Join us on our Instagram page tomorrow for a live interview with Shawnee Kish at 1:30 p.m.! Tap or click here to join.Â
An outspoken advocate for her Indigenous and LGBTQ2+ communities, Shawnee Kish is a proud Two-Spirit Mohawk who has shared the stage with some of the world’s biggest names — Lady Gaga, Madonna and Alicia Keys to name a few.
2020 saw the singer step into the world of virtual performances without hesitation, taking part in The Canada House/UK Commerce International Women’s Day Virtual Performance, The Songwriter Series with Serena Ryder and RBC’s Emerging Artist program.
In addition to virtual performances, Shawnee raised her voice on a Grammy Museum Discussion Panel (Being an Artist During COVID) and joined the National Arts Centre of Canada on a collaborative youth project.Â
Since discovering “music as medicine” at a young age and starting her career at just 12-years-old, music has been a source of self-empowerment and purpose for Shawnee, allowing her to stand tall in her strength and power.
This year, the Edmonton-based artist release a new EP that addresses her personal struggles of the past twelve months: “The‌ ‌main‌ ‌theme‌ ‌will be ‌lighting‌ ‌up‌ ‌what‌ ‌used‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌ ‌and‌ ‌getting‌ ‌on‌ ‌with‌ ‌what‌ ‌is‌ ‌now.‌ ‌The‌ ‌songs‌ ‌represent‌ ‌becoming‌ ‌yourself,‌ ‌finding‌ ‌out‌ ‌where‌ ‌you‌ ‌were‌ ‌was‌ ‌not‌ ‌where‌ ‌you‌ ‌wanted‌ ‌to‌ ‌be‌, and‌ ‌full‌y ‌embracing‌ ‌that‌ ‌in order to let go,” Shawnee said.
Influenced by the strong, confident voices of female performers such as Melissa‌ ‌Etheridge,‌ ‌Etta‌ ‌James,‌ ‌Nina‌ ‌Simone and Amy‌ ‌Winehouse‌, it’s no wonder why Shawnee’s deeply personal lyrics are always rooted in healing.