Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Ammoye: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1846

Episode Date: February 10, 2026

In this 1846th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with Jamaican-Canadian reggae artist Ammoye about her journey as a women in Canada performing reggae and whether the 8th time is a charm for her at the Junos. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, Nick Ainis, and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail].

Hey, y'all, it's your girl, Amoy, the Light Worker Soul Rebel, and I'm happy to be here with Mike to talk about Junos and everything else in between. Welcome to episode 1,846 of Toronto Mike. An award-winning podcast, proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. Order online at greatlakesbeer.com for free, local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta, enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Visit palmaPasta.com for more. Fusion Corps own Nick Aini's.

He's the host of Building Toronto Skyline and Building Success, two podcasts that you ought to listen to. Recycle My Electronics.ca. Committing to our planet's future means properly. recycling our electronics of the past. And Redley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Joining me today, making her Toronto-Miked debut,

it's eight-time Juno Award nominee, Amoy. Welcome Amoy. Hey, thank you so much for having me tonight. Do you know the name's Susan Lucci? Does that mean mean anything to you? We were just talking about that last night. Oh, who were you? Okay, because I was, firstly, congratulations.

Thank you. You're nominated. When is the Junos? In March. Coming up. Okay, and they're in Hamilton. What a glorious exotic locale. Lucky you.

They call it the Hammer Town? Yeah, the Hammers. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I mean, I love Hamilton, but, you know, it's not the most exotic locale. But you're going to Hamilton. Yeah. And will this be your eighth Juno's? Did you attend them all?

Yeah. No, we're not. Yes, actually, I have attended each. Okay. So not to bury the lead here. Again, big props to you. Eight Juno nominations. Like, that's significant to me to be nominated eight times.

But I couldn't help but notice you're 0 for 7. Like the 8th is coming up now, but you're 0 for 7. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I've been 07. You tell me. I don't know. in the reggae category, same category.

Mostly male winners so far. Well, I looked it up. I was looking up. Who's winning these reggae recordings of the year? And I'm going to play the song that's got you nominated here in 2026. Yeah. Kirk Diamond. Yeah, Kirk Diamond. Kirk's a good guy?

He's a good guy. I like Kirk. I do. I should remove the curse. No. I've been poking this voodoo doll all week. No, no, no, no, no, no. Kirk is a good guy.

He really is. He's humble. I like his. I just like it. It's energy. I like Kirk. Okay, because Kirk, Kirk's nominated again.

And I think Kirk's had his, he's got his juno's. I think it's time for Amoy to do with Juno. I think so, too, man. I think so. And it really shows my resilience. Because obviously,

I love what I do. So it's not even about the accolades. Accolates are great, obviously. But I just love and enjoy the ability and the opportunity to do what I love through music, which is ealing,

activating. inspiring people. And so this time, which is my eighth, is also the number, I believe in numerology, it is my life path number. Okay. And so maybe this will be the gift. So what you're saying to me, Amoy,

is eighth times a charm. Eight times might be the charm. Okay, I'm excited for you. So by the way, if you do win, when you make a speech, will you thank Toronto Mike for breaking the curse here? I will thank Mike. I might make sure.

drive. I might make the drive to the hammer. You should. Can I, you know, I got a tip here. I'm almost afraid to say it because it's like an exclusive hot tip I got. And if it doesn't happen, it just means my source was wrong. Okay. So don't hold me to it. But it's possible when you're in Hamilton for the June awards in March where hopefully you win your first Juneau, eighth times a charm. I believe it's possible there could be a live performance from Rush. Oh, really? Which I don't believe is like something the public knows. I think this is a top.

If it doesn't happen, I was fed bad intel. Please don't send me any hate mail, okay? But it's possible you'll be witnessing like the, it's obviously they have a new drummer. But, you know, Getty and Alex from Rush will be on the stage performing for the first time in a very long time. Wow, that would be exciting. If Amoy joins them on stage, it'll be very exciting. It's okay. So I want to introduce my listening.

to more Amoy and learn more about your journey and to talk about all this good stuff, reggae and more. But can I read to you what I consider the official bio, just to give an intro here. So I don't know if you wrote this or if you have publicists who write this. You'll tell me afterwards, but I'm going to read this. Amoy's music is a fusion of reggae, dance hall, and R&B, delivering powerful vocals and meaningful lyrics that explore love, empowerment, and social justice. Join the movement to positive vibes and infectious beats

as she seamlessly blends tradition with a modern global flair. Did you write that? Because I'm saying, I think it's really good. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I gave them the highlights and then they put it all together. Do you think that accurately reflects who you are? Absolutely, absolutely. I would say no.

Take that out. take, yeah, I would make edits for sure. But no, that is exactly accurate. Exactly accurate. Okay, so when I read that, I said, okay, I need a moi, but I will confess something to you. When I was promoting this episode, I may have accidentally called you a moye. Do you get that a lot? I do get that a lot.

Amoye, okay, sure. But no, it's a moi. But I do. Absolutely, I get that a lot. Is a moi on your birth certificate? A moi is on my birth certificate. It's spelled A-M-O-Y. Okay.

You added, so for people who are searching on, you know, Google and ask Jeeves and, I don't know these wonderful places, what you want to search for is a moye, A-M-M-M-O-Y-E. So I thought, the E is silent. Well, that's what messed me up. Like, I read that and I said, oh, that's a moire. And then I learned I was wrong, as usual. So we're going to learn about you and your journey and what it's like to be a woman on the Canadian reggae scene. but I think we should start with the song that's nominated for reggae recording of the year. This is your eighth nomination.

So my typical question is, where do you put your juno's? But when you are nominated, you're ready. Yeah, I'm ready, man. It's been waiting on my mantle. It's been waiting. I keep dusting it off, getting it ready. What year, do you remember what year you were nominated for your first juno? Oh, God.

