Tell Me Your Story

“You can take the girl out of Canada...”

by Jennifer Charlebois

It is a warm and sunny afternoon when I meet Montreal native Rachelle Lefevre in the courtyard garden of Old Montreal hotel Le Saint-Sulpice amidst a bevy of well-dressed patrons who crane their necks to get a glimpse of this fiery-haired mystery woman.

Chatty, warm, and full of contagious enthusiasm, Lefevre is so self-deprecating and down-to-earth; it’s easy to forget exactly why we are here. She laughs when we notice the hushed whispers and curious glances from our fellow diners. It’s clear that Lefevre still enjoys her relative anonymity. “They’re like, ‘Who is that?’, and then they can’t figure it out....its kind of funny, but I really kind of like it” she says as her blue eyes light up excitedly.

However, Lefevre is not necessarily new to the scene. Named in 2004 as one of Playback Magazine’s 10 to Watch - a profile on “Canada's hottest up-and-coming directors, actors and writers”- Lefevre’s official acting career began with a breakthrough role on Big Wolf on Campus, and her successes have escalated from there. She has a diverse list of television and film credits to her name, including roles on CSI:NY, How I Met Your Mother, What About Brian?, Boston Legal and Bones, to name a few. In addition, Lefevre most recently appeared in the big-screen adaptation of Fugitive Pieces, as well as in indie Canadian hits such as Prom Wars and Hatley High.

How did she get here? It was always a long-term goal for Lefevre who, from a young age, was involved in children’s theatre, and enjoyed attending performances at Montreal’s Place des Arts. In addition, she pursued a theatre program in high school, and attended several acting workshops with her mentor Jacqueline McClintock. The story, as it goes, is that while studying creative arts at Dawson College, she picked up a waitressing position at Montreal sushi restaurant Kaizen. One night Lefevre was approached by a client who overheard her discussing her career aspirations with a co-worker. “I remember where I was standing when someone came up to me and said ‘I heard you wanted to be an actress, I know a casting director, I think maybe I could help you’” she recalls, “and that moment changed my life”

Lefevre managed to juggle her burgeoning acting career while finishing her literature and education degree at McGill and finally made the decision to move to Los Angeles in 2004. “It was a huge shift, and actually for the first year I cried everyday” she says, remembering “I was so isolated”. Coming from Montreal, she explains, while trying to get to know the city, “…my mistake was that I was looking for ‘a’ vibe”, but in reality, LA was such vast expanse Lefevre soon learned that each neighbourhood was like a city in itself. “The best way I heard Los Angeles described is, ‘it’s not a city, it’s a lifestyle’” she explains, “Once I had a notion of that, then it just opened up”.

So how does she manage stay so grounded and unaffected amidst the LA scenesters? Lefevre maintains a group of loyal and supportive friends that she has had since they days of elementary and high school. “They’re pretty good at saying things to me like, ‘Oh Rach, I loved the magazine, it looked really great! And, you’re still a loser just so you know’” she says jokingly. On a more serious note she asserts, “I definitely have to work as hard as possible to hold onto them my whole life”.

The atmosphere is so relaxed on this lazy summer afternoon, I feel as though I could order a round of drinks and spend all day sipping cosmos and chatting with Lefevre. However, we have much to talk about, including her newest project – highly anticipated feature film Twilight – adapted from Stephanie Meyer’s best selling young adult vampire novel of the same name.

Twilight tells the story of 17-year-old Bella Swan - the new kid in school - and her mysterious, pale-skinned classmate Edward Cullen. Edward, we soon learn, is a 90-year-old trapped in the un-dead body of a 17-year-old, however his story is unique to the vampires we are familiar with. Although he still feels the urge to feast on human blood, he and his family have made an alternative lifestyle choice to exist on the blood of animals only.

Like a pair of star-crossed lovers, mortal and immortal, Bella and Edward fall deeply and madly in love.

