i. My name is Missy D.

ii. I am a: Hip Hop, Rap & Soul artist based in Vancouver on the land of the Squamish, Tsleil-Wautuh and Musqueam peoples.

iii. Other ways I would describe myself:
I’m also a creative, a part-time interviewer with a show on IG and YouTube called Missy D Interviews, a Laydy Jams member.  I am a daughter, a sister, a friend, an educator and a community builder.

iv. A day in my artistic life looks like:
That random stranger on the bus, yes, that’s me, listening to some beats, tapping my fingers along to the melodies, writing quick voice memos and doing some music admin work while commuting.  Other days of the week include vocals lessons, creative meetings and calls, some impromptu writing sessions, and new collaboration hangouts. It’s so exciting to see more live music in all our summer calendars, and that also means my weekends will now include either a show or a rehearsal with my band. The music is constantly playing, and I listen and work on my craft.

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v. Childhood city/town + hobbies:
I have three childhood cities: Kigali – Rwanda, Abidjan – Cote D’Ivoire and Harare – Zimbabwe.
My hobbies include catching some live music or comedy, dancing, poetry and basketball.

vi. Where I live now + how that affects my art:
I live in Vancouver, BC, on the land of the Squamish, Tsleil-Wautuh and Musqueam peoples.

While unpacking my belonging here as a settler, these lands have allowed me to learn, unlearn and relearn the importance of Indigenous sovereignty and solidarity and the ways our intersectionalities show up on and off the stage. It has empowered me to show solidarity for my BIPOC communities and express all my realities, feelings, sorrows, pain, and JOY while I’m on the mic.

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Photos By Dessmin Singh

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vii. Recent projects I’m excited about:
If we are talking about Missy D Projects, I am excited about Case Départ, my first francophone project and the first single music video (below), available on Youtube.; it’s an introduction to my francophone roots. I am also excited to be working on a full album and preparing for all these wonderful summer shows like the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival.

In making this French project, I’ve been excited about Stromae’s Multitude album; all the influences, the musicality, the lyrics, and the messages all resonated with me.  He’s a stellar artist and a collaboration dream.

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viii. At the Jazz Festival, you’ll see me:
You will see me performing some bilingual tunes from my francophone and anglophone projects . You will witness my love for Jazz, Hip Hop, Rap & Soul and even Rock. This will be thanks to the great live band Sejal Lal on the violin/vocals, Vinay Lobo – Guitar, Dave Taylor – Bass and Yato Noukoussi on drums. They are all so talented, and I am so grateful to share the stage with them and call them my friends! You will see and feel community, musicianship, jams, grooves and feelings. You might even hear some unreleased music.

ix. What I’m most looking forward to in performing at the Jazz Festival:
Live music and a live audience! There is something powerful about that exchange, we’ve all missed it for the past years, and this is the connection I look forward to the most. Get ready for those call and responses, a little movement, and a lot of soul. From us to you, from me to you, let’s remind ourselves that we are in this together!

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x. Future shows or projects:
I will be playing at the TD Vancouver International Jazz Festival on June 29 at Ocean Art Works on Granville Island, and stay tuned for some more music coming your way!

xi. Anything to add:
Please follow @missydmusic on Instagram for more music and show updates to keep up to date!

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www.creatorsvancouver.com

Header Photo: Christopher Edmonstone