Live there long enough and you’ve probably seen some of those faces before in small-town Vancouver Island.
Maybe one was attached to somebody wrapping a choice cut of beef for you at Ladysmith’s Bouma Meats, or serving up a plate of curried chicken to your table at the Haida Way diner in Chemainus.
But before this week, chances were good you never connected them with a 6’8” American rapper from Minnesota.
In a music video released last week, Yung Gravy has tapped into a vein of professional and amateur talent from multiple Vancouver Island communities and splashed it across the screen for his new single, Debbie.
“Sorry for the wait ladies and gents. I slid to Vancouver Island and turned Ladysmith into Gravysmith,” the man originally known as Matthew Raymond Hauri wrote on his Youtube channel. “These are my actual plans after retirement.”
The video, filmed primarily in mid-Island communities, features several recognizable landmarks, with stops at Ladymith’s dryland sort and Transfer Beach Park, and scenes in Chemainus at the Red Barn Antique Gallery, Silvermine Jewellery, and Waterwheel Park among many others.
Yes, that was Michael, Juliana and Stanley Alcorn-Good you saw in there, along with Robert Cerins, Paul Bouma and many other cameos from local residents.
But Vancouver Islanders were also making things happen behind the scenes too.
Before Yung Gravy ever stepped in front of the camera, Andini Makosinski was racing around Victoria with her arms full of vintage outfits, determined to give Debbie a look that only Vancouver Island could inspire.
Twenty eight-year-old Makosinski of Saanich served as associate producer and stylist, sourcing vintage outfits and coordinating looks for the stars, while bringing a distinctly Victoria perspective to the production.
“I ran all over Victoria pulling different outfits,” Makosinski told Black Press Media. “You don’t just grab one or two looks. You grab as many as possible and try to squeeze the best into the video.”
Makosinski, who went to high school at St. Michael’s University, worked under longtime Victoria director Shirazzee (Shiraz Higgins) who spearheaded the vision behind the video’s retro-inspired aesthetic.
Many of the outfits came from local vintage shops, including Csinos Vintage and Pocket Vintage, as well as pieces borrowed from friends or Makosinski’s own wardrobe.
For Gravy’s standout “dictator suit,” she collaborated with Victoria designer Stephanie Mould, adding pins, medals, and other details to bring the concept to life.
Her role went far beyond clothes.
She scouted extras, coordinated last-minute fittings, and problem-solved on set.
Seeing the finished video, which has already drawn more than 216,000 views on YouTube in five days, is rewarding, she said, not just for the recognition, but because it represents the culmination of years of growth.
Makosinski became well-known as a 15-year-old for her invention of a hollow flashlight.
While that invention was a major part of her early life, and began a parade of inovations, she felt it became something that everyone labelled her with.
Since then, she has established herself as a “renaissance woman.”
“I moved back to Victoria this February after living in New York and London,” Makosinski said. “Being back here made me feel so creatively free. I could try things and fully leave behind the identity I had as a science and inventor kid. This is me now, a creative director.”
The video also reflects a personal passion for vintage fashion.
“I’m so into vintage, the 1950s through the 1970s, so this was my era,” she said. “I love creating imagery that’s evocative and tells a story. Music videos are like a fantastical world for people to fall into. If we can alleviate someone’s mood or make them laugh for a few minutes, that’s incredible.”
She said Victoria’s balance of natural beauty and slower pace has allowed her to find stability while pursuing high-profile creative work.
“As a kid, I thought I’d leave forever for Hollywood,” she said. “But the more I travelled, the more I realized Victoria is amazing. You can work, but also enjoy life, take your time, and still chase big ideas. For me, that’s the perfect balance.”
Makosinski’s next projects include producing her first commercial independently, but for now, she’s proud to have helped put Vancouver Island talent on a global stage.
“It’s cool to see local talent woven into projects that reach so many people,” she said. “There’s a lot happening behind the scenes that people don’t see, but that’s what makes the magic happen.”
— with files from Morgan Brayton and John McKinley