Louis Engel

Louis Engel About Contact Crew PRIMARY JOB TITLE Lead Person EXPERIENCE Emerging CERTIFICATIONS Valid Driver's License ADDITIONAL LINK http://www.bigloucrew.com BIOGRAPHY

2025 FCLMA Hip Hop Artist of the Year, 2024 Music in Motion Canada 3rd place winner, 2024 FCLMA nominee, and ECA Best Hip Hop/RnB Artist 2023, Big Lou, has captivated audiences since 2021. He's opened for The Wailers at the Heineken Regatta in St. Maarten and performed at a music festival in Sweden.

Picture the essence of rap music basking in the Caribbean sun and embodying love, that's the spirit of Big Lou. Hailing from St. Maarten and now based in London, ON, he spreads his Island Hip Hop sound, a vibrant fusion of Caribbean rhythms, Afro-soul, and Latin energy.

RESUME

Arts and cultural training and learning Jan. 2025 - Jul. 2025 Began developing a recording setup and receiving recording/vocal production training from Josh Ellison in London, ON

Sep. 2019 - Present Self-taught various elements of the music business as my business grows by watching YouTube videos

Nov. 2024 Performance training; learned how to connect better emotionally while performing my songs with Micah Barnes in Toronto, ON

Apr. - Aug. 2024 Dance training; learned fundamental dance techniques and participated in a dance team with weekly dance practices and several performances in London, ON

Apr. 2017-Dec. 2023 Mindset training; I learned discipline, patience, and gratitude; Nuerogym & various mentors including John Assaraf

Mar.-Apr. 2023 Learned all elements of music business and artistry at Canada’s Music Incubator in Toronto, ON

Sep. 2018-Sep. 2021 Attended weekly Toastmasters to develop my public speaking & professionalism in London, ON

May-Dec. 2020 The engineer that I worked with at Prevail Media Group taught me basic audio recording & editing in London, ON

Jun.-Nov. 2020 The videographer that I worked with at Prevail Media Group taught me basic video editing in London, ON

Aug. 2019 Selt-taught rapping and songwriting by watching YouTube videos in London, ON

Artistic and cultural work presented to the public Aug. 2021 - Present Participation in over 50 music and cultural events throughout southwestern Ontario, in venues ranging from pubs to concert halls, radio stations, and festival stages.

Jun. 2025 Lilla by Festivalen, is a music festival and conference in Rinkaby, Sweden. In collaboration with Canada Council for the Arts. They are celebrating their 5th year in 2025.

Mar. 2025 St. Maarten Heineken Regatta. It is the largest regatta in the Caribbean and attracts over 20,000 visitors annually from 37 countries. It will celebrate its 45th edition in 2025.

Dec. 2024 Roots of London: Fusion Album 2, Producer & Publisher for a collaborative music album including over 10 musicians from around the world who all lived in London, ON at the time. Organized by Dario Novoa of Simple Reflections.

Nov. 2024 Beautiful Game; Producer, Artist, and Publisher for a song we wrote with the intention of reaching FIFA for a collaboration in the upcoming World Cup coming to North America for the first time in 2026. Organized by Dario Novoa of Simple Reflections.

Dec. 2023 Roots of London: Fusion Album 1, Producer & Publisher for a collaborative music album including over 10 musicians from around the world who all lived in London, ON at the time. Organized by Dario Novoa of Simple Reflections.

Nov. 2023 Merry Christmas London; Artist, and Publisher for a song we wrote about the Christmas/holiday experience as immigrants who call London their home. Organized by Dario Novoa of Simple Reflections.

Dec. 2022 Latin Roots of London Album, Producer & Publisher for a collaborative music album including over 10 musicians from around the world who all lived in London, ON at the time. Organized by Dario Novoa of Simple Reflections.

Artists and community collaboration activities Feb. 8th 2025 Organized, hosted, and performed at ‘Another Night At Che’ with a hard ticket value of $2000 - 90 people at $20-35 with La Compagnie de danse at Che Restobar in London, ON.

Oct. 17th 2024 Participated in an interview for a documentary created by the Hispanic Canadian Heritage Council called the Spanglish Generation in Toronto, ON.

Aug. - Nov. 2024 Organized, hosted, performed, and presented musicians for a weekly music showcase called Showcase Sundaze with support from DJ Wickham and Rec Room Masonville in London, ON.

May 26th 2024 Organized, hosted, and performed at ‘Sunset Soirée’ with a hard ticket value of $1800 - 120 people at $15 with La Compagnie de danse at Club Fuego in London, ON.

