The Mentors

Jay Bagasbas

Live Sound Engineer

Jay Bagasbas (they/them) is a trusted industry veteran. As a live sound engineer and educator of 13 years, they have committed themselves to providing the most ease from load in to load out for any and all bands. Many have said they feel more confident knowing Jay is behind the console for their show. Every show is fun and an opportunity to grow. Witnessing and touring with the likes of Charlotte Day Wilson and Jeremy Dutcher, there is much knowledge and wisdom to be shared.

Natasha Dion

Content Strategist

Natasha Dion is a creative producer and content strategist working across music, sports, and culture. As co-founder of Seven Studios Media, she manages creative productions for global artists, brands, and events. With a creative-first foundation, Natasha’s background spans photography, editing, videography, graphic design, and social content creation, shaping the way she now leads teams developing internet-facing content. Alongside her production work, Natasha contributes to Music BC as a Branding & Content Mentor, supporting emerging artists and creative professionals. She studied Communication Design at Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

Louise Burns

Producer

With nearly three decades of experience, Vancouver Island-based artist, producer, and songwriter Louise Burns has built a career defined by versatility and a deep commitment to community. Her journey spans the global stage, with live performances reaching audiences in India, China, Europe, Japan, and Australia, and includes five solo albums and countless other releases in a variety of genres.

Known for her signature sound that merges cinematic country, electronica, new wave and pop, her production style is as expansive as her influences, with a discerning focus on vocal arrangements and atmosphere.

As a producer mentor for the ARC Retreat, she offers a rare perspective shaped by over twenty years of detail-oriented production and international touring. She empowers artists to build sustainable careers through both musical integrity and the power of creative community.

Gus van Go

Producer

Gus van Go is a producer, mixer, musician, and song-writer best known for his work with The Beaches, Metric, The Sam Roberts Band, and Arkells. He has also produced material for Whitehorse, The Trews, Said The Whale, and more.

In 2009, he won a “Best Album” Juno for his work on The Stills’ Ocean Will Rise, and in 2016 for Whitehorse’s “Leave No Bridge Unburned”.

In 2023 he Co-produced The Beaches album “Blame My Ex” with collaborator Lowell, which he also mixed. The lead single “Blame Brett” was #1 in Canada for 12 weeks, and is currently #32 on US Billboard alternative charts.

He has been nominated five times for Engineer of the Year Juno awards, and albums he has produced have been nominated five times for Album of the Year, including records by Terra Lightfoot, Rah Rah, and Vulgaires Machins.

He has won 4 ADISQ awards in Quebec for his work with Cowboys Fringants, as well as multiple nominations with Les Trois Accords, Robert Charlebois, and Isabelle Boulay.

Van Go began his career in the 90’s as front-man for the seminal Montreal outfit Me Mom & Morgentaler. He is currently working on new albums with The Trews, TALK, and Lowell.

Gus van Go is a Canadian producer, mixer, musician, and songwriter, currently based in Toronto. He has worked with many of Canada’s most beloved artists like Metric, The Beaches, Arkells, Sam Roberts, Dear Rouge, and Whitehorse, to name a few. Having grown up in Quebec, he has also worked with many french-language musical legends like Cowboys Fringants, Trois Accords, and Robert Charlebois, to name a few. He is best known for co-writing and producing The Beaches viral single Blame Brett. In 2025 he and his long time collaborator Lowell co-wrote 4 songs for breakthrough buzz artist Baby Nova, including the song Too Pretty For Buffalo, which brought him to the attention of famed American record executive Mike Caren, who then signed van Go to APG (Artist Publishing Group) as a songwriter.

Elisa Kady Pangsaeng

Mastering Engineer

Elisa is a Canadian record producer, songwriter, recording, mixing, and mastering engineer at CPS Mastering, a music super-fan and all around studio rat. She is a conduit for ideas with lightening fast skills, an obsessive work ethic, and the ability to intuit the needs of her collaborators. She fosters safe spaces with her prowess, bringing focus and energy to every session.

Jenn Barker

Financial Literacy Mentor

Jenn Barker is the founder of Fairground Management, an artist and business management company supporting internationally recognized artists and emerging cultural entrepreneurs. Fairground works with artists including Destroyer and Spencer Krug (Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown) while representing the next generation of independent artists including Hillsboro and building systems that support sustainable, artist-led careers.

Fairground works closely with rising label play dead and Playground PR to provide integrated label services, business management, funding strategy and release infrastructure. With over two decades in the music industry, Jenn’s experience spans artist management, business management, record label operations, festival organization, industry education, cultural mobility and international export logistics.

She is known for combining creative development with financial oversight, strategic planning and funding execution. A longtime music industry educator, Jenn has developed mentorship models that support artists and cultural entrepreneurs at every stage of growth.

Christina Schell

Artist Performance Coach

Christina Schell is an Artist Performance Coach, dancer, choreographer, podcast host, mentor, and creative entrepreneur passionate about helping artists step into their power, own who they are, and feel confident both on stage and on camera. Coming from the dance and entertainment industry, Christina has built a career centered around movement, performance, storytelling, and artist development, working with creatives to strengthen their stage presence, confidence, and overall performance delivery.

Christina is the host of the podcast Life in a Schell (@lifeinaschell), where she highlights and showcases musical artists and creatives through inspiring conversations and featured music. She also runs a mentorship program called Outta Your Schell, supporting artists in building confidence, accountability, and moving toward their creative goals and dreams.

A dancing rockstar at heart, Christina is also the creator of the dance company The Bombschells (@bombschells), where she teaches inspiring, high-energy dance classes that encourage people to fully express themselves and rock out.”

Carol-Lynne Quinn (CQ)

Vocal Coach, Vocal Producer & Vocologist

Carol-Lynne Quinn is a Vocal Coach, Vocal Producer, certified Vocologist, TEDx Speaker, and Artist based in Vancouver.

