Keeping this intro short - if you know summer in Toronto, you know how much is going on.

I am always thinking of Venezuela and am building a list of organizations and resources here for ways to support in this critical time.

Lots to read below - I will occasionally run an interview in lieu of the usual Creative Communications section to highlight people + initiatives. Reach out if there is anything you'd like to chat about.

June Jaunts:

• Hosted on the mic and spun a vinyl soundtrack for The Final Kick Block Party, by Drom Artist Collective, Rudy Ray, Uma Nota & QSW BIA.

• Listen to a new episode of Sound Travels (recorded live in-CONTXT at Afro Brasilica) with multidisciplinary queen, Fly Lady Di, delving into the music that has shaped her life, career and community connects .

• A real joy to chat with R&B icon, Glenn Lewis, about his life, career and new album Overture, for The Fold on Frisson - listen.

• Engaged in thoughtful conversation about Artistic Identity with the Honey Jam fam for their workshop series - check out the recap.

• Loba Media (an incredible branding and storytelling studio founded by my dear friend, Camille Austin!) published a poem I wrote & playlist I curated that captures Day 0 of my second 10-day Vipassana practice. Read on here, and listen to the soundtrack here.

Listen to a live episode

pictured above: home in June

THE FOLD on Frisson Radio

Broadcast via CIUT 89.5 FM | Syndicated: CFRC, CKXU, QCCR
produced with Frisson Founders: Miks Lamont & Nabeel Pervaiz

• 🎙 ICYMI: I was honoured to host & co-produce an enriching conversation with Toronto R&B legend, Glenn Lewis - listen. 

• 📻 TUNE IN: our July episode will be announced soon - watch this space for updates.

SOUND TRAVELS

Another Setting Radio (Toronto, ON) & Jolt Radio (Miami, FL)
produced by Sonic Fold (Ola Mazzuca) | Archive

• LISTEN to a new episode of Sound Travels featuring amazing DJ, multidisciplinary artist, incredible human being, Fly Lady Di.

• Mix Passport on Jolt Radio (aired June 24): a B2B set from April w/That Dude From Lupinore at 180 g in Montreal -it's wonderful, wild, imperfect, fun...a lot going on - give it a listen.

• Sound Travels on Another Setting Radio! We air our archival episodes of Sound Travels monthly - listen and check out interviews with Trust The Process Press and Sadstab. Next up: airing our episode featuring Fly Lady Di on Sunday, July 12.

pictured above: Ola and Glenn Lewis at CIUT - photo by Nabeel Pervaiz 

Community Spotlight:
Henry's Fest and Record Skool

Support for local gems is always in rotation

Watch the the full clip with Henry and Joseph and the mini series here.

I have been digging for records at Henry's for some time now - the lore is real, and the man behind the shop - Henry Marks - makes it truly one of a kind. If you've never visited Henry's... (I mean, Scarborough is worth the trip to Scarborough, come on!) know that it's a special place for people passionate about music and cultural preservation. Last year, I produced a mini interview series to shine a light on this (now annual) event, happening on July 25. You can learn more from co-organizer, Joseph Galiwango aka Record Skool below, and stay tuned for details here.

***

The 2026 edition is focused on the impact music has on multiple generations. Record Skool is dedicated to the education of music history and culture, directed to youth and families. What is your approach around integrating this  into the festival’s programming?

Great question. Record Skool’s approach to integrating music education into the festival and she shop is multifaceted.  It’s a combination of bringing as many people as possible together to the festival to learn about the history of records and music in an organic way. Personally, through Record Skool, is always documenting the culture, by producing new media such as the documentary on last year’s festival, and Henry’s Instagram.  Record Skool also brought some youth to the shop this year to learn from Henry and dig for records.

Tell us about the lineup so far and what we can expect sound-wise.

All of the DJs are known around the city, friends of Henry, and music lovers who have shopped at Henry’s for many years.  The will be playing a wide range of music from reggae, dub, funk, r&B, world music, hip-hop, and other genres. They are all specialists in vinyl, and have a huge sound system to pay homage to the reggae sound systems that started reggae culture in Jamaica.  We also have some spoken word artists and poetry that will be part of our program this year. Everything we do is intentional to spark a real understanding of where this culture comes from.  We will have DJs such as Selectress Sunshine, Paul E Lopes and Choppa Chop, DJ Big Jacks, DJ Versatile, DJ Discott, and others (see lineup below). 

