Iskwē - Little Star
Meet ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ, which is iskwē in Standard Roman orthography. Of Cree heritage, the singer-songwriter hails from Winnipeg, Canada. Just a moment ago, she released a new music video, entitled “Little Star.”
Iskwē
According to iskwē, “’Little Star’ serves as both a reminder and a starting point. Set to the drumbeat of an Anishinaabe honor song, “Little Star” reminds listeners that we still need to act on the lessons learned from the Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie tragedies. It also gives birth to a new direction for me, as I’ll be digging deeper into the astrology teachings of my Cree ancestors and amplifying the work of thought leaders like Wilfred Buck.”
To most Americans, her reference to the “Tina Fontaine and Colten Boushie tragedies” is probably unfamiliar. Now Toronto sums it up as follows: “On February 9, 2018, Gerald Stanley, accused of fatally shooting 22-year-old Colten Boushie, was acquitted. Shock waves reverberated across Canada, only to be followed weeks later by a not-guilty verdict for Raymond Cormier, accused of murdering 15-year-old Tina Fontaine. The acquittals of Stanley and Cormier, both white men, exposed what many already knew: justice for Indigenous victims of crime remain an anomaly in Canada.”
Poignant lyrics narrate the tale of a small delightful spark of life extinguished, almost forgotten.
Fiercely independent and proud of her birthright, iskwē’s sound blends elements of ‘90s Bristol savors with alt-rock and electro-pop flavors into radiant, flowing music that’s received vast recognition: 2017 WCMA Winner for Electronic Artist of the Year, along with a 2018 Juno nomination for Indigenous Album of the Year.
“Little Star” opens on pulsing synths followed by iskwē’s rich, clear, evocative voice. A buff rhythm propels the music forward, as layers of dark and light colors stream overhead. The mood and feel of the song, full of regret and melancholy, is intense and simultaneously rife with remote nuances of uneasiness.
Poignant lyrics narrate the tale of a small delightful spark of life extinguished, almost forgotten.
“Have you seen the news today / Did you hear what they had to say / About our lost star / They take in ways I can’t understand / Place the blame on her like she was nobody’s child / Now all I see today is how they wash away / Our little star.”
“Little Star” thrums with emotional energy and tumescent hues and makes no pretense of stoic resignation. Iskwē knocks it down on this song.
