Success Stories

Canada has one of the most robust music funding regimes in the world, and that funding support has led to a fertile industry where Canadian artists and entrepreneurs are seen worldwide as punching well above our weight class.

At FACTOR we are proud to be part of the success of all of the artists, companies, conferences and events that we fund – and we want to share that success with the world.

We invite you to browse through our #FACTORfunded artists and entrepreneurs, as they share their stories about how FACTOR support has made a difference in their career.

#FACTORfunded:

4Korners

I’ve been widely known as an international DJ as well as the Official DJ of the Toronto Raptors for well over a decade, but 2022 was a MASSIVE year for me as I made the transition from DJ to Recording Artist / Producer complete. With the support of FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording program, I was able to successfully write, produce, record, release and roll out my debut full length album, “4KORNERS Of The World” solidifying my place in this new career path.

The album is a musical journey around the world. It’s both a portrait of Toronto as the most multicultural city on the planet, and a collection of sounds and feelings that live within me as a result of touring globally as a DJ for the past decade. It’s Hip Hop, Electronic, Afrobeats, Dancehall, Soca, J-Pop, Baile Funk and so much more, all wrapped into one seamless audio escape. This is what music means to me, and thanks to FACTOR I was able to craft this project in a way that is true to my vision without sacrificing quality, and release it 100% independently though my own company JN SHPPRD.

I worked with emerging Canadian artists of diverse ethnic backgrounds residing all over the country, recorded the music in studios across 3 provinces and shot music videos in both Toronto and Vancouver. It is of great importance to me that I not only explore sound but provide a platform for up and coming Canadian talent, which was done to the max on this album with features from future superstars like EverythingOShauN, Odreii, Ashton Adams and Temia to name a few. And aesthetically, I was able to bring my ideas to life from photo and content shoots to marketing and promotional initiatives. Support from FACTOR helped make all of that possible.

This project received critical acclaim and media coverage from tons of major outlets including SOCAN Magazine, CP24, CTV, TSN and Blog TO plus radio spins and interviews across Canada and around the world on Virgin / iHeart Radio, CBC Radio, 3 Sirius XM channels, Flex 101.4 (UK), Naija 102 (Nigeria), MOUV (France) and more. It got major support from Spotify, Apple Music and Amazon Music amounting to two Yonge-Dundas Billboards and over 30 Editorial playlists, and has been extremely well received on my recent tours across Canada and Europe. Thank you FACTOR for supporting my artistry and helping me put myself in position to level up my career, export my music internationally, and take more and more young talented Canadians with me!

#FACTORfunded:

Adrian Sutherland

“I released my FACTOR-funded debut solo album during the pandemic. When ‘The Magic Hits’ came out in September 2021, and earned a nomination at the 2022 JUNO Awards, and nominations at the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards and 2023 Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards. The music video for Magic Hits, which was also supported by FACTOR, won the award for Best Music Video from the 47th American Indian Film Festival in San Francisco. Thanks to FACTOR’s funding and support, I have been able to use my music as a tool to share about my life in Attawapiskat First Nation in the Far North, and help create more awareness about issues facing First Nations like contaminated water, housing shortages, food insecurity, and lack of healthcare and mental health services – all of which continue to be ongoing issues here in Canada.”

#FACTORfunded:

Austra

2017 was a great year for Austra. We played over 125 shows in the US, Canada, Europe and Latin America supporting the release of Future Politics. Thanks to the generous funding we received from FACTOR, we were able to take our show to the next level by traveling with our own lighting designer and elevated stage production. It was thrilling for both us as a band and the fans to experience and will hopefully inspire the latter to keep coming out as we keep making music and putting out records.