Henry's Fest Poster by Mark Vandervoet

What are some of your most recent, special memories at Henry’s?

I have fun encounters at Henry's every week. I brought my kids there and they met DJ Koco from Japan buying records. The shop is a living history museum of DJs. When I was shopping for an album for my brother’s birthday to surprise him. The album was Diamond Life by Sade.  I popped into the shop on a random Saturday in June. I asked Henry and Dave if they had  the album.  They both said that  they had recently sold it.  I felt differently, and I knew it was there.  In two seconds I dug through the racks in the front of the shop, moved some records around and found a fresh copy.  I am spiritually connected to that shop, for real.

Is there a favourite record discovery from the shop?

My favourtie record I purchased from Henry’s is by a gospel singer named Myrna Summers, called Give Me Something To Hold.  Myrna Summers has an incredibly big raspy sweet vocal range.  The album is from 1979, recorded live in a women’s prison. The title track is ten minutes long, and is an epic song about being resilient. The sound has huge vocals, a choir,  funky percussion, and an inspirational message of anti-oppression and liberation. You will go through some changes after you listen to this record.

Why should people care about preserving culture through the vinyl medium and supporting local record stores?

People should care because music that is on vinyl records connects them to an immense cultural history, since these artifacts are often decades old.  The records at Henry’s, and other shops, are physical artifacts that the musicians wanted us to enjoy.  They are also collectable pieces of art that offer a deep opportunity to support DJ culture, the music industry and local business all at the same time. Supporting shops like Henry’s also pushes back against the corporatization of the music industry, which is great.

How can people connect and support Henry’s Fest?

Come and visit the shop, Henry’s Records, located in Scarborough at 130 Shorting Road.  Come to the festival, on Saturday July 25. Follow the Henry’s Records page on Instagram @Henrys_Records, follow @Recordskool, or email me at [email protected].

photo by Valerie Soo (an awesome pal & an amazing DJ!)

Places & Spaces
July 2026

~ olasconola DJ gigs ~

Previously...

July 2 - The Final Kick Block Party @ Queen & Denison | 4 pm - 11 pm

Celebrating Toronto, the World Cup, a mosaic of music reflective of our city.

July 4 - Macedo Winery Dufferin | 3 pm - 5 pm

Summer wine shine - vinho & vinyl - Latin, MPB, Bossa, Funk, Soul and more.

Upcoming:

July 9/16/23/30 - Afro Brasilica @ CONTXT by Trane
Thursdays, 7 pm - 11 pm @ 254 Lansdowne (main) Info & RSVP

The weekly music & creative residency by Trust The Process Press.

Heads up: we're going to host a Caribana weekend jam on July 30!

July 10 - Infinite Waves @ Chez Nous |9 pm - 2 am

With That Dude From Lupinore & Dmitry - funk, new wave, post-punk/punk, disco, soul, psych, reggae and beyond. Ya never know!

July 15 - Wednesday on Wax @ D|Bar | 7 pm - 11 pm

Groove Impressions at Four Seasons Hotel Toronto - mixed crate magic.

July 18 - Dust Party Toronto @ The Jama - 10 pm - Info | Tix

With Hashman Deejay, Jesse Futerman, Mutual Image + Chris Hurst. Come through early for live sets by Doris Dana (North Carolina), Chris Hurst (Florida), Mutual Image (Florida) and Wilderness Adventure Ride (Colin Cudmore + Owen Kurtz) at 8 pm. Gratitude to my friends, Brandon and Kyle - appreciate you two!

July 19 - La Sopa del Día - Sonic Sancocho @ Rhythm, 1 pm - 6 pm - Info

Serving you soup + salsa, cumbia, Bsides, classics and fun finds all day + sets by me, Juana Go-gó, DJ Derby Duro (Changó), Toro Moratto (La Pambelé).

July 25 - Henry's Fest @ Henry's Records | 12 pm - 8 pm - Info

Earl Grey, Paul E Lopes, Selectress Sunshine, Choppa Chop, Discott, Errol Grant II, DJ Realz, Trust The Process Press & more!

July 26 - Daytime Fun @ Rooms 915 Dupont - 11 am - 3 pm

Mixed crate magic with great coffee, even better company, and a beautiful space.

Dust Party @ The Jama - July 18 - flyer by Local Lore Design
aka the homie Blair Sound Design