Feature Friday (29 November 2024)

Written By Feature Friday Team

TGIF! This week's Feature Friday is a vibrant cocktail of creative talent, shaking up your weekend with laughter, music, poetry, and prose. First up, we've got John Cotrocois, a Montreal comedic gem who'll have you chuckling over your morning coffee. Then, get ready to be swept away by Vitalia, a Ukrainian-Canadian singer-songwriter dropping a fresh track that's as addictive as its namesake. We'll also introduce you to the wordsmithery of Kat Mulligan and the introspective poetry of Timmy Taing. So grab your beverage of choice, settle in, and prepare to be inspired by this eclectic mix of local artistry. And don't forget, Feature Friday happens every week, so make sure to submit your work for a chance to be featured in an upcoming edition!

Let’s dive in!

 

John Cotrocois

John Cotrocois is a Montreal-based comedian, storyteller, and writer with a knack for turning the everyday into extraordinary. A regular at The Comedy Nest and on the Centaur Theatre stage, he's also graced the Second City Mainstage in Toronto and shared his stories on RISK! Live in New York City. John's a JFL recording artist featured on the album "Margarine for Error" and produces the popular "Tales at the Wiggle Room" series. Catch him next at the Wiggle Room on December 8th for "Holiday Tales"!

Vitalia

Pushing the creative boundaries of Pop, Funk, Disco, and Alternative Rock, Ukrainian-Canadian artist, Vitalia, is a Jazz trained, Indie Pop singer-songwriter with a distinctive sound that reflects her eclectic influences. Known for her high-energy performances and genuine connection with her audience, Vitalia takes musical and lyrical inspiration from a diverse group of artists, citing ABBA, Paramore, Dua Lipa, Okean Elzy, and Florence and the Machine as influences on her spectrum of sound. Her music has been featured in widely known Canadian publications including Canadian Beats and Montreal Rocks, and Cashbox Canada. Her single "Land of Black", written in tribute to Ukrainians fighting in the current Russia-Ukraine war, was spun on radio stations across the country, sparking a music-driven conversation about the war. Her genre-defiant music is filled with engaging, hard-to-forget Pop melodies, often exploring themes of vulnerability, resilience, and romance. Ahead of her highly anticipated debut EP set for release in early 2025, Vitalia is sharing "molly", an upbeat Sapphic Pop track about the drug-like intoxication of falling for someone too fast, and the lingering crash when the whirlwind romance ends.

A cleverly written exploration of the dopamine rush of desire and crash of reality, Vitalia’s “molly” is a romantically charged track set to a haunting Indie-Pop backdrop. Stemming from a whirlwind romance, the song delves into the complexity of attraction and betrayal. With its eerie, atmospheric production inspired by artists like Billie Eilish and Lizzie McAlpine, “molly” plays with the idea of a person becoming as intoxicating as a drug, using its melody to leave an unsettling feeling that something isn’t quite right. The pre-chorus echoes with haunting, accusatory “you’s,” capturing a moment of tension and blame, while the outro leaves listeners with a raw, saturated vocal, designed to reinforce the emotional confusion. Vitalia’s vocals shift seamlessly from smooth to biting, embodying the feeling of being caught in an inescapable emotional spiral. With its driving beats and cinematic sound, “molly” is a striking example of Sapphic Pop, offering a relatable narrative that resonates with anyone who’s ever felt love and regret collide.

Kat Mulligan

Kat Mulligan is a Virginia-born, Montreal-based writer.

TIMMY TAING

Timmy Taing is a Chronic Overthinking Poet, Gaming Enthusiast and Decluttering Expert! Currently 26 and loves being able to share stories with others from gaming and IRL experiences!

This rhyming poetry piece is something I submitted to my college (end of 2022, at Dawson) and it made it into the school newspaper! My inspiration was a musical piece: Joe Hisaishi's "View Of Silence", depicting my feelings after heartbreak, but ultimately led me to heal and made me realize I wanted to write. My thoughts come alive most during the Night!

Submit Your Work for Feature Fridays!

Want to be featured on Forget The Box? We're excited to showcase the diverse talents of Montreal's creative community!  Think of it as an arts community SHOW & TELL!  Do you have something to show?  Tell us, and we'll feature you!

Here's how it works:

  • Deadline: Submit your work by Wednesday to be considered for that week's Feature Friday. Submissions received after Wednesday will be considered for the following Friday.

  • Selection Process: Our curators, who are active members of their respective artistic communities, review all submissions. While we strive to feature as many artists as possible, submissions are curated and chosen on a first-come, first-served basis.

  • What We're Looking For: We welcome submissions of music, comedy, spoken word, and visual art in any format (e.g., links to music, videos, images, written pieces).

  • Please Note: Submitting your work does not guarantee it will be featured. However, we carefully consider every submission and appreciate your contribution to Montreal's vibrant arts scene.

Ready to share your art with Montreal? Submit your work HERE now!

Feature Friday appears every Friday on Forget The Box! Submit your work below to be given the spotlight!

Feature Friday Team
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