Austra

#FACTORfunded:

Begonia

“Begonia has one of Canada’s most extraordinary voices, and thankfully she uses it to obliterate the misery from this world one live performance at a time.” – Noisey

Begonia launched onto the Canadian music scene on the strength of critically acclaimed 2017 EP Lady In Mind. Yet to her fans, the Pop/R&B singer felt like music’s best kept secret. After receiving critical FACTOR funding, Begonia went on to release her audacious debut full-length album Fear in September 2019. Fear was chosen as one of Exclaim!’s Most Underrated Albums of the Year, and made numerous end of the year recommendation lists. Her singles “Beats” and “Hanging On A Line” were named as CBC Music National Radio Fan Favourites of 2019, and the album spent 10 straight weeks as the #1 album in the country on Earshot’s Top 50 chart. Thanks to FACTOR Tour Support, Begonia has been touring major festivals and playing to sold-out audiences at small clubs across North America. On stage, Begonia dresses in bold, sometimes bright-coloured wardrobe: it’s how she feels most powerful, “almost like a superhero version of myself,” she says. Thanks to FACTOR support, Begonia is able to share her aesthetic with fans in the stunning music videos and photography that she uses to support the music.

#FACTORfunded:

Cadence Weapon

I’d like to extend my gratitude to FACTOR for the assistance they’ve provided to me throughout my career. I’ve dedicated myself to the pursuit of creating innovative rap music that pushes the boundaries of what is expected from the genre. FACTOR’s support of my music and the work of other unconventional artists in our country has helped to make the Canadian music landscape a more diverse place. My recently released self-titled album was funded by FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording program, contributing to the production, recording and mixing of the album. Cadence Weapon received positive reviews and press coverage from Pitchfork, The Fader, Complex, Dazed Digital, Highsnobiety, NOISEY and the Toronto Star. The album held the number 1 spot on !earshot’s National Hip Hop college radio chart for eight weeks straight and the first single “My Crew (Woooo)” premiered on Zane Lowe’s Beats 1 show on Apple Music. The resources provided by FACTOR have helped me to expand the breadth of my artistic vision and create what Exclaim! calls my “most provocative and well-executed album” and “a high water mark for hip-hop on this continent.”

Cadence Weapon

#FACTORfunded:

Catherine MacLellan

Canadian folk music gem Catherine MacLellan released her FACTOR-funded album COYOTE at the end of 2019 and the success of COYOTE has allowed Catherine to continue to reach new fans at home in Canada and internationally.

Live appearances at the start of 2020 started with her official showcase in Australia, directly followed by three weeks of dates in with co-headline shows anchored by two major folk festivals, Woodford and Cygnet. Official showcasing at Folk Alliance International in New Orleans and Americana UK in Hackney helped finalize summer 2020 touring dates to support COYOTE’s release in the US, Canada, UK, and Europe. Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Catherine’s official SXSW showcase in Austin as well as all spring and summer shows had to be cancelled or rescheduled. With FACTOR’s support we are now in the process of filming a live special performance for COYOTE to be available fall 2021.

Award recognition for COYOTE started with a 2020 JUNO nomination for Contemporary Folk Album of the Year, followed with nominations for three Canadian Folk Awards, four East Coast Music Awards (winning Songwriter of the Year), and eight Music PEI awards (with three wins including Solo recording of the Year and Contemporary Roots Recording). Press accolades for COYOTE included the cover and feature article in Penguin Eggs and a review in MOJO Magazine in the UK. COYOTE reached #6 on the NACC Folk charts in the U.S. and #15 on the North Americana Sirius XM Top 30 year-end chart (2019).

Catherine wishes to thank FACTOR for the support with the creation and promotion of COYOTE.

#FACTORfunded:

Charlotte Cardin

2022-2023 has been a huge year for Charlotte Cardin. The artist’s promotion, supported by Factor’s funding envelope for the Cult Nation Inc. Label, has taken her to the next level. Her 2021 album Phoenix went platinum in 2022 and earned her six Juno nominations, making her the most nominated artist of the year at the awards. She was also the most awarded artist winning 4 Junos for Album of the Year, Pop Album of the Year with Phoenix, Artist of the Year and Single of the Year with Meaningless. As a result of this recognition, Charlotte has received a tremendous amount of press and promotional opportunities not only in Canada, but also in the United States and Europe. With the generous support of Factor, the rising star also toured over 50 sold out dates in Canada, the U.S. and Europe as well as opening for established artists such as Chet Faker, BORNS and Milky Chance. Finally, in 2022, Charlotte has been focusing on the production of her upcoming album (99 Nights) due out in the summer of 2023 as well as the production of her next tour that will follow this highly anticipated release.

