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ArtworxTO Spotlight: De'Andre Stanislaus

Meet this week’s ArtworxTO’s Spotlight Emerging Artist De'Andre Stanislaus (LAZz), a dynamic creative who hails from Toronto’s west end.

LAZz’s artistic journey began in 2017 when he began to pen his thoughts, and found that it was cathartic. Through his first music based program (Urban Arts’ Beats, Mind, Movement program) he began to develop the sound that he is now known for. LAZz was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, to a single mother who continues to be extremely devoted to her faith. LAZz’s innate musical talent is rooted in the Afro-Caribbean spirituals and gospel music that he grew up listening to. From the hard-hitting simplicity of his vocals, which are reminiscent of another time, to his ability to connect with any audience, it is not hard to see why LAZz is unique, and offers a distinct depth that is unlike any other performer.

The name LAZz itself pays homage to its owner, in that it is a double entendre an acronym for his brand “Lost At Sleep”, as well as a biblical reference to Lazarus, who was risen from the dead. Like his namesake, LAZz continues to rise despite any adversity he is faced with. Since beginning his journey as an artist, LAZz has become prolific in the works that he has created, many of which are yet to be released, as he is a perfectionist. As he works on perfecting his sound, he continues to hone his performance skills and has performed at venues around Toronto, such as the Burdock Music Hall, Mod Club, Rivoli and at Yonge-Dundas Square. He has also performed twice at Nuit Blanche, an all night arts festival that takes place annually throughout Toronto. An alumni of the Remix Project (Round 14.0), LAZz released his debut project, entitled Dreams of A Hustler in tandem with his first solo show in December 2019, which he sold out. In partnership with organizations such as Music Together Ontario, The Remix Project, Urban Arts, Artscape and RBCxMusic, LAZz has moved his platform online due to the performance restrictions that have been in place since early 2020. His debut EP continues to be streamed widely, and has been featured on Flow93.5 FM’s Made in Toronto Takeover several times. Not limited to music, LAZz has also been featured in two of Footlocker Canada’s nationwide campaigns as well as Sidedoor Magazine’s debut issue. LAZz continues to participate in Toronto's creative scene as a multidisciplinary creative and hopes to continue to do so for years to come.