This modern fantasy is reincarnated on the big screen by director Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen, Lords of Dogtown), someone Lefevre says was on her “wish list of directors”. The novel has already received critical acclaim, and Meyer’s Twilight Saga has been #1 on the New York Times best seller list for young adults for 49 weeks - and counting. Meyer’s series has become a cultural phenomenon, and contemplation and discussion about Hardwicke’s film adaptation has caused near hysteria in the online world

Lefevre plays the role of Victoria, the hungry female member of a vengeful blood-sucking vampire trio. Victoria, I discerned, represents one person’s idea of what might happen if we were totally ruled by our ID. She is “menacing chaos”, completely ruled by instinct, impulse and raw urges. Lefevre describes Victoria as a manifestation of what Lord Action was referring to when he said “Absolute power corrupts absolutely” and the notion that with no set of moral consequences “there is a chance for humanity to disappear, and for something really, really ugly to take over – and it was REALLY, really fun to access” Lefevre says with a mischievous smile.

To prepare for the role, she practiced catlike behaviours in the comfort of her own apartment, “I’m not even joking, I went straight to YouTube and I watched lion attacks” she says somewhat sheepishly, “Lion attacks and cat...movements”

What’s next for Lefevre? She is happy to announce her role as the Prime Minister’s daughter on CBC’s The Summit, a television series due out this fall. But in the meantime, she is catching up on a bit of reading this summer, namely Susanna Sonnenberg’s heavy memoir Her Last Death and discovering the poetry of A.E. Housman. In addition, “I’m obsessed with So You Think You Can Dance” she says “That’s my summer guilty pleasure”. How about right here in Montreal? On Lefevre’s to-do list is grabbing a coffee and taking a casual stroll up and down St. Denis and St. Laurent to check out her favourite boutiques, as well as enjoying a meal at Vieux Montreal hotspot Garde Manger, “The food is incredible! Plus they have deep-fried Mars bars, and I am a sugar junky.”

As we wrap up the interview, I ask Lefevre if she has any career or life advice to offer. Her answer? Good things come to those who wait. “I think any career should be approached with the same general approach that you apply to happiness and life, whatever works for you. Mine is, don’t wish for it to happen too fast” she explains, reflecting on the tendency in modern society towards instant gratification, and to wanting “to achieve it all”. “I think” she posits, “that if you slow down and you appreciate things as they are happening to you, then you get a lot more out of it....so, careful not to wish for it to happen too fast.”

Sound advice.

Finally, I can’t help but ask about the small but prominent tattoo on the inside of her left wrist. Invictus, it says. Invictus – the title of her favourite poem, a well-known verse by William Ernest Henly about taking responsibility for one’s own destiny. “It is Latin for ‘unconquerable’” she explains, “The entire poem just really inspired me. The final two lines - I am the master of my fate: I am the captain of my soul”. When going through a rough patch Lefevre says she “stuck it on like a note to self”.

It’s clear that this well spoken, thoughtful, intelligent actress is destined for great things. Although she may be living a jet-set LA lifestyle, Rachelle Lefevre still flawlessly maintains a level of polite, modest, normalcy that we’ve come to hope for with our fellow Canucks in the entertainment biz.

With one foot poised modestly on the cusp of a Hollywood career, and the other firmly planted back in Canada, back in Montreal, deeply rooted in a strong value system, a loyal set of friends and a supportive family, its clear Lefevre has a handle on the balance she needs to achieve great success.

Unconquerable indeed.

Celebrating the life of Jackie Kirsh 

by Jen McNeely

If Jackie Kirsh was alive today, she would be forty years old, probably running a successful publicity company based out of 401 Richmond, still living in the Annex, and jamming in a girl punk band on the weekends. Tragically, Jackie passed away shortly after her thirtieth birthday, after battling out breast cancer for three years. 

Shedoesthecity is a site that is fun and entertaining. Second to that it’s a resource for adventure around Toronto, but in every vein it is a tool for young women. I think it’s very important to recognize that cancer is not reserved for women post fifty years old, and we all need to be very conscientious and aware that it can affect us, our family members and friends. 

After learning about Jackie’s life, I quickly connected with her personality and spirit and immediately recognized that she embodied the qualities of most of our readers; tenacious, adventurous, hard working with an incredible zest for life.  

