R&B Archives - Toronto Guardian

Five Minutes With: R&B Musician Breez Kennedy

Demian Vernieri — Fri, 01 May 2026 07:33:46 +0000

Breez Kennedy is a singer-songwriter who doesn’t just perform a song; he builds an atmosphere. Known for his velvety vocal texture and an uncanny ability to blend cinematic pop with raw, soulful storytelling, Breez has quickly become a standout voice for a generation that values vulnerability as much as a catchy hook.

Born with a natural ear for harmony, Breez spent his formative years navigating a diverse musical landscape, drawing inspiration from the timeless phrasing of jazz legends and traditional soul singers.

His lyrics often feel like reading a private journal, tackling themes of self-discovery, fleeting late-night connections, and the beautiful mess of growing up. Whether he’s commanding a stage with high-energy anthems or quieting a room with a single ballad, Breez’s presence is consistently grounded and magnetic.

Name:

Breez Kennedy

Genre:

R&B

Founded:

2023

# of Albums:

Latest Album:

We all need love

Latest Single:

Cycles

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Michael Jackson

Favourite musician now:

Myself

Guilty pleasure song:

Where I’d Rather Be by Donnell Jones

Live show ritual:

Fasting, working out by doing a 2-mile run

Favourite local musician:

Sofia Ly

EP or LP?

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird now, used to be a night owl

Road or studio?

Studio all day

Any shows or albums coming up?

Currently on tour with Josh Levi and my latest single “Cycles.”

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | YouTube | Facebook | TikTok

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Salem’s

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

31 street, this is where I grew up.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Lake Vista Park, all of my friends used to go there after school.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Jannus Live, this is the first place I performed in my hometown.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Guitar Center reminds me of when my dad brought me to first get my studio equipment.

The post Five Minutes With: R&B Musician Breez Kennedy appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Five Minutes With: Toronto R&B Musician Aashika Reddy

Lauren Kannwischer — Fri, 12 Dec 2025 08:33:30 +0000

Aashika Reddy is a fully independent 17-year-old South Asian R&B/Pop artist from Toronto whose sound bridges cultural heritage with modern global influences. Blending soulful R&B melodies, trap and house textures, and Afrobeat rhythms with South Indian classical elements like Carnatic vocal runs and thabla percussion, her music is both experimental and deeply personal.

In just a short time, Aashika has performed at major Toronto venues, including TD Music Hall and Nathan Phillips Square. She has worked with Grammy-winning producer Yonatan Watts (Ariana Grande, Muni Long) and is determined to carve out a place for South Asian creatives in the global R&B/Pop scene. For her, this is just the beginning.

Name:

Aashika Reddy

Genre:

R&B/Pop

Founded:

Started releasing music at 13 years old

# of Albums:

Latest Album:

LOOK AT ME

Latest Single:

Patient 4 U

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Sabrina Carpenter

Favourite musician now:

Still Sabrina! But also ZAYN and Kehlani

Guilty pleasure song:

Maneater by Daryl Hall & John Oates

Live show ritual:

I always take a few minutes to breathe and clear my head. I’ll usually get a workout in before the show too—it helps me feel energized and loose. And I like to visualize the set in my head so I can step on stage already feeling locked in.

Favourite local musician:

Ryael – he’s crazy talented

EP or LP?

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl for sure, I hate waking up.

Road or studio?

Studio all the way!

Any shows or albums coming up?

My EP just dropped, and I might, potentially, definitely be working on a deluxe or a live version…so stay tuned!

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | YouTube

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

There’s this Italian spot I tried near the Eaton Centre called Trattoria Mercatto. The food was so good, and the atmosphere felt really cozy. It feels like a little escape in the downtown bustle.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Queen Street is my favourite because it’s so full of energy. There’s always something happening—street art, cool little shops, and so many places to stop for food or coffee. It feels like the creative side of the city.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Harbourfront Park for sure. I go there almost every summer at least once. I love walking by the water and just hanging out, especially at sunset. It’s relaxing but still has that city vibe that keeps it exciting.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Scotiabank Arena is my number one. It’s where I went to my first concert—Tate McRae—and it was such a surreal experience. That night made it feel like anything was possible for me as an artist.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Long & McQuade on Bloor is my go-to for gear (they have everything!)

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto R&B Musician Aashika Reddy appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Five Minutes With: Toronto Funk Artist Kalisway

Shantelle Canzanese — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 08:33:44 +0000

Kalisway is a Toronto-based funk, alternative R&B artist, songwriter and producer, writing and creating music that feels like palm trees on a beach while the sun is setting. She never understood what that meant until she started to feel colours and emotions through her music. Daily, she records instant ideas of grooves, feelings and rhythms through her phone. No matter the weather, Kalisway records it all. Her new EP, Take Me Back (World of Eras), was released on March 28th, 2025.

Name:

Kalisway

Genre:

Funk, R&B/Soul

Founded:

2020

# of Albums:

2 LPS, and 4 EPs

Latest Album:

A Kid From Toronto. Produced, Written and Arranged by myself.

Latest Single:

“When I Close My Eyes” from Take Me Back (World Of Eras) EP

Favourite musician growing up:

Pharrell. I grew up listening to “In My Mind” back to back on repeat for months.

