Exhibitionists

On the year's most depressing week, let this label-defying musician inspire you with her resilience

Through an unrelenting passion for music and a refusal to be discouraged by any obstacle in her path, Toronto musician Tamera Russell is here to stay.

'I'm a young, black, gifted, disabled female if labelled by society; musician, nonetheless'

The beautiful voice and inspiring spirit of Tamera Russell

8 years ago
Duration 2:44
Through an unrelenting passion for music and a refusal to be discouraged by any obstacle in her path, Tamera Russell is here to stay.

In the midst of what can only be described as an all-out coup of the urban music scene, Toronto continues to produce a steady stream of young, vibrant musical talent. While some of our homegrown talents are already household names worldwide, others are still at work in their home studios, cultivating their signature sound. One of those up-and-comers is 22-year-old singer, songwriter and producer Tamera Russell.

What separates Russell from her peers goes beyond the fact that she can sing, write, produce and play music exceptionally well. As told in the above video, her story is one of resilience. Her music portrays both the essence of the struggles she's experienced as well as the joy of overcoming them. Through an unrelenting passion for music and a refusal to be discouraged by any obstacle in her path, Tamera Russell is here to stay.

Nakosi Hunter is a freelance writer, photographer, and filmmaker currently living in Toronto, where he is majoring in Journalism at Ryerson University. He hopes to further explore 'perspective' in his work to help people to see the world through their neighbour's eyes, even if just for a moment. 

Watch Exhibitionists Sundays at 4:30pm (5 NT) on CBC.