2008 marks the ten year anniversary of her passing, and beyond promoting the fundraiser that her sister Stefani Kirsh-Rotstein is holding at the Old Wellington Nightclub, to raise money towards the End to Breast Cancer Walk; I felt compelled to tell you Jackie’s story.  

As a child, she was a huge fan of Snoopy and got irritated when her shrine to the playful pup was tampered with. She was a petite little girl who ragged on her little sister and enjoyed living like a little princess. Her creative talents prompted her to write imaginative short stories that were far beyond her years in both humour and sophistication.  

Jackie attended AY Jackson high school, and although for most of her teen years she would have been considered a bubbly prom queen type, this quickly changed when she met a guy who embodied the look and rock star attitude of Adrien Vandenberg of metal band White Snake. As most transforming teens, Jackie switched gears and became heavily into the hardcore rock scene.  

While fulfilling her undergraduate BA degree at York University she discovered two passions; journalism and playing bass. Thus she took action and continued her education in the Journalism School at Ryerson and formed a girl punk band.  

She found her home in the Annex neighbourhood of Toronto, where she ate Kraft Dinner and dwelled with her cat Casey. At night she stormed the stages at Lee’s Palace, Big Bop, Bovine Sex Club and El Mocambo – blasting out angsty punk tunes alongside Peaches, (before she was Peaches). Her band was called Mental Casey, perhaps a tribute to her furry friend? 

She was a huge fan of Sonic Youth, Hole, Motor Dolls from Detroit and Tori Amos. Jackie had respect for female musicians that didn’t hold back.  

When not relaxing in the chilled out Bloor and Bathurst ‘hood, Jackie prowled Queen Street sussing out all the latest fashion, and was particularly fond of the vivacious, and still incredibly hot boutique, Fashion Crimes. Sassy skirts would be complimented by chunky boots, her peroxide blonde pixie cut, bass guitar slung on the shoulder and a biting baby tee. She was your quintessential Queen Street girl who relished the artistic spirit, gritty street pulse and cutting edge fashion that this strip has always been synonymous with.  

From a young age, Jackie knew where she wanted to land in life. She had her heart set on two destinations; starting her music publicity company and holding court in an office at 401 Richmond Street and eventually moving to Manhattan when success allowed.  

By 1996, Jackie’s ambitious nature achieved her dream number one, and she began her own company, STRENGTH, a music publicity company out of suite 395 at 401 Richmond.  

Shortly thereafter, Jackie’s boyfriend found a lump on her breast while the happy couple was showering together.  

Jackie acted quickly and took all the immediate steps that one does in this situation. At the very young age of twenty seven it was soon discovered that she did in fact have cancer.  

The chemotherapy and radiation treatments were physically excruciating, yet Jackie maintained a positive attitude and throughout it all continued to play in her band, as a way to raise money for her treatment. She had lost her hair but met crowds in smokey bars with a long pink wig.  

Shocked that she was able to continue, Stefani relays that it was a means to raise money:

“Steph you don’t understand how hard it is, but I have to go out and make money. If I don’t do this, who's going to raise this money?” 
”Let people know, open up and they will help.”

“I don’t want people to feel sorry for me, I want them to look at it like they are doing something for this disease.’ 

Only a couple of people knew that this young girl, who rocked the stage while they drank their beer, was battling such a powerful bout of cancer. 

A year went by and Jackie regained her health, switched gears to a more healthy lifestyle that included a lot of naturopathic and ayurvedic treatments. As well, she found spiritual support through practicing Buddhism. She quickly became known as a ‘Jew-Bu’.  

Keeping up with her check ups, it was just two years later when the Cancer began to spread, and this time to an inoperable degree, as it had moved into her lymph nodes.  

Like many Cancer patients, this time Jackie opted for a more natural treatment but when things began to appear out of control, she moved south of the border to NYC for top treatment, as at the time she was unable to receive what she needed in Toronto.  

Even on her last days, smoking marijuana to curb the pain and taking baths, Jackie still maintained a sense of humour.  

