We are excited to announce the hiring of Debaser's new Programming Manager, Tafari Hall (he/him)! Tafari is an active member of Ottawa’s underground music scene by contributing to and attending Ottawa’s Hip-Hop sector forum, and working with local organizations such as Debaser, Cranium Arts Project, and House of PainT to strengthen and diversify the local arts scene.
Read MoreTake the 2023 Audience Poll
Be candid and constructive - your responses will help us direct our energies towards things our community members want to see/hear/experience. The first 20 respondents to the poll will receive a FREE ticket to Pique spring edition on March 11, 2023!
Read MorePanelists Méchant Vaporwave, Eman Safadi, City Fidelia and James Goddard sit behind microphones in a low-lit room. Photo: Curtis Perry
Video: Brave New Models panel at Topique Symposium (Pique winter edition)
Revisit the Brave New Models panel discussion held during the TOPIQUE symposium at Pique winter edition 2022. Hear from artists and creatives who are developing new models, creating spaces, and bringing up the new guard in the music industry.
Read MoreInterview with Wellington Sanipe
Introducing Wellington Sanipe, an ambient musician from Ottawa who will be performing at 6:30 PM in the Theatre at Pique Winter edition on December 10th!
We had the pleasure of interviewing him ahead of his Pique debut where we discussed his songwriting process and what to expect from his performance this Saturday.
Read MoreIn Conversation with Laylit's Nadim Maghzal
We asked Laylit’s Nadim Maghzal about Laylit’s raison d’être, and how they curated their stage at Pique winter edition featuring DJ Fatin, Halal Bae, Wake Island, Achraf Elabed & Joyce Joumaa
Read MoreCurated Playlist: Markus Floats picks from Tio'tia:ke/Montreal based artists
Ahead of his upcoming performance at Pique on December 10th, he has curated an eclectic mix of songs from artists to know based in Tio'tia:ke/Montreal feat several artists we have had the privilege of working with.
Read MoreCurated playlist: BACKXWASH's HIS HAPPINESS album inspiration mix
Celebrate Halloween and the Backxwash HIS HAPPINESS album release day with this new curated playlist from the doom rap queen herself.
Read MorePhoto: Kamara Morozuk / Artist: Jerusalem in my Heart
We are hiring: Programming Manager
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Programming Manager supports the development, coordination, marketing and production of music and arts programming in line with Debaser’s mandate.
Read MoreCall and Response: Laura Taler and Turkwaz

Leading up to Turkwaz's performance at Pique fall edition on September 24, 2022 and Laura Taler's THREE SONGS exhibition opening at the Carleton University Art Gallery on September 25, Laura and Turkwaz put together a video call and response to talk about the resonances of each other's work and why Laura wanted to invite Turkwaz to Ottawa for this performance.
Read MoreGet cozy with a playlist curated by Tiger Balme ahead of their Pique fall edition performance
Tiger Balme have put together a collaboratively curated playlist to get you into a cozy mood ahead of their performances at Pique fall edition on September 24 in Ottawa, and our Pop Montréal co-presented showcase on September 28 in Montreal.
Read MoreTIMEKODE: Playlist Curated for Pique by Seiiizi 🎧
Interview and playlist by Boyhood's Caylie Runciman
Boyhood’s Caylie Runciman answered a few of our questions ahead of her performance at Side by Side Weekend, Saturday, July 30 at Club SAW with Kicksie, Jazz Dads and Backseat Dragon. Plus, click to check out a playlist curated by Runciman to get you primed for her return to Ottawa.
Read MoreCurated playlist of global Indigenous sounds by Uyarakq & Sunna Maaret - Pique summer edition ✨
Let this playlist created by Uyarakq & Sunna Maaret get you in the mood for their joint DJ set at Pique on June 11th. Listen to this mid-tempo introduction to the various worldwide Native artists they will be spinning in their late night set!
Read MoreLINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT for ✶ Pique summer edition ✶ Arts Court open house party!!!
