“Radically reimagining the business of music” - CBC
Heart Lake Records Inc. is an Ontario based, queer women-owned and operated, independent record label. As a community focused organization our mission is to provide funding, project management, booking opportunities, distribution and mentorship while developing 2SLGBTQ + BIPOC women, non-binary, gender nonconforming artists and allies creating Hip Hop, RnB and Soul music. Our goal is to challenge and transform the outdated views that surround urban arts and music culture in Canada, while amplifying the voices of talented, yet underrepresented and marginalized creatives.
Our accomplishments over the years include:
Organizing, hosting and sustaining an artistically diverse Bimonthly showcase of local and international talent (2009-2016)
Releasing 6 free mixtapes, 4 LP’s and a handful of singles (2009-2024)
Partnering with major organizations like: NXNE, AGO, ArtScape Gibraltar Point, SKETCH, Buddies in Bad Times, Wavelength, Manifesto, MOCADA, Bklyn Boihood, Black Weirdo, Riot Grrrrl Berlin, Toronto PRIDE, Nuit Blanche, and City of Toronto (2009-2024)
Receiving the Toronto Arts Council’s ‘Music Projects Program’ grant (2011)
Winning $5000 with ArtReach Toronto’s ‘Youth Arts Pitch Contest’ (2012)
Curating two independent European tours with shows in Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris + London (2012 + 2013)
Signing sync agreements with major organizations like: VICE, Shopify, Netflix, Nordstrom, Tourism Ontario, InsideOut Film Festival (2017-2023)
Polaris Music Prize Short-list Nomination for Witch Prophet’s LP ‘DNA Activation’ (2020)
Polaris Music Prize Long-list Nomination for Witch Prophet’s LP ‘Gateway Experience’ (2023)
Organizing and hosting a DIY Merch Making workshop (2024)
Presenting, organizing and hosting the Canadian Premiere of director Dream Hampton’s film ‘It Was All A Dream’, with a talk back session with Amanda Parris and Dream Hampton (2024)