musical guest Features Q&A
Alister Johnson
Born: Peterborough, New Hampshire
Resides: Toronto, Ontario
What was your inspiration to start DJing?
“Discovering records and sampling through hip-hop and my parents’ collection eventually led to digging for funk, soul & disco music - and then meeting my friend Jon Simone in early 2000s Toronto where I played my first ever gig.”
What do you do when you’re not DJing at Function?
“I work as an A&R / Catalogue Curator for a music library called Bedtracks, we work to get music placed in broadcast, online, etc. I also play soccer and attempt to grow vegetables in my small garden.”
What are you currently working on? What project are you most proud of?
“I don’t particularly like to talk about what I am working on at any given moment because I find more value in doing rather than talking… So, stay tuned.
I am most proud of The Secret Life Of Planets, an album I made with two friends and collaborators, Zaki Ibrahim & Casey MQ.”
You’ve been playing Fridays at Function for a while now. What stands out to you most about playing at Function?
“I always feel like I can “do me” at Function and have rarely had any requests by individuals demanding to hear a certain song which is a pleasant change of pace from some other places that shall remain nameless. I have to give credit to Nik and the entire team at Function for supporting my sounds and being so warm and encouraging each and every week.”
You have such a unique collection of music, yet so many vibe heavily with it! Why do you think that is?
“I have an insatiable desire to find music that is under the radar, off the beaten path, the ‘B-Sides’ if you will. By consistently searching and learning, I have built up the knowledge I have today. I suppose I have a way of connecting with the crowd or patrons whether it be consciously or subconsciously, but I’m mainly just playing what I want to play.
One of the things I love about playing at Function is having the ability to do just that - to try out new things I have never spun before and also to go in non-mainstream directions which still have an appeal to the listeners.”
Which cities/states have you gigged as a DJ?
“There have been a lot of different gigs in many places but I have had very memorable gigs in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Berlin, Amsterdam, London, Corsica, Ibiza, New York, Cannes, Bucharest, Barcelona, the list goes on and will grow!”
How does the Toronto music scene stand out to you?
“The multicultural nature of Toronto is our greatest strength and is one of the main ways we stand out compared to other musical hubs in North America & Worldwide. I do think we have a lot of room to grow and to collaborate more with each other though. It hurts to see artists getting pushed out of creative spaces because of skyrocketing rents due to greedy landlords / minimal support from the city to facilitate the culture and music scenes that we have.”
Shane Philips
Born: Guelph - raised in Fergus, ON
Resides: Toronto, Ontario
What do you do with your time when you’re not performing?
“I teach yoga and practice it as well. I own a recording studio which I use to record my music as well as other artists. I love the outdoors during the summer, paddle boarding, swimming and cycling to cafes.”
As a commendable, lifelong social justice advocate, what main cause do you believe in fighting for? How has your passion for advocacy impacted you as a creative?
“One of the main things I believe that can change the world is clean water and housing for all people. The suffering of people has indeed influenced my lyrics, because I feel their pain and I know that it was by pure luck I was born into Canada with a family that took care of me. I feel it’s the duty of people who have all they need to fight for the less fortunate and so that is why I started advocacy for water rights and housing.”
You were once a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice”, officially deemed “too soulful” by producers. What do you think it is that gave them that sense of you?
“When I auditioned, I sang an old Al Green song from the 70’s, and to be honest, I sing it the way traditional soul singers would have. New RnB singer inflect and bend notes all the time and that’s something I don’t do. I stick to the melody and have learned that one of my strengths is to hold a note.”
What has been your biggest accomplishment as a musician?
“I sang with Stevie Wonder at the Scotia Bank Centre.”
What inspires you about performing live at Function?
“Function Bar has allowed me to be creative with how I sing cover songs. The shows are always inspired by the musicians and how I conduct them - bringing the best possible vibe and performance for that night. Its a freeing experience that liberates most musicians.”
Can you describe what an ideal performance looks like for you?
“For me it starts before the gig with a proper warm up during the day and getting voice ready. Then showing up on time and settling in, making sure the sound is right.
After that, as long as the musicians I have hired are ready to roll when the gig starts, I usually have a great time. The musicians are the ones that make or break a show for me.”
