Today we’d like to introduce you to Mashawi Riley

Hi Mashawi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

I knew I wanted to pursue a creative and artistic path professionally ever since I was about 7 years old, and that path of music and fashion has always been a part of my roots and upbringing. When I was growing up in school I was always very active in extracurricular activities such as band class, vocal lessons and plays etc. In elementary school to high school I played the trombone and took vocal lessons every year. I would perform and sing in school talent shows and music assemblies, I was known as one of the Singers in my different schools. As well as I would play the trombone for our Spring and Remembrance assemblies and much more. I have won some talent shows and competitions along the way as well as received awards for being creative and entertaining.

Both my parents were creative and stylish in their own right. In which I feel it had a heavy influence on my passions, talents and skills. My parents were separated when I was very young, but I still got to see them at different times. I lived mainly with my mom during the school week, but I would go to my father’s on the weekends. So for me it was the best of both worlds because I had friends and family members on both sides that I would see. My mom was known for her sense of fashion style and interior designing and my father was known for his music. My dad was a Reggae Artist in Jamaica then moved to Canada where his music journey continued. Even though my parents were separated, both homes were filled with music and creative inspiration. My mom had the radio station playing constantly on low in the background on 93.7 WBLK, where I heard a diversity of music such as Pop, Hiphop, RnB, Reggae, Soul, Jazz and others. And at my father’s house we would sing together and we would go to talent shows and competitions where I would compete and win. I remember winning us a TV because I got the most cheers from the crowd for singing.

Outside of school, I was a part of different dance groups and singing groups because I needed more creativity and music to be involved in. So we would practice some different dance routines we made up in our building hallway, at a friend’s house or outside in the park. For music, I was a part of some local boy bands in the area, where we would write songs and practice some harmonies together and perform for our local friends and family members.

After high school I took a year off to pursue music and I was in a boy band for a little while, but the group fell apart because no one was really serious. Then, I took a little break from music to work and explore a bit because at home wasn’t going so well and I moved out, that’s when life really started for me and I had to learn how to be independent. I did some traveling. I lived in Egypt for about one year to learn Arabic and Islamic studies on a work scholarship/ grant program from work. Then I returned back to Canada and put myself through College and University and graduated with honors. While I was in university, I was a part of many clubs, leadership programs, jobs on campus and balancing out my studies. It was hard but fun and I kept myself very busy. In my last two years in university, I started the first fashion club on campus called “LMAG” which means “La mode a Glendon” or in English the “The Fashion at Glendon”. This club reminded me of my love for fashion and art that when I graduated I searched for more fashion opportunities in Toronto and I found plenty. I volunteered and worked my way up. Soon after I was working for World Mastercard Fashion Week, TOM* Toronto Men’s Fashion Week, Fashion Styling at TIFF for red carpet events, Teaching Fashion Styling and Visual Merchandising classes at TFA Toronto Fashion Academy. I have styled for celebrities, for movies, full fashion shows, music videos and much more.

This was the perfect opportunity for me to get back into music and really make a career out of it. So, while still working in fashion I slowly made a transition into music where I started writing songs again and practicing some vocal techniques and training on my own by watching Youtube vocal training videos etc. I started to reach out to some local Music Producers and Engineers and was trying to get into the studio any free time I had, but it was difficult because I was working a lot and not making so much money for studio time and recording and that was a challenge that I was facing. But after countless Music Producers and different teams of people that wanted to help me, it just wasn’t the perfect match. Sometimes you have to go through a lot of obstacles and situations before knowing what you really want and what you’re really about. Finally, I met a couple Music Producers that really matched what I was looking for and the style of music I wanted to produce. It’s also about finding the right people that believe in you and your art and not only about the money.