After spending a week at her sister’s bedside, Stefani returned home to Toronto to request more time off work, knowing that her sister’s state of health was critical. She recalls the night she arrived home, drinking wine in The Beaches with a friend, sending love out across the water to her brave older sister.  

At six am the following day, she received a phone call. Jackie had passed away.  

Knowing her sisters wishes, Stefani scattered Jackie’s ashes in Central Park, the epicenter of beauty in the city she had yearned to make her mark in.  

Having a sister, I can’t possibly imagine how devastating this is. Stefani relays that she often wonders, “Why her? Why wasn’t it me?” Despite hereditary genes, life will undoubtedly throw a set of cards at you, and you just have to push through it. Jackie pushed hard and like every woman who battles cancer – it’s important to honour their life and celebrate who they were; Jackie was a vibrant light. “She was just the coolest chick ever. I was cool by association.” Stef remarks with a laugh and a smile.  

So come celebrate the life of this cool chick with us Thursday, July 24 at one of Toronto’s best kept secrets, The Old Wellington Night Club. Stefani will be doing the 60K walk come September, and we want to help raise as much money as possible; sisters helping sisters through and through.  

Join us: 

424 Wellington Street, just West of Spadina
7:30 PM – 2:00 AM
Door - $20

Raffle prizes, great music and a lot of fun people honouring a life well lived.  

www.endcancer.ca

by Tanya Scholes
Most of us have been there. It’s the morning after an extremely ‘new’ romantic interlude (like a couple hours new), when nature suddenly calls. Prayers for a septic system miracle go unanswered as the inevitable looms – please, please, not here! Not now! Just stay ‘put’ until I get home or AT LEAST out this apartment before the bomb drops.

Yes, this can be a make or break moment when you are trying to be on your best behavior after the tryst of the night before.

Last night…good. This morning…bad.

But when nature calls, it calls. And if it REALLY calls, one can be left in a precarious ‘poodicament’ where extreme measures must be taken to salvage the ‘sealed deal’ of the previous night.

If luck has been on your (back) side and you’ve never found yourself in this type of ‘compromising’ position, all you need to do is check-out the #1 YouTube video, ‘A True Poo Story’, like 5,501,020 others have and you will be scared shitless to go to the loo at a date’s house. Or, perhaps you’ll look at the person you’ve just spent the night with, graciously inviting them to let themselves out – what really went on when you closed the door and headed off to work?

I recently met with Renée Percy, the woman who hilariously depicted our very worst poo plug nightmare in the viral video. While fecal matter seems to be a common on-screen theme for Renee, having also recently starred in an Imodium commercial, there is so much more to this talented actor, writer and sketch comic. There’s even a little ninja in her.

Renée Percy was born into a family of artists – her mom was a dancer and her dad, a musician. She began her creative path at the Etobicoke School of the Arts and chose acting over karate (she actually holds a 2nd degree Black Belt). At the age of 10, her mother took her to audition for the Canadian hit, Degrassi High. The producers thought she was too young. The following year, she tried again, only to be told the same thing. While they say that three times’ a charm, it was likely the cheeky response she wrote on her audition sheet quoting Degrassi High’s band, The Zit Remedy, “Everybody wants something, they’ll never give up’ that got her cast immediately as Pipi. Of her character Pipi, Renee says, “I hardly had any lines, but I walked the halls like nobody’s business.”

After her Degrassi days were over, Renée was accepted into University of Toronto Honors Program with a Specialty in Drama and Minor in English. Further, Renée auditioned for the department’s Master Class and was accepted to an elite group of 7 students who, after graduation, went on to tour with the school’s visiting German Director on a 12 stop European tour and performed on some of the most famous stages that had seen revered thespians perform in the past. Renée says that this amazing tour is still a highlight of her career – or in her words, “everything else has been downhill since then.” Hardly.

