Our guests for this month's Feature Friday are Kye Clayton and Jody Upshaw.

Kye Clayton is a Halifax-based artist, producer, and certified audio engineer pushing the sound of Nova Scotia forward. As Manager of Youth Power and Innovation at Hope Blooms, he empowers youth through music and mentorship. A two-time ANSMA Award winner — earning the Lieutenant Governor Award and Portia White Youth Award — Kye has performed at the ECMAs, Nova Scotia Music Week, and Magnetic World Festival, and opened for Xzibit. Through his collective LDN and upcoming project Live by Faith, Not by Sight, Kye continues to inspire creativity and community growth.

Jody Upshaw is a radiant force of emotional truth and feminine power whose brand essence lives at the intersection of beauty and battle, vulnerability and victory. With every lyric, every look, every live moment, she creates a space for women to rise, release, and reclaim their power.

From her single being featured on the hit HBO series Euphoria to being named Music Nova Scotia's 2022 Artist in Residence. earning multiple East Coast Music Award nominations, and taking home the African Nova Scotian Music Association's Rising Star Award, Jody has captivated audiences with her signature blend of raw vulnerability and ethereal glamour. Jody embodies liberation through art. Her mantra to #FreeTheGirls from toxic narratives and limiting beliefs isn't just personal - it's communal.

Beyond her artistry, Jody is passionate about empowering the next generation of musicians, particularly within the African Nova Scotian community. She envisions using her industry experience and authentic understanding of the creative process to provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and professional development support to emerging artists navigating their own journeys toward artistic and commercial success.

It was a pleasure hosting Kye and Jody in part 2 of their episode!

Show notes:

00:11 – Roots & heritage

02:40 – "What does community mean to you?"

04:34 – Social media awareness + protecting your mind

06:52 – Being a positive representative (even when others aren't)

11:35 – Giving back "with a real heart"

12:08 – Jody on community + the legacy of Three Mile Plains

17:03 – Finding community beyond where you live

21:12 – Music community + chasing purpose professionally

23:07 – What's next: projects + release plans

25:08 – Ten years from now: Kye's vision + leadership

33:50 – Jody's 10-year vision

35:12 – Career highlights

39:41 – How "Jody + Kye" started

48:58 – One word check out with Jody and Kye!

Our guests for this month's Feature Friday are Kye Clayton and Jody Upshaw.

Kye Clayton is a Halifax-based artist, producer, and certified audio engineer pushing the sound of Nova Scotia forward. As Manager of Youth Power and Innovation at Hope Blooms, he empowers youth through music and mentorship. A two-time ANSMA Award winner — earning the Lieutenant Governor Award and Portia White Youth Award — Kye has performed at the ECMAs, Nova Scotia Music Week, and Magnetic World Festival, and opened for Xzibit. Through his collective LDN and upcoming project Live by Faith, Not by Sight, Kye continues to inspire creativity and community growth.

Jody Upshaw is a radiant force of emotional truth and feminine power whose brand essence lives at the intersection of beauty and battle, vulnerability and victory. With every lyric, every look, every live moment, she creates a space for women to rise, release, and reclaim their power.

From her single being featured on the hit HBO series Euphoria to being named Music Nova Scotia's 2022 Artist in Residence. earning multiple East Coast Music Award nominations, and taking home the African Nova Scotian Music Association's Rising Star Award, Jody has captivated audiences with her signature blend of raw vulnerability and ethereal glamour. Jody embodies liberation through art. Her mantra to #FreeTheGirls from toxic narratives and limiting beliefs isn't just personal - it's communal.

Beyond her artistry, Jody is passionate about empowering the next generation of musicians, particularly within the African Nova Scotian community. She envisions using her industry experience and authentic understanding of the creative process to provide mentorship, strategic guidance, and professional development support to emerging artists navigating their own journeys toward artistic and commercial success.

It was a pleasure hosting Kye and Jody in part 1 of their episode!

Show notes:

00:00 - Introduction to Kye and Jody

02:54 - Planting seeds for the next generation

03:30 - Jody's early grind & family influence

06:40 - Representation, radio, and Nova Scotia pride

12:20 - Kye's path from hoops to hip-hop

13:42 - First songs, LDN collective & DIY come-up

19:10 - Grief, growth & taking music seriously

20:01 - From high school buzz to real momentum

25:01 - Writing, freestyling & creative process

28:14 - Choosing the positive path

31:34 - Jody's sound, R&B lane & "Free the Girls"

37:02 - Collaboration, confidence & beating imposter syndrome

44:22 - Creating for yourself vs. your audience

47:45 - Outro, contests & community

Our guest for this month's Feature Friday is Nathan Simmons.

Nathan is an actor of compelling presence and range, best known for his role as Elgin Williams on the supernatural horror-mystery series FROM.

Hailing from the historical Black communities of East and North Preston in Nova Scotia, Simmons brings both authenticity and nuance to his craft.

He graduated from the acting program at the Fountain School of the Arts in 2017, laying a solid foundation in theatre before making the transition to screen. Early in his career, Simmons distinguished himself in Canadian theatre, earning recognition and accolades for his stage work in Halifax and beyond.

His screen credits include appearances in the legal drama Diggstown, the sketch comedy series This Hour Has 22 Minutes, and independent films like Black Cop.

In FROM, Simmons' character Elgin arrives in the enigmatic township after having premonitions that forewarn the arrival of the town's grim dangers. His portrayal combines youthful urgency with an underlying sense of dread, capturing the show's tension between the ordinary and the unfathomable.

Off-screen, Simmons is also a musician, often performing live in Halifax venues — a testament to his multi-dimensional artistic instincts. With a bright future ahead, he continues to cultivate roles that challenge him and expand his profile across North American productions.

It was a pleasure to host this month's Feature Friday episode with the muti-talented Nathan Simmons!

Show notes:

00:00 - Nathan on his acting style

02:07 - You're Never Fully Ready for Success"

03:31 - Trade-Offs, Missed Gigs & Success as Bubbles

05:11 - Self-Development & Working for Tomorrow

08:34 - Video Games, Gamified Storytelling & Coding

11:29 - Dungeons & Dragons, Storytelling & Black Creativity

16:36 - Hustling on Set: Locations, Crew Work & Learning Film

20:30 - Assistant Work for Sterling K. Brown

23:01 - Film Budgets, Long Days & Why Details Matter

27:04 - From, I'm Black & 0 to 60 – Black Excellence on Screen

32:25 - Nathan on Collective Producing

36:15 - One Word Checkout with Nathan!