Oh, it might have been 2002 if I remember. Okay, that's over 20 years ago. Is it? Well, it's 2026. I just did the math. I see, I don't count. You know, math's not my strong suit. Yeah, no, no.

Not really, but yes. Yeah, I believe it was 20, 20. 2002. Yeah. Okay, you know what? It's going to happen for you. Like, I'm feeling it. I am going to just send a message if Kirk Diamond is listening to this episode.

I want Kirk to know you've had your time in the spotlight. Amoy is here. But let's listen to the song that's nominated and then we'll get to learn more about you. Okay. Here we go. warming up in here. Amoy, what are you thinking as you listen to more reggae, parentheses, funk it up in the headphones.

It sounds good in the headphones right now. And it's a vibe, man. It's a vibe. It makes me want to go dance. I feel like I need to be dancing right now in the studio. Don't hit your head if you get up and dance. No, I try not to. I try not to.

And may I. Let the listenership know if they don't, you know, see the video later. If they're just listening, a lot of people just put it on the headphones and they go walk the dog or they go for a run or whatever they're doing here. You've got magnificent hair. Thank you. Thank you. Take it back to the 70s. Afro.

Yeah. Is it hard to maintain? Not at all. He's a pick home and I pick it out and it's good to go. Okay. But you're not used to low ceilings in a tobical basement. You know? Yeah.

Because, you know, there's two heights for you, right? You've got your height and then you've got your hair height. The hair height. Yeah, yeah. So you're about 7 foot 3 with that hair. Right, right? I like that. I like that.

I'll take that. Tell me a bit about this song. And tell me about this Samora is a collaboration. Just tell me a little bit about this jam that's nominated for a Juno. Yeah. So Funk It Up, more reggae funk it up, is about shifting vibration from complacency or negative vibes into a more positive, uplifting. eye frequency, energy vibe, lift the people up. You know, especially in these times.

There's a lot of chaos happening in around the world and so on. And so I wanted to create something to take you away from that and escape, if you will, and take it back into the heart. Well, it's working. So, for example, let me just give you specifics here. Prior to your visit here on February 10th, 2026, I was freezing my nuts off out there. We were talking minus 30 degrees. Okay. Forgive me for that.

Forgive me. It was getting to me. Then you're in the calendar. I know you're going to waltz over here. You know, like, I won't give any specifics away, but I watched you walk a couple of blocks, right? I saw you coming, right? And I'm saying, I'm out there and I was not wearing a jacket. And I was thinking, she's bringing the heat, like literally.

Sunshine. So, okay, and I listen to that song. Reggae as a genre, probably because of its Jamaican roots, makes me feel warm. Good. Good, good, good, good, good. Which begs, no, that's going to be an important point, though, as we talk about the Canadian reggae scene. And I wanted to start by just discovering when you arrive in Toronto,

because you're born in Jamaica, right? Yeah, I came here in 94 after I finished high school, and I was raised with my grandparents, and my grandmother passed, unfortunately, I'm sorry, here before we came. And then I came here to live with my mom, joined the church here. that's why I got started

it was singing in the church choir back home my grandparents were very strict Christians and they had us singing in the church I was probably singing from age three all of my family sings or play an instrument and so that's how I started and then I came here after high school and after the past of my grandmother and joined the church

here, Dundas Street Church of God Pentecostal church Is that hardcore? Very hardcore in that they you know what I love about the Pentecostal vibe is that they, the music They embrace the musical part of praise and worship.

And so that's how I was raised. Could you, does anyone ever attend that church for the music? I'm sure a lot of people. Like I'm an atheist, but these jams, I can't resist. You would come for the music and fall in love. Absolutely, absolutely. Is that how they get you, right? They bring into the music and then you discover the love of Jesus.

Yes, there you go. There's an agenda. So you're a teenager when you arrive in Toronto. So, like, can you tell me what, like when you get here, and you're still very young, but what do you know about Toronto's reggae scene, like music scene at all? Like, I'm just wondering how you discovered Toronto's scene. Yeah, well, I didn't know much about the reggae scene, to be honest, because at that time when we came, my focus was the church and going to finishing school and I wanted to become a flight attendant. So music, I loved music, but it was more so a hobby at that time because my family, was not pushing me for me to go into music.

But even though your family is very musical. Even though. Even though they thought it was like more so a hobby that most people would make money. People like don't make a living from music is their stance on that. But I saw people like Julie Black when I came. And she was a member of that church actually. Yes. What other superstars?

I need the list. You kidding me? What are the odds on that? I know. This is Dundas and what? Where are we? Dundas Church of God. I can't remember what...

Like approximately. I won't hold you to the GPS coordinates. It's in the I Park area, in that area somewhere. Okay. Running me. The junction? Yeah, somewhere around there. I know Dundas and Runeh.

Are you kidding me? I do a Friday walk that starts at Dundas and Run Amid and I just go Dundas to where it hits bluer again, where the McDonald's is and they got Bish in Morocco High School. And then I kind of come up bluer to run me. I'll tell you exactly where I am at all. times in case you want to bump into me. Okay, so Julie Black was a part of this congregation.

Yeah, she was a attendee of that church, a member of that church back then. And when I started going full time, though, she had already, she had just left and pursuing her music career. But I saw her doing her thing. And she's also a Jamaican background. And I knew of people like Jay Douglas. Love that guy so much. Been here many times.

Oh, really? I love Jay. We just did a show with Jay. tribute to Jimmy Cliff. Yeah, of course. Lake Great. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So, yeah, so I saw them doing their thing and heard of people like Leroy Sybil's doing this thing. But more so what caught my attention was, as a female, was Julie Back doing our thing professionally. And so I was attending Seneca for a while, doing traveling tourism. And then I realized, I would only be feeding my pocket.

in starving my soul. Interesting. If I continued on that. I want to write that down. Yeah. I'm going to use that. Yeah. Feed in my pocket to starve my soul.

