Since beginning her music career in 2024, ROSHANAK has quickly built a dedicated and growing audience, amassing over 17,000 followers across platforms and thousands of independent streams without the support of a label. Her work is deeply rooted in her lived experiences as a queer, neurodivergent woman of colour, often exploring themes of mental health, identity, belonging, and resilience. Through her songwriting, she transforms personal pain into a space for connection and healing, both for herself and for her listeners.

Beyond her own artistry, ROSHANAK is committed to community-building within the music industry. She actively creates and organizes showcases that uplift emerging artists, with a focus on queer and BIPOC voices who are often underrepresented in traditional spaces. Her performances are known for their emotional intensity and theatrical influence, inspired in part by her connection to drag artistry and self-expression.

With upcoming releases and live performances across Canada, ROSHANAK continues to carve out a distinct space for herself, one where honesty, inclusivity, and artistry exist at the forefront of everything she creates.

Name:

Roshanak Aktefan

Genre:

Dark pop and jazz pop

Founded:

2024

# of Albums:

Not out yet

Latest Album:

Doll House Diaries

Latest Single:

Wish I was Dead

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Panic at the disco

Favourite musician now:

Marina and the diamonds

Guilty pleasure song:

Breakaway Kelly clarkson

Live show ritual:

Lots and lots of water, jumping jacks, listening to early 2000s playlist.

Favourite local musician:

Monstrosa, Ever since we met, Gandhaar Amin

EP or LP?

EP it’s called dollhouse diaries out this June 🙂

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl. Love having silence at night while everyone’s sleeping and being able to just relax and do whatever I want.

Road or studio?

I love the studio, putting my ideas together and being able to hear the final product. I also enjoy being able to use like a therapy session and just let everything out on the mic

Any shows or albums coming up?

ROSHANAK is set to release her debut EP Dollhouse Diaries on June 18, 2026—her first full body of work, funded by the Toronto Arts Council through the Toronto Arts Reach program. The project is a deeply personal exploration of identity, mental health, and the complexities of navigating the world as a queer, neurodivergent woman of colour. Blending pop and jazz influences with cinematic storytelling, Dollhouse Diaries marks a defining moment in her artistic journey.

In support of the release, ROSHANAK will be performing a series of live shows across Canada. She will be opening for Carina in Toronto on April 25, followed by a headline performance in Montreal at La Feuille Verte Café on May 10—her first time performing in the city. She will also be featured in a Sofar Sounds Pride show in Kelowna, BC on June 27 at a secret location.

With this upcoming EP and run of performances, ROSHANAK continues to build momentum as an emerging artist to watch, bringing raw honesty and powerful storytelling to every stage she steps on.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Umami house my favourite place ever.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

My favourite street in Toronto is Brian Village Drive. I grew up there, so it holds a lot of memories for me. It’s full of amazing food spots, including my favourite restaurant, Umami House. I’ve been going there since I was a kid with my best friend, and it’s always felt like home.

Right across the street, there’s a cozy local bar called Willie Stouts where I used to go to hear live music and support local artists. It was one of the first places where I really fell in love with live performance.

Everything on that street feels nostalgic to me. It was only a five-minute walk to Chuck E. Cheese, which I was completely obsessed with as a kid. It’s one of those places where every corner holds a memory from childhood joy to discovering music, and it’s a big part of why I am the artist I am today.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

My favourite park in Toronto is Muirhead Park. It’s right by the elementary school I went to, so it holds a really special place in my childhood. What I love most is that it hasn’t changed much over the years, it still feels exactly the same, which makes going back there feel like stepping into a memory.

It brings back so many moments from growing up playing outside after school, spending time with friends, and just feeling carefree. There’s something really comforting about a place staying the same while everything else changes. For me, Muirhead Park isn’t just a park, it’s a piece of my history.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

My favourite music venue in Toronto is Burdock Brewery. It’s such a beautiful, intimate space, and the atmosphere always feels really warm and inviting. The sound there is consistently amazing, which makes such a difference both as a performer and as an audience member.