#FACTORfunded:

Daniela Andrade

In 2019, as a producer, writer, performer and creative director, Daniela Andrade’s voice is coming full circle, back to the DIY spirit that sparked her initial creations as an early pioneer on YouTube. Securing support at the likes of NPR, Billboard, Complex, The FADER and COLORS, Daniela released the new bilingual and genre-bending project Tamale that blends glimmers of jazz-indebted soul and R&B as it pays homage to her Honduran roots.

“I’d like to thank FACTOR for helping my recently released project Tamale come to life. The funding allowed me to dedicate time to learn to produce, collaborate with talented artists in Toronto and give it the support it deserved. I’m grateful to have been able to share a part of my story as a child to immigrants, one that I feel is necessary to shed light on as a Canadian, where there are many who grew up similarly.”

#FACTORfunded:

Debby Friday

2023 has been a break-out year for Nigerian-born, Toronto-based artist DEBBY FRIDAY. She released her FACTOR-funded debut album, GOOD LUCK, to resounding critical acclaim, with glowing reviews from the likes of STEREOGUM, SPIN Magazine, Billboard, NPR Music, The Chicago Reader and more. Lead single “SO HARD TO TELL” was declared as Pitchfork’s first Best New Track of the year. The 10 track record is a brazen and succinct sonic entree that The New York Times describes as “a shape-shifting, swashbuckling dynamo journeying through different tempos and genres”. The album was released with a short film of the same name, funded in part by FACTOR’s Video Component. Since the release of the album and thanks to her FACTOR JSR funding, FRIDAY has set off on dedicated tours across North America, Europe and Australia, playing landmark shows at festivals such as Austin’s SXSW, Tasmania’s Dark Mofo, Quebec City’s FEQ and Seattle’s Bumbershoot.

#FACTORfunded:

Dominique Fils-Aimé

Montreal-based, JUNO Award winning singer-songwriter, Dominique Fils-Aimé [FEES-em-AY] recently completed an ambitious album trilogy conceptualizing the history of African American music, reflecting on the social realities that influenced the genres of blues, jazz and soul.

Dominique’s career blossomed when her FACTOR-funded sophomore album, “Stay Tuned!”, received a write-up on Radio Canada’s Jazz Revelation. “Stay Tuned!” was then shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, won the JUNO for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year, and was featured among the nineteen best Canadian albums of 2019 by CBC. Her debut, “Nameless” is used as a reference recording for audiophiles across the world and was showcased at High End Munich and AXPONA. And most recently, “Three Little Words”, her second FACTOR-funded recording, also made the Polaris Shortlist, claimed the #1 spot for best selling album in Quebec and hit #2 in Canada, with over three hundred media mentions worldwide.

With FACTOR’s generous support, Dominique Fils-Aimé has toured in both Canada and the U.S. and has upcoming European tours this fall (2021) and winter (2022).

#FACTORfunded:

Ghostly Kisses

An international success story with Ghostly Kisses, the dreamy pop music of French-Canadian singer-songwriter Margaux Sauvé. Ghostly Kisses is making her mark across the world with her debut full-length album, Heaven, Wait funded through FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording program
and subsequent FACTOR supported tours in Europe, United Kingdom, United States, and Dubai. There’s no slowing down in 2023 as she supports Canadian band Men I Trust in the UK and makes her way to Istanbul, Berlin, and Reykjavík by the end of the year.

#FACTORfunded:

Haviah Mighty

In the past year, Haviah has balanced both a burgeoning group project with all-female hip hop crew, The Sorority, seeing their debut release Pledge in April 2018, alongside continuing her solo career with newfound momentum. This momentum began with Mighty’s first Artist Development grant from FACTOR, that was in support of her most recent EP, Flower City (March 2017). It was with that project that she started to gain industry attention, and began building a working relationship with booking agency APA, as well as artist management team Valeo Arts Management (A Tribe Called Red, Jeremy Dutcher, Jean-Michel Blais, Boogat). Together with her team, Haviah’s career is being propelled to places it hasn’t been before, recently landing opening spots for Nelly, Desiigner, Kranium, and more. Now, with support from FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording program, Mighty’s forthcoming full-length project will be a career defining release that will leverage her to new audiences in more markets than ever before, via marketing, touring, and showcasing opportunities within the program. FACTOR has made sure that artists in Canada are able to reach their full creative and market potential through the Juried Sound Recording portfolio, and Mighty is fortunate to take full advantage of these resources at an essential moment in her come up.

