Our Staff

Renowned Franco-Ontarian artist Melanie Brulée is not only a celebrated performer but also a dedicated community leader and advocate for mental health. Born and raised in Cornwall, Ontario, Melanie's musical journey began humbly, busking on the streets of Australia. Now, as the Executive Director of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, she's taking a step back from the spotlight to focus on connecting, building, and nurturing Ottawa's music ecosystem.

With a wealth of experience in performance, touring, and various roles within the music industry, Melanie’s commitment to collaboration and advocacy is evident in her founding of a women-led collective of songwriters and her active involvement in fundraising and speaking engagements for mental health organizations. Additionally, Melanie has developed workshops focused on empowering youth through songwriting and self-confidence exploration.

In her role as an organizer and facilitator, Melanie strives to foster connections, unity, and empowerment within her communities. She currently chairs the Ontario Music Cities Officers Network and serves as co-chair of the Algonquin College Music Industry Arts Advisory Committee.

Karim Rostom has been a part of Ottawa’s local art scene for over five years as a composer and performer. Always eager to collaborate with others, Karim has participated in a number of local events, from musical concerts to theatrical productions. He has recently released an environmentalist concept album as part of his Master's thesis on music’s ability to promote activist causes to listeners. With a passion for exploring activism through the creation of art, Karim contributes to the community by providing local musicians with platforms for their art to be heard as OMIC’s Senior Program Coordinator.

Amanda Monterroso is a Latino-Canadian content writer and poet. An Honours graduate from Algonquin College’s Professional Writing Program, she is a dedicated storyteller with an emphasis on shedding light on local individuals, initiatives, and communities–particularly within the arts. Her work as Content Coordinator for Best Version Media’s Neighbours of Centrepointe & City View magazine and feature story writer for Neighbours of West Barrhaven & Cedarhill and Neighbours of Stonebridge highlights her passion for telling local stories. As OMIC’s Assistant Program Coordinator, she continues to support valuable communities within the city. Outside of her work life, Amanda loves tending to her plants and writing poetry, which she occasionally publishes.

Zoë Argiropulos-Hunter is a music programmer, event producer, writer, radio host and DJ based in so-called Ottawa. She holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Digital Humanities from the University of Ottawa and is passionate about community-focused storytelling. She is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of Also Cool Magazine, an independent online arts and music publication, and promotes local musical events as First Crush Promotion. In all facets of her work, Zoë is passionate about uplifting and empowering independent creatives and emphasizing arts programming as a form of community care. 

Jessy Lindsay is a Franco-Ontarian singer-songwriter, composer and project coordinator born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario. She made the most of every opportunity presented to her as a young artist, paving her path in the music industry. Being a true indie artist at heart, Jessy enjoys all aspects of the profession, from playing shows to project management. Her latest Francophone EP, J'explose, highlights her perspective as a young woman by exploring themes of self-confidence and reclaiming one’s self in a patriarchal society. 

Having recently completed a bachelor of music at the University of Ottawa, Jessy is eager to give back to the local music community that shaped her into the artist she is today. She will be doing so as Project Coordinator for the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition.

Fabien Pleur is a music producer, vocalist, DJ, event coordinator, multimedia artist, and arts administrator based in Ottawa, Ontario. Known professionally as HUG MOSH, Fabien is also the founder of the Many Place Money Party promotional outfit and a member of the Side by Side Weekend team. They've been a member of the National Capital Region music and arts industry for over 20 years and assist in the production of a number of local creative organizations. Meanwhile, as HUG MOSH, they've performed alongside numerous industry mainstays across Ontario and Quebec and released their debut project, ONTARIO HYPERPUKE, in the fall of 2022. Fabien's work as a community builder aims to highlight marginalized artists while supporting the ever-growing infrastructure needed for the underground of the Ottawa arts scene to flourish.

Tara Shannon is a music industry multi-hyphenate who has built her life around educating, empowering and entertaining. Renowned for her insightful and empowering speeches, Tara has been invited as a guest speaker at prestigious events including Artpreneur, Impact Entrepreneur Summit, and the globally recognized G20 Summit. Her experience and insight shared at these forums have inspired many aspiring artists and entrepreneurs.

​Tara is the co-founder and the dynamic force behind a group of companies spanning different industries which includes her artist-centric record label, Willow Sound Records & education-focused incubator, The (Gro)ve. She leverages her distinctive experiences in founding and managing businesses to equip music creators with the necessary tools to navigate today’s music industry.  

As an author and sought-after life coach for music makers, Tara guides the next generation of musicians to transform into successful entrepreneurs in the ever-evolving landscape of the music business - emphasizing that to be successful in the business of music, you first need to be successful in the business of YOU. ​Tara is also a seasoned recording artist and songwriter with a career spanning over three decades. She is currently working on her next studio album with Nashville producer and industry visionary Jim Ed Norman. She currently sits on the board as Vice-President of the North East Regional Folk Alliance.