So I said, you know what? Mm-mm-mm-mm-mm. I love music too much to let it fall by the wayside and not, you know, honor this gift that was given to me. And so I decided I was going to drop out. I don't recommend that for everybody. Drop out of Seneca. Yeah.

Mm-hmm. And pursue my music. And I've never looked back. And yeah, here we are. And that's like, I don't know, 20 years ago. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Okay, well, you know, you have to put in some time to get the eight Juno nominees. Yeah, tell you, Tara did, like all this time.

So, listen, this is what I'm saying, I'm resilient, and it's not just about the Junos or the Grammys or the this or the that. For me, it's what I love to do. I enjoy what I do, and I do it for the right reasons. This is how I feel about it. I do it for the right reasons. I do it because I love it, and I want to activate, motivate people to go on and do the same. find their joy and live their life purpose.

But some people simply create art because it nourishes their soul. But the goal, I suppose, are the ideal maybe, is to create your art that you love, but to nourish your soul and to feed your wallet. Well, well, obviously. So that is a nice balance, right? But for me, I need to be doing what I love and I know and I trust that the universe will then feed the pocket while I do that. Okay, what if it doesn't? Well, you file a grievance with the universe.

I guess, I guess. But that's probably when you would know that maybe this is not the right path for me, because I'm starving out here, I need to make a life. You got to eat. Right, but I call it spirit. Spirit has made away for me. I need to fact-check you. This is very embarrassing for me to fact-check somebody of your stature.

But earlier you were sort of suggesting your first Juno nomination was 2002. Did I hear that wrong? You said that, right? I have, I recorded it. I think so. I can't remember. You don't have to look it up. Okay, but I'm here to tell you, you are incorrect.

Oh, so when was it? Your first June award nomination was the 2013 June award. Oh, 2013. Okay, there you go. That makes more sense, right? So now we're only going back 13 years or so. It was first the song radio. Ah, so I was mistaken.

2002 was when I did around that time. Actually, no, it was 2010. 2010. But 2002. It was when I did my first demo, not my first nomination. Well, you've accomplished so much. It's all a blur to you. Yeah, man.

It's been so long. I don't even keep track. I just keep going and keep moving forward. It's my job to keep track. Thank you. I get you here. I try to shake your brain a little bit and see what spills out. So you said it was 2013.

So I know that you have a song, Radio, that was nominated for Juno in 2013. And I believe that is your very first Juno Award nomination. Okay. So I thought, like, while we walk through this here, because you're going to give me the dirty details on everything. But I thought a couple of songs along the way. Like, we can listen together. And then you could tell me what we're listening to.

You ready? Cool. We can do this again. Warming me up. Oh, Lomoi, I love you too. What are we listening to here? This is Baby, I Love You So. And this is actually a remake of Jacob Miller.

If you love reggae music, he's one of the veterans from back in the day. He died pretty young in his career. One is just about to blow up. But this is a remake of his song. This was produced remade by these beautiful gentlemen of musical producers that I work with in Germany. Adoptah from the Black Oaks label. And this came out, I think it was last year. Okay.

All right. Keeping track of you here. So we have you inspired of sorts when you see what Julie Black is up to in church there. So where do you go from there? I'm just needing to know how this cake gets baked. Like, how does a, like a new Canadian just arrived as a teenager from Jamaica? Where do you, how do you go from? I'm going to church to take in Toronto Mike to church.

Well, I was always writing my songs. And I started writing poems and little plays back home in Jamaica for the church. And then that turned into me writing songs. So when I came in, I saw people like, like I said, Julie Black. And I decided to leave Sonica and pursue music. BMG at the time was doing a singing, a songwriting competition. I entered a song called So Down.

It was actually one of my first proper song that I wrote and submitted it. And they liked it and I got a call back. And that was motivation for me to say, you know what, yes, girl. You do have something. So that led to me meeting up with some producers at the Hive studio, Parliament Street downtown where I recorded my first, they were interested. And so that led to my first demo, which is what I was referring to, mixing up with the Juneer nomination.

So I recorded that demo. I worked with, they got Jordan Jacobs, an entertainment lawyer on Ball to shop the demo around and took us all the way to New York in front of, in the offices of Clive Davis. There's a big name for you. Yeah. And yeah, and that deal fell through because of politics, politics. It's always politics. Yes.

Politics and art don't often mix. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. But thank God that happened because I was not ready for that vulture of what the music business was at that time. I would have been eaten up alive, honestly. Well, it's your luck. Now that I know what I know. Well, like I'm thinking of who has been eating. I'm thinking of a Clive Davis prodigy.

I'm thinking of Whitney Houston. Exactly. Yeah, I loved Whitney Houston. There's a lot of things that I've learned about that's been going on behind the scenes. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. That's the real talk there. What do you know? What do you know? Lots of things, my gosh. That's not even bring the vibration down. But yes, the industry has its dark side, you know, the vultureside. And I still needed to develop my base, my foundation within myself.

I had to know who I figured who I was so that I wouldn't be. be swayed by the negative, by the odor voices and chaos and stuff happening outside of myself. So anyways, after that deal fell through, I was devastated by it. But it just led me into just focusing more on building myself up. And then I did a EP, kicking rocks with Aram and Sassali, Aram Scaram at the time. I don't know if you know those guys. Haram Skirm. Yeah.

Of course I do. That's my job to know harems scarum. I love it. Shout out to the schools out, the Degrassi Junior High movie. Oh, no. Listen, okay? There's herm scaram on there. No, this is Aram Scaram Sassalini.

