Yolanda Sargeant | Top 40 Under 40 2026

Photo by Jared Sych. Location: Mount Royal University.

Age: 39

Occupation: Artist, singer and songwriter, Sargeant X Comrade; co-owner and director, Mo Gravy Records

At five years old, Yolanda Sargeant already knew she wanted to be a singer — she remembers her father bringing home a record by legendary gospel singer Mahalia Jackson and telling her that, if she tried hard enough, she’d be able to sing like her.

“But Mahalia Jackson is untouchable; she’s one of the greatest vocalists of all time,” Sargeant asserts. Yet, 12 years after starting her band, Sargeant X Comrade, Sargeant has earned plenty of accolades herself.

The band’s fusion of soul, jazz, funk, trip-hop and dancehall reggae emphasizes analogue sound, championing raw frequencies over computer-manipulated tones. These authentic, intimate tunes have resulted in Canadian Music Awards, YYC Music Awards and a spot on a Polaris Music Prize long list.

In 2023, Sargeant received a prestigious Women in Canadian Music Honours Award. She’s also completed a National Music Centre residency and TD Incubator fellowship at Arts Commons (now known as Werklund Centre).

Her talent is undeniable, but her dedication to paving the way for other local women is even more impressive. Sargeant is co-owner of Mo Gravy Records, a music label that champions Calgary artists by supporting them with everything from recording songs to creating press kits, and is a mentor with Women in Music Canada.

Creating community spaces is something that Sargeant’s family has been doing ever since her aunt first immigrated to the Prairies from Grenada. Her quarterly event series, Soul Silhouette Series, celebrates femme-identifying artists. “I noticed that there were so many talented female artists in Calgary, but there wasn’t necessarily a space for us to just be ourselves and be able to perform our music,” Sargeant says.

As a recording artist, she has more than two million streams, and each of Sargeant X Comrade’s live performances employs up to six other local musicians.

She may still be after that untouchable Mahalia Jackson voice, but Sargeant has created a position for herself in the Calgary music community: her music is textured, her guidance is accessible, her events are welcoming and her attitude is inspiring. “Throughout my whole life, I’ve been mentored — whether that be through the Caribbean community, through family members, or through organizations like the Grenada and Antigua associations,” she says. “When I do mentorship, I’m just passing the torch.”