Made in Manitoba

What started off as being a bass player in the family band, Winnipegger, Levi Willems developed his love for music with his worship leader parents. 

"Our family needed a bass player in the little band, but eventually it got to a point where I just wanted to create my own things. And about 2017, I just felt a little nudge from the Spirit." 

Multiple artists are sharing their memories of Tirrell Thomas after it was announced that the young rapper died on July 2.

"It's been a sad few days after finding out about the passing of Tirrell," says Robert Wilson, aka Fresh IE. "He was such an amazing young man, so talented and gifted. He was going through a lot in his life."

Family and friends are mourning the sudden passing of a young rapper who was passionate about his faith and encouraging young people.

According to family friends, Tirrell Thomas went to the hospital in Altona on Monday, July 1, and died in the early morning hours of Tuesday, July 2. Thomas, who had been having underlying health issues the last few years, would have turned 31 on Thursday, July 4.

Thomas was a beloved rapper who was mentored by Fresh IE and had previously performed under the stage name Ti-Real.

Canadian worship leader and artist, Jake Fretz has been a music lover before he can remember. 

"My mom always tells me that she would go to church on Sunday mornings and as soon as the music would start I would start kicking and dancing so much that she actually had to take a seat in the pew. So I've always felt like this is something that has been in my blood and in my DNA right from the beginning," Fretz says.

For Made in Manitoba artist, Emmy Xornam, singing was always a passion in her life, and now she is using it to point others to God.

For Xornam, most songs are inspired by what she goes through on a day-to-day basis and as she meditates on Scripture. "Life situations birth specific songs in my life or in my journeys."

God is on the move across Winnipeg and southern Manitoba.

Grant Memorial Church was packed with over 1,000 young adults last night for the final Bread We Break of season 12. 

The bi-monthly worship event also included a brief message with the topic of prayer and gave each person who attended an opportunity to pray for the church as a whole and those in leadership in Winnipeg's churches. 

Since the day that Canadian artist, Brother Blooms was born, music has always been a part of his life. Now he uses it to point others to God. 

Whether it was the music on the radio or what his mom would sing to him or the songs that his brother would write, music was a constant. "My mom used to sing to me all the time when I was a baby to put me to sleep and it kind of just grew on me over the years. My older brother was a songwriter and that really intrigued me," he says.

A choir at Waverley Church in Winnipeg that goes by the name Sing the Word is excited to perform the book of Philippians. 

"We were inspired by Psallos albums on the books of the Bible back in 2021," says Bariah Adrain, one of the directors of the yearly concerts. "Our first concert was in 2022 with Psallos' Hebrews album. Then we followed it up the next year with the Romans album."

Canada's own, Jordan St. Cyr, is gearing up to release a new album next month. 

The Tennessee resident shared in an email My Foundation is set to be released on June 14. 

"It comes on the heels of a really hard season and one that I now rejoice in for all gifts that were given through it," St. Cyr said. "This album is my testimony. It is a statement of faith declaring who my life is built on."

Originally from Zimbabwe now living in southern Manitoba, Chiwaz is releasing a new single encouraging people to trust in God.

"[Life's] been busy," says Chiwaz. "Our firstborn girl, she's five. Then the two boys, a three-year-old and a one-year-old. The house is crazy right now but good. We love it though. I've been home for the past couple weeks and it's just been a great time with my kids."

Chiwaz shares that his children and wife are his biggest critics when it comes to his music, as well as his biggest support.