MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN
MAX KERMAN OF ARKELLS
LIDO PIMIENTA
@iskwe ** Instagram
The indigenous singer-songwriter and activist follows the “less
is more” approach, making each post count. Her beautiful
costumes and haunting colour schemes reflect a mixed Cree,
Dené, and Irish heritage, and they alone would make for a cap-
tivating account. iskwē utilizes her platform for good; she isn’t
afraid to call out racism in a Calgary Herald editorial cartoon,
for example. Her response to COVID-19 was an Instagram live
series called “Live from My Living Room,” featuring big-name
guests from Lights to Jann Arden. @lidopimienta **Twitter
If last issue’s Canadian Musician cover story is any indication,
Lido Pimienta takes the term “independent artist” to a whole
new level, in laser-focused control of her music, image, and
message. As a visual storyteller and master of multi-discipli-
narity, this naturally carries over to her social media chan-
nels, with a feed that is fittingly as creative as it is outspoken.
She is also a sharp business woman: the new album, Miss
Colombia, is available as a limited edition with hand-painted
vinyl jackets, the creation of which was posted as a stunning
time-lapse set to “Nada.” Of all the platforms, Twitter might
be Lido’s best. This fearless artist is a lot of fun to follow.
LIGHTS JESSE COOK
ISKWĒ
@lights **Instagram & Twitter
Talk about a fierce livestream game! In mid-March, Lights tweet-
ed out: “Do u sad bitches (me included) want an acoustic show”
and thousands of replies later, asked fans which songs they
wanted to hear, whether they were her originals or covers. She
then compiled the most popular requests (from ABBA to Off-
spring to Björk) and used knife throwing (“chosen by knives!”) to
help narrow it down further, documenting it all for some great
content. The livestreams that followed were well worth the wait.
JANN ARDEN
@jessecookHQ **Facebook & YouTube
The Juno-winning guitarist, active on the world music stage
for 25 years, creates brilliant video content in tandem with
his team while on tour, all of which is mixed and edited in
high quality. His YouTube account – consisting mostly of mu-
sic videos, live concert footage, and tour diaries – collectively
has over 13 million views as of this typing! By being able to
document so many dates, and having full control over the
final product, here is an artist who capitalizes on the full
potential of social media.
@jannarden **Facebook & Twitter
For years the Canadian icon has built a tight-knit community
on social media by getting up close and personal with her fans.
Her highly confessional, deeply honest posts – especially those
which journaled her journey of parental loss – have touched
many hearts across the country. She is a frequent sharer of her
love of nature, animals, her family, and of course, her music,
including awesome throwbacks. Most importantly, Arden ac-
knowledges her followers with gratitude and respect, creating
community all around her. BEN CAPLAN
MEASHA BRUEGGERGOSMAN ALEXANDRA STRÉLISKI
@Measha.B **Facebook
The power of Measha’s majestic “voice” where social media
is concerned is its consistency, directness, and honesty. The
Canadian classical soprano has had a close connection to her
fans for years, and thanks to their enthusiasm for her varied
projects, has continued to push the envelope of what her voice
can do. Whether in rehearsal, backstage, on a yoga mat, or
from a hospital bed, Measha lets us in to her world and shares
both her triumphs and her struggles.
46 C A N A D I A N M U S I C I A N
@bencaplanmusic **Facebook
The Nova Scotia native is a unique performer who weaves
magic with his larger-than-life voice, intense original songs,
and unique instrumentation. Online, Caplan’s feeds chroni-
cle his worldwide touring adventures across North America
and Europe; he gives access to his rehearsals, interacts with
fans, and shares his inspirations. Artists can learn a lot from
Ben Caplan’s promotional videos, which are entertaining
(and effective) in themselves.
@alexstreliski **Facebook
Based in Quebec, the gifted neo-classical star composer and
pianist has tremendous engagement based on her music
alone. Her staggering success – note three Juno nomina-
tions: Instrumental Album of the Year, Breakthrough Artist
of the Year, and even Album of the Year – has not made her
any less humble, and live streams work beautifully for her
nuanced, intimate sound.