Manitoba Music
Manitoba Artists and Industry Take Center Stage at Industry Festival in Mexico
Manitoba Music Export Returns to Guadalajara for FIM GDL on February 26
Artists and industry from Manitoba are taking centre stage this month at one of Mexico’s most prominent music industry events. Supported by Manitoba Music Export, two artists will perform for industry tastemakers at the FIM GDL Festival & Conference in Guadalajara, while two industry representatives will join the delegation from Manitoba. Both artists and reps have built significant national and international activity recently, including label deals, overseas tours, major media coverage, awards recognition, and more.
Manitoba Music will make its second foray in the Mexican music market at the 2026 edition of FIM GDL at Casa Canadá, in partnership with CIMA, SODEC, and MusicOntario. Psychedelic alternative rock outfit Holy Void and indie rock band Living Hour will showcase at C3 on February 26 alongside Ontario-based acts Alysha Brilla, Aysanabee, and Tanika Charles, and Quebec-based DVTR. Misfit Music Inc. / Odd Doll Records founder Elise Roller and Anishinaabe and settler folk-soul musician Ila Barker will participate in business activities and meetings throughout the event.
FIM GDL is one of the most important music conferences in Mexico and Latin America, featuring showcases and a conference component, cultivating meetings with over 1,000 key industry players from across North and South America. Mexico entered the top 10 global music markets in 2025, according to the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFPI).
“We're excited to return to Mexico with a strong cohort of music entrepreneurs from Manitoba,” says Vanessa Kuzina, Manitoba Music’s executive director. “Mexico is one of the world’s fastest-growing export markets and is increasingly pivotal for the Canadian industry. It’s a crucial time to bring business and creativity together and continue building on the connections we’ve been making in recent years.”
The Manitoba delegation’s export activities are supported through Manitoba Music’s Market Access Fund, a grant focused on artists and music companies growing their business activities in export markets, supported by Manitoba Film & Music, the Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through the Government of Canada, and the Government of Manitoba.
Bringing Manitoba music to new markets and intensifying business activity in existing and new markets is a key component of Manitoba Music's trade and business development activities. Manitoba Music’s export activities are made possible by the Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) through the Government of Canada; The Manitoba Government; FACTOR, the Government of Canada and of Canada’s private radio broadcasters; and Manitoba Film & Music. Through events like these, Manitoba Music increases the connection between our province’s music industry and the broader national and international industry, which is vital to the career advancement of Manitoba artists and industry professionals, and contributes to the growth and development of Manitoba’s economy.
Holy Void
A psychedelic pentad emerges from the nidus that is Winnipeg, charting sonic dimensions with a fervour that captures the depth and complexity of the human psyche. Their music, a transcendent beacon beyond the conventional, beckons listeners into a profound auditory odyssey, illuminating the grim realities nestled within the vastness of consciousness.
Living Hour
Living Hour is an indie rock band from Winnipeg. Their music is distinguished by lead vocalist Sam Sarty's emotive and creative singing, cinematic soundscapes, lush instrumentation, and a playful musical interplay between the band. Living Hour has toured extensively in North America and Europe, and have supported DUSTER, Porches, Dear Nora, Men I Trust, Alvvays and Car Seat Headrest.
Ila Barker
With soaring vocals and lyrics that wash over the heart and mind, Anishinaabe folk soul artist Ila Barker takes listeners on an introspective journey. With the grit of Brandi Carlile, the poetic storytelling of Jewel, and the charm of Gabrielle Aplin, Ila braids an eclectic sound that feels familiar and yet like nothing you’ve heard before.
Through her work as founding curator with AIRsessions, a series of free music workshops for youth, Barker advocates for gender equity and Indigenous representation in music. “I have found a deeper connection with my community and the Indigenous music community through my music journey,” she says.
Misfit Music Inc. / Odd Doll Records
Elise Roller
Misfit Music Inc. puts joy in the journey. With an honest art-first, industry-second approach, Misfit helps music creators set realistic expectations, find sustainability in super-fans, and celebrate the milestones we help them reach.
With a strong team of music professionals and a diverse management roster, the company’s primary focus is highlighting and supporting underrepresented artists with a priority on highlighting the best of Western Canada. Through the innovative Artist Evolution program, the team works with dedicated artists building strategies, connecting them to a network, professionalizing their tool kits, and developing the skills and confidence needed to manage their own careers. Misfit’s team members have been nominated for and won multiple awards and the company, as a whole, has received a 2024 Western Canadian Music Award nomination for Impact in Artist Development.