Feature Friday (22 November 2024)
Forget The Box is thrilled to deliver another electrifying edition of Feature Friday, your weekly dose of Montreal's most captivating artists! This week, we're turning up the volume with a vibrant mix of comedy, music, poetry, and visual art. Get ready to roar with laughter with stand-up comedians Claudio Capri and Nazeer Khan. Then, immerse yourself in the sonic world of Jusst Swiim, a multi-talented artist blending music and visuals to create truly unique experiences. We're also excited to introduce our new Poetry Curator, Natalie Co, with a featured poem that's sure to resonate with your soul. And for a visual feast, explore the vibrant abstract art of Amanda Jeanne. Remember, we're showcasing amazing artists every week, so submit your work—and submit often—for a chance to be featured in the coming weeks!
Claudio Capri
Claudio Capri is a stand up comedian, with a loud italian voice. Telling jokes about his italian upbringing to the film world and every day things happening around him. He’s on of the producers of Laugh Knights, a fun monthly comedy show that happens at Cafe Evee.
Nazeer khan
Nazeer Khan (he/him) is a Indo-Canadian stand up comedian and improviser based out of Montreal, QC performing at various clubs and theatres around Eastern Canada. Having taken the stage for the first time in 2017, he caught the comedy bug and became addicted to the craft and worked his way to becoming a weekend regular at the Comedy Nest and at Theatre Saint-Catherine’s flagship Sunday Night Improv show. He is also the producer of West Island comedy night.
Jusst Swiim
Born in the '90s in Barcelona, Spain, but with Montreal deep in his soul, Jusst Swiim is a multidisciplinary artist blending music and visual art to create immersive experiences. Known for crafting ambient beats, downtempo electronic club tracks, and boom bap hip hop, he’s also a rapper and film composer. Currently, he's working on a remix of Sobering Up for Camille à l’Orée, collaborating with Bijou Violet on a song titled Pretend Paradise, and composing the soundtrack for Le Pitch, a film by independent filmmaker Sacha Andres-Oliveira. Jusst Swiim is also gearing up for the release of his single VHS Dreams in collaboration with Mr. Magic.
New York rapper Gabe Nandez had this to say about working with him: “Jusst Swiim & I’s collaboration Stray Cats was instantly well received upon release and remains one of my favorite songs I’ve ever written. His ear for finding emotive samples shines through in all his production. This, paired with his eclectic use of various drum patterns, makes for a singular final product.”
Formerly known as Torn Petals, Jusst Swiim has made a name for himself in the music scene through his collaborations and solo projects. His first release, the hip hop mixtape Oxyflorae, was followed by the ambient album Nature Divine, which featured a visual album concept. With a background in videography and graphic design, he directs all of his music videos and related artwork, creating a complete artistic package that sets him apart.
Directed by Sacha Andres-Oliveira, the accompanying music video takes you through the tumultuous path of a group entangled in substance abuse and crime, ultimately highlighting the protagonist's profound journey towards light through loss. This narrative delves into the darkness of addiction and delinquency, but at its core, it carries the hope of recovery. "Pretend Paradise" is not just a track—it's an experience, punctuated with resources for recovery and support, underscoring a powerful message of hope amidst the chaos.
The characters in the music video are portrayed by Jusst Swiim and Bijou Violet themselves, alongside LilBattleBambi and Flex the owner of Stopshop Boutique on Saint Laurent Boulevard in Montreal, where one of the key scenes takes place. Their lifelong friendships shine through the camera, creating intimate and dynamic scenes, with the boutique's vibrant atmosphere providing an authentic backdrop to the narrative.
Additionally, five institutions dedicated to substance abuse care have granted permission for their contact information to be featured in the credits, offering essential resources for those seeking help. Their involvement reinforces the project's core message of recovery and support.
These include:
Drogue: aide et référence - an addiction helpline
Cactus Montréal - a harm reduction center also focused on preventing AIDS and other viral infections
Three rehabilitation facilities:
Sentier du Nouveau Jour Les Maisons Péladeau Le Pavillon du Nouveau Point de Vue
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jusstswiim/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jusstswiim680
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/jusstswiim
natalie co
To celebrate the arrival of Feature Friday’s newest team member, the Poetry Curator, this week will feature Natalie herself as an introduction! Natalie is looking forward to reading and featuring your poems, so submit! Often!
Here’s a bit more about Natalie:
Natalie Co is a writer living in Montreal. Her work has been published or is forthcoming in The Encore Poetry Project, SQUID magazine, and The Imagist. She loves to haunt grocery stores after dark, languish near large bodies of water, and propagate houseplants.
Somehow, I always end up writing about floods.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nataliewco/
Amanda Jeanne
Intuitive Abstract Artist and Creative Retreat Facilitator
Amanda Jeanne is an intuitive abstract artist and creative retreat facilitator based in Lac-Beauport, Quebec. She began painting in 2021 as a self-directed form of art therapy, transforming personal challenges into a professional passion. Her vibrant, large-scale works explore themes of love, loss, motherhood, and mental health, offering viewers a space to reflect and connect deeply with their own emotions.
Amanda is also the creator of the Squirrel Brain Chickadee Soul retreat, an immersive experience designed to help participants harmonize the vibrant energy of the mind with the serene essence of the soul. These retreats combine art therapy, somatic movement, and guided discussions, fostering a supportive environment for self-discovery and creative expression, particularly for neurodivergent individuals.
Her debut solo exhibition, Équilibre et Transformation, reflected her journey to balance her roles as an artist and mother. Amanda’s work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across North America, and her live painting performances, including Art Battles in Quebec and Boston, bring dynamic energy to her artistic practice. Through both her art and retreats, Amanda invites others to embrace imperfection, find beauty in life’s messiness, and experience transformation through creativity.
Description: "I Don't Fear You", Acrylic on canvas, 48"x72"
Artist Statement: At its heart, my work is about holding space—space to breathe, connect, grieve, and heal, as well as to feel joy and love. Using an intuitive approach, I create vibrant abstract works on large canvases that speak directly to the viewer's emotions, encouraging moments of stillness and reflection.
Inspired by music, poetry, street art, novels, and films, as well as personal experiences and relationships, my art captures the chaotic, messy, and breathtakingly beautiful essence of life. I often paint outdoors, finding freedom and inspiration in the natural world, which I integrate into my work.
With my art, I aim to invite others to discover beauty in life’s chaos and feel seen within the shared emotional landscapes of my creations.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a.manda.jeanne/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/AmandaJeanneArtworks
Website: https://amandajeanneartworks.com/
Feature Friday appears every Friday on Forget The Box! Submit your work below to be given the spotlight!
