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by ERIN MACLEOD Taking a wee gander at recent dancehall videos, it wouldn’t be surprising if one came to the conclusion that a lot of current Jamaican music is pretty male-oriented. Montreal’s Auresia challenges this notion through her music and her attitude. Inspired by artists like Tanya Stephens and Queen Ifrica as well as Jill Scott, Ani DiFranco and Björk, her sound is difficult to pin down. It’s certainly rootsy, but doesn’t shy away from elements of new reggae and even a taste of dancehall. On a recent trip to Jamaica, Auresia ended up not only performing in Jamaica but recording and getting attention from the island’s flagship reggae station, Irie FM. “People commented that my music was quite unique. Irie FM really liked it and put it on regular play. Where I was staying, people who had seen me play a club came up to me and said they’d heard my song ‘Jah Goddess’ on the radio.” And how do her songs come to be? “I just channel my emotions into song and it just kind of comes out that way. I guess it’s more roots-based, but there are definitely melodic, contemporary influences.” And her songs are exactly that—her songs. For her new album, Auresia wrote all but one of the tunes, arranging them with her partner David Lines. Music has always been a part of Auresia’s life, though it wasn’t always reggae. Originally from Edmonton, her father played accordion and her mother, piano. “I am Ukrainian, I went to Ukrainian play school and I was in the church choir, so there’s a lot of harmonies and beautiful melodies there already. I think that integrated into my music a bit. My dad sang and we’d have parties and jam together.” Her move to Montreal exposed her all the more to music. “I really fell in love with Montreal when I first moved here. I love how the music scene is so diverse.” But, as she began to piece together all these experiences and start recording, immense tragedy struck. “After I recorded the first song, ‘Jah Goddess,’ here in Montreal, my mom was murdered by her ex-boyfriend. My whole life changed. I went home in a flash, not knowing when I was coming back. I ended up staying a lot longer than I expected to. I started not focusing on the album so much as just trying to get through it. I played a lot of music and wrote a lot of music at that time. I decided to put some of the newer songs on the album.” Speaking to Auresia, it’s clear that her music has been instrumental in helping her to maintain hope. “I don’t want to make it the whole focus of my album, but I definitely want to acknowledge that it happened. It’s my story. It was so intense for me—all the songs I wrote in that year were all about my mom in some way. I know that some of the lyrics are pretty intense, but I feel like there is a positive outcome or vibe. I just hope that it might raise awareness and help other women that have gone through similar situations, through that hardship and injustice.” The self-titled album that has emerged is one that is resoundingly and determinedly hopeful. It’s emblematic of the restorative power of Jamaica’s most famous export. On “Jah Goddess,” listeners are asked to “give grace to Jah Goddess ’cause she doesn’t stop.” It would seem that Auresia just might be speaking of herself. CD LAUNCH AT CLUB LAMBI ON |