I also have to mention their fries. They’re genuinely some of my favourites, and it just adds to the whole experience. There’s something really special about a venue where you can enjoy great food, connect with the crowd, and hear music the way it’s meant to be heard.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

My favourite music store in Toronto is Sonic Boom. If I’m ever looking for a vinyl, especially something nostalgic from the early 2000s, like Hannah Montana, they somehow always have it.

There’s something really fun about digging through their collection and finding unexpected gems. It’s one of those places where you can go in with no plan and leave with something that brings back a memory or inspires you creatively.

The post Five Minutes With: Pop-Jazz Musician ROSHANAK appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Millie has performed across Canada, the United States, and Europe, including appearances at the Peterborough Folk Festival, Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival, Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, and for audiences of over 10,000 at Peterborough Musicfest. In 2026, she was selected as the North2North Breakthrough Artist, representing Canada at Lilla By Festivalen in Sweden.

A dynamic live performer, she most often appears as a duo with her father, Murray, on guitar, delivering high-energy sets filled with original music, traditional influences, and heartfelt storytelling. Currently studying Music Industry and Technology at the University of Toronto Scarborough, Millie continues to grow as both an artist and emerging voice in the Canadian folk scene.

Name:

Irish Millie

Genre:

Folk/Pop

Founded:

2015

# of Albums:

2

Latest Album:

GRACE

Latest Single:

Allison

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Natalie MacMaster

Favourite musician now:

Koe Wetzle

Guilty pleasure song:

Strangers – Ethel Cain

Live show ritual:

Pre- Show Dance

Favourite local musician:

Melissa Payne

EP or LP?

Selected Discography

Between Then and Now (EP)
The Trilogy (EP)
The Receivers (EP)

Early bird or night owl?

I’m a night owl because that’s when everything quiets down enough for me to hear myself clearly. The distractions fade, the world softens, and that’s when melodies come easiest, and stories feel closest to the surface. There’s something about the stillness of the night that makes creativity feel more honest, more open, and a little bit magical.

Road or studio?

Road. There’s nothing like playing live and feeling a room connect to the music in real time. Every show is different, every crowd brings something new, and that energy pushes me to be better. The road is where the music actually lives.

Any shows or albums coming up?

Yes! I have a really exciting season ahead. I’m currently promoting my EP Between Then and Now, which earned two 2026 Canadian Folk Music Award nominations for Young Performer of the Year and Single of the Year.

I’m also working on a brand new album titled Can You See Me, which I’m incredibly excited about. This project feels like a big step forward for me artistically, exploring more personal storytelling, new sounds, and a deeper sense of who I am as both a musician and a songwriter.

Alongside that, I’ll be heading to Calgary in April for the CFMAs, and then to Sweden in June to represent Canada as the North2North Breakthrough Artist at Lilla By Festivalen. I also have a full summer tour planned across the East Coast, Ontario, and Quebec—with more dates to be announced soon.

Where can we follow you?

You can follow along and stay up to date here:

Website | EPK | Spotify | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Jim’s Pizza & Pasta—it’s a local favourite and always hits the spot.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Murray Street – Same name as my father/guitarist.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

My favourite park is Del Crary Park. It’s right on the water and has such a beautiful, peaceful energy, but it’s also where so many concerts and community events happen. It really feels like the heart of Peterborough, especially in the summer.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Market Hall Performing Arts Centre. It’s an incredible listening room with such a warm atmosphere, and it’s always special to perform there—it feels both intimate and professional at the same time.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Maars Music. It’s such a staple in the local music community, and the staff are always so knowledgeable and supportive of musicians.

The post Five Minutes With: Folk-Pop Musician Irish Millie appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

His debut single, “Frankenstein,” dropped on November 18, 2025, captures that signature duality: bright, surf-infused guitars and dreamlike textures wrapped around lyrics that explore loneliness, longing, and the search for connection. It’s upbeat and nostalgic on the surface, yet quietly aching underneath, a song about the push and pull of a love that leaves you chasing ghosts and wondering what was real.

With influences stretching from Beach House’s ethereal haze to Dick Dale’s surf energy, Echo the Screen crafts a sound that feels like summer through a cracked lens, lush, bittersweet, and deeply human. Collaborating with Grammy Award-winning Patrick Kehrier (mixing/mastering), Ethan Conway (vocals), and Chris McQueen of Snarky Puppy (instrumentation), the project blends polish with vulnerability.

