Is Toronto Tone Deaf

Is Toronto Tone Deaf??

If Mohamed moved a mountain and held an international concert on top, Toronto music writers, probably wouldn't show up.

Well, that's not completely true - they may show, but wouldn't have a pillar to stand on, or in this case, a column. Well, that's not completely true - not unless they were covering a funky and convenient summer festival complete with HOT HOT HOT or SPICY and ETHNIC adjectives. Yes, there would be an agent written pre-scripted press release and a media kit shot of international super stars standing in front of a wall (because paid news photographers rarely ever shoot local live gigs) and yes, there would be low grumbled apologies from editors or brief notes from writers stating "too many bands, too little time, sorry" and yes, there would be another life altering concert and four-hundred community and music lovers all wondering why Toronto looks so small from way up here?

Over the last four years print media has haphazardly reduced the number of international/world-wide music columns to "fight-to-get-listed levels". Canadian papers still don't get it. The international scene in Toronto is a fundamental part of Canadian cultural expression. Without it, our collective heritage, our ability to share and witness the stories of our families or "visiting international stars", gets lost somewhere in the tumbleweeds of dog hair and suckling Drake-u-las along the queen west shop walk.

The international music scene is one that passes through the T Dot, like an oasis in a desert - a one night only thirst quencher that will boom or bust without print media and community support. While the CBC has increased its already international focus with shows like Global Village and a new online magazine, they have eagerly scooped up local favorites like Garvia Bailey, Matt Galloway and Errol Nazareth to engage in urban happenings on a consistent level- it's not enough. ( CUIT/CKLN/UK ya'll know who you are!! - duck tape and underground) All this while print media is steadily dropping extraordinary music writers by the dozen (actually, there are only about a 4 left, thanks for all your hard work amigos!).

Writing about world music demands the expertise to consider composition, instrumentation, culture, history and often, human rights activism. Mostly, these columns create an opportunity for intriguing journalism and one of our most humane means of encouraging non-violent exchanges of culture and society.

Editorial changes and music column preferences pushing DJs, Dub Tracks, Pop, Rock and Jazz may have unconsciously weeded out music writers who can contemplate anything more complex than 4/4 timing - but the truth is that most DJs and musicians feed off all kinds of music, world-wide. Self educated composers and internet hustling producers fire off tracks from fat pressed vinyl while up-and-coming media writers stand like pasty wall flowers drooling over a white washed music buffet - ignoring punk descarga or brasilian bomba until sampled by Toronto's crooning pop-rock colonizing elite. this is not sharing, this is stealing - for all our sakes, Elvis really is dead and Martin Luther King was shot just down the steet from Graceland. Ever been to the Lorrain Motel?

Sometimes art reflects society and sometimes art leads society but in this case, international music talents, hidden under band-aids of ethnic celebrations bare witness to Toronto's old standing disease of small town sameness.

Toronto local bars host events nightly from India, from Senegal, from Rio. Get outta town, go somewhere in town! This is Canadian music at its best and our natural resources deserve more than a rough ride to USA or European borders for recognition or career advancement. Help them help us!

In the end, it is not just print media who need to shoulder some of the "same blame ", Toronto's city and cultural programmers may want to recognize that reaching out to younger pop savvy populations is not always the brightest way to go. Why not cherish our middle path - one lined with stones of diversity and world-stage leadership? One leading a privileged understanding of the value of our International talents living in or passing through Toronto? These are our MVPs.

At a time when cowarding billboards, wars and disasters get more public viewings than our most important intellectual and creative assets, print media is one of our last accessible forums for global voices in natural harmony.

Raise you pens high kids, maybe you'll be the future writers, of far too many wrongs.

Miriam Sarah Schacter - www.pureintent.ca