Upon her return, Renée toured in the US doing children’s theatre. It was actually her touring schedule that plummeted her into her first stand-up experience, which you could say brought Renée to a whole new level of comedic craft. To appease a friend, she accepted a dare to perform 10 MINUTES of stand-up at the Lab Cab at Factory Theatre (insane for a first time on stage) solely because she knew she’d already be on tour and wouldn’t be able to honour the challenge. Secretly, she swept the dare under the carpet and forgot all about it. That is until her tour got postponed and she received a call from the Lab Cab the night before she was to perform – confirming her participation and informing her that there would be no mic on stage for her routine (I’d say if I was in Renee’s shoes I’d be having my own IBS issues about now…10 MINUTES…I can’t even teach a class of ESL students without puking). Needless to say, she pulled it off with the help of a megaphone and some racy material about firemen – which I’ll leave to your imagination – and had one of her best performances ever.

Since then, Renée’s career has rocketed to include writing for Canada’s #1 comedy show in the country, Air Farce Live, as well as Comedy Inc. She has also appeared on the Comedy Network and CTV in her Comedy NOW! Special "Women of the Night", and as a series regular in the hit sketch comedy show Comedy Inc., amongst countless other commercials and of course, the daddy of them all, ‘Sure Lock: A True Poo Story’, which has touched us all intimately, in deep, dark places.

When she’s not penning her comedic stylings, on-air causing us to do mini-pees from laughing so hard or hamming it up in L.A. plugging for her own sit-com (she has my vote!), Renee leads a normal life with her boyfriend David (who I actually went to grade school with – what in the?!) and their Maltese puppy, Wesley (named affectionately after the character in The Princess Bride…As…You…Wish!). A perfect Saturday often includes brunch at Le Petit Dejeuner (191 King St. East www.petitdejeuner.ca), a walk in the Beaches and a stop for ice-cream at Ed’s Real Scoop (2224 Queen St. East) and a picnic in the park. Afterwards, Renée and her Producer/Performer boyfriend would indulge in sushi, of course. Favourite sushi spots include Blowfish (668 King St. West www.blowfishrestaurant.com), where Renee says they make unbelievable martinis, or Hiro Sushi (171 King St. E). If not sushi, Renee says she enjoys hanging out at Insomnia, another favourite (563 Bloor St. West www.insomniacafe.com). Of course, the day would be ultra perfect if she scratched a lottery ticket and won a million dollars, was booked for a major feature film, directed by Judd Apatow and off to shoot in Venice, Italy.

Renée is the kind of girl that you want to hang out with. She seems just like mad fun and I might venture to say she’d try anything once, like – bungee jumping off the highest bungee jump in the world and wearing her knuckles down to the bone in a bull riding contest against genuine Mexican cowboys, only to win $100. And while she may have been overlooked to host So You Think You Can Dance Canada (big mistake!), Renée’s definitely got something big in her future – I’m seeing Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kristen Wiig, Parker Posey and Judy Greer-big!

Let’s just hope it’s not so big, it doesn’t flush!

To view the infamous ‘Sure Lock: A True Poo Story’ click here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=aikg6OP3jwU

For more information on the comedic stylings of the fabulous Renée Percy, please visit www.reneepercy.com

Look out for Renée staring in Comedy Inc. beginning this Fall and watch out for her new animated pilot, Nunchucks on Teletoon.

Go to www.ccavoting.com to vote for Renee Percy's 'Sure Lock: A True Poo Story' for the Canadian Comedy Awards in the pretty funny web clip category!

by Olga Barsky

How were the Much Music Video Awards for Sarah Taylor last year?

After a three-year streak of hosting the biggest one-night-only music bash in Toronto, Sarah was noticeably absent from last year’s show. Trading in a couture gown for sweats, she watched the MMVA’s from her couch, along with the rest of us. “It was really unique for me to see it as the viewer and not actually be there. You get to watch it with a different set of eyes, so that was really fun.”

This year, Sarah will once again be gracing our silver screens along with her fellow Much VJ’s in what promises to be the most exciting show to date, and the most meaningful to Sarah. “The MMVA’s are huge, huge deal, and this year is very important to me…my family is going to be watching, and I just feel like I’m in a happy place with things, and I appreciate things that are sometimes easy to take for granted.”

Why is this year so important to Sarah? Well for those of you who may have not been around recently, there was a time not long ago when Sarah’s mere presence at the increasingly massive awards show was a long shot. No less taking her usual post as one of the most stylish, charismatic, and down to earth VJs on Much.