Haviah Mighty

#FACTORfunded:

Jayli Wolf

“Art can bring meaning to pain in a way that not much else can. I’m so grateful for the ability to explore my feelings through creating and I’m overwhelmed by the generous support of FACTOR to help independent artists like myself bring our visions into the world.”

#FACTORfunded:

Jeremy Dutcher

As a classically trained operatic tenor and composer, Jeremy Dutcher takes every opportunity to blend his Wolastoq First Nation roots into the music he creates. Dutcher’s 2018 debut album, Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, won the Polaris Music Prize and the JUNO Award for Indigenous Music Album of the Year. The impact his groundbreaking amalgam of opera, classical music, and First Nations history has had on Indigenous youth has been the most rewarding part of his career.

With FACTOR’s support, Dutcher has shared his unique sound across North America, Europe, and Australia, and released his debut music video “Mehcinut ”. The music video features Indigenous activists, leaders, and artists of all stripes, allowing Dutcher to amplify vital voices and make Indigenous excellence visible.

#FACTORfunded:

Jessie Reyez

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Jessie Reyez recently released her highly anticipated debut album, Before Love Came To Kill Us, with the help of FACTOR’s Comprehensive Artist program. The 14-track studio album finds Jessie flying solo and hitting her stride, with only two additional artist features including “Coffin” featuring Eminem and “Imported” featuring 6lack. Jessie has graced the cover of magazines and been featured in Rolling Stone, Billboard, Vogue, Elle, LADYGUNN, CLASH, Galore, etc., and appeared on multiple late-night TV and award shows, including The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Late Night with Seth Meyers, the BET Awards, MTV VMA’s and The Daily Show. Jessie has been nominated for multiple awards in Canada and the US and has won R&B/Soul Recording and Breakthrough Artist of the Year at the JUNO’s and was presented with the Breakout Songwriter Award at SOCAN. Jessie has collaborated with many notable artists including Kehlani, Daniel Caesar, Romeo Santos, Lewis Capaldi, Karol G, Bea Miller and more.

#FACTORfunded:

Korea Town Acid

Korea Town Acid is a Seoul-born, Toronto based producer/DJ. Over the past decade KTA’s signature futuristic delivery, compatible as a DJ set or with live hardware synths, has garnered her global attention. She has showcased in Seoul, New York, Athens, Berlin, London, and Helsinki, as well as throughout Canada.

Her entirely self-produced debut LP Metamorphosis was recorded in Toronto at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mixed and mastered by Dave Cooley (J Dilla, MF Doom), the ten-track record features a range of collaborations from Toronto based artist DESIIRE, U.K based Korean pianist and rapper Pianwooo, Seoul rapper PNSB, and more.

Metamorphosis was released via URBNET and was funded by FACTOR.

“When URBNET reached me out, I knew they were a more hip hop based, beats oriented label. I wanted to engage with the rap/hip hop side of me, I was just discovering lots of underground rappers and beats from Seoul.”

Since its release in May 2021, the album has received positive feedback from Resident Advisor, Bandcamp, Visla Korea, Exclaim!, NOW Magazine, and Complex Canada.

“FACTOR helped me push my boundaries and focus in this pandemic year. I felt that FACTOR and URBNET gave me 100% creative control and direction, which allowed me to explore my next sound in freedom. I really appreciate that”.