They had a radio show and they decided to... Different haremscarem. Yeah, different for sure. It was a local... That's a moment right there. I'm not editing that out. I don't care what you say. Keep going.

And so we did that EP called Kicking Rocks and worked with Domatics. I don't know if you know of them. who Dub Maddox is. He's a producer here in Toronto. Is he related to Bill King? Yes, he is. The son of Bill King. So you're talking to a big Bill King fan

because Bill King performed with Janice Joplin. I do. You know all this stuff, hey. King's been over here, but yeah, his son's a big deal. Producer, yes, absolutely. And I've also worked with Bill King doing something express, rhythm express. Okay.

And we were doing a few shows around locally around town. So yeah, so anyway, so we did that and released that body of work. And then a producer who heard some of that stuff approached me to do an album, a duo album, his name is Rise Ashin from Ottawa. Rise Ashin. So that was my first full album, though it was a double, it was a duo album, me and the producer, him. And that came out in 2010. And that was out and then. And that's Happy Win.

That's called Afi win. Affi, you don't say the H. No, not Afto win. Afi win. Afi win. Aphi win. It's a patois, man. You know what?

It's funny you say patois. So I wouldn't, I would think it, I would deem it inappropriate for me to start doing some patois. No, not at all, man. Okay, well, let's have a little quick chat, only because just before you showed up here, I had Donovan Bailey and Jason Portwondo sitting right here to record the first episode of the six. season of Donovan Bailey running things, which is a podcast about track and field. I like that. Before we press record,

there's a lot of patois in this basement. Okay? And so I sit here and I'm starting to catch on. It's quite something because it's, it is English, but it's not. It's quite something. But I don't dare participate. But are you giving me the green light?

Yeah, man, do you think? If you find a word that you can use it and speak it like you mean it, too. When Snow released Informer, which was about the time you showed up here in Toronto, he's a Toronto boy, Darren O'Brien, good friend of the show, he's been down here. You were A-OK, you said you were fine with him doing that song in Patua. Of course, man. Listen, that's reggae music for you.

It's all inclusive, man. I'm relieved. Absolutely. And I love that song. I love snow too as a person. I love snow. So, yeah, man, more the merrier. So why do some people suggest that that is inappropriate for a Toronto-born white person to speak in Petois?

I don't know. I guess it's like that crab in the bucket mentality. They feel like, you know. Shadow to chaos. Yeah, exactly. I don't know. For me, I feel like the more than marriage, it's all-inclusive. It's a, the reggae music is about bringing people together.

Right? This is what reg is all about. It's rebel music. Bring people together. If you are about the movement and you're about uplifting people and making people feel good and it's positive, why not? Informer makes me feel good. It makes me feel good too.

You know, it holds up. I'll say this because I've been, you know, because Snow came over last year and he came to one of my events. So I've been playing a lot of Informer. And I had a bit of a break from Informer because it was everywhere. And I said, we need a little break. But now lately it's because of my relationship with Darren, I've been listening to it again.

I love it. Me too. Me too. And it's okay that he's a white guy of Irish descent. There's lots of white people in Jamaica. There's Asians. There's Caucasians. There's Indians.

I know, but he's from Toronto. So what? There's a lot of Jamaicans here in Toronto. It's the culture and he fell in love with it and why not, man. Express yourself. Okay, so I can start talking Patois. Chat de Patua. Chat de Patua, man.

Rob Ford was caught on video doing it at the, was it State Queen? Anyway, he was, you know what I mean? Good for Rob. Good for Rob. Good for wrong. He spent a lot of time around people, so make him talk to Batwa. Shout out to Ridley Funeral Home, absolutely. Okay, so we've got you now, just pick it up then. Sorry for the detour, but I was curious, like, because Dalmatics is a white guy.

That's Bill King's son. Exactly. And he does beautiful reggae. And the guys that I just told you about in Germany, a lot of the guys that I work with, actually, they're all white producers that make record. Everyone in Germany is white. I've been there. But a lot of the main producers that I work with from Jamaica are two Caucasians. gentlemen, boys.

I'm learning here because I would think you would want to, I don't know why. You're from, see, you're from Jamaica. Yeah. But you're Jamaican Canadian. Yeah. Okay, you've been here since you were a teenager, for goodness sakes. If you lose that Juno award to somebody who is, let's say a white person beats you out, you're fine with that.

I'm fine with that. Dub Maddox has won at Juneau, and we were nominated, I think, at the same time together, too. So it's all good, man. It's all love. I'm taking a note, though, to get Dubmatics down here. Because when Bill was over, I know we've talked. I know they work on a C-I-U-T radio show together. I'm taking a note here.

I'm taking lots of notes during this visit here. So, okay, so we have you now in like 2010s here. Yes, I feel like. Continue in the journey because I need to know what is Canada's reggae scene like, but particularly breaking news. You're a woman. You're all woman, okay? I saw you walk too.

blocks, okay? Oh, wow, yes. Is it tougher to be a woman in this industry? It is tough. I'm not going to lie. It's been tough. I mean, a lot of times the promoters will put, when I first started, I would be the first to go on a lot of times when nobody is in the audience, one or two, very scantily

glad out there. But it gave me that, you know, that oomf I needed. I was able to master my craft and sing to those people as if it was 10,000 people. out there in the audience. No matter how many people was in that audience, they were going to get the same show that 10,000 or 100,000 people would get.