Since growing up in two different houses, I was exposed to listening to all kinds of music because my mother used to play the radio all the time on low and my father was a Reggae Artist. I would listen to Rnb, Hiphop, Jazz, Pop, Reggae, Alternative and more everyday. For my music today, I like to mix and play with the different genres and make it into my own sound. I feel like in doing so I have created my own style and sound that is unique and you can distinguish me from any other musical artist out there today. My sound is a mixture of Pop, Hiphop, and RnB with a twist alternative to it. My style of music came so naturally to me because of all my influences around me and watching any music award shows that would come on and TV channels like BET, MuchMusic, Mtv and Much More Music. Some of my biggest inspirations and musical influences are Boyz II Men, Destiny’s Child, B2K, 112, Usher, Beyonce, Michael Jackson, Pink, Celine Dion, Brandy, Shania Twain, Tupac, Backstreet Boys, Mariah Carey, Nelly, Britney Spears, Ciara, Whitney Houston and so much more. I love the creative process that a Musician can have when it comes to the music and visual aspect of the art project because that’s when I can bridge my fashion influences and my musical skills and talents to create a music video or an image that I can give to the viewers or my fans/ followers. I get to show you what I’m going through and how I chose to share that with the world. I think its magical.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

It most definitely hasn’t been a smooth road by far, but life isn’t smooth anyways. First of all, being an independent artist isn’t easy having to pay for everything yourself without any real support. You are responsible for everything such as marketing, promotion, the music releases and roll outs etc. Everything comes from you so you have to be very determined and disciplined to be in the music and entertainment industry. Not being able to focus solely on music is another struggle I face because I work a full-time 9-5 job that takes my time and energy and I feel like I’m wasting my time there when I could be doing music full-time, but the funds and support isn’t there yet. The reality is that we all have bills to pay and things to maintain, so I have to keep working there until I don’t have to anymore. Also, working there helped me get to where I am today, so I still have to be grateful that I am able to work and that I have a job. But the plan is to work and focus on music and entertainment full-time and at some point this will happen.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

In the current stage of my career, I am a Singer, Songwriter, and Performing/ Recording Artist with a Fashion Styling background. I also model on occasion. My musical style is a unique blend of pop, hip-hop, rap, R&B, and alternative. I specialize in mixing and blending genres and make them my own. My natural inclination towards music and fashion come from my family lineage of artists, specifically musicians, and I have formerly worked as a fashion stylist for celebrity clients. I aim to leverage my Bachelors degree in International Relations, and Diploma in Liberal Arts, as well as my music and fashion background to globally inspire with a positive, lasting personal impact.

I am extremely happy and proud of myself with the body of work I put out into the world already, but there’s still so much more to come and I’m excited for the future. I have about two EP albums, 8 singles, and a couple music videos out now and more coming soon. All my music and projects are available on every streaming platform out there.

What I think sets me apart from others is that I went to Seneca College and received my liberal arts diploma with honors and put myself through York University Glendon Campus receiving my international studies degree with honors. And mixing my fashion styling and visual merchandising background with my musical background to influence the world through education, music and fashion because everyone loves at least one of those things. I am also very much interested in diplomacy and traveling the world and bridging many different cultures, races, beliefs and ideas together to help progress the world forward and that we can learn so much from our differences. And that it’s really amazing that we’re all different.

Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?

What I like best about my city Toronto is that you can find so many food options around. Like if you want Indian, Asian or Jamaican food you could find it very close to wherever you are. My city embraces differences such as hearing different languages and seeing different cultures around you. My city is so diverse and multicultural. Another cool thing about Toronto is that there are so many different pockets of neighborhoods you wouldn’t know that exist.

What I like least about my city is that everything closes a bit too early to me like stores, restaurants and clubs etc. There isn’t such a night life if you ask me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mashawimusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicornmashawi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unicornmashawi
• Twitter: https://x.com/UnicornMashawi
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Unicornmashawi
• Other: https://linktr.ee/mashawi

Image Credits

@Prevalentfocus
@Jo.onlee
@Jeanna.theone
@Mealings_photo
@davidrothphoto
@Picjerphoto
@Cosplay
@v_isual.s