RUMBLE APRIL 2019 . VOL 1 . ISSUE 5.
 
DEFYING THE ODDS Canadian talent, continued success.
Last month, RUMBLE chatted with Vancouver-based singer/ songwriter, Mathew V, and the designers of Toronto’s very own Mer Des Dieux, Pierre Bimwala and Andrew Nyarko. Inspired by the intersection of music, fashion, and all things in between, Defying the Odds shines a light on the reality of creating in the Canadian landscape and the necessary perseverance that comes along with it.
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
Mathew V in ZIN Motowear
MATHEW V Having just released his new single Catching Feelings, Mathew V is taking Canada’s music industry by storm.
The 22 year old Vancouver-based singer/songwriter is one to keep an eye on. After 10 years of classical operatic vocal training, Mathew moved to London, England at the age of 17 to teach himself how to write pop music. With British pop and old school soul influences, Mathew continues to write and release emotionally-driven and powerful pieces. Having written with the likes of Dan Mangan and DiRTY RADiO, and opened for Canadian artists Ria Mae and MAGIC!, Mathew sat down with RUMBLE to chat about his journey.
You toured with Ria Mae in February and March. How does traveling affect songwriting for you? I traveled a lot for work last year – Toronto, Vancouver, LA – but when I get to travel for leisure, I love going to places with cultures that are so foreign to me. To see something different, to see the ways how people live, it’s super eye-opening, and that gets me out of my comfort zone.
Those different perspectives build the repertoire of experiences that I incorporate into my writing process.
What are the differences between playing for smaller crowds versus larger crowds? Every show feels different, regardless of the size. Some crowds are more responsive, some are more passive. Not to say the passive crowds aren’t engaged – I’ve come to understand that each crowd has its own personality.
For the shows that are thousands of people, usually I’m the opening act. I go into those shows knowing that I have to win over the crowd, because I’m not who they are paying to see, most of the time. With the shows I headline, it feels safer because the people there already know about my music and who I am. That takes the monkey off my back, in a way. That’s when I try new things and experiment.
Mathew V in ZIN Motowear
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
You have a lot of classical opera vocal training under your belt - now you make pop music, pulling from different genres. What are you doing these days for inspiration? When people tell me that they hear that opera background in my voice, I always take it as a compliment. Every day, I feel glad that I have those 10 years of training to build on. I remember singing in German, French and Italian, then coming home and figuring out what I learned and what I wanted to do from that. Now, every Friday, I listen to the releases for the week and incorporate the parts I like. What’s the best lesson you learned from a fellow musician?
What do you want to say to Canadians that want to make the jump into a music career? For me, I knew that when I committed to a music career, nothing would stop me. If success is the goal, understand that the number of paths is endless. When a door shuts in my face, that’s where, say, 90 people would give up. If I’m not one of those 90, my chances get bigger. That’s when I turn that shut door into a window. Or I look for door number two, or number three – or three thousand. Ultimately, all you need to do to start is open one of those doors.
It’s hard in the creative industry – any place you make art – because there’s the pre-disposition that you always have to be “getting something done.”
I wrote one the songs on my album, “Let Me Go”, with Dan M a n g a n . U s u a l l y, when I go into the studio, I have a song in my head, or at least an idea, but this time I went in to learn from him. It’s hard in the creative industry – any place you make art – because there’s the pre-disposition that you always have to be “getting something done.”
Working with Dan taught me to open up and trust other people during the creative process. If you let them, your different personalities dance, meet in the middle, and let you create something in the moment. Don’t be afraid to trust others.
Work your ass off. If you want it, earn it. I know I deserve to be in the place I am now because I fight and work hard for it. To be humble is a beautiful quality - but you need to be cocky too. Have confidence in yourself.
You can follow along Mathew V’s journey by connecting with @MathewVMusic on Instagram and Twitter, and listening to his newest single at: smarturl.it/ MVCatchingFeelings. To keep track of all things Mer Des Dieux, make sure to be following @MerDesDieux on Instagram and Twitter, as well as shop their new collection at: merdesdieux.com.
MER DES DIEUX  
A designer fashion brand started by Pierre Bimwala and Andrew Nyarko, Mer Des Dieux pushes the boundaries further for fashion, fit and technology. Pierre (left) and Andrew (right) photographed by Adi Dasgupta
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
Pierre got involved with screen printing at a young age, where he learned about fabric and textiles. Later at OCAD, he learned more on the future of wearable technology and digital features in clothing. Fast fashion places like Zara and TopShop stopped satisfying his interests and he never found things that fit him perfectly. That’s when he got the idea to make his own clothes and see how far he could take his passion. Andrew went to Seneca for Fashion Design. Around that time, he considered committing to his lifelong dream of opening a business - but not specifically to make clothing. His friends and family would occasionally encourage him, telling him to design his own clothing, but he didn’t feel that he was ready. After spending more time in the fashion world, he accumulated the resources and understanding to propel him to go for it and make his own clothes. At the beginning, his focus was on making clothes for himself rather than for sale. Eventually, he and Pierre’s ideas aligned and evolved into Mer Des Dieux. Having known each other for 20 years, Pierre and Andrew chatted with RUMBLE about their journey.