And that's how the word of mouth spread from me being so professional. I'm very, I take it, not serious. There's another word I should use, but I respect the work that I do. I respect anybody that's in the audience that came out to see the show. And so people would recommend

or suggest me to other promoters, and that's how I built my following here in Canada. And so after that album came out in 2010 with Riza Shen, a major producer in Jamaica at the time, Flavor McGrega, heard some of those songs and heard of me doing backgrounds for Tony Anthony, who's another well-known reggae artist here.

and wanted to do a project with me called Baby It's You. And we did that record. And that's where I got my first junior nomination. Okay, okay. First of eight. And counting. And you've got the trophy case. It's ready.

It's polished. It's just waiting for the baby. Exactly. Okay. And it's March. Some point in March in the hammer. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I might bike there.

Yeah, 27, 28, 29. June Juno Fest on the 27th, I believe, and then our award, the Gala Night, is the 28th on the Saturday. Yeah. Amazing here. Now, you've worked with some very, at least, okay, let me rephrase that.

You shared the stage with some pretty big artists. So I may run down a little list and you could tell me, like, share the stage. Like, did you run on stage and then jump off? Is that what you did here? I need to know. So I'm going to start with a Canadian named Mike. not me we have yet to share a stage one day that's a dream of mine but

Michael Bubele yes I love he's on Michael Bubele he loves his record too Is this a Juno stage where are we sharing this stage? No actually on his tour he was a tour and we did a few days with him I sang backgrounds he was singing with his orchestra because you're not doing your reggae with Michael Bubell no I would have oh my god can you match There'll be a lot of heart attacks in that crowd

yeah yeah no but no I I love Michael I love drag I love jazz. My favorite jazz player is artist's Chet Baker. Oh yeah. Love, love, love. He's like the soundtrack to my life, man. Okay.

Oh, I love Chet. So, yeah, so when I was called to do backgrounds at the time, because I've done backgrounds for a lot of people, that was one of the ways I thought would be appropriate for me to make some money while I was, you know, mastering my craft and getting ready to come out of the shadows of all these major artists and come into my own. You know, a lot of big artists, like Cheryl Crow, for example.

A lot of big artists start doing backgrounds like that. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So I did a lot of that. And so, yes, Michael Bublay was one of them. Okay, I'm going to give you another big name. You ready? Shake that thing. No, it's Sean Paul.

Shake that thing. See, your popcorn is actually really good, eh? You can't even say it. Like I said, it's been years of me sitting in this basement with Donovan Bailey and Jason Portwondo. You've heard enough. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I'm like snow now. I like it.

I like it. Yeah, man. So, yes, Sean Paul. I've opened for Sean Paul several times. Hey. Actually. Yeah. And he's a good guy?

Yes, a very good guy. Very down to earth. And he's lived in Canada. See, there was a moment where I think some people thought he was Canadian. There you go. There you go. Because he lived here for a while. He doesn't live here anymore?

I'm sure he goes back and forth is what I know. Okay. I heard. Ziggy Marley. Yes, Ziggy. Ziggy Marley and Kamani Malia as well. And Skip Marley just recently. But, well, I got to meet Skip Marley recently.

But, yes, I've opened for Ziggy Marley as well as Kimani Marley. I believe the theme song to Arthur is performed by Ziggy Marley. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Some fun fact. You know these fun facts. I know, right? I keep up as much as I can, as much as I can.

All right. So speaking of Hamilton, Arkell still be performing at this junior. award. Yeah, that's their hometown. Yes. And you shared a stage with the Arkells. Yes, I sang backgrounds and sang with them on stage and sang on some of their records as well, singing backgrounds. And so, yes, Arkells, they're like family.

They're like absolute family. Actually, Max was in the audience the other day when I was opening, when I was performing at the Jim McCliff tribute. That's amazing. Max is a gentleman. I've tried a few times to get him on Toronto Mike Tier. Not yet. Maybe I'll get to him through Amoy.

Yeah. Yeah, you should. Okay. And get Julie Black down here too. Get to Ashley. It's funny. Julie Black and Donovan are friends. And for one episode of Donovan's podcast, we brought in Julie Black.

And I was like a little jealous. I'm like, oh, where's, why want Julie black? Yeah. One day. One day. Get her, get Julie. She's, that's another down-to-earth. Such a authentic artist and human.

I love her. You had me at hello. Okay. Brandy. Yeah, Brandy. Actually, when the show that one of the opportunities that I got to open for Sean Paul was, Brandy was actually one of the artists on that bill as well. Yeah.

Okay, I'm going to throw, I can throw more names out. You're going to throw one more name at you because it's a big name. Everybody knows his name. Why Clefjohn? Why Clef Jean? Oh, my gosh. That was just last year, actually. Okay.

at what was it was it we were in Quebec I'm trying to remember Festival de Té the Quebec yes exactly is my French okay

yes very good better than mine better than mine I say I got grade nine French that makes me a philosopher I am you are we are like that's what you're in grade nine right right

so yeah so he was the main the edliner the main act for that festival And so, yeah, I got to open and talk to him backstage, hug him up. I told him I was warming up the stage for him. Listen, it was white hot, I think, when you were done. Shout out to Tom Cochran. So, you know, we brushed by this and I need to come back to it because more reggae funk-it-up,

which is nominated for a 2026 Juneau Award. It's your eighth nomination. You're going to finally get that trophy, put it in the, did they charge you for a, like, if you win, do they send you an invoice? They better not. Like, honestly, I'm asking me. Better not. They better not.

If you get an invoice for that, Juneau, send it to Clive Davis. That's exactly what I... That's a good... Yes, I'll do that. I'll take it. Because I don't want you paying out of pocket for that.

