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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday October 15, 2008 - 37 Artscene Oakville Beaver · WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2008 Sign up now for guitar, bass, drums, and piano OAKVILLE'S MUSIC STORE SUBMITTED PHOTO GLORY DAYS: Local musician Spencer Phillips will find out Thursday night if he's won an Ontario Independent Music Award. This is the first nomination for Phillips. Young musician up for Ontario Indie Music Award By Tina Depko OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF He might only be 22, but Spencer Phillips is already making the Toronto music scene sit up and take notice. The Oakville resident and St. Ignatius of Loyola graduate has been nominated for a Ontario Independent Music Award. The awards recognize unsigned talent across the province, with this year's ceremony taking place Thursday in Toronto at the Phoenix Concert Theatre. Judges include members of Ontario media, as well as label representatives and members of the radio and retail industries. "It's great to get some recognition for some of my creative work, especially since it is my first nomination for any award," Phillips said. "A lot of times independent music doesn't get the same recognition that major music gets. There's a great independent music scene and a lot of talent in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area, so it is good to showcase and give accolades to these new and emerging artists that are coming up." Phillips, who goes by the stage name Suspence, has been nominated in the Best Urban category. He's up against fours other urban musicians, but he's confident of his chances. "I've done some research into the other artists and I think I've got a good chance at it," he said. "I haven't written a speech. I'm just going to wing it." cians don't know how to obtain that, so they Phillips is currently working on his debut go through us and we administer it," he said. album, which he hopes to release early next "We also educate them about how to create a year through his independent record label, tour and contracts. I like making direct conHot Jewlz Entertainment. He defines his tact with the musicians." musical style as "electro-hiprock", which he Now that Phillips has finished school and is describes as a "funky fusion of electro, hip hop working full-time, he said he hopes to start and rock." He lists his musical influences as performing more regularly. He is working to Kanye West, Will.i.am, Coldplay, Wyclef Jean book gigs across the Greater Toronto Area, and Andre 3000. with a particular focus on "I have a DJ when I per- "It is great to get some university and college form, but hopefully, as I recognition for some of my venues. progress, I'll have a live band creative work, especially "I have a lot more new and tour with a live band," since it is my first nominamaterial now, so I'm planhe said. "When I'm record- tion for any award." ning to go on the road in ing, I have session musithe next two months," he cians, but I'm not touring Spencer Phillips said. "I want to do a lot of Local musician with them yet." local shows to get my feet Phillips' passion for wet. I hope to play smaller music production started at clubs, especially on the a young age. He recalls playing around with campuses. My music really resonates with the his older brother, Earl's, music production 18 to 24 crowd." equipment by age 12. He attended Ryerson Phillips, who was born in Jwaneng, University after high school, but realized he Botswana, is travelling to South Africa for wanted to switch to a more music-focused two-and-a-half weeks in March. He is slated to program, so he enrolled at the Harris Institute perform at a citywide festival in Cape Town on for the Arts, specializing in recording arts March 21 to celebrate Human Rights Day. He management. He graduated in 2007 and land- is also planning to visit schools to teach stued a job with the American Federation of dents about music, as well as perform. Musicians Canada. "I want to tie in AIDS awareness and edu"Currently, I work with immigration, so cation with music and bring them together when Canadian artists have gigs in the U.S., through a positive message," he said. "I've they need a work permit and a lot of musi- always wanted to do something positive with the AIDS epidemic. When you look at the country I was born in, which is Botswana, it is the country with the highest number of people living with AIDS. I look at what Tom Cochrane did and all the work he did with World Vision in Africa and he's an inspiration for me. I can do the same type of work on a smaller scale, but I'd like to work myself up to what he's done." While Oakville is still the place where Phillips puts his feet up at the end of a long day, he said he isn't ruling out relocating for his career. He's got his sights set on the United Kingdom, where he said there is a larger market for his type of music than anywhere in North America. "I'm hoping to stay in Canada, but if there was a backup plan, it would be to the U.K.," he said. "My sound would fit in the U.K. market. It is more of a loyal fan base." If he never records a No. 1 album, Phillips said he won't be heartbroken. He said his passion is for making the world a better place through his music. "Honestly, I'd just like to be able to do music full-time and get paid for it," he said. "It is going to be a life of service, as well as a life of performing. I would like to get involved in causes around the world. That's really the focus of my music. Music is just the vessel of some of the things I want to do." For information on Spencer Phillips, visit www.hotjewlz.com.