Music Curator, Event Producer & Project Manager, Debaser
Rachel Weldon is a music curator, event producer, and project manager living on Anishinaabe Algonquin territory (so-called Hull). She is the founder and director of non-profit music and arts presenter organization Debaser, and a programmer at artist-run centre SAW.
Rachel is a trusted voice in the music industry, and is passionately dedicated to supporting independent artists. Community engagement, storytelling, and DIY/underground music culture are undercurrents throughout all of her work.
Since founding Debaser in 2013, Rachel has developed the organization from a volunteer-run ad-hoc collective producing DIY shows on zero operating budget, to a non-profit organization with five employees, over 100 volunteers, an annual budget of over $500k. Throughout this growth, Rachel has steered Debaser to remain true to its core values of supporting underrepresented and experimental artists, offering thoughtfully curated event experiences, and promoting diversity, accessibility, and inclusivity.
In 2021, Rachel founded Pique, a quarterly building-wide music and arts event series that takes place at the Arts Court complex in downtown Ottawa. Rachel has led the conception, development, and creative direction of Pique since its launch, supporting its growth into what is now a vital creative event in Ottawa that welcomes approximately 1,500 attendees to each seasonal event.
Previously Rachel worked as a manager at Kelp Management, where she worked with artists Lido Pimienta, U.S. Girls, and Andy Shauf. During her time at Kelp, she also helped produce MEGAPHONO for three years as festival manager. She was the first staff member of the Ottawa Music Industry Coalition, working closely with the board of directors to build the foundation of the organization. As a freelance consultant, she has managed projects for the Canadian Centre for Architecture, Folk Music Ontario, the National Arts Centre, Weird Canada, and Artengine.
Rachel’s career began in community media, as a writer, content manager and curator for Weird Canada, and a Project Coordinator for Wyrd Distro, Weird Canada’s online music distribution service. She was an active member of the community radio community from 2012-2021, hosting programs on CKCU, CHUO and CKUT, and currently DJs under the moniker Pink Veil.
She has been an invited speaker by events and organizations such as the National Gallery of Canada, POP Montreal, Music New Brunswick, Sled Island Music Conference, Music Calgary, Carleton University, and Algonquin College, and has served on juries for the Canada Council for the Arts, the City of Ottawa, the National Campus and Community Radio Association, and Arts Network Ottawa.
Rachel also serves on the advisory committee for Produced by Youth, a mentorship program that offers accessible and safe spaces for emerging Black recording artists, and previously served on boards for Everyseeker Festival, CHUO FM, Girls+ Rock Ottawa, and Riverbed Reading Series.
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