New York, NY (Top40 Charts) A song, a memory, a moment in time: break out artist Aysanabee announces "We Were Here," a thunderous new single out Friday, July 15. "We Were Here," Aysanabee's first new release with Ishkōdé Records, arrives in advance of his weekend performance on a bill with Andy Shauf and The
National at Ottawa Bluesfest.
With "We Were Here," Aysanabee balances resolve with tenderness, pain with hope. The song's sky-high chorus and anthemic crescendos are grounded in the tension between holding on to and letting go of the past. The surging, piano-led single is charged through with a soulful, somber energy that affirms its weighty themes of mortality and remembrance. Aysanabee introduces "We Were Here" with a short, powerful clip featuring his grandfather, whose stories are central to the artist's new work.
The rightful excitement about Aysanabee, whose voice and story instantly capture attention, has been building since his arrival in 2021. The artist first showcased at the International Indigenous
Music Summit's virtual gathering last summer and has been swiftly gathering momentum.
TOUR DATES
NEW MARKET, ON: TD Newmarket
Music Series, July 14
OTTAWA, ON: Ottawa Bluesfest, July 17
HAMILTON, ON: Fringe Festival, July 20
MISSION, BC: Mission Folk Festival, July 21
VICTORIA, BC: Beacon Hill Park, July 23
OWEN SOUND, ON: SummerFolk, Aug 19
ELORA, ON: RiverFest, Aug 21
THUNDER BAY, ON: Wake The Giant, Sept 17
Aysanabee's voice introduces himself in a way that words cannot. Solemn and soaring, backed by a swirling blend of indie, soul and electronic soundscapes, mournful saxophone and pulse-quickening finger-picking, Aysanabee's striking sound is equal parts hypnotic and melodic.
The Toronto-based songwriter made his entrance in 2021 with the jaw-dropping song "Ocean Breath." The self-produced, self-released single quickly found a home with Ishkōdé Records, where Aysanabee became the new label's first signing. In a whirlwind year, Aysanabee performed on major stages across the country, opened for
Half Moon Run and July Talk, launched and curated an emerging Indigenous artist series in Toronto, and is currently readying his debut album, expected in 2022. Aysanabee is Oji-Cree, Sucker Clan of the
Sandy Lake First Nation.