At first, even talking again was a long shot…

But let’s start with the clothes.

So on the one night that truly brings the downtown core to life and everyone’s watching what is an already stunning woman to wear? Greta Constantine of course.  “We have so many amazing Canadian designers!” Sarah gushes. Music to my ears.  I know right away that we’re meant to be best friends.  Sarah believes in taking full advantage of our homegrown talent, “as soon as they get huge, they’re gone, and you can never get a dress or anything by them anyway.” 

But things don’t always work out according to plan, that and Sarah may change her mind last minute, in which case she’ll probably wear vintage, or change half way through.  To the last award show, she wore a dress by Divine Decadence (136 Cumberland St.), which specializes in vintage couture.  And then her voice turns to a husky whisper.  I hold my breath. “…And maybe…Miu Miu shoes.” Breathe out. 

The decisions weren’t always so trivial. After a tragic collapse and head injury while on assignment in Las Vegas – Sarah’s future and even ability to speak were under question.

“I had two surgeries. One in Vegas and when I came back (to TO) I had to have another one here at Western. Doctors were telling my parents ‘she may never talk again, ever’. And my family was making preparations for me for to have full time help for the rest of my life.”

Sarah recalls a visit from her friends who brought her a huge box of emails.  “It was an outpour of prayers, peoples parents, and others who have had similar accidents – so that was really special. You forget about all the other people you’re connected to, and that’s what this business is to me at the core.”

With so much support from family, friends, and fans – Sarah had to get better – and thankfully, she did. 

“I had a miraculous recovery, one that doesn’t happen to people. When you have a head injury, you’re not going to make it out of it unscathed.” A year and half later, after months of speech therapy Sarah is happy to be back at the job she loves, having made peace with her accident and absorbed all the lessons which stemmed from it.  “You just don’t go through life in the same way after something like that happens.  Everything is kind of like…water off your back.”

Let’s back up for awhile. This strength of character must come from somewhere and for Sarah, it’s from the closest people in her life. But what may surprise some is that they were also the role models for her style and self-expression as well.

“Everybody’s really influenced by their parents. And I was almost equally influenced by my father as I was by my mother. My mom was a model when she was young, very beautiful, and I was always in love with her.” She was a disco, 70’s flower child, influenced by pop, and loved sequins.  “That is where I get all that shit from” Sarah affirms, citing ladies like Donna Summer and Diana Ross as major style inspirations.

”My dad was totally hippie with a white afro, and he would wear cowboy boots and be driving motorcycles.”  Sarah believes that she mixes the two together, and describes her own style as a “disco hippie.”  Personal style is something Sarah takes very seriously, because “its such a great visual medium,” and that’s an important message she wants to pass on to her younger fans – “you can wear what-ever you like, and it should be an expression of what you are and how you feel.” Amen sister.

I could talk fashion all day long, but its time to move back to the event on everyone’s mind.  What is Sarah most looking forward to at this MMVA’s?

“The performances!” How could you not? With a stellar line-up including New Kids on the Block, Girlicious, Hedley, illScarlett, Rihanna, and Simple Plan – you just can’t go wrong.  "This year we’re expecting 15,000 people…pretty crazy.”

Being in the entertainment industry, its easy to get caught up in the bullshit, but Sarah knows what’s important – “what I am doing is building a bridge between artists and viewers.”  And she loves every minute it.

But before the show even happens there’s a ton of prep and sound checks. “It’s cool because you get a feeling of who performers really are. They come out wearing their own stuff. Like Fergie comes out, she’s got running shoes on with no make-up, and has her hair in a bun. We’re all just putting a show together and it’s fun.”

It seems like lots of things are fun for Sarah; a product of positive energy and an endless penchant for creativity. Her resume even boasts on-camera needle work. Sarah recalls the experience, “I got it in Vancouver on the Much 911 show.  She shows me the tat located on her wrist – a dove. “I realized later that it looks exactly like the Dove Soap Dove, but that was an accident.  I even put little marks in between (the wings) to differentiate!”

Not that this was her first foray into tattoos – she’s currently sporting four.