Where did you come up with the name Mer Des Dieux? What does it mean? We went through a lot of different names and ideas, constantly going back and forth with designs. We looked through Greek mythology and landed on Greek Gods and its pantheon. In French, Mer Des Dieux means Sea of the Gods. It represents so many things - one of them is us as a society.
When we get together to achieve a goal, humans have the power to do so much, but sometimes we forget that. We want to continue to inspire other people to do good as well. Clothing carries the idea that everything is in our reach. Based on what you wear and how you style yourself, you can bring out different sides of who you are. And because we went ahead with Sea of the Gods, we draw a lot of inspiration from marine life and aquatic elements. In that way, it fits with our brand and our vision. Water is so adaptable, and so are people’s looks and abilities.
How important is fashion technology in your style? After the Victorian era, technology came into the forefront of day-to-day living thanks to the industrial revolution. Innovation in fashion technology mirrors the widespread explosion of consumer and commercial technology, where consumers are more aware and critical of how things work, sometimes more than simply how a piece looks and feels.
In fashion, if you aren't moving forward, you're definitely lagging behind. Fashion technology is an ever-growing industry, given the ability to have permanent connectivity to the cyber world plus the demand for lightningfast efficiency in work and communication. Clothing and the technology that comes with it is made to suit, challenge, and style, but also meet the demands of practicality and function. We are taking pre-orders for garments on our website. While most of our clothing is geared towards luxury and high-end retail, as creatives who have come from more than humble circumstances ourselves, we recognize the way that clothing and fashion is inextricably linked to self-esteem, self-expression, and a representation of individuality. In saying this, our embroidered tees are the perfect entrance point or gateway into our clothing.
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
What is one of the most challenging things about starting up your own company in Canada? Funding and exposure. So far, the Toronto fashion community has been very receptive of our brand. But when you’re starting out like we did, no one really knows you, so it’s sometimes very difficult. The city is still growing, and we’re starting to really appreciate that, and put effort into supporting Toronto and the fashion industry in the city. There’s a lot to learn, but more platforms like RUMBLE and Fashion Forward are catering to up-and-comers, and that’s important. What’s going on now for Mer Des Dieux? Our current collection is a story of a diver exploring the ocean's depths and scenery. As with all our clothes, we are inspired by colours, movement, and life in the ocean. However, this collection specifically also embodies the thirst to explore, learn, and seek answers that science and technology attempt to quench.
This collection is meant to spark, intrigue, and be worn with functionality in mind for all of those wanting to be unhindered by what they wear - no matter what adventure they embark on. Our Jellyfish jacket is a piece we are incredibly proud of. We continue to experience the thrill of seeing new looks and responses of bewilderment and confusion to its design and composition. With an outer transparent layer of PVC blended with an inner layer of soft yellow lining, we created a rain-ready jacket that pays homage to the majestic form of the jellyfish that lacks muscles, skeleton, and internal organs to give it some definition. The graceful and deadly creature floats and adapts to the light and environment it swims through. We hope our wearers do the same as
this piece not only protects one from the rain, but should they need to check their phone, count their change, or simply keep their hands dry, our Mer Des Dieux signature sleeves allow maximum coverage. Comfortable, eye-catching, and thought-provoking - the Jellyfish jacket is a key piece to not only our Spring Summer Diving Only collection, but also a hallmark of Mer Des Dieux.
Mathew V in Mer Des Dieux
CREATIVE TEAM  
editor-in-chief:
photography by written by talent / model: designers: clothing:
social coordinator: makeup artist: styled by
Photographed by Michael Del Vecchio
alessia monastero nancy kim michael del vecchio mathew v pierre bimwala + andrew nyarko mer des dieux nisa kirdemir flora reinhardt sarah-anne peslar
retoucher:
vanessa kiraly
assistants:
alicia loranca + patricia vargas
 
ABOUT US RUMBLE is a platform designed to inspire and support creativity and innovation within Canada. We provide resources and opportunities for entrepreneurs to better promote, protect, and commercialize their works. More than this, we aim to create an open space for dialogue within Canada’s creative communities. In our goal to promote Canadian talent, RUMBLE releases various creative monthly projects showcasing the intersectionality between art and innovation. RUMBLE 50, the much-anticipated annual issue, is a digital and print celebration of our top fifty Canadian creators and entrepreneurs of the year. More than an online magazine, RUMBLE is a community and movement. Together, we can inspire creativity within Canada.
DEFYING THE ODDS
by rumble magazine
www.rumblemagazinecanada.com