Songs for a party that may never come
The conceptual background for my upcoming Toronto book launch event
Since it came out last week, folks have been asking me why I chose to put an image of myself as a child on the front cover of Bedroom Rapper. Sure, it’s a bit of a hip-hop convention, calling back to classic albums by Nas, Lil Wayne, The Notorious B.I.G. and Kendrick Lamar. But I did it mostly because I still feel like that kid. I guess it represents my inner child. I’m still the same curious, inquisitive musical omnivore I was back when I was rooting around my parents’s record collection as a small boy.
I felt that in a particularly strong way over the past couple years. I’ve talked with many friends about how we felt like we regressed into childhood habits during the early parts of the pandemic. For some, that meant reading comforting old YA novels or pulling out their favourite retro movies. For me, it meant spending hours digging online for new tracks like I did back when I lived in my mom’s attic in Edmonton. That process led me to start playing the songs I would find for people on Twitch for a series I called Quarantunes.
This digital space became like a virtual club for me when there wasn’t a real world alternative. But it was never intended to be a true replacement. What I always wanted to do was stockpile tracks for the moment when I could actually play them in the ideal physical circumstances. I had a playlist entitled “Songs for a party that may never come” that I added to over the weeks until it ballooned into the hundreds.
One cruel aspect of the virus is how it has kept us physically separated for so long. Never has our inherent need for social interaction been made more apparent. The few times when I’ve gotten to dance or play music for people in public have been staggeringly cathartic. There’s an essay in my book dedicated to DJing and my philosophy around it. In it, I talk about the classic disco parties like The Loft and Paradise Garage and how they were a sensory experience that was about more than music. During lockdown, I longed to host a party with that spirit more than anything.
On Friday June 17th, I’ll finally have an opportunity to put on the party that I have dreamt of for so long. It’s taking place after a Q&A with Melissa Vincent at Type Books Junction in a new loft space called Vashe Zdorov’ye at 3001 Dundas St. West. I’ve got my creative director Scott Pilgrim helping me to decorate the room. Smoke machine, disco ball, lighting, hundreds of balloons — we are building a disco paradise that will perfectly suit the music I plan to play. I’ll be joined on the decks by Prince Josh. It’s gonna be an incredibly special night and I hope you’ll join us. You can get tickets for the party here!
Bedroom Rapper Updates
Listen to the Bedroom Rapper playlist
If you’re a new subscriber to the newsletter coming from the book, welcome! It’s been a whirlwind week. I’ve been so humbled by the wonderful response to Bedroom Rapper so far. The Montreal launch events were incredible and super nostalgic. Next up will be a virtual / in-person event for Word on the Street Festival in Toronto this Saturday June 11th. Next week will be Edmonton on June 16th at Glass Bookshop with an afterparty at the Common and then the aforementioned Toronto parties on June 17th. Here’s a roundup of all the reviews, interviews and podcasts around the book:
Shout out to Ben Rayner for his incredibly thoughtful and generous review of Bedroom Rapper in the Toronto Star
I was a guest on The Globe and Mail’s The Decibel podcast discussing the making of Bedroom Rapper with Associate Arts Editor Aruna Dutt
On Monday, I was invited to talk about the book on CTV Your Morning. There is nothing trippier than seeing what you look like on TV
Had a great in-depth conversation with Tom Power on CBC q last week
Sandra Sperounes interviewed me for the City of Edmonton at the field named after my grandfather while I was back home at the end of April
Fish Griwkowsky spoke to me for the Edmonton Journal about the local connections in Bedroom Rapper
I had an incredible conversation with Sadiya Ansari for Broadview Magazine that focuses on social justice
Upcoming launch events:
Would love to hear your thoughts about Bedroom Rapper if you’ve had a chance to read it. Please respond to this email or leave a comment, hearing your feedback has been one of the most gratifying parts of publishing this book.
You can find me updating my playlist, DJing on Twitch or hanging on Twitter and Instagram. You can listen to Cadence Weapon music on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp and you can cop Cadence Weapon merchandise here. Get your copy of Bedroom Rapper here.