Favourite musician now:

Still Pharrell.

Guilty pleasure song:

Tinashe’s “Getting No Sleep”. When I first heard that song, I was in an Uber in LA. And I promise I told the Uber driver like 3 times “can you play that back?”. Straight up vibes.

Live show ritual:

Slow down my breathing, take a few moments alone to lock in and get set.

Favourite local musician:

Thelonious. He’s doing his thing right now, his flow and wordplay is too smooth.

EP or LP?

LP for sure. I love immersing myself into the story from beginning to end.

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird. I’m pretty sure I’ve been a grandma since the womb.

Road or studio?

We haven’t been on the road YET. So, I’ll say studio for now, but mannnn, when road time hits, I’m pretty sure I’ll answer differently.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | Spotify | Facebook | YouTube

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Maxime’s. The bread alone?? Crazzzzy.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Kensington. Especially during Summertime. It’s the best place to feel alive, and get some of the best food you can find in Toronto.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Trinity Bellwoods. Best park to play multiple sports, or just chill with friends enjoying the beautiful weather out. I got lots of memories there.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Currently Drake Underground. I had my very first show there. Always a great night at the drake.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Play De Record. Come onnn now. Hands down, you tryna find some original records – even of FUNK, they got it. That’s the spot.

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Funk Artist Kalisway appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Five Minutes With: Toronto R&B/Pop Band 98 Degrees

Emilea Semancik — Fri, 22 Aug 2025 07:33:35 +0000

98 Degrees, the multi-Platinum, award-winning, and Grammy-nominated vocal group composed of Nick and Drew Lachey, Jeff Timmons, and Justin Jeffre, has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. Known for their signature harmonies and emotional ballads, they’ve earned four Top 5 Billboard hits, including The Hardest Thing, I Do (Cherish You), Because of You, and the No. 1 hit Thank God I Found You with Mariah Carey. With albums certified Gold or Platinum in more than 60 countries and over one billion streams across digital platforms, 98 Degrees remains one of pop’s most enduring acts. Their beloved holiday album, 98 Degrees This Christmas, has sold over two million copies, making it one of the most successful Christmas albums of all time.

Now, as they celebrate 30 years together, 98 Degrees has released their much-anticipated studio album, Full Circle, on May 9, 2025. The album features five brand-new songs alongside five reimagined, digitally remastered versions of their biggest hits.

Full Circle boasts an all-star creative team, including producers and songwriters Soulshock & Karlin (Whitney Houston, Usher, Sting), Alex Cantrell (JoJo, Beenie Man, Fantasia), Noah Conrad (Chappell Roan, BTS, Niall Horan), and Dave Aude (Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, Madonna). The album is executive produced by Adam H. Hurstfield (Ne-Yo, Snoop Dogg, Super Junior) and mixed by five-time Grammy winner Orlando Calzada (Beyoncé, One Direction), with mastering by three-time Grammy winner Chris Gehringer (Ed Sheeran, Rihanna, Harry Styles).

Name:

Jeff Timmons of 98 Degrees

Genre:

R&B/Pop

Founded:

1995

# of Albums:

8, including 2 holiday albums

Latest Album:

Full Circle

Latest Single:

Stranger Things (Have Happened)

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Michael Jackson/Boyz II Men

Favourite musician now:

Bruno Mars

Guilty pleasure song:

On Bended Knee Boyz II Men

Live show ritual:

We dedicate the show to a different special person every show

Favourite local musician:

Justin Bieber

EP or LP?

Early bird or night owl?

Night Owl

Road or studio?

Both!

Any shows or albums coming up?

New album Full Circle was just released on May 9th and features 5 re-records of our biggest hits and 5 brand new tracks.

Where can we follow you?

TikTok | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Pii Nong Thai

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Yonge Street, because the music scene emerged there in the 60’s and 70’s

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Trinity Bellwoods

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

El Mocambo

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Kops Records

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto R&B/Pop Band 98 Degrees appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Toronto Guardian Summer 2025 Spotify Playlist

Demian Vernieri — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 23:21:46 +0000

We’re thrilled to share our Summer Spotify Playlist, a cosy collection of tracks from Toronto’s vibrant music scene. Every week on the Toronto Guardian, we shine a light on a local artist, and at the end of each season, we wrap things up with a handpicked playlist—featuring one standout song from each musician we’ve featured.

Dive into the playlist and experience the best of what Toronto’s music community has to offer. Let’s celebrate and support the talented individuals who make our city’s musical landscape so unique.

Here’s a closer look at the musicians who defined our Summer 2025 musical lineup:

• Tristan Armstrong – (Read Article)
• CJ Cooper – (Read Article)
• Zoë Ferris – (Read Article)
• Jordan Venn and the Slizneys – (Read Article)
• PHEAR – (Read Article)
• Sean Jones – (Read Article)
• Puma June – (Read Article)
• Polly-Jean Vernon – (Read Article)
• Rosalie Moscoe – (Read Article)
• Shola OG – (Read Article)
• Barbra Lica – (Read Article)
• Lammping – (Read Article)

Toronto Guardian Summer 2025 Spotify Playlist

The post Toronto Guardian Summer 2025 Spotify Playlist appeared first on Toronto Guardian.