THUNDER BAY — One of the artists playing this year’s Wake the Giant music festival says it will be special to make their on-stage return while celebrating Indigenous students from across the north.
Prozzäk, the Canadian pop duo of Simon and Milo (Jay Levine and James Bryan), scored a number of hits in the late 1990s and into the early 2000s while setting themselves apart with unique animated videos. They are one of the main acts playing Wake the Giant in September.
The music festival draws thousands of people to the city’s north-side Waterfront every September. Aside from the music, a core part of the festival and the overarching cultural awareness project is celebrating and creating a safer and more inclusive space for First Nations students who have to travel hundreds of kilometres from their remote communities to attend high school.
Guitarist and co-producer James Bryan said the duo is returning as Prozzäk for the first time in years and they “jumped at the chance to play again,” when asked. Bryan said he was already excited to be on the same bill again as the Black Eyed Peas, but once he learned more about what Wake the Giant is all about, it made it even more meaningful.
“Once (organizers) actually explained the purpose behind it and the way to connect with and welcome and create more connections with the Indigenous communities (and) the kids that come to school in Thunder Bay and leave their home like that,” he said.
“I wasn't aware of that journey for them, and so, for me, it was like, ‘oh,’ and that definitely is a bigger why to be a part of it.”
Aside from Black Eyed Peas and Prozzäk, this year’s Wake the Giant lineup also features Neon Dreams, Crystal Shawanda, The Poets, Wyatt C. Louis and G Dubz.
Bryan also has a couple of other local connections recently: he has collaborated with Thunder Bay singer-songwriter Sara Kae in co-writing a new song and, shortly after the announcement Prozzäk was playing Wake the Giant, he participated in a podcast interview with students from Dennis Franklin Cromarty High School.
“We did an interview — a Zoom interview — which I was interviewed by one of the students in the school, I think Grade 11, and who's got into Prozzäk as well but he's also really into journalism,” he said.
“He did a really great interview and so … I kind of feel like we had a little opportunity there to kind of connect with them a bit and find out what they're up to, what they're into,” Bryan continued.
“Now to be able to see them in person, I think would be cool and obviously if they can be at the show, it will be the most exciting.”
Bryan said he’s thrilled to be a part of something where the students are the focus.
“I think that was cool that they're doing more than just the festival on that day to try to involve the students,” he said. “It really, really means a lot to me.”
And Prozzäk’s Wake the Giant performance could be somewhat of a lead-in to the veteran musicians getting back on the road under that moniker, as Bryan said they’re looking to put together a cross-country tour next spring.
“Just having this call again, this invitation, it just felt like the perfect thing, the way to come back and the reason to do it.”
More information about this year’s Wake the Giant festival is available on its website.