By Anastasiia Pereimybida
In February, a small live music show took place at El Mocambo in downtown Toronto. The lights were dim, the room was warm, and the crowd stood shoulder to shoulder, waiting for the first artist to walk on. Drinks in hand, people leaned forward as the music kicked in. El Mocambo has a long history and has hosted artists like The Rolling Stones and U2. But that night, the stage belonged to local performers — most of them playing to a crowd this size for the first time.
The event was called Start Up. It was organized by Yaro, a music producer who performs under the name IAROSUN, and his friend Gerhart Mercado. The two have been working together on music that blends hip-hop, R&B, and rap — sometimes experimenting with other sounds too. For both of them, it was their first time putting together a public show. There was no outside funding, no company behind them, and no team — just the two of them, doing everything from promo to sound setup.
How it started
Yaro has been working in music for years. “I started with piano lessons as a kid — just like a lot of people — but I stuck with it,” he said. Later, he began making his own tracks and producing for other artists.
Mercado, on the other hand, worked as a bartender and had never made music before. That changed when Yaro suggested he try recording something. He didn’t plan to become an artist, but instead of mixing drinks, he started mixing vocals — and hasn’t stopped since.
They kept working together and learning in the process. One track then another. Over time, they started thinking about doing something live. Not just for themselves, but for other new artists as well.
That idea turned into Start Up.
Getting ready
It took more than four months to plan the first show. IAROSUN and Gerhart handled everything on their own. They found the venue, reached out to artists, built the lineup, created visuals, and promoted the event online.
There were nine performances in total: eight solo acts and one band. The artists brought a mix of styles — from hip-hop and R&B to rock and punk. It wasn’t about fitting one genre. It was about giving space to different sounds.
“We had all kinds of artists — solo or a band, doesn’t matter,” Yaro said. “That was the point: to show variety and give everyone a chance.”
They worked late nights, adjusted the schedule more than once, and dealt with every part of the production themselves.
Show night
The event took place at El Mocambo. It’s a big venue for a first-time show, but the risk paid off. Around 200 people showed up — and the room was already full before the show even started. People stayed, listened, and supported artists they didn’t know.
“We didn’t know how many people would show up, but when we saw that the whole place was packed… that was something!”
For few artists it was first time holding a mic in front of a real, big audience. Others had done small shows or open mics, but never anything this big or organized. Being on that stage, with lights and sound and a full room was a new kind of experience.
What’s next
The next Start Up event is planned for June. Yaro and Mercado want to keep going, maybe for a few times a year. They’re not focused on turning it into a business. For now, they just want to give new artists more opportunities to perform.
“It will be easier this time,” Yaro said. “We’ve got experience now, and we know what worked.”
Guys say they’re still learning, but the first show was a good start and they’re hoping to build on it.
Listen to the full story in “Start Up” podcast. ⬇️
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