And I don't know if they do charge. Can you imagine? I hope not. You know, I don't know why I think that might be true. Like, I feel like somebody told me that and it blew my mind. Really? The physical trophy,

like they send you an invoice. I hope I'm wrong. You have to be wrong. I might be wrong. You know what? I don't want to spread these rumors. So everybody, I don't know what I'm talking about. okay if you haven't figured that out yet i don't know why i have a thought like that no so Alan i'm gonna have to call

alan about that one oh yeah so which Alan is this again just to be clear which Alan this is the uh wife sorry the husband of kim stockwood right yeah am i right why is the canadian music industry so small tiny tiny tiny tiny tiny son of bill king is doing this and the husband of him stockwood is doing that what's going on i don't know man it's a small world i guess it's a small world but we Speaking of that, we need to tell the listenership about Samora for a moment here because I referenced, I think I teased it and then we never got to it. So more reggae funk it up is actually a collaboration. Who is Samora? Samora is from Surunam.

She lives in Surinam. What do you say? Surinamese. Yeah, I think that's right. Yeah. But she lives in Switzerland, Bern, Switzerland. I met Samora in 2020. We were supposed to be on the same bill for.

reggae divas here in Toronto, but then of course the pandemic happened and so it was a virtual show but we met virtually and stayed in touch on socials and she's been so supportive. I love her. She's a little, she's small like me because I'm a very tiny girl, I'm a five-five

she's around the same. But a five perfect for my basement. Yes. Remember seven nine with the hair, yeah and she has big hair too. It's big here too but um so we we stay in touch on socials supporting each other that way and we always talked about

we should definitely do something together. So now, come now to 2023, I think it was, 23. I was invited to Germany for Riepabon

to perform at Riepabon in Hamburg. And when I was there, she was like, she reached out, she was like, oh my God, girl, you're so close. You're so close. Is Switzerland? Let me fly you over.

Let's finally getting to the studio, right? And so, yeah, I went to Swiss after that whole run in Germany there and then got into the studio with her and their husband, who was also a manager and also produces, played me several tracks. And then I heard that, when I heard this one, I was like, yes, this one, because this reminded me of like, simmer down, the early Bob Marley sound and the Toots on the Mehta, Monkey Man. Don't worry, we'll get to Bob soon.

Yeah, Monkey Man, Toots on the Meadow, that sound that, that's chaos on that I grew up listening to back home and listening to that on the sound systems back home. And so this reminded me of home and it was fun. It was uplifting and all the stuff that was going on in the news and everything. This was just, I just felt like this is what we needed. To bring the people back to what reggae music really stands for. You know, joy, bring the joy back. Bring the inner child out, you know, and be playful again and dance and just togetherness,

unify unity consciousness bring all of that back on she heard it I wrote the hook on the spot it just started flowing out with such ease and grace and I love it when music come to me like that because then I know that this is exactly what I mean alignment this is meant to be so I played if I sang it for her and she was like yes and she started DJing right on top of the track just like that we wrote that song that night recorded the next day

released it last year June and here we are with the nomination man okay now so even though she's not Canadian that didn't disqualify you from a Juno nomination. No, because it's 50-50, right? So. Hey, I ask the tough questions on this show. Why, you know what? Ask away.

Ask away. I'm spreading the rumors. You got to buy that Juno, you know. No, that can't be real. You know what? I'm going to play a song saying I'm going to Google it. Maybe I'm, maybe I'm thinking of something else. Maybe.

A different award. My gosh. Can you believe it? I'm sure the Juno is going to afford to take care of you. Yeah, man. Exactly. Come on now. You know, I'll never win a Juno.

So I'll never know for a damn. I'll call up Dubmatics and find out. Carla dubs, exactly. I should ask him, actually. I will. I will ask them. Toronto Mike told me this. He's like, don't listen to Toronto Mike.

He's making shit up there. It's causing trouble here. Okay. So I do want to, I have more questions about your journey and some more music. And I want to ask about a potential inspiration or two. But I do want to tell the listeners and you that, the good people at Palma Pasta. So here's a big question for you. Do you enjoy Italian food?

I love Italian. My ex is Italian. Ex? My ex was. How did this person become an ex? Ah, I'm sure. Well, you know, things go on. We're still best of friends.

I'm friends actually with everybody I've ever dated, to be honest with you. Okay, that's the way to go. Yeah, and it used to be my manager as well. Okay, so it just didn't go long. You know, people just grow and they go apart in that sense. but we stayed friends and he's a big supporter of mine he's actually one of my biggest supporters he's a great human being and he loves

his Italian culture and he's actually a chef as well he makes it cooks good food okay he knows good Italian food he knows good authentic Italian food yes well I'm glad you're still friends with him because you can confirm with him that you get good delicious Italian food at Palma pasta they're in Mississauga and Oakville

they sent over Amoy in my freezer right now is a large lasagna that they want you to take home with you today. Lies. I would never lie to you. I was just about to say I'm going to see that from you. And then you are... Really? No joke. Oh, thank you. So it's a large frozen lasagna.

I love that. I get to go home and not cook tonight. It's delicious. If you're going to have a lot of leftovers, I hope you have a lot of people that can join you for this meal, join you for the meal because there's a lot of lasagna there and you're going to love it. I'm going to have it for myself and my partner. We will have it. We'll enjoy it.

Okay. Well, you're going to some leftovers too. And here's the, it's kind of a sweet thing they're doing at Palmapost. I just want to just quickly tell you about, which is they have a, for the month of February, which, you know, Valentine's Day is in February. Yeah. You got any hot Valentine's Day plans? Well, I was supposed to be doing a show opening for Leroy Sibbles. Okay. Yeah. From Jay Douglas. Yes. Yeah. Why is this show not happening? It sounds like it's not happening. Yeah, I just found out. I think it's postponed.

