This is part 1 of Ken's interview with Simone Schmidt aka Fiver. Please watch this channel for part two coming shortly.

Simone Schmidt is a musician and multidisciplinary artist who recently moved to so-called Sackville, New Brunswick for work. Schmidt grew up as a settler in Toronto during Mike Harris' Common Sense Revolution and has been involved in resisting austerity since grade school. Schmidt's musical practice involves research-based songwriting, improvisation, analog recording, and a deep fascination with form. They have performed with units like The Highest Order, One Hundred Dollars, and their solo project, Fiver. Their chapter in Displacement City (U of T Press, 2022) describes the City of Toronto's organized abandonment of housing-deprived people during the early pandemic, from their perspective as a community organizer.

Photo credit : Alexandra Stairs
This episode also includes original tracks from Simone's back catalogue including:
'House of Lost Words' from Audible Songs From Rockwood, which you can but here: https://ideefixerecords.bandcamp.com/album/audible-songs-from-rockwood
and 'Dayton' from Lost the Plot, which you can buy here: https://crowncrowncrown.bandcamp.com/album/lost-the-plot

To find out more about and to follow Simone's work, please check out the following links:

Website: https://www.fiverfiverfiver.com/

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/fiverfines/

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/fiverfiverfiver

Twitter: https://twitter.com/UhhFiver

For updates on the pod and more, follow Ken here: https://www.instagram.com/ken._moffatt_/

Ep. 09— Simone Schmidt(part 1): The Utility of Metaphor

In a world where injustice often lurks in shadows, truth remains a relentless pursuer. “No Place to Hide” is a powerful anthem of reckoning and accountability. This song tells the story of a figure cloaked in deceit—someone who preyed on the vulnerable and shattered lives—but also speaks to the inevitability of justice and the enduring power of truth.
Through its haunting lyrics and driving narrative, the song captures the spirit of retribution, where time, memory, and conscience work together to unmask wrongdoers. It reminds us that no crime goes unseen and that the echoes of pain caused by evil acts are carried forward by those who refuse to be silenced. The title itself serves as a declaration: there is no refuge for those who choose cruelty over compassion, and no escape from the consequences of betrayal.
“No Place to Hide” offers a universal message about the enduring strength of truth and the ultimate triumph of justice. It calls upon listeners to confront wrongs, speak up for the silenced, and remember that even in the darkest moments, justice has a voice that will always be heard. It is a song for the survivors, the forgotten, and the determined—for those who will never stop believing in the power of accountability and truth.


No Place to Hide

Comedy songs and dark-humour originals from a working radiographer. Satire, protest, and indie experiments. 

I write comedy, satire, and straight-up originals about life in radiography, healthcare, and the wider mess. Expect protest anthems, awkward truth, and hooks that stick. If you like Bo Burnham, Weird Al, and indie left-turns, you’re in the right place.

Genres: Alternative, Indie, Singer-Songwriter, Comedy
satire, protest, indie, acoustic, alt-pop

Spotlight tracks:
	1.	“Where You Fell”
	2.	“Gone but Not Forgotten (Lost Souls)”
	3.	“Lazy Like a Monday”
	4.	“Pass the Light Around”
	5.	“All Are One (Defending Every Soul)”

Downstream from what explores the links between art, and social justice. We interview a group of cultural creators, artists, and activists to speak about the link between art and social change. Season Two includes interviews with sound artist and educator Ben McCarthy; Educator, visual artist and musician Samantha Wehbi; Educator, multidisciplinary artist Natalie Wood; Labour and Pro Democracy activist and educator Winnie Ng; Singer-Songwriter and Activist Simone Schmidt .


The first season included interviews with Kiké Roach and Alex Bierk along with series co-creator Ken Moffatt.  As with the practice of art the interviews span a great many topics and a wide variety of creative interventions.

Downstream from What is created under auspices of the Jack Layton Chair at Toronto Metropolitan University We appreciate the support of the Dean of Arts and Dean of Community Services 

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions or comments.

New tracks tagged #jutice