Mar. 2nd 2023 Organized, hosted, and performed at ‘A Night At Che’ with a hard ticket value of $1600 - 80 people at $20 with La Compagnie de danse at Che Restobar in London, ON.

Nov. 5th 2022 Organized, hosted, and performed at ‘Big Lou’s 1st Show’ with a hard ticket value of $825 - 55 people at $15 with La Compagnie de danse at Delilah’s in London, ON.

Jun. 2022 Participated in a performance competition in St. Maarten (Caribbean island where I’m from)

Arts and cultural work experience Jan. 2021-Jan. 2023 Director of Marketing & Operations, Prevail Media Group, London, ON

Jan. - Dec. 2022 Community Coordinator, Yuser, London, ON

Apr. - May 2022 Radio Host, Laser 101, St. Maarten (in the Caribbean and on the most popular radio station on the island)

Jan. - Apr. 2022 Writer, We Are SXM in Philipsburg, St. Maarten

Teaching and mentorships Feb. - Oct. 2024 Marketing workshops virtually and in person for musicians in London, ON.

Aug. 2024 Built a mini video course on mindset for musicians for Big Lou Crew Dec. 2022 Built a video course on NFT/Digital Collectibles in partnership with Vampr

Mar. 2020-Mar. 2022 Executive Producer & Show Host of Go Produce Podcast, London Ontario where I interviewed music industry professionals to educate new people on ways to monetize their passions in the music industry. Awarded grants and received international sponsorship

Volunteer experience Jun. 2022 - Present Team Member, Album Producer, Board of Directors, for Simple Reflections Collective non-profit in London, ON

Dec. 2024 - Present Co-Host, “Real Talk Straight Talk” weekly talk show in rotation with other Co-Hosts, London, ON

Artist Talks, presentations, and articles Sep. 19th, 2024 Talked to the audience about manifestation by sharing personal stories, PechaKucha 20x20, London, ON

Apr. 29th, 2023 Talked to 800 middle school students about handling tough situations and looking for the good in the day and then I performed a song at RBC Place London, Global Student Leadership Summit, London, ON

Oct. 2nd, 2019 Talked to the audience about curiousity by sharing personal stories, organized by Janic Gorayeb; PechaKucha 20x20, London, ON

Jun. 16th, 2019 Talked to the audience about seeking balance to restore yourself during a speaking event, organized by Sarah Hilton in London, ON

Awards and community recognition Jun. 2025 Hip Hop Artist of the Year, presented by Forest City London Music Awards, London, ON

Jan. 2025 Nominated for Best Hip Hop/Rap and for Afro/World/Caribbean, presented by Essence and Culture Awards, London, ON

Dec. 2024 3rd Place, presented by Music in Motion Canada, Toronto, ON

Apr. 2024 Nominated for Best Hip Hop Artist, presented by Forest City London Music Awards, London, ON

Feb. 2023 Best Hip Hop/RnB Artist, presented by Essence and Culture Awards, London, ON

Media coverage Jul. 29, 2025 Afternoon Drive with Matt Allen; Southwest Sounds: Big Lou; interview with Kate; CBC Radio.

Jan. 17, 2025 Just the beginning; by Reta Ismail; article about a song that a local soccer team made a video for because we are trying to get it to FIFA; CTV News.

Dec. 20, 2024 Music in Motion Canada Announces the Winners of the 2024 Competition; by Sandy Graham; article written about the winners of the 2024 Musin in Motion Canada Awards; Cashbox Canada.

Oct. 11, 2024 Life’s A Ride, Big Lou; by Barb Keck; article about one of my song’s with Kristen Renée; Music In Motion Canada on PPN.

May 2, 2024 Big Lou NOMINADO a los Forest City London Music Awards; by Alie Susan; short interview in Spanish about the recent nomination; No te lo Pierdas.

Feb. 28, 2024 No te lo pierdas - Simple Reflections for Artists; by Ali Susan; series of interviews with members of the collective; Ahora Canada.

Dec. 13th, 2022 London musicians ‘proud’ to being Latin album to life; by Angela McInnes; article about the release of our first collaborative album with Simple Reflections; CBC News London.

Sep. 2021 Sept 17: Dance Mob; by London Dance Festival; about the event and performers; London Dance Festival.

Aug. 22, 2021 Took My Shot; by Llewelyn Screen; article about my first-ever release; AnR Factory.

Aug. 21st, 2021 Artist Spotlight - Big Lou - As A Crew; by Sammy Kiss; article about my first-ever release; Honk Managize.

Aug. 18, 2021 Big Lou - As A Crew | Welcoming; by Atri Mukherjee; article about my first-ever release; Sinusoidal Music.