Kevin Howes (aka Voluntary In Nature) 2021 bio + press photo

Kevin Howes is a GRAMMY®-nominated producer, journalist, DJ, filmmaker, musician, and artist of settler/immigrant heritage, humbly and respectfully working out of Toronto, Ontario (Tkaronto). His most recent project is Creation Never Sleeps, Creation Never Dies: The Willie Dunn Anthology and feels that Dunn, a trailblazing poet, folk singer, and filmmaker, should be mentioned alongside Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Gordon Lightfoot, Buffy Sainte-Marie, and Joni Mitchell when discussing the legends of popular song. 

Contributing to and quietly influencing the Canadian music scene since the late 1990s, Howes has played a major role in shaping the extensive catalogue of well-respected US-based reissue label Light in the Attic Records on over 25 internationally acclaimed archival music projects: The Jamaica-Toronto series, Our Lives Are Shaped By What We Love: Motown's Mowest Story, and the Native North America series are a few key examples of his perception and dedication, realized through decades of travel, research, connection, and collaboration. 

Howes' book deep liner notes accompany Sixto Rodriguez's landmark Cold Fact and Coming From Reality reissues and those of rock giants Thin Lizzy. He has also helped to provide stages for artists at everything from side door after-hours to nationally broadcast events like the Native North America Gathering at Trinity-St. Paul's in 2017. As a DJ, he has lovingly supported the likes of Lee Perry, Paul Weller, Black Mountain, Destroyer, and Jennifer Castle, and had the immense privilege to play a selection of vinyl records before the final concert by the 13th Floor Elevators at Levitation 2015 in Austin, Texas. Often compared to folklorist Alan Lomax and eccentric collector Harry Smith, Kevin's work has been featured in The Guardian, Rolling Stone, CBC, NPR, and The New York Times. 

Pushing forward into 2021, Howes is focussed on Voluntary In Nature, an outlet for sharing, to continue bridging cultures, generations, and eras of technology, with greater accountability to his collaborators, as well as helping to dismantle the oppressive systemic realities faced by his peers in the corrupt business of music. "All you have to do is share the land," says Howes as an open message to the powers that be.

"You introduced me to a whole new world of records." - Nardwuar the Human Serviette

"Howes knows what people want, before they do." - Discorder Magazine

"The world in general, and Canadians in particular, owe an immense debt of gratitude to Kevin Howes." - Vancouver Folk Music Festival