– Written by Charlotte Holder –

Toronto’s Underground scene seems to grow more daily, with a multitude of new artists, designers, festivals and shows seemingly coming out of nowhere. It’s developed into a space for creatives from all across Canada to come together. With so many new shows, fests and artists popping up everyday, it’s easy to get lost in the mix. Luckily I’m here to help. My absolute favorite fest will be returning in June of 2024, MELTDOWN FEST is back and here to stay. Ran by a phenomenal team, MELTDOWN FEST and label hosts a variety of artists and creatives that bring a fresh and intricate wave of talent to the scene. Often the scene can get over saturated with similar sound however Artists under the meltdown label are the farthest thing from that. MELTDOWN isn’t restrictive to one sound or event layout and that is what I think makes them so special. Ran by talent manager OXY(@oxyjapan on instagram), Meltdown is comprised of three artists; Mai (@depressnts), Liliya (@anotherdaypassesmeby) and Ghost (@g4xst) all of which have an established individual sound and brand that help reach different audiences across the city. Often working alongside Stylist and Designer Ethan Cordiner (@distortedwardrobe) to bring their visions to reality the artists of Meltdown have dug their heels in and established themselves as growing figures in the scene. 

Starting with Mai, who is probably one of the most consistent artists in the underground right now. Mai knows exactly how to craft a banger, especially considering most of his work is self produced. Mai excels on tracks like “last night ” off his Self Prod Tape “all by mai self” and “new york”  that previewed on his instagram. Mai is absolutely somebody to keep your eyes on in this scene with his stage presents and untapped talent. Mai finds a way to bring a new level of live to every beat, song and stage he touches and for somebody who does the bulk if not all his production by himself I can’t help but be impressed. 

Next up, we have Liliya who is by far one of the most unique artists in the scene right now, unlike many Liliya’s music features a beautiful alternative take on music ranging from rap to music with that grunge feel. Liliya’s latest album “RoadKill” features new takes on scene classics that bring both the moshable feel that you’d expect with an underground track as well as the nostalgic feel of pop punk. Liliya and Stylist/Designer Ethan Cordiner worked together to make this vision and feel come to life on her music video for “Out of Touch” off RoadKill, creating a truly enjoyable experience both listening wise and aesthetically.

And to close with Ghost who is an artist you absolutely should not only add to your listening line up but to your performance lineup as well. Believe me when I tell you that I have never been to a Ghost show I didn’t like, that man gets the place jumping. He uses his voice as an instrument and is PROVEN to bring a whole vibe to any setting, this is highlighted in his track “STACK” that not only has crazy vocals but visuals as well. The coolest thing about Ghost is that not only is he an absolutely insane performer but he’s probably the friendliest person you will ever meet and is an absolute musical and promotional asset to any team. Simply one of the best to work with and should be getting more flowers. 

All of these artists are individuals who put great time and care into their craft, absolutely a group you should keep your eyes on and keep in mind if you’re ever trying to have a phenomenal show. This is what makes me so excited for this upcoming MELTDOWN show in June. Diversity in the scene is what makes it so special and I am ecstatic to see how far MELTDOWN will go this summer. Between shows, party hosting and branding the uniqueness MELTDOWN brings to the scene is a breath of fresh air, allowing them to reach people who enjoy trying something new. So I guess there’s only one question left to ask, Will you Melt?