Soul Supreme Festival a labour of R&B love for Winnipeg musicians

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This article was published 09/08/2024 (417 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Keisha Booker fondly remembers Saturday-morning cleanups with her mom, the house filled with the soulful sounds of Erykah Badu and Whitney Houston.

“I was born into music,” she says, reflecting on a life steeped in melodies. Music wasn’t just a passion; it was in her blood. Booker’s mother, a singer and pianist, instilled in her a deep love for music that would shape her entire journey.

That journey eventually led to the creation of Soul Supreme, a platform born out of a need to give R&B artists in Winnipeg a place to shine.

“Growing up in Winnipeg as a Black person and an R&B singer, there was nowhere to really perform or even listen to the genre I loved, so we created a space that we wanted to be in,” Booker says.

What started as intimate Soul Supreme nights, where local artists and DJs could share their talents, has grown into something much bigger.

On Saturday, the Soul Supreme Festival returns for its second year, transforming St. Boniface’s Le Patio 340 into a celebration of R&B music, featuring a lineup of more than a dozen local music acts, DJs, and visual artists.

Booker says the festival is more than just an event; it’s a labour of love.

“In this day and age, there are still so many major events in the city with very little to no diversity in their lineup,” says the recipient of the 2024 Kevin Walters Legacy Award.

“I think inclusion is so important, and there are so many amazingly talented artists in the city that thrive when given the opportunity to participate on larger platforms. I’m so proud to be able to showcase a diverse array of artists on stage that truly represent the diversity of the city.”

One of those artists is Tomiwa Omolayo, a.k.a.Tommyphyll.

Omolayo found his way into music in a way that felt almost predestined; his artistic journey began early, finding outlets for expression in various forms.

“I did musical drama, and in high school, I was the captain of the drama team. I just found ways in which I could express myself artistically,” says the 26 year old.

“The very first song I released was actually a hip-hop track, but I realized I could put my own spin on Afrobeat to make it interesting.”

This realization led him to create Afrodiem — a free-spirited approach to Afrobeat that marries traditional rhythms with progressive synths and orchestral elements.

His creative process is a one-man show, from writing to production, mixing and even the album art. This hands-on approach extends to his career management, though he’s slowly starting to delegate some responsibilities to his UK-based manager.

As he prepares for his upcoming performance at the festival, Tommyphyll is brimming with excitement.

“This is my first Soul Supreme, and I’m really looking forward to it and I’m grateful to Keisha for the opportunity,” he says.

Joyce German, known by the stage name INGIA, is another artist filled with excitement for the festival.

“It’s been such an awesome opportunity to play more R&B, soul and hip-hop. Keisha does an incredible job of bringing artists from all different backgrounds together in one place,” she says.

Born to South Sudanese parents, German, 23, also brings elements of her Canadian life to her songs.

“I grew up singing in the church choir from about five years old. Music was always involved in family gatherings, and it felt so natural when I started playing instruments in school,” she says.

German’s path to becoming a saxophonist and vocalist was nurtured through her school years, where she first picked up the clarinet, before transitioning to the saxophone around age 11.

Her decision to pursue music professionally led to music school, where she began composing her own works.

Today, German’s compositions are a tribute to her roots.

“Even though I was born here, my parents were very adamant about keeping our tribal roots alive. A lot of the music I make now pays tribute to South Sudanese music, while also incorporating modern influences like jazz, R&B and gospel,” she says.

She encourages everyone to come to the festival with an open mind.

“Some people may think it’s not for them or that the genres aren’t what they usually listen to, but I believe it’s worth checking out. You never know — you might find something you definitely like.”

thandi.vera@freepress.mb.ca