More artists have been added to our most ambitions Pique lineup yet! Check out Pique’s full lineup here, and follow the link to find out more about Pique’s NEW Art Market! Full schedule will be announced soon!
Read MoreDead Dog - Sweaty Sticky Sexy Summer '22 Playlist
Hard-edged industrial punk foursome Dead Dog are performing at Pique Summer Edition ✶ Arts Court Open House Party on June 11th and they put together this hot hot hot playlist!
Read MoreMeet our Programming Committee
Please join us in welcoming the members of our inaugural programming committee! We are so excited to work with these brilliant minds to shape programming for Pique and other ongoing Debaser events and programs.
We meet with committee members throughout the year to review submissions, share ideas, and provide feedback. Programming committee members are offered an honorarium for their time and expertise.
Read more about the committee members below:
Nneka Nnagbo
Nneka Nnagbo (she/her) is a designer, writer, and multi-disciplinary artist, working at the intersection of art, inclusive design, and technology.
Drawing from her interests in etymology, language systems, and multi-modal communication, her work investigates re-defining complex systems into collaborative and accessible abstractions.
Nneka is a Juror for the Polaris Music Prize, and has previously served as a board member for DIY Spring Festival. Her written work and photography have appeared in publications like Melted Magazine, Ottawa Beat, and Apartment613.
She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Inclusive Design from the Ontario College of Art and Design (OCAD) University, where she explores communication accessibility for online spaces and alternative ways of connecting online.
Kingsley Swim
Kingsley is an artist + project development entrepreneur with experience spanning both indie and corporate settings in arts, culture, and entertainment. She is the founder of Black Market Creative Agency (rebranded as Black Market Framework).
Over the past five years, Kingsley has teamed up with musicians, arts advocacy groups, and non-profit collectives across Turtle Island and beyond by providing an array of services from event production to writing grant proposals to marketing and publicity. Championing Ottawa’s new generation of talent, she supports self-managed artists + managers by initiating export-ready opportunities.
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Kingsley co-developed the Warrior Microgrant Series to fund 2SQTBIPOC multidisciplinary creatives on Algonquin-Anishinaabe Territory.
Rodrigo Medrano
Born and raised in Mexico City, Rodrigo Medrano aka Gloryhull is a plant and music lover. Colorful tropical and lush greens are favourites of his. Female voices, sounds of diverse languages, cultures and genres are his musical path of choice. Playing music on a bike path, in an art gallery, ice rink, forest rave, dive bar or virtual venue brings joy to him and his records.
Lougien Dawoudiah
Lougien (she/her) is an arts professional living and working on unceded Anishinaabe territory. As a settler of immigrant history and Palestinian origin, she is passionate about using art and music to build safe and accessible online spaces. She is inspired by the people that hold and enrich these digital spaces, the niche communities that form within them, and all the innovative ways we are connecting through technology. She is looking forward to exploring how virtual tools can enhance event accessibility and show programming, and how programming can contribute to collective action and community support.
Contract job posting: Operations Manager
Reporting to the Executive Director, the Operations Manager will coordinate and manage front of house operations for multiple box offices, bars and merchandise tables for the summer edition of Pique, Debaser’s music and arts festival series, on June 11, 2022 at the Arts Court and Ottawa Art Gallery. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Read MoreMeeting Mesoma: an interview with Mesoma Onyeagba by Nneka Nnagbo
Leading up to Pique on March 19th, 2022, we asked writer and photographer Nneka Nnagbo to choose an artist participating in Pique to feature.
Nneka chose Nigeria-born Ottawa-based painter and fibre artist Mesoma Onyeagba to focus on, and what follows – a short experimental film (featuring music by past Pique performer Jules Filmhouse inspired by Mesoma’s work), an interview, and a photo story – is Nneka’s profile of the artist.
Read MorePique ✦ artist interview: MAGELLA
Call for Board Members
Debaser is seeking new board members who share our passion for boundary-pushing creative music and art, and our commitment to fostering safer and more inclusive cultural spaces.
Read More