She honed her craft at an arts high school and later earned a Bachelor of Music from Humber College, where she expanded her artistry. Along the way, she built a name for herself as a versatile singer-songwriter and producer, with her work sampled by Swae Lee and Russ and production collaborations with poet Rupi Kaur. Yet, something still felt missing.

It wasn’t until she reconnected with her Latin American roots that she found her true voice. Inspired by icons like Chavela Vargas, she began weaving Spanish-language vocals and Latin influences into her music. “It was the catalyst,” she says, “to embrace my identity and blend it with the Western sounds I love.”

Now, Ramona Vee is crafting a sound as eclectic as her influences—Weezer to Manu Chao, all heart. She’s redefining what it means to sound like Toronto.

Name:

Ramona Vee

Genre:

Alt/pop/indie/Latin

Founded:

2019

# of albums:

1

Latest album:

Ramona 96’ (EP)

Latest single:

Malandrín

Latest video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Lila Downs

Favourite musician now:

Madonna

Guilty pleasure song:

“Hella Good” (No Doubt)

Live show ritual:

Time alone – vocal warm-ups

Favourite local musician:

Saya Gray

EP or LP?

EP

Early bird or night owl?

Early bird

Road or studio?

Studio

Any shows or albums coming up?

Ramona 96’ out in September

Where can we follow you?

Instagram

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

El Sol Mexican Resta.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Queen Street East – nice to walk, lots of restaurants, lake is there, the beach

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Trinity Bellwoods Park – good memories, summer hangs, Nuit Blanche hangs, night walks, morning walks, central, see lots of friends there

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

Horseshoe Tavern – intimate, lots of good memories growing up in the city, they got tinsel, Toronto staple, Chinatown is right around the corner

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Long & McQuade – you can rent almost any instrument you want, you have access to $1,000 guitars for $20–$70 for the month

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Singer-Songwriter & Producer Ramona Vee appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Zoë’s music is characterized by lush, layered vocals, and warm, dreamlike tones, paired with heartfelt lyrics that resonate deeply. Drawing inspiration from artists like Fleetwood Mac, Taylor Swift, Lizzy McAlpine, and Gracie Abrams, her songs reflect the highs and lows of her early twenties. Through her music, she hopes to offer listeners both solace and joy, creating an emotional connection that feels both soothing and familiar.

Beginning her journey with an acoustic guitar, Zoë has since expanded her artistic horizons, delving into music production. This passion has ignited her dedication to supporting the growth of female producers and writers in the industry. In September of 2025, Zoë will take this passion further by attending Berklee NYC’s master’s program in music production and songwriting, continuing to refine her craft, and inspire others in the process.

Name:

Zoë Ferris

Genre:

Pop / Singer-songwriter

Founded:

Have been writing for many years but started performing and recording in 2023

Latest Single:

Pushing Daisies

Latest Video:

https://youtu.be/NYSO89SsRXM (Pushing Daisies lyric video)

Favourite musician growing up:

Taylor Swift

Favourite musician now:

Lizzy McAlpine

Guilty pleasure song:

Bootylicious by Destiny’s Child

Live show ritual:

My friends making me laugh pre-show

Favourite local musician:

Charlie Houston! She’s an Indie artist based in Toronto.

EP or LP?

LP for sure. I love to experience the journey of working through a larger collection of songs.

Early bird or night owl?

Night owl

Road or studio?

My answer would have to be studio right now—but I have a feeling that might change!

Any shows or albums coming up?

My debut single Pushing Daisies just came out! The single is part of a larger project coming in the next couple months! Stay tuned.

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | TikTok | Facebook

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

When I’m in Toronto my friends and I always go to Pho Hung on Spadina as soon as I get to the city. Catching up over vermicelli is unbeatable.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

I currently live in my hometown, Brockville, ON. Since we’re right on the river, I take a daily walk to and from our local yacht club—the place where I grew up learning and teaching sailing. My route always follows Water Street, which connects a series of parks and scenic paths along the waterfront, making for a beautiful journey every day.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

There’s a small park a few minutes away from my house called Butterfield Park. My grandmother would always take my sister and me there growing up. Walking through that park always brings back happy memories.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

I’m in Toronto quite often for live performances and have explored a good number of venues by now! My favourite has to be The Opera House on Queen East. Its historic interior gives it a grand feel, yet the venue remains intimate, creating a unique experience for the audience. I saw Chappell Roan there last November and completely fell in love with the place!

