After 18 years of rejection, Chris Sharpe’s Jamaican-Canadian curling comedy comes to life with a 12-track soundtrack featuring Winnipeg hip-hop, reggae, R&B and more.
After nearly two decades of hearing “no,” Winnipeg creator and producer Chris Sharpe is celebrating the arrival of Cool Sweepings, a Jamaican-Canadian curling comedy series accompanied by an original soundtrack that brings Manitoba’s music and entertainment communities together.
Now streaming worldwide, Cool Sweepings: The Album (Original TV Series Soundtrack) is a 12-track collection blending hip-hop, rap, reggae, R&B and EDM. Released through Black Film Space Manitoba, the project features a lineup of Winnipeg artists, including Lyberal, SleepyZay, Young Prince, Knathan and Dill The Giant.
Described by its creators as the world’s first curling-inspired album, the soundtrack captures the humour, determination and cultural identity at the heart of the television series, now available through Bell Fibe TV1.
Cool Sweepings Soundtrack Features Winnipeg Hip-Hop and R&B Artists
One of the most distinctive elements of the Cool Sweepings soundtrack is the connection between the music and the show’s cast.
All four lead actors are also recording artists, contributing their musical talents to the album:
- Joshua Calder performs as SleepyZay.
- Darryan Edwards performs as Young Prince.
- Nathan Zayac performs as Knathan.
- Dillin Morgan performs as Dill The Giant.
Canadian Beats previously caught up with Dillin Morgan in an interview about Cool Sweepings, offering readers a closer look at one of the performers bringing the project to life both on screen and through music.
“I often describe it as having four Will Smiths in one production,” explains Sharpe, the series’ creator and producer and founder of Black Film Space Manitoba.
“Will Smith showed the world how an actor could also be a successful recording artist and create music connected to the films he starred in. With Cool Sweepings, we have four young artists bringing that same crossover energy to one television series and soundtrack.”
Leading the album is the energetic “Cool Sweepings Anthem,” featuring Winnipeg artist Lyberal.
Other highlights include “Minus 40,” featuring SleepyZay, Knathan and Dill The Giant, and Young Prince’s “Nobody Came To The Party.”
T’ai Pu contributes “Bonspiel Dreams” before joining Celeb on “Cool Sweepings Vibes,” while Jay Evans appears on “Aisle 7” and Yvng Chriis represents the show’s Winnipeg roots on “Fort Rouge On The Line.”
DJ Maxwell Dillin provides the album’s introduction and interludes, with Sharpe himself, recording as C Sharpe, closing the project with “Outro: One Love.”
Produced by Sharpe alongside Peter McGimpsey, Serj Bhatti and Gracia Balingene, the approximately 30-minute soundtrack connects each song to a particular moment, emotion or chapter of the series.
Chris Sharpe Brings Cool Sweepings to Life After 18 Years
Behind the soundtrack is a story of persistence that began nearly two decades ago.
For 18 years, Sharpe pitched his vision of a Jamaican-Canadian curling comedy to television networks, repeatedly facing rejection before Bell Fibe TV1 agreed to support the project.
“For 18 years, I carried a vision that many people couldn’t understand. A Jamaican-Canadian curling comedy television series with its own original soundtrack, bringing together Black culture, Canadian identity, sports, comedy, and music,” Sharpe recalls.
“Year after year, we pitched the idea. Year after year, we heard the same word. No. No to the television series. No to the concept. No to the vision. But I never stopped believing.”
The project was inspired partly by Sharpe’s desire to create more opportunities for Black storytellers and performers in Manitoba.
“Growing up, I didn’t see many Black creators producing television shows and films that reflected people who looked like me, especially stories coming out of Manitoba. I wanted to change that,” he explains.
That ambition led him to establish Black Film Space Manitoba, an organization dedicated to developing Black-led film and television projects and creating opportunities for emerging talent.
The production eventually attracted support from organizations including the City of Winnipeg, Manitoba Film & Music, Moonlite Labs, New Media Manitoba, the Black Screen Office and several Manitoba curling organizations.
The years of persistence culminated in a sold-out Winnipeg premiere screening at a Cineplex theatre.
“For years, people had told us no. Now hundreds of people were saying yes,” Sharpe says.
Cool Sweepings Combines Canadian Curling, Comedy and Music
Set in Winnipeg’s South End, Cool Sweepings follows Chris, a Jamaican-Canadian teenager juggling multiple jobs while helping his family operate a struggling curling rink.
When the bank threatens foreclosure, Chris and his friends Fillmore, Denny and DJ Nate decide to save the rink by entering a curling bonspiel offering a $50,000 grand prize.
There’s just one problem: they have no curling experience, very little money and only 60 days to prepare.
With help from former curling prodigy Kyra, the unlikely team navigates training disasters, unsuccessful fundraisers, unexpected viral fame and rivalries with experienced curlers.
Meanwhile, Chris’s father Kevon struggles to balance financial pressure, cultural pride and the legacy of a rink built for his community.
The series blends Canadian sporting culture with Jamaican-Canadian identity, family relationships and music, creating a story that celebrates both perseverance and community.
Cool Sweepings Expands Beyond Television and Music
Sharpe’s ambitions for Cool Sweepings extend beyond the television series and its accompanying album.
The project is expanding into live curling events, merchandise and additional entertainment opportunities.
The Cool Sweepings Curling League began November 8 at Winnipeg’s Fort Rouge Curling Club, with scheduled Sunday sessions continuing into March.
The next major event is the Cool Sweepings Curling Bonspiel, taking place April 16–18, 2027, at the same venue.
For Sharpe, the project represents something larger than a television production or music release.
“We are not simply producing a television show and releasing an album. We are building an entertainment universe,” he says.
“I want Cool Sweepings to inspire other creators, especially young Black Canadians who may not see themselves represented in the film, television, or music industries.”
After 18 years of rejection, Sharpe hopes his journey encourages others to continue pursuing their creative ambitions.
“Never let someone else’s no become the end of your story,” he says. “Follow your dreams. They always know the way.”
Upcoming Event:
April 16–18, 2027 – Winnipeg, MB – Fort Rouge Curling Club – Cool Sweepings Curling Bonspiel (doors open daily at 9 a.m.)
