Alumni News – May 2020
Spring is here and so is plenty of great new music! May 2020 has been an eventful month for the Metalworks Community, with not one, not two, but three graduates at No 1. on the Billboard Hot 100!
Keep scrolling to listen, watch, and read up on what Metalworks Institute graduates have been up to in May 2020.
Metalworks Institute Graduates Credited on Top Three Albums on the Billboard Canadian Albums Chart
It’s truly inspiring to see that the top three Albums on the Billboard Canadian Albums chart for the week of May 23rd all have contributions from Metalworks Institute graduates!
Multi-Platinum Certified, JUNO-Award nominated artist NAV, a graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program debuted at No. 1 with his new album ‘Good Intentions’. Multi-Platinum certified Grammy-Award winning Producer & Engineer Noel Cadastre, a graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, has multiple credits on Drake’s ‘Dark Lane Demo Tapes’, which debuted at No.1 the previous week and now takes the No. 2 spot. Last but not least, Shin Kamiyama, a graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program has recording engineering credits on The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours’ which is now at No. 3 after spending four consecutive weeks at No. 1 following its release.
Congratulations on making music history!
Multi-Platinum Certified, Grammy-Award Winning Producer & Engineer Noel Cadastre, a graduate of Metalworks Institute's Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, has done some amazing work recently. Noel co-engineered Drake’s latest hit single “Toosie Slide” which ranked No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, US Spotify & Apple Music Streaming Charts and he compiled Drake's latest album 'Dark Lane Demo Tapes' with Oliver El-Khatib; the album debuted at No.1 on the Canadian Billboard Albums Chart, making it Drake's 10th No. 1 Album! Congratulations!!
Multi-Platinum Certified, JUNO-Award nominated artist NAV, a graduate of Metalworks Institute's Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, has achieved his second No. 1 Album on the Billboard 200 chart with his third studio album ‘Good Intentions’! 'Good Intentions' and 'Good Intentions Deluxe' include NAV’s RIAA Gold-Certified Billboard Hot 100 single ‘Turks’ featuring Travis Scott and Gunna, and the project boasts appearances from Future, Lil Uzi Vert, Young Thug, Real Pop Smoke, Don Toliver, Quavo, and more. Congratulations on another amazing achievement!
Shin Kamiyama, a graduate of Metalworks Institute's Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program and 2019 Alumni Award of Merit recipient, has multiple recording engineering credits on The Weeknd’s new album ‘After Hours' which has continued top the charts around the world! The Album is now Platinum Certified in both Canada and the USA, and has spent four consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. And that's not all, the track 'Blinding Lights' spent 4 weeks at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100!
Kevin Dietz, a graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program and engineer on the 2020 JUNO-nominated song "Panic Attack", engineered The Glorious Sons' latest single "Don’t Live Fast". Written and recorded well before COVID-19, the song offers some good advice for right now: "Relax for a minute and wash your hands of it...". Be sure to listen!
Recently, Mississauga Arts Council presented an amazing online concert featuring local talent - 'Rise Up Mississauga - Concert of Hope!' Awesome to see Metalworks Institute graduate Gianmarco Fiacconi and his band The Dreamboats were one of the 25 featured acts. The entire concert is now available on YouTube. In case you missed it, be sure to watch here.
Terence Lam AKA TEE and Alexandra Soumalias AKA Ally Sou, both graduates of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, co-wrote LU KALA's brand new single "Want You". Be sure to listen!
Up and coming Toronto-based R&B artist Joéllen, a graduate of our Music Performance & Technology Diploma Program, has just released two new singles "Smooth Love" and "Dangerous". Be sure to listen!
Mark Cloutier, a graduate of our Professional Sound & Business (Studio Production Major) Diploma Program, produced emerging artist 333Zilla's new single "The Man" - streaming everywhere!
Paul Pietrobono AKA Indigo Son, a 2017 graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, released a new single with BRVN - "Always" is now streaming everywhere.
US Gold Certified music producer Akeel Henry, a graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, produced LOONY's new EP JOYRiDE which ranked at #2 on iTunes Canada and #14 on the US (R&B/Soul) chart the day after it was released!
Eric Bauer, a graduate of our Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program, has just released his debut EP "2006" under his artist name Stone Blind.
Oliver Honsberger & Carl Pike
Professional Sound & Business (Studio Production Major) Diploma Program
Oliver Honsberger and Carl Pike, both graduates of our Professional Sound & Business (Studio Production Major) Diploma Program, are members of the Toronto-based "ambient post prog psychedelicore band" Mount Abora. The band recently released a new single "All I Had Was Nothing". Listen here!
It's great to see two Metalworks Institute graduates credited on emerging artist Zambrazy's debut single "Hot Mess Express". The song was produced by Nick Giansante (Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program and Music Mixing & Mastering Post-Graduate Diploma Program) and mixed by Ben Zweig (Professional Sound (Audio Specialist) Diploma Program and Music Mixing & Mastering Post-Graduate Diploma Program). We love seeing our Alumni community continuing to work together!
Andrew Beg AKA 'HAVENS', a graduate of our Music Performance & Technology Diploma Program, released his first new song of 2020 "Make Things Better". In keeping with the title, Andrew donated all of the proceeds from the tune ($3,545) to the "Stronger Together" fund by the Nova Scotia government and the Canadian Red Cross which is helping families of victims of the Nova Scotia shootings.
"Make Things Better" was produced and co-engineered by fellow Metalworks Institute graduate Ian Madden (Audio Production & Engineering), co-engineered by Renée Soucy (Professional Sound & Business (Studio Production Major) Diploma Program, and mixed and mastered by Yanni Caldas (Audio Production & Engineering Diploma Program and Music Mixing & Mastering Diploma Program).
We continue to be inspired by our community! "Make Things Better" is is available exclusively on Bandcamp.
For many of us, staying home has provided an opportunity to catch up on our favourite shows. Awesome to see that Nathaniel Smith, a graduate of our Professional Sound & Business (Studio Production Major) Diploma Program, has four song placements in Season 4 of CBC's popular show 'Kim's Convenience'. Add this one to your watch list!