WondaGurl on TFC’s New Kits, Starting the “Antidote” Beat at The Keg

WondaGurl is one of Canada’s most famous producers, and with her Wonderchild Music imprint, she’s been giving back to up-and-coming beatmakers.

The “Bitch Better Have My Money” to “Antidote” producer was also recently at BMO Field with producer and protégé London Cyr to introduce Toronto FC’s newest kit with sound wave designs based on the drum beat from the boosters.

Complex Canada sat down with the pair to discuss beats and food, and they gave startlingly simpatico answers on where to eat in Mississauga. WondaGurl also added some thoughts on how steak inspired her to make the beat for Travis Scott’s “Antidote,” a hazy recollection of LeBron James vibing to “No Bystanders,” and the importance of paying it forward with Wonderchild.

How does it feel being the boss of a label? 

It’s still kind of sinking in. I don’t really take that in sometimes, that I’m the boss of a label. But it feels good. I just love helping people, and that’s the most important thing to me. It makes me feel good that I can put certain people in a position to win.

What is your goal with Wonderchild? 

My overall goal is to turn it into something that can help everybody in a way. You don’t even have to be signed to it in order for it to help you. I’m starting with signing producers, and mentoring, but I’d like to turn it eventually into a sort of institution. That’s a big goal for me.

Someone who’s always spoken highly of you is Boi-1da. What sort of advice has he given you?

We have a great relationship, that’s like my older brother. He’s basically the one that made me want to even start mentoring other producers, because of just the way that he treated me when I was coming up. He was my mentor. I joined this thing called The Remix Project, and I had to find a mentor for it, and he was the one who was willing to do it. And it was very helpful, and still to this day he’s someone I go to for advice. He’s always there for me. 

Why is it important for you to pay it forward? 

It’s important to me because there was a point where I didn’t have that much help. I was just making beats in my room and I didn’t really know where to go. It wasn’t until I joined this thing called Battle of the Beat Makers where I met certain people, like the people from The Remix Project. It was then when I developed that sense of community, that’s when I actually came up and became the person I am today. So I feel like it’s just really important to go back and give back in some way because there’s people that need it.

What are your thoughts of a visual representation of audio on a jersey? 

I think it’s great, they should put more waveforms on clothing. You could probably put this through something and actually hear what it sounds like, which is so sick.

Is there a correlation between music and sports?

Yeah, it definitely correlates because I feel like athletes need music, and it fuels them in certain ways. I don’t know exactly because I’m not an athlete, but I can just tell athletes are super fans of music as well.

Have you seen an athlete vibe to one of your tracks?

I’m pretty sure, yeah. I don’t really remember which, but I feel like LeBron James may have been like vibing to “No Bystanders” at one point. I don’t know if I’m making that up, but I feel like that’s a thing.

If I’m not mistaken, you were born in Scarborough and then you moved around a bit, right? You ended up in Mississauga and then Brampton. 

Yeah, you know your stuff. I was born in Scarborough, then I was raised in North York for a little bit, and then I moved to Mississauga, where I was raised. Then I moved to Brampton.

So which area has the best food?

I’d say it’s Uptown. Honestly around North York there’s a lot of really good food around there. It’s got a lot of amazing holes in the walls, right?

You’ve said something really interesting before about food. That food and beatmaking have a strong relationship in your life. Can you tell me a little bit about that?

Yeah. So it’s not anything so crazy. I love food, I’m super passionate about food. And I look at it the same way: cooking and making a beat feel the same to me. I guess steak is when I really noticed it, and I had a moment where I was really in love with steak. I was eating about 30 ounces of steak at 16 years old. It made no sense, but I would always go back and make a really good beat after eating good steak. It gives me a good feeling, and I make good beats when I feel good.

Is there one notable beat that’s been like a banger that was made after a steak?

“Antidote.” I went to The Keg. And we heard the sample for “Antidote” at The Keg. While eating steak. And then after that, we went and made the beat.