For Echo, music is both an anchor and a compass. It’s how he channels the noise of ADHD, anxiety, and self-doubt into something clear and deliberate. Each song is a small act of translation, taking the unspoken and giving it shape. Like Frankenstein, his work reflects a constant effort to piece together feeling and identity, creating something honest from the mess of experience.

Echo the Screen is both an artist and an idea. Echo is the individual, but “echoing the screen” is the mission: to carry the creativity, ideals, and wonder from behind the glass and into the real world, where stories can move, evolve, and live beyond their reflection.

Name:

Echo the Screen

Genre:

Indie Pop

Founded:

April 2025

Latest Single:

Frankenstein (Surf/Indie Pop)

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

My parents, and by extension my family’s, favourite musicians have always been exclusively David Bowie and The Beatles. So you can probably guess at their disappointment when I became a hardcore fan of Imagine Dragons. They were one of my first concerts, and I really loved the kind of music they were putting out. I still do! It’s super catchy and motivating, and I’ve always loved how they did cool collaborations with other artists and brands.

Favourite musician now:

My favourite right now would probably be Grandson. He’s such a talented guy, especially when it comes to making moving rock music. He makes really catchy stuff, but he’s also very politically active. His songs are always loaded with themes around class struggles and solidarity, which I really think we don’t hear enough of in music these days.

Guilty pleasure song:

I don’t love the term guilty pleasure, to be honest. I think when it comes to anything creative, people can own what they like, and we really don’t need to be judging ourselves based on what we consume (within reason of course). That being said, I do have a K-pop song I love that usually surprises people since they don’t associate that genre with me at all. It’s “Girl Front” by LOONA. It’s so fire. It’s super catchy and upbeat, and it’s got this breakcore-style piano in it too. It just scratches my brain in a fun way.

Live show ritual:

I haven’t actually played any live shows just yet! Once I do get out there and establish a routine, I promise the Toronto Guardian will be the very first to know about it.

Favourite local musician:

This is a tough one! I think I’ll name a couple if that’s alright, one on the bigger side and one that’s a bit more niche. First off, Alessia Cara. She’s just such a talented songwriter and vocalist. When “Scars to Your Beautiful” came out, I had that on repeat for so long. The other artist I’ll name is a group called Studio Mahilo. They’re a super-talented indie rock group, and I’ve actually met them a few times through my university program. I’m really hoping I can do a collab with them one day!

EP or LP?

I don’t strictly have a preference here, but if I had to choose, I’d go with the LP. If I’m listening to something and it’s got awesome tracks, I just want more of them. More good music is always better than less.

Early bird or night owl?

I used to be way more of a night owl, but I’ve recently fixed my sleep schedule, mostly because of university. I’m definitely a morning person now. I love getting up early to hit the gym, get to class, or jump straight into my music. I find I’m way more focused in the early hours, and I really like the sense of control it gives me over my life.

Road or studio?

I haven’t actually toured yet, so I’m gonna have to choose the studio by default. I just love going in with an idea and collaborating a ton with people to see where it ends up. The TMU facilities have been super good for that (shameless shoutout to my school), and there’s no end of talented people to work with here in Toronto!

Any shows or albums coming up?

I don’t have any shows planned just yet, but I’ve got some exciting stuff on the way. I’ll be releasing three more singles over the next few months and wrapping them all up into an EP. So definitely keep an eye out for those! In the meantime, I’d really love it if you checked out my most recent single, Frankenstein. I’d really appreciate the listen.

Where can we follow you?

YouTube | Instagram | TikTok

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Butter Chicken Factory is amazing. It’s such a funny name, but the food is super good and affordable. You’ve gotta get the Palak Paneer, Garlic Naan, and the Butter Chicken (of course!)

