Jeffery Straker wins big

Canadian darling takes international stage at Viña del Mar

Jeffery Straker performs “Hypnotized” at the 2014 Viña del Mar International Song Festival. Viña del Mar

The last time we caught up with Canadian sensation Jeffery Straker, he was opening for Spice Girl alumna Mel C during Toronto Pride and had just released his latest album, Vagabond. The single from his 2010 album, “Hypnotized,” however is the one currently making waves internationally and has just made him a boat load of cash.

The Viña del Mar International Song Festival, an annual singing competition hosted in Chile, is one of the biggest — and most influential — events in Latin America. Past headlining acts include Daddy Yankee and Nelly Furtado, and Straker can now count himself one of the contest’s illustrious winners. Performing “Hypnotized” in true cabaret fashion, Straker tamed “El Monstruo” (what the festival calls its audience, which is both an amazing and terrifying moniker) and took home the grand prize of $50,000, becoming the second Canadian (Sierra Noble was the first) to make it to the top.

Be sure to catch the winning performance above. In true Latin American–television fashion, it is dramatic, over-the-top and sheer perfection.

Andrew was formerly the associate editor for Daily Xtra.

Read More About:
Music, Culture, News, Toronto, Arts, Canada

Keep Reading

The United States Capitol appears in front of Trans Flag colours; hands holding a smartphone with the TikTok logo on it are shown in front, under a blue filter.

How a U.S. TikTok ban would censor trans people

ANALYSIS: Conservatives are trying to leverage censorship to promote their own anti-trans agenda

In ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt,’ Brontez Purnell balances on a knife edge between hilarity and despair

Purnell's new memoir turns heaviness into humour, and exposes the bleakness under what seems silly and light

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16, Episode 12 power ranking: Designing women

Who among our top five will fall short of the finale?

‘RuPaul’s Drag Race’ Season 16, Episode 12 recap: Bathroom babes

The infamous room design challenge returns, this time with … restrooms?