“I’ve got one tiny one on my foot. Its an ‘M.’  My mother, sister, and myself all have the same middle name, May, so it’s the first initial.” Sarah got her very first tattoo when she was 16. “My god, everyone does that! It’s a Japanese style tattoo which means strength, isn’t that weird?” She laughs.  “Later on I met one of my best friends and she had the exact same tattoo on her arm, its weird how that kind of shit happens.” Sarah’s last tat is a representation of her Zodiac sign – a Virgo. With her current musical taste there’s also an assortment. From Ike and Tina and 60’s Stones, to more recently Billy Joel and Roxy Music. But for a work out it’s Rihanna who’s album she admits she enjoys.

Sarah has interviewed many big stars during her MuchMusic tenure and explains that the key for her is to stay in the moment. She recalls a particularly heartfelt interview with Canadian songstress Leslie Feist.

“I remember the first time I interviewed her, her first record, I had to take her aside and be like ‘honestly, I swear to god, I would have killed myself after my last break-up if I didn’t have your record.’  And she was like ‘I totally feel you, I’m so glad you’re doing better now.’ She’s Canadian so I felt like I could really talk to her.” The Can-con energy is definitely strong in Sarah. Further cementing our newfound friendship, Sarah admits that she would “love to stay in Canada because its amazing living here and where else are you going to go really?”

That’s not to say the Canadian industry is without flaws.  “Canada has a bit of an attitude where we don’t take our own seriously until they go somewhere, get recognition and come back. It’s just the way things go. And I think people are beginning to learn that and they always come back…crawling back.”

Next I wanted to know, where does Sarah like to hang out in the city, and what her perfect day would be like? 

“I would probably take my dog walking – I have a shitsu, she’s amazing – and we like High Park, we like the dogs there.  And then we’d probably hang out at Starbucks.” The girl loves her coffee! Next, Sarah would probably hit up Kensington Market where she would “go shopping, hang out with my friends, listen to music, and have weird conversations with weird people because that’s what the market is all about.” She’s also a huge biking enthusiast in the summer – “I’m always doing it, it’s my mode of transportation.” And she loves being outdoors. “I’m big on picnics, I especially love Moss Park where you can see the whole city at night.  We’re covering up our beautiful sky line with condos, so unfortunately, there’s only a couple of good views left. 

Among her favourite stores, Sarah sites I Miss You (63 Ossington Ave).  “Julie (the owner) is wicked she has the most amazing style I’ve ever seen.”  

As our time together winds down, I ask Sarah if she’s got any parting words of advice.  “You need to figure out who you are and what you want in life. That’s all you need.” And “don’t let anything else get in your way, be confident, and love yourself.” Sarah complains that her advice is too general, but I think she’s got it exactly right.

by Jen McNeely

“Just another one champion sound
Yeah Estelle, about to get down
Who the hottest in the world right now?
Just touch down from London town.”
American Boy, Estelle – lyrics sung by Kanye West 

Estelle’s new album is a champion sound and if she’s not the hottest in the world right now, she will be soon. 

On a road trip last weekend, I must have listened to Estelle’s new album, SHINE on repeat for about four hours. Soul, hip hop, dance hall – rock, it’s all blended together masterfully and songs American Boy, featuring Kanye West, and Wait A Minute are surely set to be the songs you kick it on the dance floor to this summer.  

There are artists that I meet and interview who have a lot of promise to be big – but there are very few who you know will sky rocket to fame; get ready because Estelle is about to take on the world.  

HA – so fuck you UK. Why do I say that? After years of trying to land a record deal in London, Estelle made the move to NYC and was quickly embraced by the American music industry. In fact, this is quite a taboo subject right now as it is causing media fury (and the British rag mags are the best at this) that the UK music industry doesn’t know how to handle or promote black hip-hop / R&B female artists. With blonde Welsh whitey Duffy battling it out with Estelle for the top of UK charts; quite the buzz is stirring on racial issues within the music industry, warranted or not.  

