BreakOut West 2026 returns to Victoria, BC! This year’s event will feature four days of informative and engaging music industry conference content, including international market deep-dives, one-on-one meetings with music industry professionals, artist mentorship and feature conversations, networking events, and more. To get you excited to make important industry introductions at BreakOut West we wanted to introduce four Canadian delegates you can meet this September/October.
Lisa La Rocca – Sonic Unyon and Supercrawl Productions
Lisa La Rocca is the Festival Director of Supercrawl, one of Ontario’s largest free music festivals and Director of Operations at Canadian independent record label and events company Sonic Unyon Records. She founded Hamilton’s Fresh Up R&B Fest in 2022, and directs Sonic Unyon’s full festival portfolio, including Because Beer and Why Not Wine, alongside numerous other live music events.
A recognized leader in Hamilton’s cultural sector, Lisa was named Arts Champion at the 2025 Hamilton Arts Awards and was a 2026 YWCA Women of Distinction nominee. She is a founding Co-Chair of the Women in Music Hamilton/Halton chapter, Chair of Hamilton’s Music Advisory Team, sits on the boards of the Hamilton-Halton-Brant Regional Tourism Organization and the Downtown Hamilton BIA, and holds national-level appointments as Co-Chair of the Host Committee for the Folk Canada Conference 2026 and Host Committee member and Chair of the Nighttime Economy and Events Sub-Committee for the Junos in 2026.
Lisa is a part-time PhD student in Communication and Culture at York University, focusing on Popular Music Studies, and holds an M.A. in Communication and New Media from McMaster University.
Adam Bentley – Echo Myron
Adam Bentley is the founder and principal of Echo Myron, bringing more than 17 years of innovation and excellence in music marketing.
His work spans online PR, digital strategy, playlisting, distribution coordination, label services, artist development, and release campaign strategy. Through Echo Myron, Bentley has driven campaigns for renowned artists and labels including Arkells, The Dirty Nil, Silverstein, Lights, Danko Jones, Big Wreck, Julian Taylor, Sony Music, Universal Music, Warner Music, Wax Records, Sonic Unyon Records, and Dine Alone Records.
Known for his data-driven and hands-on approach, Bentley has built a global network to help artists cut through the digital noise. He continues to navigate and adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, working as a utility knife for the changing pattern of modern music marketing.
Beyond Echo Myron, Bentley is a co-owner of TAPE, a renowned recording studio in Hamilton, Ontario. There, he has produced music for artists including The Dirty Nil, Basement Revolver, Ellevator, Memoryhouse, Single Mothers, and his own electronic duo, Allegories.
Jess Arcand – Take Aim Media / REVERIE Magazine
| Jess Arcand is a Calgary-based publicist, editor, and music journalist. They are Senior National Publicist at Take Aim Media, where they have led campaigns for artists including Justice, Patrick Watson, Shad, Bicep, Fcukers, and Black Country, New Road, collaborating with labels such as Secret City Records, Mothland, Dine Alone Records, and Ninja Tune.Outside of publicity, Jess is the Founder and Editor of REVERIE Magazine, an independent music and culture publication based in Calgary, and serves as New Music Editor at The Line of Best Fit in the UK, where they commission and edit coverage spotlighting emerging artists from around the world. They are an artist manager, programmer at Sled Island Music Festival, and JUNO Awards juror. Jess also hosts an award-winning community radio program now on n10.as called Mint Condition, and highlights relevant trends in the industry as a music columnist at the CBC. |
Vanessa Borduas – Productions Flèche
Vanessa Borduas is an artist-entrepreneur, booking agent and artist manager. As the founder of Productions Flèche, she supports artists in developing their careers and leads a range of cultural initiatives, including La Boîte créative and La Tournée Escale. She develops artistic projects and collaborations across Canada and Europe.
She also shares her expertise with the next generation of music professionals through organizations such as the École nationale de la chanson, the Festival international de la chanson de Granby, and arts organizations across Canada.
As an artist, Borduas blends electro-pop with emotionally charged songwriting. Her latest album, Nœuds dans la langue (2025), received support from Radio-Canada and earned the Lynda Lemay Award at the Festival international de la chanson de Granby, paving the way for touring opportunities across Europe.