocation, she focused on artist management along with marketing and publicity for musicians. A few years into her career in the music business, Kate was offereda coveted fashion internship at ELLE magazine. While at the magazine, she worked on photo shoots, pitched story and page ideas, wrote articles and interviewed celebrities, and learned the ropes of working at a major fashion magazine. After working at ELLE, Kate developed her niche as a wardrobe stylist and brand consultant, allowing her to combine her love of fashion, music and marketing. She has since been nominated for a Western Canadian Music Award and her placement and client list includes Warner MusicCanada, Live Nation, Canadian Country Music Association, ELLE magazine, Globe & Mail, National Post, Food Network, CityTV, CTV and more. No matter the project, Kate’s goal is to help others create and convey their unique, authentic brand and to help them consistently communicate that brand.

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Lindsay Knight

​Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Masiniaha: A Discussion with Indigenous Songwriters

Lindsay "Eekwol" Knight (she/her) is a nehiyaw (Cree) award-winning hip hop performing artist and activist living in Saskatoon and originally from Muskoday First Nation in Treaty Six Territory. She has dedicated years to the culture and craft of hip hop to create something unique and astounding to share with the community. Eekwol uses her music and words to spread messages of resistance, revolution and keeping the language, land and culture alive for the next generations. Through her original sound, she displays her activist roots by living and creating as a supporter of both hip hop and Indigenous culture and rights. Throughout her career, she has performed all over Turtle Island and released seven solo albums with countless collaborations. In 2019 she worked with fellow lyricist, T-Rhyme on a project titled For Women By Women, which was funded by the Canada Council for the Arts. Eewkol has a new album in the works, to be released in 2022. 

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Lindsay "Eekwol" Knight is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Saskatchewan in which her research is focused on gender and Indigenous music. Along with mothering, music, and academic work, she frequently works with young people across the country as a mentor and helper. She achieves this through performances, workshops, speaking events, conferences, and programs.

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Lorena Kelly

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Artists & Songwriters Royalties Primer

Lorena has worked in various roles at SaskMusic, gathering experience in a variety of things from programming lineups and coordinating large-scale conferences and events, to running juries, licensing initiatives, advertising campaigns, economic studies and more, in addition to participating on numerous boards, juries, and committees. She currently oversees association communications & marketing and office operations. Lorena grew up studying classical piano, then keyboards at Professional Musicians’ College, going on to tour Canada, the U.S. and internationally as a freelance keyboard player/vocalist supporting dozens of Canadian and U.S. artists. She's also released albums as a singer/songwriter in pop, folk and country, and freelanced in the areas of artist support services, advertising, graphic and web design. She was recently focused on a labour of love digitizing a hundred songs by a dear friend who passed away, and looks forward to returning to performing, releasing and teaching this year.

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Marvin Chan

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Ask Us Anything: Mentor Edition

Marvin Tontiwachwuthikul Chan, better known by his stage alter-ego Merv xx Gotti, is the singer of WCMA-nominated Canadian hip-hop/R&B duo Samurai Champs, and has toured internationally, performing in festivals such as SXSW, NXNE, The Great Escape, and Reeperbahn. Marvin is also the Artistic Director of SK-based arts & cultural festival and artist collective, Trifecta, through which he has facilitated events such as: Trifecta Music Festival, Trifecta Block Party, and Trifecta Concert Series. He also coordinates Trifecta Artist Collective, facilitating creative career development for artists such as LOA, VBRTR, and Tefrondon.

 

Marvin currently holds a BASc in Software Systems Engineering, and is completing his Master’s in Interdisciplinary Studies, focusing on the cross-section between software engineering and creative technologies. His thesis, The Application of Agile Software Development Methodologies towards Trifecta and the Independent Arts, was discussed in the VICE Noisey article, Meet the Student Using His Master’s Thesis to Unite His Local Music Scene. He continues his work in developing Trifecta and “The New Sound of the Prairies”

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Melissa MacMaster

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Ask Us Anything: Mentor Edition

Melissa MacMaster has gained valuable business management experience from her previous roles working in Atlantic Canada’s entrepreneurial eco-system and start-up community for over seven years where youth entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, and also co-founding the Global Youth Innovation Network in Benin, West Africa. Transferring her high calibre business skillset to the music industry, Melissa successfully launched 902Hiphop, operating as an artist management and music licensing and sync company.

 

Vanessa Cito

Saturday, January 22nd, 2022

Social Media + Music

Vanessa develops customized social marketing plans and strategies for musicians and brands across multiple online platforms. With over 15 years of experience in the music business, Vanessa built her career in hospitality, branding, and social media, starting her career working for festivals like NXNE, CMW, and Indie Week, which took her to Ireland to produce the European side of the Indie Week festival during the 2013 season. She joined The Marketing Store team in 2010 working with clients such as Nissan, Infiniti, and McDonald's on branding, CRM, and localized opportunities for growth.

 

In addition to her work in Marketing, Vanessa co-founded both show promotion collectives Big Things Productions and People Put Out Productions (2012-2016). She also acted as the booker at The Rivoli in Toronto 2012-2014. Vanessa joined the Coalition Music management team in 2013 to create, curate content for, provide educational tools, and report on digital marketing strategies for Coalition Music’s roster of artists as well as their TEMPO Charity and Canada’s Music Incubator.

 

Noticing a void in assistance for independent artists, Vanessa stepped down in her position of five years in music management as head of Digital Strategy for Coalition Music to start her new Digital Services Agency, Reach, in 2018. Vanessa has represented digital and marketing for many notable organizations such as Anthem Entertainment (formerly Ole) on their rebrand, feminist festival Venus Fest’s second year, New Constellations Indigenous New Wave tour, Sound of Music Festival, LA Times at TIFF, Animal Crossing, Oglivy, WWF Canada, Notifi, Megan Nash, Iskwe, Brooklyn Doran, Digging Roots, Kaiya Gamble, Mariya Stokes, and more. She is currently the Community Management Social Media Lead for Shoppers Drug Mart across Canada.