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

I absolutely love Yonge Street. It’s just so busy all the time, with a ton of interesting things to do and people to see. It’s really pretty down by Sankofa Square (formerly Dundas Square). I’ve walked the stretch from TMU to Union Station a bunch of times, and honestly, it’s always a treat.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

I adore Allan Gardens quite a bit. It’s very close to TMU and where I live. It’s really big, and it’s got all those exotic plants in the big greenhouse. It also has a more personal connection for me because it’s where I filmed the visualizer for my song Frankenstein! It’s always gonna hold a special place in my heart because of that.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

It might be a bit of a basic answer, but it’s definitely Massey Hall. What a venue! There have been so many amazing shows there, and there’ll continue to be amazing shows long after I’m gone. It’s such a significant landmark, not just for musicians, but for the city itself. It’s amazing!

What is your favourite music store in your city?

This is an easy one. Sonic Boom is my favourite by far. It’s a ginormous store with all kinds of records, CDs, and cassettes. They’ve got tons of cool merch as well, and they’re always playing fantastic music. I actually had a “mid” date there once, but that’s beside the point. You definitely need to check it out!

The post Five Minutes With: Indie Pop Musician Echo the Screen appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

She kicked off 2025 in explosive fashion, opening for Canadian legends Simple Plan on New Year’s Eve. Her soulful vocals, catchy new music, and electrifying stage presence carried into a high-energy 2025 National Summer Festival Tour, where she and her band lit up major festival stages across the country.

Blending edgy Pop-Rock with a punch of Punk attitude, CMAGIC5 delivers self-empowering anthems designed to ignite your main character energy. Her sophomore EP, Happy Never After—crafted alongside JUNO-winning heavyweights—promises to get your heart racing and invite you to unleash your most unapologetic alter ego.

Name:

CMAGIC5

Genre:

Pop-Rock

Founded:

2020

# of Albums:

2

Latest Album:

Happy Never After

Latest Single:

Lego My Ego

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Miley Cyrus

Favourite musician now:

Lady Gaga

Guilty pleasure song:

“Your Idol” from Kpop Demon Hunters is honestly a banger

Live show ritual:

Vocal warm-ups, band huddle and tacoooss.

Favourite local musician:

The Weeknd

EP or LP?

EP — to satisfy those crash-out moments

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl — I mean, vampires don’t exactly do mornings… 🧛‍♀️

Road or studio?

Studio — that’s where the magic (and the madness) begins before it hits the road.

Any shows or albums coming up?

Yup! My sophomore EP Happy Never After — it’s my anti-fairytale era, packed with pop-rock anthems that turn heartbreak into empowerment. It’s all about unleashing your alter ego, finding strength in chaos, and embracing your main character energy.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | Website | Spotify

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Mezcalero — love eating tacos here with my band as our pre-show ritual before playing Lee’s Palace.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Queen Street West — endless art and inspiration.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Trinity Bellwoods, especially for the Fall foliage.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

The Mod Club (formerly The Axis Club), where Baby C had her first show!

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Sonic Boom or Rotate This.

The post Five Minutes With: Pop-Rock Artist CMAGIC5 appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Emerging from Toronto’s vibrant music scene, Bella is quickly making her mark with a sound that fuses classic soul, funk, and pop. Her music nods to icons like Amy Winehouse while embracing the atmospheric edge of artists such as Billie Eilish—balancing timeless depth with a distinctly modern feel.

Name:

Bella Cole

Genre:

Pop/Funk

Founded:

2024

# of Albums:

1 in progress

Latest Album:

Not out yet 😉

Latest Single:

Drive

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Lauryn Hill

Favourite musician now:

Hozier

Guilty pleasure song:

Money for Nothing – Dire Straits

Live show ritual:

I still do the warm-ups I learned from my theatre kid days in high school.

Favourite local musician:

Majid Jordan

EP or LP?

LP!

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl

Road or studio?

Studio.

Any shows or albums coming up?

I have an album in the works and a new single called “Got Your Number” coming out very soon!

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Facebook

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Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Bonito’s on Ossington, best chop cheese sandwich I’ve literally ever had in my life

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

River Street, it’s a tiny street off the Bayview Extension, and you get to just drive through the trees; it feels like you’re not even in the city.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Riverdale Park! I used to go there almost every day with my friends after school and just hang out, lots of great memories.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

History! Might be a little biased since I used to work there, but I think it’s great!

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Play De Record, it’s a cool little vinyl store in Kensington, it’s got the best vibes!

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Pop Artist Bella Cole appeared first on Toronto Guardian.