Island Soul After Dark

Starting as a hip-hop DJ Mister Phantastik also developed a passion for other genres of music (reggae, R&B, funk, house, Soca and rock). After graduating from house parties, school dances and clubs, Mister Phantastik started to make his way around Toronto, playing with two of the biggest sound crews in Canada: TKO and Chic Dynasty, alongside some of the greats such as DJ Starting from Scratch, Ebony Sound Crew, Baby Blue Sound Crew, Red Flame, King Turbo, Dj X and Soul Controllers. 

Production became a passion in ’92 when he formed the hip-hop group “The Bush Crew” alongside MC LP and Cilo. Quickly, they made a name for themselves, opening for such well-known acts as Pete Rock and C.L. Smooth, Lords of the Underground, Wu-Tang Clan, Black Moon, BustaRhymes and Jeru the Damaja. In ’98, Mister Phantastik got his most significant break as an opening DJ on the DJ Kid Capri Ontario tour, appearing in Toronto, Ottawa and St.Catherines. Since then, Mister Phantastik has played alongside DJ Jazzy Jeff and Mix Master Mike at Revolution Nightclub in Waterloo in front of 2000 people. 

The biggest Wednesday night party was born after joining forces with DJ Kid-C and Alliance Entertainment, pulling in over 1000 people weekly. Residencies over the years have also included Revolution Nightclub, Waterloo’s largest venue, Elbow Room in Mississauga, Richards Mansion, Blvd Room, Mint Nightclub, Seven Nightclub, Tonic, the Guvernment and more. From house parties and nightclubs to the Elite Series Boat Cruises, Toronto’s biggest party cruise, and corporate events and weddings, Mister Phantastik covers all genres with a vast and extensive music library for any function.   

DJ Ché La Soul’s passion and talent for music have him emerging in the Toronto scene. From corporates to clubs, Ché has worked with many top-end businesses; Ritz Carlton, Alobar, Lena, TIFF, & Lululemon, to name a few.   

Keeping up with technology, Ché has entered the world of live-streaming DJs and recently celebrated his 36-month anniversary. In 2021, Ché ran a charitable event DJ’ing for 24 hours straight, raising close to $14,000 for the Up with Women Foundation.   

DJ Ché La Soul can also be found at one of his regular monthly events, Love Language or Rock Wit’cha (The Remix Party), along with many other events as a special guest DJ. 

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From humble beginnings at his parents’ record store in Toronto’s Little Jamaica community to performing on Sesame Street, Omar Lunan has always been entrenched in music. By the time he was a teenager, the crooner had joined a group called The Sho” that was signed to two major label deals, toured across Canada and shared the stage with acts such as Usher, Yung Buck, Ginuwine, 98 Degrees, and Canadian talent Kardinal Offishall, Glenn Lewis, Shawn Desman and Massari. Lunan went solo after over ten years, two JUNO nominations, a Canadian Urban Music award, three compilations, and an album (Debt, Sweat and Tears).   

Since his departure from performing with the group, he has continued to display his performance savvy, garnering Top 16 success on the final season of Canadian Idol, which immediately solidified himself as a staple on Toronto’s music scene. The singer has been the requested resident vocalist at Dazzling Lounge’s Liive Thursdays and various well-known live music venues. Along with The Recipee Band, Lunan has travelled internationally and, as a unit, shared the stage with artists such as Tank, Brandy Norwood, Deborah Cox, Andy Kim and Mya. He has performed for city-wide events with established corporates such as The JUNO Awards, The Legacy Awards, Toronto’s Harbourfront Centre and Union Station. Aside from penning hits for other music makers, Lunan is recording his first solo EP. The singer-songwriter hopes to debut the seven-song project in 2024 and tour with its release. 

How do you create a 30+ year career in a famously unforgiving industry? How do you become one of the top 100 most influential people in music? How do you build a legacy? 

It comes down to mentality. Don’t see what comes next. Be what’s next. Grab every opportunity. Face every fear. Blow the roof, walls, and doors off every venue until everyone knows your name. That’s how you turn house parties into club nights into arena tours. That’s how you elevate to graduate. 

There are a million good djs out there. Starting From Scratch is a great one. 

He credits this to a combination of hard work, circumstance and reputation. Plus, a natural-born hustle that sees him creating trends rather than following them, honing new skills and exploring new platforms to stay relevant, and being one of the hardest workers in the business. And, like any good leader, he gives back to the community that raised him, mentoring up-and-comers and speaking openly about his struggles, both professional and personal. 

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