A lyrical Christmas season

Aysanabee to headline Aylmer concert following JUNO success

Tashi Farmilo

Indigenous singer-songwriter Aysanabee will take the stage at the Old Aylmer Cultural Centre on December 12 at 8:00 pm, in a performance presented by the City of Gatineau. The show follows a defining year for the Oji-Cree artist, who became the first Indigenous performer to win both Alternative Album of the Year and Songwriter of the Year at the JUNO Awards.

The concert comes near the end of The Way We’re Born Canadian headlining tour and ahead of the release of his second album, Edge Of The Earth, which dropped in June and has already been praised as a collection of “stadium-ready anthems.” The tour includes more than 20 stops across the country and features local Indigenous openers at every show, a gesture Aysanabee says reflects his commitment to community and connection. “This time, we’re showcasing even more incredible Indigenous talent from across the country,” he said. “Fans are in for a real treat.”

Aysanabee’s rise has been marked by more than 400 performances around the world, including stops at Riddu Riđđu in Norway, Reeperbahn in Germany, and major Canadian festivals like Osheaga and Ottawa Bluesfest. His debut album Watin, named after his grandfather, combined music and oral history and earned a Polaris Music Prize shortlist. His 2024 EP Here and Now expanded his reach, with singles like “Home” and “Good Love” landing on national and Indigenous music charts.

But Edge Of The Earth marks a transformation in sound and scope. Known for his emotionally charged vocals, layered production, and fingerstyle guitar, Aysanabee leans into cinematic textures and existential themes in this latest project. The title track, he said, emerged from “very transitional moments” in his life, where he was forced to make difficult creative choices. “Oftentimes these decisions would take me to the edge of an unknown and leave me wondering if I was ready to take a leap of faith,” he said.

While identity and lineage continue to shape his music, Aysanabee resists being defined solely by labels. “Everything I do is in some way impacted by my lived experience as a visibly minority,” he said. “I often write about pain and progress, and this is often shaped through an Indigenous lens.” Still, he challenges assumptions about what Indigenous art should look or sound like. “There is no right or wrong way to be Indigenous, as I imagine there is no right or wrong way to be white when it comes to culture and knowledge. Unless you’re pretending to be something you’re not. Everyone must walk their own road.”

Still, Aysanabee resists any romanticized or fixed definition of Indigenous expression. His focus, he says, is on growth, creativity, and pushing past comparison. “Comparing yourself to others is unhealthy. Comparing yourself to who you used to be and who you want to be is where I write.”

Tickets for the Aylmer performance are $15 for students and $35 for general admission. Tickets are available at www.aysanabee.com