photo credit: Kaela Leone
In less than a year, Aysanabee has gone from releasing his debut album, the powerful interweaving of generations, memory and storytelling of Watin, to arriving centre stage in his career with prestigious nominations, non-stop touring, and a team committed to raising the new artist’s singular voice and perspective into the mainstream.
From making history as the first Indigenous artist to reach the #1 spot at Canadian Alternative Rock Radio, to performing a deeply moving tribute, standing in front of the portrait of his grandfather and album namesake, at the Polaris Music Prize Gala, Aysanabee has traveled an impressive distance from unsigned artist to internationally touring, award-winning breakout. And so, what comes next?
Here and Now, Aysanabee’s new EP, gives an emphatic answer as the artist embarks on a different path.
One million times,
I coulda set things straight
But I didn’t try, didn’t know what to say
I miss the times, just a child, in the grass, not a care, wish it coulda lasted
Why does my mind skip like a stone?
And I can’t let go?
I’m everywhere, but here and now
Why am I – falling ahead, like the past never left?
I’m anywhere, but here and now
From the generational work of preserving and transforming his grandfather’s stories, Aysanabee now moves in a new direction, towards his own experiences of love’s end and his process of unflinching self-examination. With high-voltage production, Aysanabee shifts Watin’s finger-picked acoustic foundation into soundscape waves that carry his voice forward. With its sharper edges and towering sound, Here and Now is shot through with a feeling of decisiveness, of acceptance. It’s the sound of letting go.
In Aysanabee’s own words, “This is the first of more records that will explore the impact of colonization on Indigenous love in this country. This country never made me feel worthy of love, and in turn never made me feel worthy of the love of another. Through this record, I wanted to be honest by facing my own fallibilities when it comes to building and keeping relationships.”
The album features 6 new songs including the title track – a coulda woulda shoulda song. “There are a million ways and a million different outcomes to any situation but things unfold the way they unfold, “ says Aysanabee. “And sometimes you just need to appreciate the moments, the memories, the people who have come into your life for a time to share their gifts with you and vice versa.” Watch the stunning new video, directed by Alex P Smith above.
About Aysanabee
Aysanabee began creating music under his mother’s maiden name during the pandemic when the stillness allowed him to slow down and create music that, he says, more accurately represents himself as an artist. With a swirling mix of indie, soul, and electronic sounds, mournful saxophone, and pulse-quickening fingerpicking, Aysanabee’s music is both hypnotic and melodious and has been compared to Bon Iver, Matt Corby, Don Ross, Kim Churchill, Kings of Leon, and Sam Smith among others.
His debut album, Watin (Nov 2022), named after his grandfather, includes 10 tracks and nine interludes featuring the voice of his grandfather that combines music and journalism with artistry and expression. “Watin actually started out as a series of conversations between myself and my grandfather,” says Aysanabee. “We spent the first year of the pandemic talking about things we’ve never spoke about, his life on the trapline on Sandy Lake First Nation, falling in love, his life in residential school and then leaving everything behind…we never spoke of it until now. Even though we were over 1,000 kilometres apart, it was probably the closest we’ve ever been.”
In what became a momentous year for Aysanabee, he released his first single, “We Were Here” in July of 2022. This single charted on the Indigenous Music Countdown and was featured on an episode of Station 19. This single was also performed live at the 2023 JUNO Awards, further solidifying Aysanabee as a major player in Canadian music. The song “Nomads” (August 2022) charted on Billboard Canada, became #1 on CBC Music and #1 on the Alternative Radio Chart (March 2023).
UPCOMING TOUR DATES
Oct 20, 2023 — Oshawa, ON: The Biltmore Theatre*
Oct 21, 2023 — Paris, ON: Paris Presbyterian Church*
Oct 23, 2023 — Hamilton, ON: The Brickworks*
Oct 24, 2023 — London, ON: Aeolian Hall*
Oct 26, 2023 — Richmond Hill, ON: Centre for Performing Arts*
Oct 27, 2023 — Ottawa, ON: Bronson Centre*
Oct 28, 2023 — Toronto, ON: Queen Elizabeth Theatre*
Oct 29, 2023 — St. Catherine’s, ON: First Ontario Performing Arts Centre*
Nov 2, 2023 — Waterloo, ON: Maxwell’s Concerts and Events*
Nov 3, 2023 — Peterborough, ON: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre*
Nov 4, 2023 — Montreal, QC: Le Studio TD*
Nov 5, 2023 — Quebec City, QC: L’anti Bar and Spectacles*
Nov 7, 2023 — Moncton, NB: Capitol Theatre*
Nov 9, 2023 — Fredricton, NB: Fredricton Playhouse*
Nov 10, 2023 — St. John, NB: Imperial Theatre*
Nov 11, 2023 — Glace Bay, NS: Savoy Theatre
Nov 11, 2023 — Charlottetown, PEI: PEI Brewing Company
Nov 12, 2023 — Halifax, NS: Rebecca Cohn Auditorium
Nov 14, 2023 — St. John’s, NL: Cochrane United Church – First Light Centre*
* Supporting Dan Mangan on the Going Somewhere Tour
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