Hello Creator, and welcome to our third official blog!
Can you believe it's week three already? I’m so glad you're here for the ride!
This week, we’re diving into the magic of music! how it creates memories, sparks creativity, and does so much more. We have a fun read in store for you today, from my personal journey with instrumental music to my favourite artists and the sounds that have shaped me. Plus, I’ve had some great conversations with two passionate artists and entrepreneurs. Let's begin!
My Earliest Memories of Music
My earliest musical memory goes back to elementary school at Lord Nelson. I don’t remember the exact grade, but DO I remember being part of the ORFF Ensemble, where we played xylophones. I was the oldest in the group, which felt pretty cool at the time! One of the highlights was performing at TVDSB. We travelled by school bus to the event, and I still remember how exciting it all felt.
A big thank you to Mrs. Macdonald, our teacher, who taught us so much and cheered us on during the performance. She was also my Grade 4 teacher and led the Terry Fox Runs at school. Her influence has stayed with me, and I’m forever grateful for the memories she gave me.

Lord Nelson Band + High School Music
During high school, I was lucky enough to have an incredible music teacher who shaped my musical and personal growth. Mrs. Lusher taught me music and drama from grades 4 to 8, and I’ll never forget her influence. She was more than a teacher.
In high school, I picked up the trumpet and started to explore music on a deeper level. It was tough adjusting to the new skill level required to pass, but because I loved it, I made it work. I spent five years studying music and performing in various shows, including "Monsters of Rock" and a performance at Budweiser Gardens. Those experiences have had a lasting impact on everything I do today.
Meet the Artists, Entrepreneurs, and My Personal Friends from the LEAP Junction Program
As an entrepreneur, it’s always inspiring to meet others who share a love for music and creativity. Today, I’m excited to introduce two incredible artists and friends of mine, Roman and Joseph. I asked them a few questions about their musical journeys, and here’s what they had to say.
Roman Ellis
1) Who are some of your favourite artists, bands, performers, etc.?Thank you for asking for more than one! It's so so hard to choose just one favourite. I have so many favourites for different reasons!
Arctic Monkeys is very close to my heart because I love the way they write their lyrics, and that's what I love most about songs - how people express themselves and their thoughts through music.
I also love Paramore, because the lead singer and songwriter Hayley Williams showed me it's possible for a woman to be a rockstar!
And I just love Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance. Not only is MCR one of my favourite bands, but Gerard is one of my heroes - he always chooses kindness, and he's written a comic book series, too! He's proof that you don't need to do just one thing for your whole life.
2) What is the last song you played?I've been listening to a lot of music from the '80s lately, so the last song I listened to was "Pictures of You" by The Cure another of my favourite bands!

3) How would you describe what you do professionally to a kid?As a singer and songwriter who dabbles in freelance work, it's not just kids who might not understand what I do - sometimes adults ask, too! I like to say this:"I write songs for people who have something to say but don't know how to say it."Sometimes I write songs for other people when they want to tell a loved one they're loved in a special, new way, or when they want to talk about something important to them but don't know how. Even when I write songs for myself, I try to write them in a way that other people will relate to and hopefully help them feel seen.
4) Did you play music in elementary school or high school? Band, Choir, etc!In elementary school, I only did regular music classes with the rest of my classmates, though I did take guitar lessons for a year when I was ten. In high school, I was in the Glee Club, which was like a choir but more modern, haha. Other than that, while I have always loved music, I never took any music classes until I went to college, because I never felt like music would be a real job. Then I learned that it can be, and that there are so many types of jobs for people to do in the music industry!
5) What is one of your favourite memories in the musical world?A lot of my favourite memories are at concerts with my mum. She and I like a lot of the same music, and she's my #1 concert buddy! But I think my favourite music memory was the first time I got to record my singing in a real studio! I learned so much about music and my voice, and I hope to keep learning something new every time I return to the studio.
6) Do you have any upcoming projects we should look out for?I have quite a few secret projects right now, but I'll tell you this right now: keep an eye out for my first release some time in the next couple of months! I've been working on some acoustic demos that I'm so excited to share.
Anything else you want to share!As for anything else I'd like to share, remember this: if anyone ever makes you feel silly for wanting to chase your dreams, no matter how big or small your dreams are, don't listen to that person. You can do anything you put your mind to, as long as you work hard and keep looking forward 💜

