For the past few years Ottawa-based singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume has been an outspoken activist about Canada鈥檚 missing and murdered Indigenous women.
Never being one to shy away from personal and often raw lyrics, Rheaume knew when she started work on her fourth studio album, Holding Patterns, that she wanted to make a statement about her missing and murdered sisters.
After much contemplation and soul searching, she teamed up with Juno winning singer Chantal Kreviazuk to create the album鈥檚 first single 鈥淩ed Dress.鈥� In the song Rheaume said she combined the political with the personal as she reflected on how each woman听 who has disappeared has both a story of struggle and a world of potential that was taken away.
鈥淏eing M茅tis, I鈥檝e really been wanting to write a song to honour our missing and murdered sisters for a long time, but I wasn鈥檛 exactly sure how to because it鈥檚 so serious and sad,鈥� Rheaume said. 鈥淚t was hard for me to know how to approach it.鈥澨�
The singer said she finally found her inspiration after hearing the Cindy Gladue verdict last year.
Nearly five years ago, Glaude鈥� an Aboriginal sex worker鈥� bled to death in a hotel bathtub in Edmonton. The trial of the man accused of killing her received little national attention, but his 2015 acquittal sparked outrage across the country.
鈥淚 was just so disgusted, but it gave me the inspiration to write the song,鈥� Rheaume said.
Rheaume added that all the sales from 鈥淩ed Dress鈥� will be donated to the Native Women鈥檚 Association of Canada鈥檚 Safety and Violence Prevention Program.
Holding Patterns was released May 6, and since then Rheaume has been busy touring across Canada to promote the album. She鈥檒l be making a stop at the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion on May 21.
Rheaume said as important as it was to make a statement with 鈥淩ed Dress鈥� it was also important for her as an artist to write about her own personal experiences.
鈥淭here are a lot of songs that take a real look at my life and where I鈥檓 at with my relationships and friendships and how I kind of find myself in the world,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here are a lot of songs that are about heartbreak and there are others that are very hopeful.鈥�
One of her latest tracks, 鈥淭he Wolf of Time鈥�, was written when Rheaume鈥檚 close friend and guitar player died after losing his battle with cancer.
鈥淭hat song talks about how we need to appreciate what have now because we never know what鈥檚 going to happen next,鈥� she said.
On a lighter note, Rheaume鈥檚 鈥淭his Time Around鈥� talks about letting joy and happiness into her life.
鈥淚t was really me taking a moment to say I鈥檓 going to let love into my life as opposed to falling back into those negative patterns,鈥� she said.
Despite the serious nature of Holding Patterns, Rheaume promised a fun and intimate show in Jasper.
鈥淚 tell a lot of stories and interact with the people,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just love connecting with people so hopefully people will come and check it out.鈥�
Rheaume鈥檚 show kicks off at the Jasper Royal Canadian Legion, May 21, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