#FACTORfunded:

Laila Biali

Since last year’s release of Laila’s FACTOR-supported eponymous album, LAILA BIALI (Chronograph Records), the Jazz-crossover artist has received several high honours including a 2018 Canadian Songwriting Competition win, and her first JUNO Award for 2019 Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. With FACTOR’s generous support, Laila’s album garnered attention across Canada’s media outlets – a spot on CBC Music’s Top 20, the #7 position across all genres on earshot!’s National Top 50, an excellent review by exclaim!, and multiple regional and national TV appearances. Laila’s international profile has also increased substantially, leading to video premieres with Parade Magazine and Pop Matters, a cover feature in the national German Jazz Magazine JAZZTHETIK, and a rave review in the Washington Post which got picked up by the Associated Press and published across the United States. FACTOR supported Laila at every level, from the making of the album, to touring, video production, and various marketing components, for which she is forever grateful!

Laila Biali

#FACTORfunded:

Lido Pimienta

A Toronto-based, Colombian-born musician, interdisciplinary artist, and curator, Lido has performed, exhibited, and curated around the world since 2002.

Lido’s 2017 album La Papessa netted her a Polaris Music Prize win for best full-length Canadian album. With FACTOR support, Lido has headlined festivals and venues spanning Canada, the United States and Europe, and performed and collaborated with renowned acts including A Tribe Called Red, Bomba Estéreo, Helado Negro, and Austra, among others.

Lido’s new FACTOR-funded album, Miss Colombia, continues her artistic growth, with ambitiously arranged songs that expand the narrative around her dual Colombian/Canadian identity and her family’s mixed roots in the Afro-Colombian and Indigenous Wayuu communities. Miss Colombia continues to chart Lido Pimienta’s evolution into an independent woman and artist who refuses to fit into pre-conceived notions of what a pop Latina artist ought to be.

#FACTORfunded:

Luna Li

Over the last year, Korean-Canadian indie pop multi-instrumentalist Luna Li has seen tremendously exciting growth, catapulting herself into the Canadian and international music scenes thanks in large part to significant contributions through FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording program. The release of FACTOR funded singles ‘Trying’ and ‘Afterglow’ in the first half of 2020 brought the attention of exciting new partners AWAL, 88rising and former XL Recordings head A&R Imran Ahmed’s new label, In Real Life.

In 2021, Luna Li has continued to build momentum with the releases ‘Cherry Pit’ and ‘Alone But Not Lonely’ – which have seen press support from some of music and fashions largest publications including i-D, NME, PAPER, Exclaim!, The Needle Drop and much more.

FACTOR’s support has also helped Luna Li to create captivating videos, including Cherry Pit, which has built Luna’s profile in the fashion world, leading to interviews with the likes of FASHION Canada and more.

Luna Li was nominated for Alternative Album of the Year for the project Duality, at the 2023 JUNO Awards.

#FACTORfunded:

Matt Andersen

When Matt Andersen steps on stage, he brings a lifetime of music to every note he plays. His 2023 album released on Sonic Records, The Big Bottle of Joy, is all about hard-won celebration; a dozen songs infused with raw blues-rock, rollicking Americana, thoughtful folk, and ecstatic gospel. FACTOR support for this album allowed Andersen to hand pick musicians for this project and subsequent touring, meaning the creative choices made in the studio could accompany Andersen on tour with all the homegrown talent that brought those songs to life. In spring 2023, the bus departed for British Columbia to start a 26-date national tour in theatres shows in Halifax. With a 9-piece band and stellar crew, a FACTOR funded tour allowed the full show
to be presented coast to coast without creative compromise. Andersen will continue bringing the Big Bottle of Joy sound into the United States no fewer than four times within this calendar year, including support dates with Tab Benoit, Devon Allmon & Donavon Frankenreiter, as well as UK and European markets that’ve become mainstays.