Learn more about Roman!
Instagram - @its_roman_ellis
Joseph William Mackay Barker III
1) Who are some of your favourite artists, bands, performers, etc.?Maynard James Keenan is my favourite lyricist, musician, and overall human.It all started when I was first learning how to play bass guitar in high school. My friend, who was a metal drummer and still plays today introduced me to Tool. From there, I was hooked.To me, the music literally felt timeless. And what I’ve found in myself is that the art I tend to respond most to are projects that are timeless in that—it's a person or group of people creating from a pure place. A place that is not greatly influenced by what may be trending or cool at the time. They exist outside of time.
Tool - album "10,000 Days": This band is literally magic in their capacity as musicians, their composition, the lyricism, and art. If I had to place on a billboard one album for all time, it would be this one.
Puscifer - "Existential Reckoning": If you like aliens, Area 51, men in black—this album is for you.These past five years have been interesting, to say the least. This album was written and recorded just prior to the pandemic. This has been my personal soundtrack for the past five years. As someone who's been a musician for most of my life, I tend to allow myself to listen to the music—not the lyrics. This album and any of Maynard James Keenan's lyrics grow on and in me. Unveiling new fruits every season and year that passes.

2) What is the last song you played?"Right in Two" by Tool and "Bullet Train to Iowa" by PusciferThe last song that I played was recording vocals for my upcoming album BABYLON.dawn. I was adding backing tracks.
3) How would you describe what you do professionally to a kid?
I am a magician and a king
I am a renaissance man
I am that I amI help people, I make art and music, I make yummy food and drinks, I garden, I teach, I play, I learn (hopefully).
4) Did you play music in elementary school or high school? Band, Choir, etc!I always loved music, but to be honest, my capacity and time with music didn’t really start until I was out of high school. I went to one of the best music high schools in the country, but I never took any classes. I taught myself the didgeridoo in grade 9. It was the first time I dedicated myself to an instrument. Then I started playing bass and guitar towards the end of grade 10. I played several bands that would last long enough for one performance. When I finished college, I joined my first more serious band. We wrote and recorded (and rerecorded) several albums. That project gave me lots of learning in terms of the importance of:
Band, Practice, Intention, Collaboration, Dedication, Trust, Creativity as Act of Personal Growth, Importance of StoryWe only made concept albums. Each album was a story fitting inside of a larger story.
5) What is one of your favourite memories in the musical world?Honestly, so many it’s hard to say. Thousands of hours in the studio writing, learning, being in the creative flow alone or with others.Before the pandemic, I put on several sold-out Meditation Concerts in London. These experiences were so full of love, care, kindness, and beauty. During the climax of one of those experiences, my entire body was vibrating with joy and peace such a top life experience.Dressing up the Dinosaur Caves during the final Grickle Grass festival to make the Zen Dino Caves felt like a childhood dream come true. The Dinosaur caves at the children’s museum were transformed by me and my friend Edward. I played a 5-hour ambient music set. We made the entire cave system into a dynamic and cozy lighting experience with dozens of blankets, pillows, and places to rest and restore.
6) Do you have any upcoming projects we should look out for?Upcoming projects worth noting:
I will be releasing two albums June 21st. Their current titles are BABYLON.dawn and AVALON.dawn
BABYLON.dawn is entirely electronic instrumentation synthesizers, drum machines, groove boxes, and voice.
AVALON.dawn is a fully acoustic album, primarily guitar, bass guitar, and voice.If you want to connect with voices, let me know.

Learn more about Joseph!
Instagram - @joseph_william_mackay_barker
Thank you so much for reading!
I hope you feel inspired and ready for a fun week ahead. Don’t forget to check out our YouTube Music Playlist, where I’ve shared all the songs used this week, as well as some of my personal recommendations and songs from previous posts. Music Week Playlist - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWl9UKph276bvJaTU6dz_h9tpuUJ5Ldb5&si=A890hS3xqBMzwxN4
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