Okay. They're postponing it, or rescheduling it or whatever it is. Yeah. Well, okay, for the entire month of February, if you buy heart-shaped pasta from Pomaposta, they have this delicious heart-shaped pasta. It's great for Valentine's Day, but for the whole month of February,

a portion of the proceeds goes to Hospice, Mississauga. This is a, like, a compassionate care group that supports people in Mississauga. It's a really good cause. So I'm just here to tell, the listenership to pick up your heart-shaped pasta because it supports hearts for hospice, its name of this program, and it's going to help the hospice Mississauga. Good people at Palma Pasta.

Thank you. And while I'm telling you about good people, I'm sending you home. Your partner will also enjoy this, some fresh craft beer from Great Lakes Brewery. Oh, wow. Right here. Oh, for real? You think I'd give you these. You are being for real.

Okay. You got beer. All right. You got lasagna. May I tell you? So you enjoy a tasty logger. What do you got here? You got the fighting weight IPA.

It's a lower alcohol octopus wants to fight. You got a Canuck Pale Ale. You're going to have a good time there. All right. I'm also sending you home with a measuring tape, Moi, because Ridley Funeral Home think it'll come in handy for you. Okay. Funeral Home, all right.

Okay. And I urge everyone to listen. Here's a couple of podcasts I'm going to tell you about. Good. Ridley Funeral Home has a podcast called Life's Undertaking. We have Brad on the show tomorrow. He can tell us about his trip to Asia. So listen to Life's Undertaking.

That's every two weeks. New episodes drop. Also, much love to Nick Aienis. He has a podcast called Building Toronto Skyline, and he has another called Building Success. And it's been a pleasure to work with Nick Aeney's on these projects over the past year. And last but not least, Amoy, do you have a drawer, a closet, maybe an entire room full of old electronics, old,

old devices, old laptops, old phones. Maybe you got old cables in there. I do. You do? I knew it. I took one look at you. I said she's hoarding some old electronics, okay? Don't throw those in the garbage because those chemicals end up in our landfill.

You need to go to recycle my electronics.ca. Put in your postal code and find out where you can drop it off to be properly recycled. Cool, cool, cool. It's a great idea. Great idea. And they've been a great supporter of this show. So I could have conversations with the Susan. Lucci of the Canadian reggae scene.

It's so funny. Back in, probably around the fourth one, I was saying, oh my gosh, can you imagine if I'm the Susan Lucci of the Juno's? She got her final, she finally got it at eight. She got it. At eight? Is that right? Yeah.

Okay. All my children, right? Yeah. So, yeah. I'm at my eight. So maybe this is my eight. You said it's a lucky number. Yeah, it is my lucky number.

So let's see what happens here. Let's see what happens. Okay. I'm going to play a couple of things. songs and talk about some inspirations, but just so I, just to get, wrap up this journey. So things in this, in this industry, I know you're not talking trash about anybody anywhere, but are people still taking advantage of you because of your gender? Is there still, is there still any reason you need to know?

No, I'm not deal with that no more. Those days are done. Is it because you were young and you were naive? Yes, and just wanted to be, you just get in there, get in there. So I would just accept and take certain things and say, oh, yeah, it's okay. I'm just getting started. I have to pay my dues and all of that, which is fine.

But at a certain point, I was like, I pick and choose not what I do. I know my worth. Well, good for you that you've earned that respect. But you should have had it from the get-go. Right, right, right, exactly. But you live and you learn. You live and you learn.

And you're producing some great art. Thank you. So, well, you know, let's get into this. I'm going to play a song. You're going to recognize the voice on this right away. But I want to talk about the artist who recorded the more, the version that you're emulating here. So let's listen.

Beach out of morning on a fresh show. Oh, pirate. Yes, they rob eye. Sold I into the merchant ships. Minutes after they took eye from the bottle of spit, my hand was made strong. By the hand of the almighty, we've found. forward in this generation triumphantly, won't you help us in?

Peace on. One love from the words of Marcus Garvey. When they first hit Bob Marley and listen here to the speech from Whitney Piers, you got to break the chains in order to make change. Why you're fighting? That's your brother. We all sing the same song. Be kind of one another.

Respect your sister like your mother. Take off with ascension. Moving with momentum. We talk about revolution. and his songs of redemption I don't even want to fade it down, but please tell us what we're listening to, Lamoie. Listen to a redemption song, of course,

a remake of The Legend. The Legend, Bob Marley. It was my biggest influence in music. He's the reason why I do what I do. And this is featuring, it's a duo, the duet, if you will, with Dio Gibson from here. Who's in the calendar,

making his Toronto Mike Day debut, Dwayne, yeah. Oh, really? In the calendar. I love it. I love that. I love that. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

So more Dio Gibson coming soon to Toronto Mike. But you mentioned the legend. I wanted to talk about the influence, the inspiration from the Honorable Robert Nest, the Marley, because you can't talk reggae music about talking about Bob. Exactly. So, so much so that every show that I do, if you come to my shows and you get to know, I always start with a Bob. All my sets, I start with a Bob.

Bob Marley. Bob Marley is the truest, the epitome of what reggae is, right? And growing up in Jamaica, in the church, my grandparents were very strict Christians. The only other out-of-gospel music that they allowed us to listen to was Bob Marley.

And this is why I fell in love with him as a person, the music, the writing. How timeless is music. Music is relatable. and still relative. And so for me, he became the reason that I wanted to do reggae music and the kind of music that I make when he comes to reggae music.

What Bob Marley does is he brings this genre. Now, there were other no-in reggae songs before Bob, but Bob is, he brings it to the entire planet. Exactly. And this is why when you're saying, should a white person be, this is why? Bob Marley was all in. inclusive, man.

It was for everybody. That is what it's all about. And so, no, I'm not, I'm not going to say, don't, don't do this, don't know, no, because you have a different color skin. No, that's bull crap. Let it let it be for, it's for everybody. It's for everybody. Good to hear, because I'm going to release a cover of Informer.

