Who are the Canadians behind some of the world’s most influential artists?

By Rosie Leonard

Behind many famous musicians are producers who help with not only the technical process, but also the creative process of making music. From creating beats, to mixing, and — in some cases — co-writing songs with artists, the role a producer plays is not something to be overlooked. Here are some Canadian music producers who work with some of the top artists in the country and around the world.

Ryan Hemsworth

Hailing from Halifax, Ryan Hemsworth is a producer and DJ with an impressive track record. Hemsworth started producing electronic music in his first year of university, while studying journalism at the University of King’s College in Halifax. Since then, Hemsworth has gone on to produce tracks for major label artists like Tory Lanez, Tinashe, E-40, and Joji, among others. Hemsworth also produces his own music, winning the 2014 Juno for Electronic Album of the Year with his debut album, Guilt Trip.

Peter Sagar

Former Mac Demarco band member and co-writer on Demarco’s debut album, Peter Sagar now works as a solo musician and producer. His individual projects released through the alias “Homeshake” have earned him nearly one million monthly listeners on Spotify. Born in Edmonton, but currently based out of Montreal, Sagar produces all of his own music, which has been described as synth-pop with a “stoned feeling.” While his sound is comparable to that of his old band-mate Mac Demarco, Sagar draws on a variety of influences that affect his production style, from upbeat ‘80s synths, to jazz-influenced R&B. Sagar does not typically collaborate with other artists, however his production talents are obvious through his solo work.

Lunice

Part of the musical duo TNGHT, Montreal-native Lunice is a producer and DJ specializing in electronic music and rap. He has collaborated with Dillon Francis, Denzel Curry, Azealia Banks, Joji, and Grammy-award winning producer Mike Dean. Along with Hudson Mohawke, the other half of TNGHT, Lunice helped produce Kanye West’s platinum hit “Blood On The Leaves” from his 2013 album, Yeezus.  

WondaGurl

You’ve probably heard her name before, but that’s for good reason. Ebony Oshunride of Brampton, Ont., better known as WondaGurl, has produced for some of the most popular artists of the decade, including Drake, Lil Uzi Vert, Rihanna, and Travis Scott. Through her connection with Scott, one of her beats ended up on Jay-Z’s album Magna Carta Holy Grail when she was only 16 years old. All of these accomplishments landed her a spot in the music category of Forbes’ 30 under 30 list in 2018.

London Cyr

Born in Vancouver, but raised in Toronto, London Cyr started producing beats while in middle school, the same time he met his friend, and one of his first collaborators, Killy. After attending post-secondary school in England for sound engineering, Cyr came back to Toronto and mastered Killy’s first project, Surrender Your Soul. Most notably, along with fellow Toronto producer WondaGurl, Cyr produced the track “CAN’T SAY” from Travis Scott’s Grammy-nominated album, Astroworld.

Jordan Evans

Grammy and Juno award-winning producer Jordan Evans is the man behind Daniel Caesar’s career. Born and raised in Toronto, Evans has not only produced both of Caesar’s albums, but is also his manager. Evans has worked with a wide array of artists, including Drake, Childish Gambino, John Legend, and Eminem. He was nominated for Producer of the Year at the Juno Awards last year for his work with Caesar. 

To get a taste of more music by these producers, check out this Spotify playlist with all the tracks mentioned above.