The vibe
Imagine a songwriters’ circle, but for music producers, online. The Producers' Circle is not about expertise, but about community. Each session, participants share various pieces that they have worked on, explore how they made it, and receive a wide range of feedback from peers. It's all love.
Sometimes the hardest part is sharing something that isn't "finished." The more opportunities we have to develop that muscle, the easier it becomes.
You don't have to be a producer to hang out. Listeners are more than welcome, too. No pressure 😊.
Overview
This drop-in, co-curricular initiative seeks to support Hart House’s Hip Hop Education by bringing together beatmakers, producers, and music creators, primarily from the U of T community, in an informal and open space to share beats, tracks, techniques, questions and ideas.
The aim of these sessions is to create a supportive music production community of practice, dedicated to creative expression and artistic development. Whether you're just getting started or have been a producer for many years, this session is meant to be an inclusive environment for music producers of all levels and anyone interested in music production.
All genres of music are welcome!
Event formats:
Sample Challenge: We provide a track and you chop it, sample it, flip it and create something new. We all share in a non-judgmental space.
Drop-in beat / track share: Bring any music you’re working on, or something you made ages ago! The point is to share music, learn from each other, and maybe get a few collaborations off the ground. All genres are welcome!
Workshops: We’ll bring in a guest to share their knowledge, wisdom, and approaches to various elements of music production and the industry. These are informal discussions, and not so much "presentations." Guests will also hang out and listen to tracks from the group.
Hart House Producers' Circle Mixtapes
Producers’ Circle and Hart House Music Committee Discord
Schedules
All times 6-8pm (EST)
Guests
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Marcus Singleton a.k.a. iomos marad
Community Connector, Hip Hop Education
Marcus is originally from the Englewood Community in the South Side of Chicago. He is a conscious Hip-Hop artist/educator who is an advocate for Black students. He completed his Masters of Education in Social Justice Education and is currently a Ph.D student in the Social Justice Department at The Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, under the supervision of Dr. rosalind hampton.
His research focuses on Critical Hip-Hop Pedagogy and Critical Race reading practices within Black Studies. Using Critical Hip-Hop Pedagogy and Critical Race reading practices, the goal is to create counter-spaces of resistance with Black students who are willing to move collaboratively and transnationally to challenge and deconstruct institutions (schools & prisons) constructed by eurocentric-colonialistic ideas and methods of teaching.
His research interests include the mixed methodologies of:
- (Auto)ethnography;
- Black Emancipatory Action Research (BEAR);
- Critical Race Theory (CRT) reading practices;
- Youth Action Participatory Research (YPAR).
The goal again, is to create counter-spaces and platforms for critical-creative art based practices for Black students to reclaim their voice and their African/Caribbean/ Afro-Latino/ Indigenous ways of learning. Marcus contends that as Black students begin to take ownership and reclaim their voice and develop their own pedagogies and methodologies for learning, they will be able to counter colonial eurocentric institutions (schools & prisons) that continue to uphold anti-Black, oppressive teaching approaches as a weapon aimed against Black students versus using education and pedagogy as a liberatory practice for Black students.
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Aaron Guice
Sound Designer, Producer, & Educator
Aaron Guice is a Sound Designer, Producer, & Educator from the South Side of Chicago. While working as a sound designer in the film and television industry, Guice began to identify systemic inequities within sound technology education. In 2016, Guice founded AFRORACK, an audio arts organization with the intent of creating a space for students of color to explore modular synthesizers and other sound design tools without financial barriers. Through providing workshops, seminars, and ambitious programming centered around STEM education, AFRORACK is helping to bridge the gap between communities of color and equity opportunities within the tech industry.
Website
Facilitators
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Marco Adamovic a.k.a. Vic Adamo
Program Coordinator
Marco is an educator and cultural producer. As an educator, Marco strives to facilitate positive and healthy environments for creativity, connection, and collaboration to thrive. As a cultural producer, he is a multi-instrumentalist, beatmaker, songwriter, and organizer of the things. He works with people, machines, and (mostly) good ideas. His family emigrated to Turtle Island in the 1970s from the former Yugoslavia. Marco is a graduate of the Mille Rotman Shime Academic Bridging Program, an alumnus of Katimavik, and holds an M.Ed in Leadership, Adult, and Higher Education from the University of Toronto. In closing, Ball is Life.
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Jamil Nasim
Artist, Program Coordinator, AAACC
Jamil Nasim is a post-disciplinary artist reflecting on Blackness, being, familial/cultural histories, popular imagination & technology at the intersections of image, sound, design, & literature. In their professional work, they aim to create spaces for marginalized people to exist, create and have meaningful discussions around issues facing marginalized communities.
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Bill Xu
UTSC Student, Online Community Lead
Bill Xu (He/Him) is a seasoned musician with years of experience working with a diverse pool of genres. He is in his third year, studying neurosciences. He helped to shape the music production community, leading and culturing a comfortable space at the Hart House Producers’ Circle. He also teaches and fosters a passion for musical development. With his experience and dedication to the community, Bill is committed to pushing new ideas in the creative industry.
What does Hart House mean to you? Or alternatively, what is your favourite thing about Hart House?
The Hart House community is unique and acts like a hub for creativity. I felt comfortable sharing and learning from others, I remember when I first got involved, I was very surprised by how welcoming the atmosphere was, that has to be my favourite part of Hart House. I had heard how monotonous university life could be but Hart House wasn’t like that at all, after leading some events myself I’ve heard the same comments from newcomers. There were plenty of opportunities and events you could get involved in and I’m really grateful to the people that maintain the space.
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Nicholas Lloyd-Kuzik
Artist, Producer, Engineer
Superphenix (Nick Lloyd-Kuzik) is an artist, producer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, based in Toronto, ON. His sound draws energy from 80s and 90s synth-pop, new wave, rock, and electro, with layers of contemporary indie and alternative production. His recently released debut singles ('TV' and 'Beyond the Frame') have been featured on notable retrowave and pop playlists on Spotify and have received radio play in Toronto (CIUT 89.5 FM) and Ottawa (CHUO 89.1 FM).
His arrangements are rich with nostalgic textures, punchy transitions, and feature lush synth layers under vocals ranging from fierce and longing 80’s rock to upbeat electro-pop.
Superphenix has gained momentum quickly since his first release in 2022, most recently being selected for the 2023 RBC Launchpad Music Entrepreneurship Program out of Artscape Daniels Launchpad in Toronto.
Other things to know
- This is an Online Event that will be held on the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Download the Zoom desktop app here
- The session will not be active until shortly before 6 pm EST.
- You'll want to have your DAW and track ready to go before we start.
About AAACC, San Francisco, U.S.A.
The African American Art & Culture Complex (AAACC) is a space for Black creatives to present, gather, and learn while being a space for all to experience Black art and culture. We are dedicated to providing a wide variety of art and cultural programming for youth, adults and families, including visual, digital, and performance. In addition to programming, AAACC rents affordable events space in our more than 32,000 square foot facility. AAACC provides resident art companies with subsidized offices, administrative services, and access to rehearsal, performance, and exhibition space.
The Center is also home to the 206-seat Buriel Clay Theater which serves as a site for annual theatre productions, dance performances, musical concerts, film and video screenings, seminars, and workshops. We also host the Sargent Johnson and Hall of Culture galleries which are dedicated to exhibiting artwork from and about the African Diaspora.
Co-presenters
Co-presented with African American Art and Culture Complex (AAACC), San Francisco