My instantaneous love for Estelle’s album SHINE, made me somewhat intimidated to meet her, but after a few minutes settling into her hotel suite, I became very comfortable and felt like I was chatting with a good friend. Certainly, someone I would have a lot of fun with tearing up the town on a Saturday night bender.  

I begin our meeting with an outburst of:

“How the f*ck did you do it? How does one blend so many sounds into, not just an album but a song!? Did you set out to incorporate soul, hip hop, and dance hall, or did it come through the creative process??” 

She lets out a laugh. 

“It just happened. I listen to so many different styles, it was impossible to not incorporate all at once. I wanted to do something as different as possible. I listen to hip hop and R&B, and soul and gospel, rock – if I hear something rock in a song, then I’ll take the vocals all the way up.” 

She comments that upon hearing her twists and turns of a beat or melody, famed producer John Legend would exclaim: 

“‘I don’t know what you hear, but this shit don’t sound like no one else’s’, and that’s why John liked me off the bat.” 

She admits to being influenced by all genres but it was Ella Fitzgerald that got her hooked. 

“I was thirteen, listening to her music on the bus. I used to sit at the back of the bus taking the longest route home, just to listen to her. She grabbed me.” 

Like Ella Fitzgerald, Estelle’s music tells a very visual story. It’s cinematic and full of personality. 

“I see the music before I sing it, I visualize colours, the background, the video, and everything comes in colour. If I haven’t seen a certain colour, then I’ve missed a note, so I go back and try to fit that colour in. I imagine myself talking the story, doing the video. It’s a very visual process.” 

She moved to NYC last May, so how does it compare to London? 

“Everything is turbo speed, 24 hour turbo speed! It’s like London on crack. London on speed, London on drugs. I never sleep! I have to switch my phone off in order to just be alone, to breathe. It’s a 24 hour culture consistently, and fast. It’s conducive to the music industry, so it so works.” 

Then I dig a bit into the current sensitive subject of UK versus the US, and how she felt the need to leave in order to get heard:

“The American music industry embraces my music more than the London industry. The fans at home get it but the industry was like, ‘…we’ve never heard that before!’ In America they’ve had Mary J Blige, Ella, Brandy & Monica – tons of R&B super stories. I moved there because they wanted to sign me. I tried to get signed at home, I couldn’t. No one wanted to do it, now every one wants to do it!” 

No shit. Oops! 

Although she’s doing well, signed with Warner and with a killer Producer, she admits it was a bit tough breaking in: 

“At first in NYC, music people were like ‘oh who’s that British girl, is she going to be using that gimmick all day, talking like that?’” 

(side note, but leave it to the Americans to associate a foreign accent as a ‘gimmick’) 

But Estelle stood her ground: 

“I was like – ‘LOOK, I’m not going to change my accent…just let me do my shit’, and then they realized that ‘Oh, she has a mouth on her too’ so they left me alone.” 

She hasn’t had it easy, but kept pushing and just being herself, looking for opportunities and chasing her dreams, and this is her best advice to fellow young women looking to get into the biz: 

“Figure out who you are, don’t be what the industry tells you to be. If you are sexy and that’s your whole shit – be that, if you are hardcore and that’s your whole shit – be that. Don’t fall into a stereotype and become a gimmick, be the person you are going to be 100%. It becomes easier to work with, you have to do a million interviews and if you run in there and try to be a gimmick of what the industry wants you to be, you are going to be bored. If you are all smiling and perfect all the time, then half way through an interview the cracks will start to show, and that’s when they’ll be, ‘SHE’S ACTUALLY CRAZY.’ Once you get negative press, you have to work triple time to repair. Fuck it – just be who you are, its way easier.” 

Riled, but in a good way, her response to my next random question was firm and serious. 

How would you define your style? 

“ESTELLE.” 

I don’t roll my eyes but smirk because she is her own style through and through – and I’m digging it. 

Oh – but she does mention: 

“I hate flowers on clothes, you have no idea. I can’t do flowers or prints. I HATE FLOWERS.” 

Estelle isn’t a pretty flower but a bold force to be reckoned with who is sincere, funny, tenacious, and confident; a strong role model and a talented artist who is not just a one hit parade but a powerhouse who will be around for a long time.