using your voice with heidi richards and josie murphy

Singer and songwriting mother and daughter duo Heidi Richards and Josie Elysia both have expressed that music connects them to who they are. Through their music, they hope to help individuals feel and connect with themselves on a deeper level.

Heidi, during high school, became a member of a competitive Jazz Choir and was immersed in extensive vocal jazz training. While there, she developed a vocal range spanning baritone to mezzo-soprano. Being in this group solidified her passion for singing and ignited her passion for performance. As a result, she competed across Canada and performed at the 18th Annual IAJE Conference held in Washington, DC.

“Music has always been something that we have enjoyed together. It was a way to push boundaries and step outside of our comfort zones,” shares Heidi.

“As singer-songwriters, music has become a medium that has allowed for our expressions of vulnerability in a safe way. Music has become a tool to process our most intimate thoughts and feelings, resulting in the creation of raw, exposed and relatable lyrics.”

Classically trained as both a pianist and a vocalist, Josie prefers to create melodies using her acoustic guitar. Her sound is heavily influenced by the emo/pop-punk scene of the early 2000s.

“A few years ago, my grandfather wanted to learn how to play the guitar. It was something that interested him that he never had time to pursue,” explains Josie. “I had just bought a new guitar, so I gifted my grandpa my first guitar. Unfortunately, his hands were no longer as dexterous as they once were, so he wasn’t able to use it to learn. In the summer of 2021, my grandfather passed on, and that memory has stuck with me.”

As singers and songwriters, music is something both Heidi and Josie see as a way to express their innermost thoughts and feelings.

“We also have very complementary voices, so when we duet, it sounds amazing! Generally, I’ll take the higher soprano parts, and she will do the alto parts because she’s got this crazy Tracy Chapman-esque baritone range,” says Josie.

To listen to both Josie and Heidi’s music, click the links below:

You can follow Josie at @Josie_ely on Instagram, @JosieElysiaMusic on Facebook or Josie Elysia on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp or Reverbnation.

Follow Heidi at: @Heidiofficialmusic on Instagram & Facebook or Heidi Richards on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp and Reverbnation.

For head chef at The Twisted Apron, Charbel Boutros hopes his passion and love for cooking can be tasted in every bite of food he serves.

Boutros, who studied culinary management at St. Clair College, began cooking as a kid, learning traditional Lebanese cuisine from his mom, but lost interest after a while.

“I wanted to go into computer science before landing my first job as a prep cook at Grill-55,” he explains. “I fell in love with the fast-paced, intense kitchen world I was in. Everyone was expecting perfection. I had no idea what I was doing...I remember telling myself, ‘I’m way in over my head’, but there was something about it that just kept me coming back. I realized then that this was what I wanted to do.”

Being the head chef at The Twisted Apron, Boutros states that the position comes with many responsibilities, including kitchen prep and making sure orders are placed and going out perfectly.

“I have a high standard for myself and the restaurant, so it is my job to ensure everything is kept to that standard,” he says. “It’s one thing to know how to cook; it’s a whole other thing to know how to lead a kitchen.”

When discussing his role as head chef, Boutros mentioned that he’s living out his dream.

“We won the best brunch for the last few years in a row! We’re just celebrating our recent win from Best of Windsor-Essex for best brunch. It’s truly an honour to be a part of this restaurant and lead it forward. This is only the start for Twisted Apron, as I plan on bringing a lot more creativity and fun brunch dishes to the menu!”

Describing himself as passionate, intense, and hungry, Boutros explains that people’s reaction to his food fuels him.

“Have you ever had a meal that, after the first bite, your eyes light up, you can’t even speak, and all you can think of is how delicious this meal is? That is what motivates me,” he says.

Boutros is also available for private catering and meal prep for an interactive experience.

If interested, you can contact Charbel at (226) 246-8179 or find him on Instagram @chefcharbs

“Have you ever had a meal that, after the first bite, your eyes light up, you can’t even speak, and all you can think of is how delicious this meal is? That is what motivates me,” he says.