'There's pride in being from here': Jessie Reyez on her breakout year and Toronto's musical renaissance

Toronto's Jessie Reyez had a breakout year in 2017: she dropped her debut EP Kiddo, made her TV debut on the American talk show circuit, and released "Gatekeeper," a song and short film that's garnered her praise for her brave critique of sexism and toxicity in the music industry.

The Juno-nominated artist sat down with Tom Power ahead of this year's awards for a chat about the response to that single, and the recent shine Toronto artists have been getting in the pop mainstream. Here is some of what she had to say. You can watch the full interview above.

On her number one highlight of the last year

The first time I went crowd surfing was heaven. ... [It was] in San Francisco and it was dope. I had a dress on and some runners. That was maybe like the sixth show on the tour and I'd been saying 'I wanna crowd surf, I wanna crowd surf.' I was scared man. ... But my manager and my team knew that I had been wanting to do it and the energy was just so high and the place was lit. ... I just jump into the crowd and my dress goes flying, but I [had] shorts on. If you could ever see happiness in the air it would be that.

On the Me Too and Times Up movement

There's two sides. I still feel like there's two sides. It's dope that people are talking about it. It's dope that it's still in the headlines. It's dope that more women are coming forward with their stories. It's dope that more men are advocating against it. All that is dope. It's unfortunate that we're in 2018 and it's still a problem. I feel happy that people are talking about it. I feel awful that it's still a problem.

On whether she feels we put too much pressure on artists to speak up about social issues

If I answer, 'OK yes, we put too much pressure' then it's almost like I'm avoiding my responsibility to speak, because I feel like I have a responsibility. If I say no, then it's like giving people a life for not talking about it. But the fact of the matter is that it's everyone's individual choice.

On feeling hometown pride for Toronto

There's pride in being from here. Especially now when it seems that there's a renaissance in music and the spotlight is being pointed toward the city. It's dope. And that love? That love is real. Shout out Daniel Caesar, shout out Savannah Ré, shout out Alessia Cara, congratulations for that Grammy. … The city waited so long to have this moment.

— Produced by Tyrone Callender

Jessie Reyez, 'Gatekeeper'

Editor's note: strong language warning.