#FACTORfunded:

MONOWHALES

Since the very beginning of our careers in the Canadian music industry, FACTOR’s support has played a huge role in our success as an independent band. The recording of our breakout single “Home” was made possible through FACTOR’s Demo Grant. This allowed us to put more funds towards the video that would accompany that single, which ended up being a huge step forward for us after the video went viral. A year later we received FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording Grant and were able to use it to recruit producer AL-P to produce and mix our EP Control Freak. The marketing funds made available through the program allowed us to hire a publicist and a radio promoter, make quality videos, and promote multiple singles that received radio airplay across Canada. Our first single “Take It Back” peaked at #25 on the Canadian Alternative Rock Charts and was described by 102.1 The Edge as “the track that put MONOWHALES on the indie rock-map in Canada”. As the second single “Real Love” climbed to #31 we were able to begin a relentless touring schedule that included supporting acts like K. Flay, Dear Rouge, and The Beaches, as well as performing at major festivals such as Festival D’Ete du Quebec, PRIDE in Yellowknife, NWT, and the Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg, Germany. This all culminated in MONOWHALES receiving the Jim Beam INDIE Award for Best Alternative Artist/Group of the Year during Canadian Music Week 2019, and the Forest City London Music Award for Ontario Independent Recording Artist of the Year. We owe a huge debt of gratitude to FACTOR and are thankful that we live in a country that is so willing to support its artists.

MONOWHALES

#FACTORfunded:

Neon Dreams

When we set out to create our album Sweet Dreams To Sunbeams we had an artistic vision that was separate from anything we had done before. We wanted to create entirely new concepts in the way we branded ourselves as a band. In the end we discovered what would become our bands sound.

FACTOR allowed us to bring these visions to life through the Juried Sound Recording program which helped fund everything from recording the album to creating the music video and marketing it in ways we’ve never been able to in the past. From Sweet Dreams to Sunbeams we received a JUNO nomination for “Breakthrough Group of The Year”, two Top 40 singles at CHR and Hot AC radio, success across all streaming platforms for several songs off the project, multiple tours as support and headlining slots in both Canada and the US, all of which wouldn’t have been possible without funding from FACTOR.

#FACTORfunded:

Nuela Charles

This last year I was fortunate enough to be approved for JSR funding. This funding really came at the right time, as I was beginning work on my new album Distant Danger, and just came off a 2018 JUNO Award nomination for my previous FACTOR funded album The Grand Hustle. I really took my time with this project and worked as a co-producer to really mould the sound of this record. With FACTOR’s support I also travelled to Germany to showcase at Reeperbahn and Kelowna, British Columbia for BreakOut West. As a result of my hard work and FACTOR’s contribution to my career, I was nominated for a 2019 JUNO Award for Adult Contemporary Album and a 2019 Western Canadian Music Award for BreakOut Artist of the Year.

Nuela Charles

#FACTORfunded:

Patrick Watson

“Whether it’s been funding for touring, marketing and promotion, or otherwise, FACTOR has played a
significant role in the development of my career, both at home and abroad. My team and I continue
to push boundaries, develop new markets, and grow the fanbase, and we are blessed to have
had FACTOR’s support for the journey.”

#FACTORfunded:

Ralph

FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording funding is undeniably a huge “factor” in Ralph’s ongoing success. Being awarded funding for her 2019 EP Flashbacks and Fantasies allowed Ralph to work with some of Canada’s best producers and sound engineers. Her single “Gravity” picked up by all top 40 stations across Canada and rise to the radio top 20 charts.

The new year began with an American tour offer to support indie-pop band JOAN for twenty-one shows, as well as an opportunity to do five headline shows across Western Canada, but the cherry on top was the nomination for Best Dance Recording of the Year at the 2020 JUNOs.

#FACTORfunded:

Ruby Waters

Over the past year, despite the many changes our world has seen from the impacts of COVID-19, Ruby managed to charge forward with releasing her latest EP project and growing her fanbase. FACTOR being one of the largest contributors behind her campaign, Ruby released her single “Quantum Physics” in April 2020 which has now surpassed over 3M streams on Spotify alone. This success also led her to landing a distribution partnership with the Orchard for the release of her 2nd EP If It Comes Down To It backed by a full PR/radio campaign.

Upon her cancelled tour dates and shows, Ruby pivoted and participated in both the Big Night In NYE and the Crows Theatre’s Valentine’s Day live stream events, finding another meaningful way to share her craft. FACTOR’s contributions towards her success were pivotal in allowing her to expand her team, increase the quality of her content, and step forward in her career through an unpredictable year.

