Vancouver’s own Missy D is going back to where her passion for music began and starting on a new path of hope and healing with her recently-released EP Case Départ. We’re all welcome on this heartfelt and nostalgic journey that looks to the future with a renewed sense of purpose, place, and home.
Missy D’s Case Départ is the Beginning of Something Wonderful
I had the privilege of sitting down with Missy D to go through Case Départ (which translates to the idiom square one or a starting point) track-by-track, but first here’s a bit of backstory:
Diane Mutabaruka, aka Missy D, is a hip-hop, rap, and soul artist who has been performing music since she was eleven years old. You’ve perhaps seen her on stage either as herself or as a part of Laydy Jams at local events and festivals, or internationally at SXSW in Austin, Texas.
She traces her passion for music and writing to an elementary school program where her teacher developed a curriculum on hip-hop, at the request of the students. She learned about the genre’s roots and rhyme schemes, and her final project of the year was to write and perform a rap.
“Something happened that day,” Missy D recalls. “I realized I really loved music as a whole: making music and performing as well.” Her classmates could tell she had a gift and encouraged her to keep it up.
“I moved schools, I learned a new language, and the rest is history. I came here [to Vancouver] and I still kept doing it. It hasn’t left me. Every time I have tried to leave it – it’s the one thing that’s remained the most consistent in my life.”
Her first album, When Music Hits You Feel No Pain was released in 2016 and in March of 2020, she dropped the Yes MamaEP which followed her journey through the grief of losing her father. But as we all experienced, March 2020 was a pretty tumultuous time. She had to cancel her EP release party, and release and promote the project on her own. What was supposed to be a cathartic process turned into more of the sadness and grief she felt writing it.
“I was supposed to go home finally, and I wasn’t able to go home. I’m the baby of the family, so my siblings some live in Montreal, my mom lives in Ivory Coast with my brother, and I always feel like I’m very isolated. I already felt very isolated before the pandemic, then during it I also couldn’t see my friends, I couldn’t see my co-workers.” She realized she was still grieving the Yes Mama project, and her dad’s passing which is still in her heart to this day. All of it made her sad and anxious.
“These are feelings that a lot of people went through this year, so when I started thinking about that, I started thinking about: let’s go back to what I do and let’s go back to my why. Why was I writing music?”
She had her answer, and her inspiration for Case Départ. “Maybe the reason you do music is because you fell in love with it,” she told herself. “And where did you fall in love with it? When I was a kid.”
Missy D’s music is influenced by MC Solaar, Diams, Erykah Badu, India Arie, J.Cole, Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill, which you’ll hear as soon as you hit play on Case Départ.
This French EP, with some English mixed in, immediately transports me back to Mme Salvail’s class at Riverdale Elementary in the 90s – the peak of my French Immersion days. Not only with the mix of language, but the music influence and style. You can’t help but smile, I even felt like a kid again listening to it.
Missy D’s goal for Case Départ was to get back to her roots, and it shows. “I’ve been rapping in English for the last ten years, and I discovered that when I start rapping in French or singing in French, I’m back to that eleven year old me.”
“Everything in the past eight months or so has been very Francophone in every sense of the word, so when I went back to writing it I was like, ‘Oh wow the flow is different, I’m rapping like 90s hip-hop!’ I’m still that kid inside. When you hear the music, I think it’s supposed to bring you back, this is old school.”
Case Départ Track by Track
While Missy D describes her music career as her “5 to 9” for now, the passion that comes through on this EP is a 24/7/365 vibe that will touch your soul, and lift it up:
Every Spring at Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland (“Big Sisters BCLM”), they celebrate the impact mentorship has on inspiring the youth in our community to achieve more. This year the celebration is taking shape in the form of their new Spring Social event with networking, speakers, raffle and more.
Big Sisters Spring Social
When: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 4:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: Joey Bentall One (507 Burrard St, Vancouver)
The featured Spring Social speaker is Amelia Warren, CEO of Epicure, a direct-selling company that is dedicated to bettering the lives of families through healthy meal solutions that go from raw-to-ready in 20 minutes or less. She is the founder of the Good Food. Real Fast.™ Movement, and is on a mission to give every person the knowledge, skills, and tools to cook and eat well for a lifetime of good health.
Mentoring Matters
With social pressures at an all-time high and the world reeling from the long term impacts of the global pandemic, kids in our community need positive, caring role models now more than ever. Big Sisters BCLM is doing its most important work right now. Their youth are among the hardest hit by the social, financial and educational impacts of the pandemic with many coming from low-income and immigrant families. A positive mentoring relationship gives these youth a chance to realize their full potential despite the adversities they face.
82% of parents said they believe their child feels better about themselves and is more confident since being involved with Big Sisters.
96% of adults who had a mentor as a child say they are happy and 92% feel confident.
Children who are mentored are 2X less likely to be depressed and 3X less likely to have social anxiety.
Children with a Big Sister are 4X less likely to bully than those without a mentor.
