#TBT

PIU PIU

Kaytranada, Shay Lia. "Leave Me Alone." 99.9%, XL Recordings, 2016.

Hot off the heels of a big win at this year's Polaris Music Prize -- a seriously vaunted award in Canada -- Kaytradana has created a masterpiece, introducing a younger audience to that Haitian kompa vibe and its dangerously danceable percussive rhythms.

Here's a #TBT for you...

I first met Kevin Celestin (aka Kaytra) five years ago when he and his brother, Louis, nervously registered to perform at Hip Hop Karaoke in Montréal. Looking a spitting image of Kid 'n Play with their backpacks and snapbacks, as soon as they stepped on stage, you could tell these kids were destined for greatness. Their nerves dissipated, raw stage presence took over as they fed off the crowd's energy, and I can only imagine they were hooked from there on out.

The self-styled "Celestics" returned to perform at HHKMTL several times (throwback videos below, pardon the audio quality) sometimes as a duo, other times a solo act, and often with their larger crew.

In the years to follow, the Montréal beats scene, affectionately called "PIU PIU music," took off (check the documentary), Kevin would proceed to work his ass off, make killer beats, tour the world, meet some legendary folks in the music industry, and produce one of my favourite -- and now, award-winning -- albums of the year with 99.9%.

Dream comfort memory to spare

Neil Young. "Helpless." Greatest Hits, Reprise Records, 2004.

We all have our Up North. This song encapsulates so many of the feelings I have for the woods, the rocks, the lakes, summertime in the Muskokas, Georgian Bay, Algonquin Park, and the multitude of breathtaking spots we are incredibly fortunate to have in Ontario. Listening to Neil Young on the drive south down Highway 11 on the the Northland bus with a window seat and feeling blessed was such a transformative and grounding way to begin this internal journey home. Even when home can feel so very far away. Je me souviens.