What is your favourite music store in your city?

My favourite music store will always be Mr. C’s—the place where I grew up taking guitar lessons! Coming from a small town with a limited music scene, having Mr. C’s as a space to explore music each week gave me the opportunity to connect with music from a young age. It played a huge role in shaping my passion for playing.

The post Five Minutes With: Pop Singer-Songwriter Zoë Ferris appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Name:

Tristan Armstrong

Genre:

Indie Rock/Roots-Rock

Founded:

I’ve been recording and releasing music with various bands for over a decade, but this year will be the first time I release a full-length album under my own name.

# of Albums:

1

Latest Album:

Debut album The Lonely Avenue coming in March of this year

Latest Single:

“The Lonely Avenue”

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen and The Tragically Hip played a big part in my formative years. As I was going through high school, and later studied music at university, Canadian rockers like Sam Roberts and Joel Plaskett really inspired me to stay true to the style of music that spoke to my heart.

Favourite musician now:

Spoon & Wilco are two bands of which I consider myself a superfan. I try my best to see them every time they come through town. They keep getting better!

Guilty pleasure song:

“Freak of the Week” by Marvelous 3. I just discovered this one recently. I wasn’t sure if I’d heard it before, but it sounded delightfully familiar. There were some really great power-pop gems from the 90s…Spacehog, Supergrass, Jellyfish. It was a great time for guitar-driven music.

Live show ritual:

Before playing a show, I like to have a dinner that’s not too heavy, maybe sushi or ramen. After that, a triple espresso macchiato is typically the move.

Favourite local musician:

Kevin Breit. His ability to combine incredible facility on the guitar (and an assortment of other stringed instruments) with a deep musical pathos is something that has made me a big fan since I first heard him play at the Orbit Room in 2005.

EP or LP?

Long Play. I like to settle in and get taken on a journey.

Early bird or night owl?

I’m a late-night putterer. Live music happens after dark, for the most part, so as much as I like to seize the day, getting into an early morning routine is a bit tough.

Road or studio?

The studio is my happy place. I like to make things. I find every step of the writing and recording process to be deeply gratifying.

Any shows or albums coming up?

I’m very excited for people to be able to listen to The Lonely Avenue. Vinyl is the best way! …so I’m additionally excited for people to be able to get the record in their hands.

Where can we follow you? 

Streaming links | Instagram

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Island Foods (near Queen & Duff) is always a treat for me. I’d never eaten roti before moving to Toronto from Vancouver Island. I didn’t know what I had been missing.

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Dundas Street West. It’s an interesting one that winds its way through the west end, as opposed to staying on a grid. The stretch that goes through the Junction is my favourite place to go when I need a change of pace. It feels a bit like being in a different town.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

Humber River Trail. An escape within the city that in parts feels like a stroll through the English countryside.

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

There are many great venues in Toronto, but for me the Horseshoe Tavern is the most iconic. It still feels special every time I’m there.

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Rotate This is my spot. It’s got a great layout, vibe and selection….and it’s within walking distance for me!

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Singer-Songwriter Tristan Armstrong appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Starting vocal lessons at the age of seven, Selena’s drive and love for music grew each day. With influences such as Selena Quintanilla, Kelly Clarkson, and Billie Eilish, to name a few, Selena has a clear vision of herself as a performer. Now at the age of 15, Selena has become a multi-instrumentalist and has strengthened her vocal abilities. She is also a bilingual vocalist, singing in both English and Italian. At this young age, she has already performed at many festivals, her song Missing You was played on the radio, she also had an on-air interview with the same station that played her song, and she won a competition at Youth Day which led her to perform at the iconic music venue, Massey Hall.

What makes her music most unique is that she tells a story with every lyric she sings. Her emotional deliverance in every song is what makes her stand out from others. She can move people, and have them resonate with her original music. She wants to make a difference in the world with her music and the message being delivered within each song. In addition, Selena has honed the title of singer/songwriting with three singles currently available on all streaming platforms, and more on the way. Her first single called ‘How Could You Live With Yourself’, her second single called ‘So Done With You’, and her most recent release ‘Missing You’.

Selena Villa is excited to share her love of music with you all!

Name:

Selena Villa

Genre:

Pop

Founded:

Started singing lessons at the age of 7

Latest Single:

Missing you. It’s a song about losing someone you love and having to deal with the grief and loss that comes with it.

