#AfterMyShot with Award-Winning Afro-Fusion Artist TÖME & Toronto Drag Queen Miss Moço

The days of live performances and concerts are back again. For many of us it may feel like an eternity since we’ve experienced a concert atmosphere. But, for performing artists themselves, a major part of their careers were put on a standstill.

By now you’ve most likely read a million pandemic stories about people’s lives being flipped upside down. But, this one is different, it’s positive and shines light on hope in the future. Advil just launched the campaign #AfterMyShot discussing the optimism that vaccines are bringing to the future of live concerts and events. Award-wining musician and DJ TÖME and Toronto drag queen Miss Moço are among the many artist a part of this campaign. They share their initial pandemic struggles, how they continued to grow as artists and where they are now.

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TÖME

Michelle Oluwatomi Akanbi otherwise known as TÖME is a Nigerian-French Canadian Singer-Songwriter born in Montreal, Canada. Her Afro-Fusion music has led her to join Afro-beats artist, Wizkid on his 2019 Canadian Tour, Nigerian singer Mr. Eazi on his 2019 Europe Tour and opening for Burna Boy in 2018 in London, England. This was her first sell-out show and one of her biggest accomplishments thus far as an artist.

“Burna Boy become the first Afro-Beats, African artist to ever sell out the Wembley arena as a solo artist. It was a historical moment for Afro-Beats culture and it was an incredible achievement to have been part of that,” TÖME said.

Winner At The 2021 Juno Awards

TÖME won Reggae Recording of the Year at the 2021 Juno Awards. The award was for her hit single “IPray” which features popular Jamaican Singer, Sean Kingston. TÖME says she’s, “grown tremendously since 2019 and that’s led me to winning my very own Juno in 2021 and that’s been my greatest accomplishment so far.”

Early Years

TÖME began singing and songwriting at the age of 8. For her, it was a passion that never stopped. In 2015, she released her first self-made project on Soundcloud. The 5 song mix was recorded on her iPhone with her singing and playing guitar. The years that followed she took what she calls a “hiatus”. It was in 2019 where she reconnected with her love of music.

“I was really starting to develop my sound into something new and that was the Afro-Fusion genre that I make now. I took about a year and a half to really curate that sound and by the time 2019 came around that’s were show opportunities with some really big African artists that were coming around,” TÖME said.

TÖME is prideful in her heritage, who she is and who she’s become as an artist. She is one of the various worldwide Afro artists bringing Afro culture to mainstream society in music representation.

Pandemic Reflection

Most of the world was NOT ready for the pandemic and TÖME was one of them. She says she really wasn’t ready when the pandemic first hit and the initial period of isolation took a toll on her.

“When it first hit I definitely didn’t take it too well. I was in a writing rut and it was like going from constantly moving and going, going, going to nothing and I guess I wasn’t ready for it,” TÖME said.

After a while she realized the pause was needed and acknowledged she didn’t have to always be on the go. She took the time to really look inwards, uncover all her truths and not take life for granted.

#AfterTheShot: Back & Better

“I’m most looking forward to the energy and the adrenaline you get with the crowd. It’s never the same virtually and to really feel that connection with my audience is everything and I can’t wait to have that again,” TÖME said.

TÖME has an upcoming show in Toronto on December 4th, 2021 at The Cathedral. Her next studio album will be released at the end of November.

Miss Moço

Miss Moço is Toronto’s Portuguese-Canadian internationally renowned drag queen. Pre-pandemic, she was hosting Toronto’s iconic Sunday Drag Brunch at the Gladstone Hotel. She’s was also a house queen at Soho House Toronto and has her own bar and shop.

Miss Moço began her career in Toronto in 2015. Shortly after she moved to Lisbon and says it was here where her career really blossomed. While in Lisbon she started a drag pageant, Miss Drag Lisboa and goes back every year. The 2021 Miss Drag Lisboa is taking place on November 6th.

When she came back to Toronto in 2018, she had to re-establish herself as a “new queen” in town being that she was away for a few years.

“That was when I started my own drag brunch at the Gladstone Hotel and that was what I was kinda known for in the city. The brunch will be coming back very soon,” Miss Moço said.

Mixed Emotions & Unfamiliarity

When the pandemic first began Miss Moço had a range emotions and didn’t know what to feel. She says there was a moment of confusion when events were still happening and then all of a sudden everything was shut down.

“Everything progressed so quickly and it was almost like okay cool 2 weeks and we’ll be back to doing our thing and that time just kept expanding. Then you realized how serious it was and it was going to last longer. I was in a limbo of not knowing anything and what I was going to do,” Miss Moço said.

Although she was feeling this way, Miss Moço kept the spirit of the drag brunch alive every Sunday on her IG live.

A Time To Reinvent

Isolation forced us all to reflect and for performing artist in particular, they had the time to reflect on who they wanted to be as an artist. Miss Moço says a light bulb went off and she realized she wanted to reinvent her style as a drag queen.

“At the beginning of the pandemic I was happy and realized I can finally take some time off and didn’t have to shave and I could give my skin a rest. Creatively I felt kind of suck, but at the same time it brought so many changes to my drag and the evolution of where I am now as a drag artist. My Advil campaign really captures the evolution of my drag,” Miss Moço said.

Like TÖME, Miss Moço says the virtual world of performing is no like an in person event. The feeling you get from performing in front of a live crowd cannot be compared to a virtual event.

“I believe as an artist you need to continually evolve from what you were before. What you were is still valid and it was their for that moment. I’m happy with the drag I was producing but now, its about evolution and a new chapter,” Miss Moço said.

#AfterTheShot: New & Improved

If you can recall, Ontario briefly re-opened in the summer 2020 just before that long winter lockdown. Miss Moço was starting to performance again at outdoor venues and it was a glimmer of hope. She said even though it was exciting, she was nervous because the population was still unvaccinated.

Now that 72.6% of Ontario residents are fully vaccinated, she’s still mindful and excited about performing again.

“I’m still cautious and know Covid is still out there. I think it’s about being mindful about knowing what we know and realizing we’ve done all we could by being fully vaxed. I’m looking forward to that electric feeling of a crowd screaming that I missed and I’m so grateful to have back,” Miss Moço said.

Other #AfterMyShot Performers

• The Strumbellas – Indie Rock Band
• Donovan Woods – Folk and Country Singer-Songwriter
• Richardson Zéphir – Actor and Comedian

Feature Image: Advil