IT’S SO WILD TO THINK IT’S MY FIRST HEADLINE TOUR
A CONVERSATION WITH AYSANABEE
Aysanabee’s 2023 EP Here and Now, which won two Juno Awards, certainly lived up to the massive expectations of Watin. He continues to connect with audiences across Canada with his soaring voice, seamless blend of pop, folk, and electronic music, and beautifully authentic and rich storytelling. Now, Aysanabee is embarking on the Now and Then Tour, his first-ever headline tour.
“It’s so wild to think it’s my first headline tour,” he smiles. The tour begins in Northern Ontario. “I’m from the North, and it’s important for me to honour that. It’s a little bit of a homecoming. That’s where it all started for me. I lived in a lot of small towns in the North after leaving Sandy Lake First Nation… It will be a solo performance for that first leg. I do like that idea of having that time, too, because it has been so long since I’ve been up there to play music. So, to be able to have that space when I play solo, I can really engage with the audience a lot more and take my time to tell the stories behind the songs and talk to the audience more. There’s this really special connection that happens in those more intimate settings. I’m also excited to bring the band out. A lot of them I met within the last three years. We became so close, and they’re such incredible musicians who are wildly more talented than me, but that’s what I love about it, too… I’m an avid music lover and concert-goer, and I just remember living in the North, many people starting their tours and just not coming up there. I’m excited to go up there and show people why they need to go to these more regional places because there are so many music lovers and so many people turn up. So many people crave it and want it, especially in the wintertime when it’s so cold and dark.” Aysanabee mentioned more dates for the tour are to be announced as well.
Aysanabee is looking for local Indigenous and First Nations artists to open each show. “I feel oftentimes Indigenous artists are historically pretty excluded from the music industry and the seat at the table having access to just insight into how to make this whole music thing work,” he states. “It will be about showing communities these beautiful Indigenous artists who are just in their communities. Also to share a stage with them, spend time with them, and just sit with them and catch up and be like, ‘How’s the music career going? What are your hopes or dreams?’ and just be able to provide any insight that I have too… Just be there and be open and give these incredible artists like a little bit of a platform and any ways that I can help and any insights that I can provide them because like it was two Indigenous women that opened the door for me. ShoShonna Kish and Amanda Rheaume, they founded Ishkōdé Records, and they signed me when I had a demo and an idea for a record, and that doesn’t happen. Usually, you get signed when you’ve done so much of the work already… For them to take a chance on me and for us to be able to accomplish so much in the span of three years, it shows you what’s possible when you give people a chance.”
Reflecting on the creative process, Aysanabee says, “Everything I write definitely starts from reflection and from a place of just looking within and looking at my life and surroundings… I am trying to treat it more; I know this is going to make it sound less shiny, like a nine-to-five. So, if I’m ever not on tour and not in the studio and not doing something and have time during the week, like Monday to Friday and I’m home and there’s nothing going on, I will try and at least set up my PA or start writing by myself or reach out to people and see if they’re free.” Looking back at the creation of Here and Now, he adds, “I remember the self-conscious thing about it following up Watin, which was like this record so heavy in context to suddenly like, ‘Here’s a record about a broken heart and the reflections on that.’ Maybe a weird segue. But I think part of how I connect with audiences is that it comes from a truly authentic place and truly meaningful place.”
Recently, Aysanabee released “Edge Of The Earth”. “You never know what’s going to happen when you get inspired and get creative, but I really do love working with Derek [Hoffman] because he challenges me in ways that make sense to what I do. I’ve definitely worked with other producers, and we made a song, and I’m like, ‘Wow! This sounds like a pop dance song from the ‘90s. Sweet! I’ll put that in the vault, and maybe when I leave this plane, all this stuff will come out.’” The song’s writing process came from meeting up with Hoffman and Sean Sroka, also known as Ten Kills The Pack. They have made it a tradition to catch up at least once a year with the intention of making music; sometimes, music is created, and sometimes, it is just a hangout. “I’m just telling them about my year, all the things that happened, and telling stories about some of the places I’ve been,” says Aysanabee. “They were like, ‘Wow, man. It sounds like you’re doing pretty good. It sounds like you’re healthier. There is more contentment in your life.’ And there was. There was just a real realization in that because I feel like there’s always been this flight or fight state I’ve been in and for a moment, was like, ‘I’m actually in a pretty good spot right now.’ I’ve been practicing gratitude and changing my mindset from the things I don’t have to like it’s really special the things I get to do and the privilege of being able to go around and play music and tell stories is so special.”
