So Fierce Music Celebrates & Supports 2SLGBTQIA+ Artists
Canadian-based entertainment and education company So Fierce Music, founded by internationally renowned DJ/Producer Velvet Code, is Canada’s leading record label focused on highlighting 2SLGBTQA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual) creators.
So Fierce Music’s non-profit organization, the YOU DO YOU Foundation, supports 2SLGBTQA+ and QBIPOC (Queer Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) music artists and musicians who are struggling in their lives with an opportunity to create music and express themselves.
The first recipient of the YOU DO YOU Foundation Artist Grant in 2022 was Brayo Bryans, an aspiring singer-songwriter and human rights activist from Uganda, East Africa. While in Uganda, Brayo co-founded an organization that advocates for the rights of 2SLGBTQIA+ people and also co-founded TUK (Talented Ugandan Kuchus), a group of talented 2SLGBTQIA+ artists used performing arts to sensitize LGBT issues in Uganda, while advocating for fundamental basic human rights. Brayo organized an album launch party and a performance with TUK at the National Theatre in Kampala, which was raided and shut down by the Ugandan police. Several years later, Brayo had to flee Uganda and seek refuge in Canada, away from persecution in his home country.
YOU DO YOU Foundation has provided Bryans with financial and musical support for his upcoming EP. The first single from the EP is coming soon.
So Fierce Music also recently announced A Fierce & Fabulous Affair: Pride Ball, a gala fundraiser including a VIP Reception, concert, and after-party at the El Mocambo in Toronto on June 17, 2023. The event will feature performances by Canada’s Drag Race winners, Icesis Couture and Gisele Lullaby, and will also include a performance from Brayo Bryans. Tickets are available here. A portion of the proceeds will support the YOU DO YOU Foundation.
We caught up with Velvet Code for a chat about all things So Fierce Music!
Hi again! What have you been up to since our last chat?
So great to talk to you again! I’ve been busy with So Fierce Music and the YOU DO YOU Foundation, preparing for our Pride Month events and fundraisers!
First up is an Alternative Pride Kick-Off Rave in collaboration with MORNING NIGHTMARE on Saturday, June 3rd, at Rec Room featuring international alternative drag superstars from The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula and Dragula: Titans TV series, as well as local high-tier artists. We have the winner of Season 4, Dahli, the runner-up from Season 4 and Titans Hoso Terra Toma, and Titans contestant and local fan favourite Yovska. DJ Miz Megs is the Headline DJ.
Following that, on June 17th, we are hosting our second annual gala fundraiser, A Fierce and Fabulous Affair: Pride Ball at El Mocambo, supporting Rainbow Railroad and YOU DO YOU Foundation, featuring all three winners of Canada’s Drag Race (Priyanka, Icesis Couture, and Gisele Lullaby) as well as superstar runner-up from Queen of the Universe and contestant on this season of America’s Got Talent, Ada Vox. These are the first of many events that are coming up in the coming 6 months, so we are super excited about these!
Tell us a bit about the YOU DO YOU Foundation?
YOU DO YOU FOUNDATION is a non-profit organization created for 2SLGBTQIA+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Two-Spirit, Intersex, Asexual) and QBIPOC (Queer Black, Indigenous, People of Colour) music artists and musicians who are struggling in their lives, to provide them an opportunity to create music and express themselves. We believe music and artistic expression are vital assets for an artist to have access to in helping them overcome obstacles. We strive to empower 2SLGBTQIA+ / QBIPOC artists to help them bring music back into their lives.
The first recipient of the YOU DO YOU Foundation Artist Grant in 2022 was Brayo Bryans. The foundation provided Bryans with financial and musical support for his upcoming EP. Tell us more about this.
YOU DO YOU Foundation, in collaboration with So Fierce Music and Canada Council for the Arts, produced Brayo Bryan’s debut single, “Now That I’m Here,” in 2022 and have been recently working on his debut EP as well. This allowed Brayo to begin work on a documentary that will spread hope and love through music and bring attention to the anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that is happening in Uganda at the moment. We expect Brayo’s next single, “Break The Spell,” to be released soon, right in time for “A Fierce and Fabulous Affair: Pride Ball” on June 17th.
So Fierce Music, your Canadian-based entertainment and education company, has also announced A Fierce & Fabulous Affair: Pride Ball, which is set to take place June 17, 2023. How did the idea for this event come about?
This is the second year of this event, and we’re really excited about this year’s line-up. We’ve never had all three winners of Canada’s Drag Race on the same stage in Toronto, and I wanted So Fierce Music to be the first to do it. Before we held the show last year, I wanted to create a live experience that gave 2SLGBTQ+ recording artists an opportunity to perform with bigger-scale audio and visual production while raising money for important causes. For the audience, I wanted them to have a VIP experience that goes beyond just a meet & greet opportunity. Most importantly, Pride Month for us is about giving back to the community while celebrating freedom and love, so raising money for Rainbow Railroad and the YOU DO YOU Foundation is an important aspect of this event.
To show your solidarity and support, you can purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
What else do you and So Fierce Music have up your sleeves for 2023?
We will be announcing a 2SLGBTQIA+ singing talent show very soon. To stay up to date on this announcement, make sure to follow us on Instagram (@sofiercemusic).
Connect with Velvet Code:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok
Connect with So Fierce Music:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
TikTok