And I have your blessing, a moist blessing. I will jump on it with you, too. Honestly, don't tell me with a good time. Yes, listen to me. I will do that. But yeah, man, I love Bob. Love Bob is everything. And we got to actually make a music video for this in Johannesburg, Dio and I.

Yeah. Okay. You know, I'm going to play that version when Dio Gibson's in the basement here. I'm going to play that version. And just maybe I'll just do 60 minutes talking about Amoy. Oh. Is that okay? Do it.

With your blessing. Do it. You got my blessing. He won't mind here. No, no, no, no. That's family right there, right? So when I thought about you and I was listening to your reggae and I was preparing for your interview.

I started thinking, who's the first woman reggae artist I remember hearing in my life, okay? So don't say a word even. So I'm thinking, okay, because I think my first exposure to reggae, like many Torontoians, and it was Bob Marley. Yeah, yeah, mine too. I think that's first. And then I was like, who's the first woman reggae artist? Because it is a very male-dominated genre.

Even though there's women, but they're just surprised. They don't really get the love and the support and the acknowledgement, like the men. More so now. You've seen it more so now, but it's still, still not as on par with the men. I'm going to play a song for you. We're going back to the early 80s, okay? You ready for this? Yeah, me ready. Hey, hey, hey, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh. You know what's a song to me and do you know? Tell me, say, one thing, non-seekia and lastana.

The song about me ambition. You say what I'm a-no, they're not going to ask me when me get it from. Tell them no, it's from creation. I told them no, it's a from creation. Bam-bam-bam. The song that spawned a million samples, okay? Please tell me, when you're listening to Sister Nancy here in the headphones, what are you thinking about, Amoy?

Oh my gosh, the pioneer man. Obviously. Another legend. Oh, my gosh. I got to see your documentary. Yes. The day of last year. And just, what?

Just, oh, my gosh. And talk about resilience. You know, and still doing our thing, eh? Still doing it like she's 16. Still doing it. But here's the fascinating fact about Sister Nancy. So that song, I think it comes out in 82. Yeah.

In 1982, Bam Bam. That's how I say it. I know hers is better in Bomb Bomb. Okay. Bam Bam to me from the Flintstones. But Sister Nancy is an accountant in New Jersey. Yes. Yes.

Yes. You're ready for when she decides she will retire and just become a performer full-time? Do you know what year that was? Do you want to guess? Now, you saw the dog. I did. I did see the documentary. It was 2016.

Yes, just very recently. Yeah. Yesterday. She kept her job. This song drops in 82. Listen to this song in the headphones. Yeah. This woman made.

most of her cabbage so she could eat as an accountant in New Jersey. Like resiliency is the word. Absolutely. That's it. So, yeah, there you go. Thank God. Oh, God. Okay.

Amoy, I would like to be by your side in Hamilton when your name is announced. Come true, Mike. As the winner. Come true, no? Your partner won't mind. No, no, no, no, not to die. If your partner and my partner sign off on this, you and I will be together as you win your first June award in Hamilton,

okay? Let's do it. Long overdue, reggae recording of the year, eighth nomination. Honestly, I wish you so much success. Thank you. You, even if you don't win a Juno and that's impossible to even consider, but because eighth time is a charm.

You know what they can't take away from you? Yeah. you're now an FOTM you know what that stands for tell me friend of Toronto miced they can never take that away from me it's done now it's done it's done I love this chat now yes

thanks so much for bringing the warmth I bring the sunshine everywhere I go so it's my pleasure then you should come back tomorrow yes I almost wore shorts today oh did you well I'm like it just felt so glorious I'm not be freezing my butt off I know right oh my gosh

and again if Kirk Diamond's listening and you felt some pox because I had a voodoo doll. No, not for Kirk. I'm worried Kirk is going to win this, you know. It's a Moy's turn. Hi. Thanks for visiting today, Moe. From your lips to God's ears.

Yes, yes, yes, yes. God listens to me. Yes, what's meant to be will be? Absolutely. Absolutely. Good. And talk to Julie for me and tell her Toronto Mike does a good safe place to have a good chance. Absolutely.

And Max. Well, Max for sure. Max Kerman, absolutely. Yes, yes, yes. And then while you're in the Hamilton, tell Getty Lee it's his turn to. Let's do it all. Amoy, I can't believe it, eight Juno nominations. You're going to win your first Juno in March.

Thank you. And I'm going to take full credit when you win. You know that right. I, I guess. I'll come back. I'll come back. Oh, you better. Celebrate with you.

Because you're going to want more lasagna. Yes, and I'm going to want more lasagna. That is the truth. And more beer. And more beer. All right. And that brings us to the end of our 1,000, 8. 846th show.

I saved the best for 1846. Go to tronomelike.com for all your Toronto mic needs. Is there anywhere you want to send people, like social media or a website? Where do you want to send people? Well, my most active on Instagram, Moise Music, A-M-M-M-O-Y-E-S music. And I just started recently doing the TikTok team. So come find me on TikTok. I'll help me boost up those numbers on TikTok.

under Amoy as well A-M-M-O-Y-E. You can find out more about everything that I'm doing, though, on my website, and that will take you to all the socials. Amoy.com, A-M-M-O-Y-E dot com. And much love to all who made this possible. Again, that's Great Lakes Brewery. We just dropped a new episode of their fine podcast between two fermenters. Palma, here's speaking of rush.

Palma pasta, again, go get your heart-shaped pasta. And then get a lasagna while you're at it. Listen to Building Toronto Skyline. Recycle myelectronics.ca. Amoy is going there when she gets home. She's got some stuff to get rid of. And Ridley Funeral Home, their podcast is called Life's Undertaking. See you all tomorrow when my special guest is Dave Bedini from the Rio Statics.

See you all then.