Local musician Angus Vincent is going back to his roots. Now preparing his next album, Vincent has released two singles from the upcoming project.
The first single is going back to Vincent’s roots as a songwriter. It is Real Love, which is one of the first songs that Vincent ever wrote.
“I felt that one needed to be recorded and sent out there.”
The second, and most recent is Pasiko, which reaches back to his childhood and he sings in Plains Cree. He said that he wanted to celebrate the language because 2019 was the year of the language, though he admits he was a little late. A fluent Plains Cree speaker, Vincent wanted to keep his language alive for his two children.
“I try to speak as much Cree as I can to them, just to pass that language down. A lot of folks my age who grew up with me, they weren’t blessed with being raised by your grandma where your grandma’s first language was Cree... I call it a gift now, because I’m one of the very fortunate ones who is able to carry on the language.”
The song itself is part English and part Plains Cree, telling a story of his grandmother and letting listeners in to a language they might not be very familiar with and teach a bit of Cree.
“Pasiko means get up, rise up. How I got that was from my grandmother, who was so proud of my auntie, who was the first one to graduate in 1989, way back when. She always pushed her message about finishing your education and more doors will open to you, and you’ll have so many more opportunities... Get up in the morning, get up when you’re feeling lazy, rise up and finish what you start is the message of the song.”
He’s a one-man operation right now, and Vincent said that he wants to get management to help book shows and get out more. He said that being an independent artist is a lot of work, and he wants help to get out to more people and get his music to more people.
“The music creation isn’t going to stop, I can tell you that. There are a lot of stories out there that need to be told. There is a lot of work, a lot of hustle, but that’s something I’m quite used to.”
While at home right now like everyone else, Vincent is using it to his advantage, sticking to his home studio and finishing off the album. He said the inspiration can come from many places, whether he is inspired by a story or comes up with a melody first and the lyrics can come later. Now in a creative groove, Vincent admits that there are times where it’s difficult to get up and pick up the pen to write.
But Vincent also recognizes that there’s power to music right now, and he wants to be part of that. With artists taking to Facebook Live for concerts, to play music for people in their own homes, he is considering doing that himself.
Watch Angus Vincent Music on Facebook and angusvincent.com to see what he’s up to.