Latest video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Kelly Clarkson. Her vocal range and ability to make any song her own is something that I looked up to in the past and still do to this day.

Favourite musician now:

Billie Eilish. Her vocal abilities, songwriting skills, and the production in each song are all things that are so admirable about her and her music. In addition, her humbleness and personality is something that I also look up to.

Guilty pleasure songs:

Bye Bye Bye by Nsync, Toxic by Britney Spears, Baby by Justin Bieber, Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus

Live Show Ritual:

Before a performance I usually get ready by doing my makeup, hair, and getting my outfit ready. While I do that, I sing and listen to a bunch of my favourite songs. After that I do Vocal Trills to get warmed up before I go perform.

Favourite Local Musician:

Shania Twain. I grew up listening to her music and I still do! She is a Canadian Artist that I look up to!

Early bird or night owl:

Night Owl most definitely!

Road or Studio:

Road. Although I’ve never been on a real tour yet, I know that performing at different places around the world is one of my biggest dreams.

Any shows or albums coming up:

This coming spring, I have many shows coming up as well as new single releases coming soon.

Where can we follow you:

You can follow me on Instagram and TikTok. My handle for all of those platforms is selena.v.official

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant:

The Keg

What is your favourite street in the city and why:

My favourite street in the city is Front Street because I went to a Billie Eilish concert on that street in the Scotiabank Arena.

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

My favourite park in my city is Apted Park because I always went there growing up and it is right beside my old elementary school. I had a lot of memories there. Another one of my favourite parks is Kariya Park in Mississauga. It’s one of my favourites because that is where I shot some of the scenes in my music video for my first single How Could You Live With Yourself.

What is your favourite music venue in your city:

Scotiabank Arena

What is your favourite music store in your city:

Long & McQuade

The post Five Minutes With: Toronto Pop Singer-Songwriter Selena Villa appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Leah Holtom had the opportunity to further her artistry in the Jazz Music Program at Humber College in Toronto after high school. In 2022, she began performing at legendary Toronto venues and participated in a variety of artist development and showcasing programs throughout the country. Lately, Leah has been hard at work bringing her debut EP to life. The project is set to release in the spring of 2024 along with a live video project funded by FACTOR Canada that she filmed on a remote cottage in Northern Ontario. She is thrilled to finally be sharing her music with the world and using it as a way to build and strengthen the community around her.

Name:

Leah Holtom

Genre:

Folk/Country

Founded:

2023

# of Albums:

None yet 😉 just singles for now

Latest Single:

Oh, The Rain

Latest Video:

Favourite musician growing up:

Shania Twain for sure

Favourite musician now:

The Bros. Landreth

Guilty pleasure song:

‘Islands in the Stream’ by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers

Live show ritual: 

A few moments to myself to mentally prepare and talk through my intentions for my set. I also usually take some deep breaths and drink wayyyy too much water!

Favourite local musician:

Alexander Wesley!

EP or LP:

I love a full album. Getting into vinyl records with my boyfriend has brought a whole new appreciation for the world an artist can create within their album projects!!

Early bird or night owl:

Very much have become a night owl haha, the music industry does that to you

Road or Studio:

I’ve yet to tour, but I have a feeling I will love being on the road

Any shows or upcoming albums:

My debut EP is coming out in June 2024! I can’t wait 🙂 There will also be a release show in Toronto in June as well to celebrate!

Where can we follow you?

Instagram | Facebook | Tiktok

***

Rapid Fire Local Questions:

What is your favourite local restaurant?

Parallel Brothers, best falafel hands down!

What is your favourite street in your city and why?

Bloor and Lansdowne. Some of the best thrift and vintage stores live on this street, plus cafes and bakeries to fuel the thrift hunt 🙂

What is your favourite park in your city and why?

You really can’t go wrong with High Park !! As someone who did not grow up right in the city, High Park feels like the perfect escape from the busyness of Toronto!

What is your favourite music venue in your city?

The Burdock Music Hall – so cozy and intimate, and the sound is always spot on!! Not to mention it’s also a brewery so they have local beers and ciders!

What is your favourite music store in your city?

Twelfth Fret – they are so kind to everyone they work with and do such a professional job on stringed instruments!

The post Five Minutes With: Folk Singer/Songwriter Leah Holtom appeared first on Toronto Guardian.