She works with JUNO award-winning, major label, indie, and emerging artists, and currently coaches and vocal produces for artists signed to Universal, EMPIRE, 604, Big Loud, 31 East, Disney and more.

She is also a vocal coach for the JUNO Master Class, Canada’s Music Incubator, Project Wild, and the ARC program.

Her clients include Mother Mother, Celeigh Cardinal, Preston Pablo, Hotel Mira, and more.

CQ has collaborated with Grammy and JUNO award-winning producers, with projects she vocal produced receiving JUNO nominations.

Known for her empowering and artist-first approach, CQ specializes in helping singers unlock powerful, healthy, athletic and emotionally connected vocals while preserving the authenticity and individuality of their voice.

Saralyn Purdie

Entertainment Lawyer

Saralyn has 15 years of experience in the music industry spanning internships with music management companies and labels, to now practicing as a music-focused entertainment lawyer. Saralyn was called to the British Columbia Bar in 2022, and joined leading Toronto entertainment firm Taylor Oballa Murray Leyland LLP in 2023. Based out of Vancouver, Saralyn represents a variety of music and entertainment clients. Prior to entering law school, Saralyn worked at 604 Records with a number of their country, pop, and rock artists. Saralyn is passionate about protecting creative rights and building out the business goals of her clients – from brand new artists, to companies, to established names.

Brandon William Fletcher

Filmmaker & Photographer

Brandon William Fletcher is a queer Filmmaker, Photographer and Art Director whose evocative and distinctive imagery has been commissioned by a wide range of clients including M83, Manila Grey, Blonde Diamond, Curtis Waters, James Reid, Warner Music Group, Universal Music, Art d’Ecco, and Kandle.

Lexani Talionis

Marketing Strategy Mentor

Lexani Talionis humbly began his career in the lab with a pen and a pad. At the age of 17 he leveraged his talents into a development deal with Universal Music, and spent the ensuing years diligently pursuing his musical aspirations. With a knack for crafting the vision behind the movement, his transition from the artist to business side was a natural progression, starting off with stints on the street-team at Interscope, followed by Warner Music.

Taking a chance opportunity for an internship at Nettwerk Music Group, he started in the mailroom and was quickly promoted into the marketing department. 17 years later, Mr. Talionis has become one of Nettwerk’s executives and sits at the global helm as Managing Director, Instrumental Division for the heralded 40-year-old record label.

Lexani’s primary focus is on managing overall resources, A&R, strategy, and operations for his label division of over 75 artists, to drive profitability in line with Nettwerk’s vision and brand promise. With over two decades of recording industry, creative marketing and executive leadership experience, he has helped build the careers of Diamond and multi-Platinum selling artists such as Passenger, Angus & Julia Stone, SYML, Morgan Page, The Paper Kites, Hollow Coves, Wild Rivers, and many more.

Daniel Turcotte

Rights & Royalties Mentor

Over the last twelve years, Daniel has played a pivotal role in evolving Monstercat from a start-up to one of the most influential dance record labels in the world. With teams across Vancouver, Toronto, and Los Angeles, Monstercat celebrated more than 350 releases in 2025 across its Uncaged, Instinct, and Silk imprints, with key releases from Kaskade, WHIPPED CREAM, and DIESEL (Shaquille O’Neal). Beyond recorded music, the label has a regular presence at major festivals like Tomorrowland, Rampage, World DJ Festival, Amsterdam Dance Event, and Miami Music Week, and has strong partnerships with popular games such as Fortnite, Rocket League, Roblox, and Beat Saber.

Summan Kandola

Transformation Coach

Summan Kandola is a documentary filmmaker, producer, and transformational mindfulness coach dedicated to helping individuals break through limiting beliefs and build empowered, intentional lives. Blending her background in media and mindfulness, she supports creatives, high-performers, and growth-seekers in cultivating the mindset, habits, and nervous system resilience to thrive. Her acclaimed work includes the two-time Leo-nominated film “Identity of Wellness” (CBC Gem), which explores the intersection of healing, identity, and collective care. She also created “Monday Motivation” on CBC’s Creator Network, a four-part series offering practical tools for mindful living. Whether behind the camera or in a coaching session, Summan is known for creating brave, grounded spaces where people reconnect to their truth, release old patterns, and step into their fullest expression. Her work bridges self-awareness and creative empowerment—making transformation tangible.

Erik P.H. Nielsen

Producer

Erik P.H.Nielsen is an award winning Producer, Engineer, and Bass Player based out of Vancouver, British Columbia.

Over the last 20 years, Erik has been injecting his vintage analog sensibilities into a modern digital workflow, always aiming for new sounds from old techniques. This fresh perspective has attracted artists from both near and far, in many styles ranging from folk, country and rock, to jazz, classical, and blues.

When Erik isn’t in the studio, you can find him on the road playing bass for many prominent Canadian acts such as City and Colour, Jill Barber, and The Deep Dark Woods.

Jeia

Producer

Born and raised in Indonesia, a country known for its rich and diverse musical heritage, Jeia blends her cultural roots with experimental textures, off-kilter rhythms, and deep sonic storytelling.

She began her musical career by recording her band demos and DJ-ing in various bars and clubs throughout Indonesia, and started to produce for some of the top artists in the country.

After moving to Toronto in 2017, she tapped in with the city’s best talents through beat battles and local showcases.

Present day, her production credits boast names such as Bryson Tiller, Keke Palmer, Tayla Parx, Curren$y, Beenie Man, and chriseanrock among others, as she continues to collaborate with top-tier talent in the industry.

Driven by her intuitive approach in music production, she believes in creating a safe space for artists and creators to express themselves freely while helping to bring their vision to life.