#FACTORfunded:

Sean Leon

“Factor has made room and allowed me to pursue my artistic endeavours while remaining true to my beliefs and maintaining my independence and freedom. I’m grateful to be able to continue my journey with their continued support and my team and I are looking forward to accomplishing even more next year. “ – Sean Leon

#FACTORfunded:

Softcult

Thanks to FACTOR’s support in 2022-2023, Softcult provided direct support to Incubus on their UK tour,
including two nights at the Royal Albert Hall as well as direct support to Muse in Toronto. They not only
headlined tours in the United States, Canada, UK, Europe, and Southeast Asia but headlined sold-out
shows in London, Glasgow, Manchester, Bangkok, Tokyo, Manila and Toronto. Other highlights include
performances at Reeperbahn, The Great Escape, SXSW and CMW, two Maida Vale live session
recordings for BBC Radio 1, a top 10 single at CBC Radio and more.

#FACTORfunded:

Tanika Charles

For soul artist Tanika Charles, 2022 was a year of reassertion. After a couple years of relative inactivity, it was time to reemerge with new music the exemplifies her as one of the best soul singers this country has to offer. Following the success of 2019’s The Gumption and 2016’s Soul Run, Tanika released her third album, Papillion de Nuit: The Night Butterfly, in April of 2022. Papillon was Tanika’s first time receiving FACTOR Juried Sound Recording funding for an album project. Not only was the financial support critical to completing the album, the structure that came with these funding obligations helped usher the project through it’s stages during a period of ongoing uncertainty about what came next.

The album was released in Canada through Tanika’s own Unique Applause label, but was licensed through the Italian label Record Kicks for international distribution. The two entities led complimentary marketing and promotional campaigns for album leading to significant coverage on both sides of the Atlantic. Papillon de Nuit received glowing reviews and praise in numerous publications including Canada’s Exclaim!, UK’s Uncut magazine, and was named Bandcamp’s album of the day upon it’s release.

A FACTOR-assisted promotional campaign in Canada converted into many performance requests. As such, what was expected to be a slow easing back into live performances instead became a jam packed summer of over a dozen festival appearances across the country. Since two years had gone by with very little summer festivals, the mentality within Tanika’s team was to say “yes” to as many opportunities as possible and then find a way to make them feasible. The availability of FACTOR tour support funding reduced the financial gamble involved, leaving only logistical gambles to contend with (side note: FACTOR please consider expanding your mandate to also bend space and time, thanks).

Thanks in part to FACTOR’s ongoing support, Tanika has been able to tour and showcase her new material across Canada. Plans are already in place to continue expanding her international reach into 2023 and beyond. Getting back into the saddle so soon wasn’t easy, and certainly wasn’t guaranteed. But with support programs like FACTOR’s Juried Sound Recording, Tanika Charles was able to jump back into the mix and remind the world that some of the best soul music comes from Canada.

#FACTORfunded:

Toronto Tabla Ensemble

FACTOR support played a significant role in the production, marketing, and music video shoot for Toronto Tabla Ensemble’s sixth album Bhumika. Since the album’s release, the Ensemble’s music has been featured on radio stations across North America, Europe, and Australia including CBC Toronto and BBC Radio 3. The Ensemble’s artistic director Ritesh Das won a Global Music Award for composing the album’s title track. The music video “Faceoff” has won awards at short film festivals across the world and has gained tens of thousands of views across online platforms. The video and song received an Independent Music Award for ‘Best Song World Traditional” in June 2019 in New York. Leading up to and following Bhumika‘s release, the Ensemble has performed the album’s pieces in concerts at the Harbourfront Centre in Toronto and at the San Francisco Opera House. Toronto Tabla Ensemble thanks FACTOR for its past and ongoing support.

Toronto Tabla Ensemble

#FACTORfunded:

U.S. Girls

U.S. Girls released In A Poem Unlimited in 2018, the record was met with great critical acclaim and many new fans. FACTOR was a key part in supporting the 8 to 9-piece touring band to portray the vision of this record live. With FACTOR’s participation the band was able to participate in multiple international tours which ultimately helped lead them to securing slots at major festivals such as Coachella, Governor’s Ball, and Osheaga in 2019. This would not have been possible without the support of FACTOR.