When the rawness of Life renders’ to be one of your biggest influences, it becomes easier to understand how Domanique's work captures so many. While emerging as a Singer, Songwriter, her additional work as an Actress, Dancer and advocate, combined with her hustle as a double major in Theatre and International Development at York University, leave the phrase triple threat laying as an understatement, however. If you ask the young artist how she juggle's it all, she'll smile and tell you that s...
When the rawness of Life renders’ to be one of your biggest influences, it becomes easier to understand how Domanique's work captures so many. While emerging as a Singer, Songwriter, her additional work as an Actress, Dancer and advocate, combined with her hustle as a double major in Theatre and International Development at York University, leave the phrase triple threat laying as an understatement, however. If you ask the young artist how she juggle's it all, she'll smile and tell you that she thinks of it as preparation for bigger things to come.
Shake up the vocal edge of Adele, the soulful substance of India Arie and the genre versatility of Gwen Stephanie in a jar, add a dash of Billie Holiday and a love for Lauren Hill and you'll begin to understand, just a few of Domanique's influences. Whether you’re captivated by her unique RnB-Alternative influenced vocal fusion, or in awe because of her intricate song writing style, Domanique's alluring voice has begun to lend a fresh sound to Toronto’s roster of up and coming artists.
In the area of music alone The 20 year old Toronto native has performed onstage with KRS ONE, opened for artist's including African hip hop artist Emmanuel Jal (Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, Alicia Keys, War child) and Canadian artist Andreena Mill just to name a few. She's been featured in The Director X (Usher, R.Kelly, shawn Paul) Lecture Series presented by Time and space education exchange, alongside features in leading Toronto newspapers which include The Toronto Star and Toronto Metro who quoted her as “Youth Making a difference”. After recently releasing a remixed version of her first single “Young World” online, it hit #2 on 88.1fm's Canadian Shine in a 2 weeks, in addition to its rotation on FLOW 93.5 and CBC radio. More Recently Domanique's unrelesed single “Free” was featured in The Canadian Premiere of The Grace Project:Sick directed by Judith Thompson and Assistant Directed By Lauren Brotman, which she was chosen for, alongside 13 other artists from across Canada. After its 9 day run at The Factory Theatre, the show totalled the highest ticket sales in the Next stage Festivals 2011 box office, and has received praise from NOW Magazine, The Toronto Star and Eye Weekly among many others.
The 20 year old explains that its unpredictable experiences that pointed her in the direction of music and performance. One of her most unexpected opportunities would come at the age of 18, after being picked out of an audience of 800 people by Hip hop artist KRS ONE, and called onstage to perform, where she'd sing and freestyle at her first concert, next to Michee Mee. With a background that began heavily rooted in collaborative theatre, Domanique's training as a performer began at the age of 14 through songwriting for community theatre productions and training as an actress and dancer. By the age of 15 she had already worked with influential figures including Tre Armstrong (So you think You Can Dance Canada Judge), performed for audiences including The Raptors and had begun to take the stage at notable music and theatre venues across Toronto.
Domanique has begun to stand out as a young artist using her versatility in music and theatre to attack social issues, while touching others with her innate lyrical content and storytelling through music. Growing up in downtown Toronto as a quote on quote "At Risk Youth" Domanique has witnessed firsthand the false stigmas and effects associated with this title. This would ultimately be what pushed her into the arts at the age of 14 and sparked an early interest in bringing all realities of life to the forefront of her music and performance. Her song writing style and lyrical inspiration takes reference from growing up on a variety of mixed genre's and conscious artists' extending from Tupac, Wyclef Jean and EPMD to Alanis Morrisette, Bob Dylan, Sade and Michael Jackson.
Having not yet released a major album, Domanique's fan base has continued to expand in response to her ability to grab audiences through her intimate live music performances, raw live theatre work and her heavy involvement with social development throughout Toronto.
show more...
