The song is new, it signals the coming of a new album, and it calls out to put our collective thoughts to the Highway Of Tears once and for all.
Kym Gouchie will hold a celebration Wednesday night for her new single In The Hearts of You & Me, a song that draws a rich purple tone across cello strings as it opens, then gives way to the poetry and drive of Gouchie's ringing voice as she tells the simple story of a woman who stuck out her thumb for a ride and was never seen or heard from again.
"It is about the Highway of Tears, it is about right here," Gouchie said.
The message of this one song is indicative of the messages that always accompany a Kym Gouchie track. She takes her life's lessons seriously, and considers them gifts she is compelled to share. In The Hearts of You & Me carries that weight, but she doesn't swing it like a hammer. The same could be said for her compositions looking at residential schools, domestic abuse, the simple being of aboriginal descent in a colonial society, and all the other issues that come to her in song because they come to her in life.
"Whenever I am performing and I see people crying in the audience, or when people come up to me to talk about how something I sang moved them somehow, that's when I know for sure I am a messenger," said Gouchie. "I take care of myself, I try to live a healthy life and make good life decisions so I can do this work, because it opens up a lot of doors, a lot of subject matter, that people don't want to talk about. I'm not here to sing happy sunshiny ditties. There is happiness in my songs, the message is always positive, but I'm here to tell stories, I'm here to talk about real topics, using my music."
This authenticity, and her well honed talent (she is a member of a Lheidli T'enneh First Nation family famous for their music. Her brothers Buddy and Mike are also accomplished singer-songwriters) caught the attention of some angel investors. Dean and Diane Ravelli saw her perform in concert and were so impressed, the brother-sister investors became the sponsors of her next album. That album is being recorded now with a fall release as her target.
The recording process is being done with acclaimed sound engineer Thurein Myint at the controls, in his analog studio in Summerland. In The Hearts of You & Me is the first one completed, and it is already getting radio and download action despite being released to the world only recently.
Gouchie will perform the song, give a sneak peek of the upcoming album, and bring in some of her past favourites at a concert on Thursday night at Knox United Church. The church self-sponsored the event, along with UNBC's campus station CFUR, Gouchie herself who is donating most of the proceeds to the Highway Of Tears Initiative, and a grant from the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation.
The master of ceremonies at the concert will be Highway Of Tears co-ordinator Brenda Wilson, sister of one of the victims of the highway's tragic history, Ramona Wilson. In honour of her sister, and all the other women who have gone missing or been confirmed murdered over the years, Wilson held a walk from Prince Rupert to Prince George and Gouchie, without knowing her, volunteered to walk some of the distance on that journey.
"A drum song came to me on that walk, and I will be performing it on Thursday with the Khast'an Drummers. Brenda Wilson also helped contribute some of the words to the song, so she will be there too," Gouchie said.
Other performers on stage sharing the artistry of the evening will be singer/rapper Tessa Fraser and singer-songwriter Julia Young.
"I saw Tessa perform at Aboriginal Day and she blew me away," Gouchie said. "She has such an energy. She's not only beautiful, but captivating. She has this powerful presence and you can't take your eyes off her. So I hope this is the beginning of something; I want to work on songs with her."
Young is the daughter of a dear friend Gouchie recently lost to cancer. She pledged to help the aspiring 15-year-old.
"Music for me has been healing and I strongly feel it will play a big role in Julia's life," she said. "I was a pretty lost teenager myself, I didn't know how to find help or what help even looked like, so now I want to take Julia under my musical wing."
Food and refreshments are served at 6 p.m., the music begins at 7 p.m. tomorrow night at the historic church hall at 1448 Fifth Ave. "There's not a bad seat in the house and the acoustics are amazing," Gouchie said.
Tickets are available in advance from Angelique's Native Arts (335 Dominion Street) and Carrier Sekani Family Services (987 Fourth Ave), or at the door while supplies last. Prices are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.
