Graeme Mathieson is a Jamaican-Canadian filmmaker whose film, Play It Loud! explores the foundation of Black music in Canada, laid down by the West Indian diaspora.
It examines how this music transformed the cultural landscape, even in the face of systemic challenges and racism. The story is told through the journey of singer Jay Douglas and his contemporaries, who immigrated to Canada in the 1960s.
Graeme gave us an insight into his film…
What inspired this story?
Growing up in a Jamaican household, I was always exposed to Jamaican music and its been an intricate part of or family history in Jamaica, however when I had a college radio show in Toronto where I played reggae, soul and funk music, I was always challenged finding Canadian-produced music of these genres.
Over the years, as more of this lost era of music has been unearthed, my passion has only grown for illuminating the stories, sounds, and contributions of our community. Most importantly, I’m committed to ensuring that my generation and future generations of Jamaican-Canadians know and embrace this rich history of ours in Canada.
What was the most challenging part of making this film?
One of the most challenging parts was sourcing and uncovering archives that could showcase the richness of Caribbean music, clubs, and culture in 1960s and ’70s Canada. This history was poorly documented — if at all — by mainstream media, often disregarded, and the music itself wasn’t respected on an institutional level.
Much like my passion for digging through crates for rare records, this process required a lot of digging. We reached far and wide — into personal collections, old family photo albums, discarded Black publications, and overlooked archive collections. Many leads turned into dead ends, with films tossed out and photos long lost. But thanks to the community and the perseverance of our dedicated archive team, we were able to bring some truly rich and powerful visuals to the screen.
How do you see your film contributing to the conversation on identity or heritage?
I hope this film leaves a lasting impression on future generations of the Caribbean diaspora — and the broader public — about how vital our contributions are to what it means to be Canadian, and to what we celebrate as Canadian culture.
Some of today’s most internationally recognized Canadian artists are part of the legacy and lineage of Caribbean culture, brought here by the first large influx of people of colour from the West Indies. Our influence is woven into the fabric of Canadian identity and continues to shape our cultural landscape.
What’s your favourite Caribbean dish or cultural tradition?
It’s hard to nail down just one dish, but memories of my grandma’s cooking bring me back to special moments spent with her in Kingston, Jamaica. Her ackee and saltfish (sometimes made into patties) has to be my favourite. And her homemade ginger beer, which she insisted couldn’t be replicated in Canada when my Scottish father once asked for the recipe — “you need Jamaican sun” — is a close second.
What’s next for you?
After the release of this film and my documentary anthology series Sounds & Pressure: Reggae in a Foreign Land, released in 2024 with the National Film Board of Canada, I’m now in development on my next documentary feature — a story about one woman’s journey of discovery after losing her father to homelessness as a young girl, and how, in Western society, we’ve let so many slip through the cracks as we continue to turn a blind eye to the crisis of homelessness.
Where can people find out more about you and your work (website, social media, etc.)?
My portfolio of work and creative collaborations can be found on my website www.gramera.com and on my IG @gramantics
Catch Play It Loud! and other films at the Windrush Caribbean Film Festival, running from 14 to 29 June 2025 and sign up to the newsletter at https://bit.ly/WCFFNews.
