  MASIA ONEWhat is your ethnic background?
I'm a universal soldier.
Hometown
Singapore to Vancouver to Toronto. Honorary resident of Brooklyn and Jamaica What inspires you?
Ocean. Love. Children & ghetto youths
What would you be doing if it wasn`t music?Marrying rich. Kidding...I'd be a lawyer, architect or painter.
How did your environment shape you?
I've been blessed to travel many places and meet many people from all walks of life. This influences my music and my ability to connect with different people on various levels.
What do you want to be remembered for?
Building foundation and a platform by which others can realize their ability to give. Creating universal music that will inspire others to remain independent and true to their craft.
Who's your hero?
Bob Marley and Peter Tosh. Because they were incredible leaders with the ability to express their convictions unapologetically and creatively. They also exemplify how two independent visionaries can co exist and build with one another yet take different approaches toward the same goal.
Education
Highest level of education? Degree in Architecture with a minor in economics. I've also completed college level certificates for fashion illustration.
What makes you tick?
My Singapore workaholicmentality.
What makes you happy?
Fuzzy socks, good music and a paint brush.
Tell me something about you that no one knows?
I win eating competitions. I hate hamsters.
What social cause is most important to you?
Education for children and young people that will provide them with options in future movements.
My cause is for children to learn and express themselves in an environment conducive to learning. I feel strongly about it because there are too adults that are talented with enslaved mentalities. Some of these same grown folk are jaded teachers passing on this same bullshit mentality to our children. A critical moment for my realization was teaching in Malaysia and Jamaica, and seeing these children shine once given the opportunity to demonstrate and explore their abilities.
If you could change something what would it be?
Reconsider who we make our leaders. Place more emphasis on how we train, develop and pay our teachers.
Recommended books
I Ching
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
The Bell Jar
Recommended CDs
Masia One - Pulau
Miles Davis - Kind of Blue
Peter Tosh - Wanted Dread and Alive
Betty Davis - They Say I'm Different
Nas - Illmatic
Boogie Monsters Riders of the Storm: The Underwater Album.
I could go on and on and on...
What does it mean to be Canadian?
I've been many places in the world, and Canada is great... great for collaboration of ideas and building toward positive movements. Our circumstances to build community, foundation and base are ideal here in Canada.
What's your favourite colour?
The color of the indigo blue right before evening turns to night, because it's sexy and shows the transition of everything yet casts it's own shadow upon everything.
Where is your favourite place to go?
Jam rock. Without a doubt...JAMAICA!!!
What is your definition of 'Canadian Culture'?
Canadian Culture is the reflected art, language, acculturation (accumulated knowledge), manners and behavior of the collective group of individuals living in Canada. I believe this culture is currently limited because it is young and developing- and because there are too many antiquated & money hungry old white men in power to determine what gets funded and expressed as Canadian culture. The potential for Canada to grow rooted in it's own culture is great as the nature of the country allows a solid foundation for learning, sharing and expansion within a less politically tumultuous environment. Let us work on not getting taken over by Clear Channel so that the next time this question is asked, i don't have to reply that my definition of Canadian Culture is American Corporate Culture. Canadian Culture is also Native culture.
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Artists