We recently connected with Mashawi Riley and have shared our conversation below.

Mashawi, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Did you always know you wanted to pursue a creative or artistic career? When did you first know?

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 apart of my roots and upbringing. When I was growing up in school I was always very active in taking 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 apart 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 apart 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.

Mashawi, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I started singing ever since I was about 7 years old. I come from a family of artists and musicians. My mother was known for her fashion style and interior designing and my father was a known Reggae Artist in Canada and Jamaica within the community. I was heavily involved in any music programs around me from the age of about 9 to high school graduation. I played the trombone and took vocal classes. I played in school talent shows, music assemblies, competitions and I won some. 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 apart 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 hear 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 alternative twist 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.

I think most of the problems that Musicians and Artists face is financial/funding for their projects. Yes, there are a lot of grants and opportunities out there but you really have to put in the work by searching and doing your research to find these opportunities. And as an independent artist or indie artist this can be very difficult. First you need to find the time to sit and searching through the internet. Second, when you do find opportunities are you eligible or is this the right match for you now. Third, you don’t have the money to apply, to play, or to travel to do this show. The music business is very costly because you as the independent artist have to pay for everything yourself: the music video, studio recording, promotion/marketing and so much more. People only see the end result of all your hard work and don’t see all the blood, tears and stress that went into it.

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 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.

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 all the time. All my music and projects are available on every streaming platform out there.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Yes, graduating from university was a great accomplishment for me personally and definitely one of the first in my family to achieve this, but it was one of the most difficult times in my life. I lived on campus for all the three years I was studying at university and when it was time to graduate and leave the school I didn’t have a home to go to like the other students, so I was staying with a roommate for a couple months. I was still working two part time jobs at Old Navy and Urban Planet while just starting a volunteering/ intern position at TOM* Toronto Men’s Fashion Week for the Emerging Menswear Designer Award Manager and Lead Visual Merchandiser and this was a new exciting position I wanted and I didn’t want to give it up already. I really thought I could do it all and wanted to keep pushing forward. The money I was receiving from these jobs was not enough by any means and my roommate told me that she’s moving at the end of the month and that I needed to find a place to live. I was totally caught off guard and I was completely stressed out because I just finished school and now I have to find a place to live with very little money. I did turn to some friends in which some helped me out with some money, others didn’t answer or turned me away. I had nowhere to stay and going to my parents house wasn’t an option.

So, for a little while I had my belongings in a storage rental unit place and some at the Toronto Men’s Fashion Week venue at the time College Park. I could store my stuff there because I had full access to the venue and all the doors and different rooms because I was the Lead Visual Merchandiser, and I was the person that was there the most. Nobody really knew and I wasn’t really allowed to do so, but I had no other choice at the time. After the executive meetings at the venue at College Park in which all the members and head leaders would get together at the venue I would pretend to leave, change and sleep in the venue overnight because I had no place to stay. Then, I started to sleep in the staircase because more and more members needed to be at the venue as the fashion season approached. Every night it was a hustle where I was going to sleep and eat, soon after I admitted myself into a local shelter.

Imagine, after working in a retail store and working for Toronto Men’s Fashion Week having no where to go after work, but to the local shelter. Where you are sleeping in a room full of men from different walks of life, from drug addicts, mental health issues to men fresh out of jail and you had to watch your belongs, try to sleep well because you have to leave the shelter at 7am to look for work or something and it was mandatory. You couldn’t stay at the shelter all day only from like 5pm – 7am, literally just to sleep and eat and then leave for the day. Every shelter had their own rules to follow. I left from one shelter to another because they had better rules that would help the working man. I was still working but it was not enough for me to pay my rent and live, so this shelter would try to help you find better jobs and it had better living conditions. I never got the best sleep and peace of mind while staying in the shelter. I lived there for a couple of months to get my situation really sorted out. I will never forget this experience and I learned a lot about the world and myself.

I worked really hard to make my way out of the shelter, while still volunteering at Toronto Men’s Fashion Week and working at Old Navy and Urban Planet. Then Nordstrom was opening up at Yorkdale and I decided to apply and leave Old Navy for a better pay rate. I was hired at Nordstrom because of my retail, fashion and customer service experience and hard work and dedication I was able to leave the shelter the first chance I got. After I left, I focused on music and starting writing songs again and focused on fashion and getting further to where I wanted to be.

I started to meet more wonderful and amazing people in the industry from entrepreneurs, models, designers, stylists, creatives, artists, musicians people that had a similar passion to me. There were many nights where I felted alone and that I thought nobody cared about me or loved me, not even my family because we weren’t close anymore. I stayed positive, focused and I knew this situation was temporary and it was only a matter of time for me. And I knew I had a bigger calling for me and a greater destiny.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My mission is to be a very successful international brand name in the music, fashion and art industry. I would like to inspire people through my music and do concerts all around the world. I would like to use all my training, skills, knowledge, talent, education and personal life experiences to build and have a strong foundation for younger generations to come. I plan to tour the world and set up charities for young musicians and artists that are less fortunate than us. Also, I would like to focus on both local and international development for better living conditions such as sustainable and good environmental living standards for all and make life about living and being present in your skin. There is so much more to do in this world and I truly believe that I could make a difference whether big or small, but my intention is to make the biggest impact ever and that there’s a positive ripple effect.

My business plans to solve this problem by providing a Community Centre, a Service or Program like having an artist development program that teaches young people/musicians about confidence, stage presence, how to write a song, instrument lessons, playing the piano, vocal lessons, how to read music notes, dance classes and much more. Also, I would like to have programs and classes for Fashion Styling and Visual Merchandising for those young aspiring fashionistas in training. At the end of the year’s program and as a culminating activity I would like the students and young musicians to put on an annual talent show and fashion show to showcase what they learned and developed in the program. It is important for the youth to have a place to release their talents and skills and to acknowledge their creations, achievements and hard work at the end of a project.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mashawimusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unicornmashawi
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unicornmashawi
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/mashawiriley
• Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/unicornmashawi
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@Unicornmashawi
• Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mashawi Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2fb3gOYEljHkwhUgqDAWCJ?si=wcX2yrUIQ36YCkzvogsGvg

Image Credits
Photographers: Kyle Travis Young Sacha Cohen Gabriel Desante Julien Lacelle Cosplay Paul Janicki Itty Bitty Frame Designers/ Clothing: House of Hendo LaceL Benjii Denim Abstract My Luelle