Doug Bedard a.k.a. Plex [windspeaker confidential]

Windspeaker: What one quality do you most value in a friend?
D.B.: An understanding that although we can’t always hang out like we did before kids, marriage and careers, we’re still there whenever one of us needs the other.

W: What is it that really makes you mad?
D.B.: Toronto traffic, lying politicians, pollution and anyone who thinks that just because Lil Wayne makes more money, he’s a better rapper than me.

W: When are you at your happiest?
D.B.: I’m happiest when my kids are happy, which is most of the time.

W: What one word best describes you when you are at your worst?
D.B.: Egotistical.

W: What one person do you most admire and why?
D.B.: I admire my wife, Jen, the most. She balances parenthood, two careers, a household and, all the while, puts up with my s**t.

W: What is the most difficult thing you’ve ever had to do?
D.B.: Move away from Edmonton.

W: What is your greatest accomplishment?
D.B.: The fact that I’m a part of my children’s lives every single day. It could have been so easy to go in the other direction, but being a dad comes naturally to me.

W: What one goal remains out of reach?
D.B.: Being addiction-free. I’ve quit alcohol, I’ve quit hard drugs, but cigarettes and soda have been really tough to give up.

W: If you couldn’t do what you’re doing today, what would you be doing?
D.B.: The thing about me is I do 10 different things during the week. If I wasn’t doing them, 10 other things would take their place.

W: What is the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
D.B.: It might sound cliché, but to not worry about what others think about you. If somebody doesn’t like you or your music, there’s somebody around the corner that will. It’s all just opinions anyway.

W: Did you take it?
D.B.: I struggle with it.

W: How do you hope to be remembered?
D.B.: As a guy who really meant well, despite all my mistakes.

Doug Bedard is an artist and a record label owner. He co-founded New Leaf Entertainment in 2005 with professional light-heavyweight boxer Jason Delaronde of Edmonton. He is also an artist on the label; however, his last album (Demons) was released by URBNET out of Toronto.

New Leaf Entertainment is licensed as a record label, but is more like an artist collective. There are currently four artists on the label: Bedard (Plex. Ojibwe, based out of Toronto), Rellik (Métis, based out of Edmonton), Nathan Cunningham (Cree, based out of Edmonton) and Leemai Lafontaine (Cree, based out of Regina). Leemai also uses the stage name, Kamea Aloha.
New Leaf Entertainment has five official releases: Won 18 - The Dirty Boulevard (2005), Plex - BrainStorm (2009), Rellik - Mighty Mouth (2011), Plex - Demons (2012) and Nathan Cunningham—Road Renditions (2013). BrainStorm and Mighty Mouth have about 40 music award nominations combined, although BrainStorm is the only album to actually receive an award.

Bedard was born in Edmonton and raised by his mother for the first six years of his life and then was raised by his grandparents in order to be able to attend a different school. His grandfather sat on the board of the Canadian Native Friendship Centre when Bedard was growing up so he says he spent “some time there”. When asked about his post-secondary education he states, “I have a GED, but everything I know about studio engineering and video filming and editing I learned on my own. I just want to keep making music and videos and work towards eating healthier and getting more exercise.”