Nardwuar vs. Annamie Paul

Elisapie - Wolves Don't Live by the Rules (Willie Thrasher)

The Light in the Attic re-release of Inuvialuit singer-songwriter Willie Thrasher's Spirit Child album (originally issued by the CBC in 1981), along with the Grammy-nominated Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966-1984 compilation from 2014 has seen Willie's music reach a new global audience. The expanded awareness has lead to concerts all over Turtle Island for the veteran performer, who currently sings with his partner Linda Saddleback and is writing some the best songs of his life, like the soon to be released "The Sacred Fire Of Peace."

Producing these reissue projects and working directly with Willie has been such a gift and for that I give thanks. There have been so many incredible moments along the way, but hearing from various First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples about their experiences with these powerful songs, as well as from the artists themselves, has been the most meaningful, especially as a person of settler heritage. Willie's music, and that of his peers like the late great Willie Dunn and the Sikumiut band, were embraced and celebrated by Indigenous peoples across the land during their time of release and continue to hold a precious place for those lucky enough to have heard them. They have the potential to create community and change lives through positive connection.

One person who was blessed to be raised with Spirit Child from an early age was Inuk folk-pop singer and songwriter Elisapie Isaac from Salluit, Nunavik, who performs under the name Elisapie and is related to the Sugluk band's George Kakayuk (also featured on Native North America). It was so exciting to hear Elisapie speak of her interaction with Willie Thrasher's music growing up in a northern community and what it meant to her personally. Going one step beyond in her inspiration, Elisapie recorded two of Willie's songs for her most recent project. Generations, (northern) cultures, and eras of technology coming together. Today, Elisapie's interpretation of "Wolves Don't Live by the Rules" (Featuring Joe Grass) has been released into the world. If you're not in the loop, now is the time!!!

SUPPORT ELISAPIE!!!

SUPPORT WILLIE!!!

And don't forget to spread the word... PEACE

The Recording of Willie Thrasher (2016)

In 2015, director Adam O. Thomas and producer Am Johal (SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement) put together a documentary on the musical life of veteran Inuvialuit singer-songwriter Willie Thrasher. On November 18, we celebrated the world premiere at SFU Woodward's with a screening and live concert featuring Willie and his singing partner Linda Saddleback. The film is available for viewing at www.sfu.ca/video-library/video/1658/view.html. Please spread the link if you like what you see/hear. Willie is still rocking and rolling all of these years later and is looking to perform on stages large and small. New music is being recorded. Be in touch if you have any links!!! Thanks for the support!!! PEACE

Willie Thrasher on Q (CBC)

*Willie Thrasher appeared on CBC's Q radio program today where he talked about life in the Northwest Territories, his early rock and roll inspirations, Spirit Child's re-release, and the great Willie Dunn... Have a listen here!!! PEACE

CBC tune up (Willie Thrasher on Q)

Spirit Child (Vancouver Sun's Album of the Week)

FOLK

Spirit Child
Willie Thrasher
(Light In The Attic)

4 out of 5 stars

The Native North America Vol. 1 compilation released by Light In The Attic in 2014 was a masterpiece of archival work by Vancouver DJ Kevin “Sipreano” Howes. It remains a must-own collection of aboriginal folk, rock and psych music that would have likely been lost otherwise, and it made music fans rediscover some amazing talent, including B.C. folk-rocker Willie Thrasher.
Thrasher is the first of the artists on the NNA lineup to get a proper solo reissue. Spirit Child was Thrasher’s 1981 debut as a solo artist. Formerly of Inuit rock band The Cordells, Thrasher culled his inspiration from Creedence Clearwater Revival and Neil Young, which are the most obvious points of reference on Spirit Child.

The songs are ramshackle, bruised and vital, driven by Thrasher’s acoustic guitar and wobbly vocals. The gripping Forefathers has Thrasher singing about his Inuit land, “where we don’t need no oil or gold.” It’s a soulful ode to nature. On Wolves Don’t Live By The Rules, Thrasher channels his inner Steppenwolf for a rollicking song about freedom.

The album is populated by a colourful cast of characters (Eskimo Named Johnny, Old Man Carver, and Old Man Inuit, where the titular old man speaks the lyrics in his native tongue) and places (Shingle Point Whale Camp). The stunning Beautiful is a classic country tune with pedal steel guitar, where Thrasher praises the beauty of the land that surrounds him. It’s the simplest statement, but it evokes enormous emotions.

Again, the reissuing work by Howes and Light In The Attic is top notch, replicating the original album cover (complete with the logo of the CBC, which served as recording facilities for Thrasher) and adding the colours and design work of the NNA box set.

It’s a nice touch and a great complement to a collection that can only keep growing.

Willie Thrasher plays The Lido Nov. 18.

Re-posted from the Vancouver Sun

Spirit Child re-release party

*More info at the jump!!!

Spirit Child is out TODAY!!!

*Great Globe & Mail interview/profile here... PEACE

Willie Thrasher - Spirit Child (Future Days Recordings/Light in the Attic)

 Available: October 30th, 2015

Spirit Child is the debut LP from Inuk singer-songwriter Willie Thrasher. Thrasher was born in Aklavik, a hamlet located in the Inuvik region of the Northwest Territories, Canada, in 1948. At five years of age, Thrasher was taken from his family and sent to a residential school where he was forbidden to practice his Inuvialuit culture, a shameful initiative by the Canadian government to assimilate Indigenous people into mainstream society. Music was a way for Thrasher to escape the pain and longing. In the mid-1960s, Thrasher drummed for The Cordells, one of the first Inuit rock bands. One evening, a stranger recommended that the group tap into their Aboriginal roots instead of the charts for inspiration. This prompted Thrasher to take up the guitar and write songs about his life, people, and the environment. Despite losing a portion of his left middle finger in a work accident, Thrasher became a musical vagabond, travelling across Canada and the United States throughout the 1970s and well into the 1980s meeting many other First Nations, Métis, and Inuit musicians. Spirit Child was released by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) in 1981 and provided a further opportunity for Thrasher to reconnect with his Native heritage and share this love and understanding with people from other cultures. “Silent Inuit” became a northern hit for Thrasher, but with limited commercial support and little promotion outside of northern communities, the album eventually fell to the wayside. Today, Thrasher lives in the town of Nanaimo, B.C., where he performs as a city sanctioned busker with his partner Linda Saddleback. The global attention garnered by Light In The Attic’s Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966-1985 has led to recent performances at the Austin Psych Fest and Levitation Vancouver. Wherever he may be, Willie Thrasher is a trailblazing troubadour with an Indigenous heartbeat sound. Let Spirit Child open your ears, heart, and mind to a new folk-rock reality.

• Officially licensed reissue
• Featured on Native North America (Vol. 1): Aboriginal Folk, Rock, and Country 1966-1985
• Expanded gatefold edition with full lyrics
• Newly re-mastered

LITA.net pre-order edition:
- “Burnt Orange” Wax limited to 200 copies (2 per customer)



More info and pre-order links at http://lightintheattic.net/releases/2004-spirit-child