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Naomi Cowan

"A close-up, profile-angle portrait of Naomi Cowan. She has dark hair styled sleekly with detailed edges, wearing a mustard-yellow headwrap and large, geometric gold statement earrings. She has a bold red lip and is looking upward and to the right. The background is a soft, out-of-focus gradient of white, pink, and teal."
JUNO-Winning Artist, Self-Produced Creative & Strategic Leader
MDM Cohort 2.0

When Naomi Cowan’s name was called as the winner of the 2026 JUNO Award for Best Reggae Recording for her album "Welcome to Paradise," it wasn't just a win for her music. It was a full-circle moment for a self proclaimed "multi-hyphenate" who, a decade ago, was sitting in a Master of Digital Media (MDM) class researching how design thinking could act as a catalyst for social innovation. For Naomi, the journey from grad student to global reggae sensation has been a masterclass in professional agency, successfully navigating the complexities of the music industry by applying the strategist mindset she cultivated during her time at the university (TMU).

That sense of intentionality is woven throughout her latest work. The word "Paradise" has become a recurring theme for Naomi, from her breakout hit Paradise Plum to her JUNO-winning album. However, for her, "Paradise" represents a state of fulfillment where she is committed to expressing herself both intellectually and creatively. She reflects that this evolution allowed her to grow past the phase of trying to "fit in" and instead start affecting change. "It shows me that I see myself as more than a product," she notes, "and that’s really important."

One of the most striking aspects of Naomi’s career is how she has operated as a fully independent artist without funding, a label or a traditional management team. She credits the MDM program’s refusal to "pigeonhole" its students as the reason she feels comfortable operating with a managerial mindset. Because she cycled through every aspect of media production, from sound design to color correction, she understands the technical "how" behind every creative choice. "It allowed me to bootstrap like crazy," she says. "I can speak to an editor and say, 'I know this is going to take five days,' instead of being that pushy client who has never sat in an editing suite their entire life."

This academic discipline translated directly into the business side of producing the album "Welcome to Paradise," particularly when it came to securing funding through FACTOR, a notoriously competitive Canadian government grant program. While the application process intimidates many, Naomi found she was "ready already" because she was in the habit of prepping her vision as if it were a product. She was able to turn over visual decks and strategies in two hours that would take most artists weeks, leaving grant writers wondering, "How did she send that to us?"

Beyond the studio, even her undergraduate law minor has served as a critical safeguard. Naomi explains that her legal knowledge is a vital tool for self-protection in an industry where artists are often vulnerable to being taken advantage of or mismanaged. "I'm so happy I did that because I can read through contracts... I know what to look for, I know what to flag," she says. "I understand the language. It doesn't throw me off," noting that this literacy puts her in the "good position" that many artists struggle to find when maintaining their own presence and relevance.

Looking back at her Major Research Project (MRP), "Digital Media and Design Thinking: A Catalyst for Social Innovation," Naomi sees the early blueprint for her current success. She was always interested in how creativity could empower others, finding mentors like Michael Carter, Dr. Jaigris Hodson, and Sean Wise who helped make her feel like she was "in the room already." Now, she is looking to pay that experience forward by "bridging the gap" between Canada and Jamaica. She envisions a future where she can contribute to Jamaica’s digital transformation efforts and play a role in finding sustainable pathways to wealth generation within the creative economy.

For current students balancing academic research with creative dreams, Naomi’s journey is proof that those diverse skills are actually a global advantage. She encourages others not to be afraid of giving back, noting that "your creativity can add value to somewhere else or someone else." She believes that when an artist surrenders the "white-knuckled grip" on their work to serve others, they find a deeper sense of purpose. 

Reflecting on her time in the MDM program at TMU (formerly Ryerson) and its impact on her musical and creative professional journey, Naomi sums up an experience that was as challenging as it was rewarding: "Tumultuous. Expansive. Aligned."

Connect with Naomi on Instagram (external link)