This relationship helps build resilience so youth can face challenges today and in the future, ensuring that all have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
Big Sisters BCLM provides supportive mentoring relationships to children who may be facing challenges like bullying, isolation, poverty, abuse, social anxiety, low self-esteem, and more. Follow on Facebook for the latest news from the organization and consider a donation if you cannot attend this event.
The final weekend in May is here then it’s a smooth sail into summer (and I even have my June event list up early). Enjoy free admission at Burnaby Village Museum, Burnaby Blooms programming, Surrey SPARK Stages entertainment and these many more things to do in Vancouver this weekend listed below:
The 39th annual YWCA Women of Distinction Awards winners and nominees were celebrated during a gala ceremony at Parq Vancouver tonight. 75 nominees across 14 categories were honoured and this year’s YWCA Icon Award was given to Dr. Carol Ann Lee.
Dignitaries at the awards dinner included The Honourable Janet Austin, Lieutenant Governor of BC, HLI HAYKWHL ẂII XSGAAK, Melanie Mark, along with Dr. Bonnie Henry, local mayors and council.
Recipients of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards 2022
The fundraising goal of the event was $125,000 to represent the 125 years the YWCA has served the Metro Vancouver area. At last tally, before emcee Sophie Lui (Global BC) sent us on our way for the evening, the total was over $99,000 with some additional funds from matching sponsors. You can still make a donation to the YWCA here at any time to support the YWCA’s new Housing Community in Burnaby, which will provide 32 new homes for women and children.
YWCA Metro Vancouver advances gender equity alongside women, families, Two-Spirit and gender diverse people through advocacy and integrated services that help support personal, collective and economic wellbeing.
Last year they operated 72 programs and services offered in 66 locations throughout Metro Vancouver, they supported 739 single mothers and children who made their home at one of 12 YWCA housing communities, and 23,751 free meals were served at YWCA Crabtree Corner in the Downtown Eastside – and they do much more!
Miss604 is a proud sponsor of the YWCA Women of Distinction Awards, since 2010.
The team behind award-winning restaurants Miku and Minami expands its family to include its first premium Japanese Washoku concept, an elevated grocery experienceABURI Market, launching next week in Ambleside. Customers can go on a journey around Japan through specialty food counters, ready-to-eat seafood, tableware, and exclusive imported goods from Japan.
Photo credits: Top left Cody Chan; Middle Maria Gonzalez; Right Huy Tran; Bottom Huy Tran
The 4,000-plus square foot space features high ceilings, educational how-to videos, and several “stations” to explore, including fresh sushi, made-to-order bowls, sliced-to-order Iwate A5 wagyu, and desserts. ABURI Market also has a section for grab-n-go items, frozen meal kits, imported Japanese sauces, snacks and candies, similar to its popular ABURI To-Go locations.
“In 2008, I opened Miku in Vancouver, after falling in love with the city, and introducing Canada to Aburi Oshi Sushi and our contemporary Japanese cuisine,” says Seigo Nakamura, Founder and CEO of ABURI Restaurants Canada. “And now, I am excited to launch our first premium Japanese Washoku concept, ABURI Market, where people can experience authentic Japanese food and goods in a new way at home, on the beach, patio or with friends.”
Iwate Prefecture Delicacies The Iwate Prefecture in Japan is known to produce some of the world’s most exquisite produce, protein, and ingredients. At ABURI Market, customers can find an exclusive line of items, which includes its award-winning A5 wagyu, rice, in-season fruits, and more.
Shojin Shojin, vegan cuisine in Japanese, is popular for its use of beans and vegetables to resemble the appearance and flavour of meat in dishes. Featuring an abundance of healthy, plant-based Japanese meal options that everyone can enjoy, items include sushi, salads, ramen, bentos, and more.
Sashimi At ABURI Market, consumers will be able to find not only local seafood options, but also high restaurant quality fish directly from Japan. This is all made possible with ‘Hyoketsu’, a special technology where seafood is immediately frozen fresh at fishing ports in Japan.
Sushi and Bentos
Created by Miku and Minami’s chefs team, ABURI Market offers a wide range of fresh, ready-to-eat sushi and bento box selections, including sushi trays, appetizers, Aburi Oshi Sushi, creative inari, and bowls, such as chirashi.
Home Goods and Wearables
Exclusively commissioned for ABURI Market, renowned Kyoto-based artist and visionary Hideki Kimura has created a selection of home goods and wearables, including t-shirts, shopping bags, and tech accessories, all based on his dynamic and colourful style of art.
Arita-Yaki Plateware
Imported directly from Japan, Arita-Yaki plateware are handmade and embodies culinary artistry and history, created specifically for chefs to display their gastronomic talents and engage with diner’s five sense.
ABURI Market officially opens on Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at 11:00am. On its grand opening day, the first 25 customers will receive an ABURI Market canvas tote bag, while the next 50 customers afterward will receive two vouchers, one for a complimentary onigiri and another for $10 off their first purchase. At launch, ABURI Market will be open Tuesday to Sunday, from 11:00am to 7:00pm.
