Etmet Musa,[1][2] also known by her alias Ayo Leilani and her stage name Witch Prophet,[3] is an Ethiopian/Eritrean musician based in Toronto, Ontario.[4][5] As Witch Prophet, she has released 3 albums: The Golden Octave (2018), DNA Activation (2020), and Gateway Experience (2023).[6][7][8] She co-founded and is the co-director of 88 Days of Fortune, a collective based in Toronto since 2009 that rebranded as Heart Lake Records in 2018.[9][10] She also is a member of Above Top Secret, an electro-hip hop group.[11][12] Above Top Secret has released three studio albums since 2010.[13][14] DNA Activation was shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.[15] In 2021, she released a new song "Leilani", which appeared on the deluxe edition of DNA Activation.[16] The deluxe edition was released July 23, 2021.[17] Her third album as Witch Prophet, entitled Gateway Experience, was released May 1st, 2023.[18] The first single from the album, "Energy Vampire", was released on February 23, 2023 and featured DillanPonders.[18] Gateway Experience was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize.[19]

Witch Prophet
Birth nameEtmet Musa
Also known asAyo Leilani
BornOctober 8, 1982
LabelsHeart Lake Records, 88 Days of Fortune
Websitewww.WitchProphet.com

She is the subject of Loveleen Kaur's 2023 documentary film Leilani's Fortune,[20] which won the Audience Award for Best Documentary Film at the 2023 Inside Out Film and Video Festival.[21] In the same year, she was also one of several subjects profiled in the documentary film Coven.[22]

Discography

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With Above Top Secret

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Studio albums

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  • dis rupt dis reality, (2010)
  • Siren Songs (2012)
  • Above Top Secret (2016)

As Witch Prophet

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Studio albums

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  • The Golden Octave (2018)
  • DNA Activation (2020)
  • Gateway Experience (2023)
  • H.P.B. (2016)[23]
  • Architect of Heartbreak Remixes (2017)[24]

References

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  1. ^ "Witch Prophet on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  2. ^ "Montreal rapper Backxwash wins Polaris for best Canadian album". Montreal. 2020-10-20. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  3. ^ Gathright, Jenny (20 March 2017). "'Listen,' Witch Prophet Wants You To Heal". NPR.org. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  4. ^ "Witch Prophet Sets Release Show for 'DNA Activation'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  5. ^ "Witch Prophet on uncovering her East African queer roots". Xtra Magazine. 2020-02-06. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  6. ^ Stanley, Laura (2020-03-24). "Review: Witch Prophet's DNA Activation shows the power of family in dark times". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  7. ^ "Stream Witch Prophet's New Album 'DNA Activation'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  8. ^ "Witch Prophet Challenges Genre, Reveals Past Lives and Finds Creative Safe Space on 'The Golden Octave'". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  9. ^ Parris, Amanda (February 19, 2016). "88 Days of Fortune collectively changed Toronto hip-hop. Has its luck run out?". CBC Arts.
  10. ^ Warner, Andrea. "Queering the Canadian music industry". CBC Music.
  11. ^ "Queer musician Witch Prophet creates inclusive hip-hop scene". CBC Radio. August 10, 2018.
  12. ^ MacDonald, Sarah (2016-06-13). "Toronto's Above Top Secret Need You to Start Paying Attention to the Murders of Indigenous Women on "BANG"". Vice. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  13. ^ Ritchie, Kevin (2016-08-03). "Above Top Secret". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  14. ^ "Above Top Secret Above Top Secret". exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  15. ^ Yoo, Noah (15 July 2020). "Polaris Prize 2020 Short List: U.S. Girls, Lido Pimienta, Kaytranada". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2020-07-16.
  16. ^ "Witch Prophet's 'Leilani' Is A Daring Song Of Forgiveness". Clash Magazine. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  17. ^ "Witch Prophet on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-06-21.
  18. ^ a b Assalay, Richie (April 29, 2023). "Witch Prophet sees the future". Toronto Star.
  19. ^ "2023 Polaris Music Prize long list: Feist, Jessie Reyez and more". CBC Music, June 13, 2023.
  20. ^ Rachel Ho, "Inside Out 2023: Witch Prophet Sets 'Leilani's Fortune' Apart from Other Music Docs". Exclaim!, May 29, 2023.
  21. ^ Valerie Complex, "InsideOut 2SLGBTQ+ Film Festival Announces 2023 Award Winners". Deadline Hollywood, June 6, 2023.
  22. ^ Alisha Mughal, "'Coven' Explores an Uncommon Magic with Softness and Empathy". Exclaim!, May 7, 2023.
  23. ^ "Toronto's Witch Prophet is finally putting herself first". Red Bull. Retrieved 2020-03-31.
  24. ^ Streeter, Mark (2017-03-21). "Toronto's Witch Prophet talks Seattle weed, grunge and her new remix EP". NOW Magazine. Retrieved 2020-03-31.