Aysanabee collaborated with Canadian musician Ruby Waters for “Video Games”, a cover of a Lana Del Rey song featured on the new deluxe edition of Here and Now. “I’ve been a fan of Ruby’s music for a long time,” comments Aysanabee. “She has such an incredible voice and such a wild human. I went and opened for her on her tour back in, I want to say, 2022, and we’d always stay in contact.” The two really wanted to do a song together. Eventually an opportunity arose. “Amazon was doing its like cover series, and this conversation started up again… We’re both big Lana Del Rey fans, and that song I think it was nostalgic for both of us. It was easy when we just started playing around with it because we also could both sing it, which was also a bonus. I have specific memories of that song, and they’re always related to this summertime vibe, being with friends, driving, or being in nature. I think that’s also a big part of her life when she’s not touring or in the studio, she’s always snowboarding or outside hanging with close friends.”
Last year, Aysanabee won the Juno Award for Songwriter of the Year. “It was absolutely incredible to be recognised especially amongst so many of my peers and in a roomful of people that I just totally look up to,” he comments. “That record had a lot of co-writes, so I do always want to give a shout-out that there were a lot of collabs. Then to be the first First Nations artist to win that; I have such mixed feelings, being so grateful, like ‘Wow! How incredible is this to be part of history’ but also like, ‘Wow! Kind of wack it took so long.’ But you know, in baby steps. It was so beautiful that there were so many First Nations artists in that whole ceremony. I don’t know if it’s been confirmed, but at least to me, it was the most Indigenous artists ever recognised and spanning so many different categories versus everyone jammed into the Indigenous category, so that was really cool to see and be a part of.”
Aysanabee notes that more music is coming soon. “I’d just advise everyone to keep an eye out for socials and announcements. I’ve been out there working. I’ve been nine-to-five-ing this thing.”
Tour Dates
Feb 04 – Sioux Lookout, ON – Sioux North High School
Feb 05 – Dryden, ON – Dryden Performing Arts Centre
Feb 06 – Red Lake, ON – Red Lake Legion Hall
Feb 08 – Fort Frances, ON – Townshend Theatre
Feb 09 – Atikokan, ON – St. Patrick’s School
Feb10 – Geraldton, ON – Geraldton Country Club
Feb 19 – Ottawa, ON – The 27 Club
Feb 20 – Montréal, QC – Le Studio TD
Feb 21 – Québec City, QC – Grizzly Fuzz
Feb 22 – Lavaltrie, QC – Café culturel de la Chasse-galerie
Mar 02 – Wolfville, NS – Festival Theatre
Mar 03 – Pictou, NS – deCoste Centre
Mar 04 – Truro, NS – Marigold Cultural Centre
Mar 07 – Charlottetown, PE – PEI Brewing Company
Mar 08 – Fredericton, NB – Charlotte Street Arts Centre
Mar 09 – Moncton, NB – Tide & Boar Gastropub
Mar 12 – Glace Bay, NS – Savoy Theatre
Mar 13 – Halifax, NS – Marquee Ballroom
Mar 14 – Annapolis Royal, NS – King’s Theatre
Mar 15 – Liverpool, NS – Astor Theatre – on sale soon
Mar 19 – Guelph, ON – Sonic Hall
Mar 20 – London, ON – London Music Hall
Mar 21 – Toronto, ON – Axis Club