ABOUT AQUA

Aqua is a solo artist and activist. As the creator, lead vocalist, and hand drummer for Red Rhythm & Blues, they’ve had the great fortune to work with incredibly gifted and diverse artists of all walks of life. Accompanied by award-winning Métis fiddler Alyssa Delbaere-Sawchuck and talented Queer guitarist and vocalist Valentina Morelli, this trio weaves the soothing sounds of strings and unforgettable harmonies into the universal language of love. Their music is rooted in Indigenous stories of resilience. As they take the stage, they educate and are a symbol of reconciliation on our shared lands. They invite the audience to engage in a meaningful way and create space for healing, including fancy shawl dancer Nichole Levek who illuminates the poetry within the songs. Their music is a beautiful blend of soul, blues, folk, woven with the deep resonance of the hand drum. Bringing together multiple traditions that span many generations.

Red Rhythm & Blues were so grateful to share Aqua’s tribute song, Come On Home, for the lost and stolen children, as well as the survivors of the Indian Residential School System at the Indigenous Legacy Gathering at Nathan Phillips Square. They have also performed for FabCollab’s Women In Song Summer Thunder, ANDPVA’s Red Revue, Native Earth’s 2Spirit Cabaret, Tkaronto’s 2Spirit PRIDE Festival, World Fusion Festival, and Vibrant Brampton’s South Asian Arts & Culture Festival since it’s inception. They were recently featured on Igal Hecht’s (YES TV) Path To Creation, where Aqua spoke of their inspiration to write about the most challenging experiences in their life. They generously share these stories with an open heart in hopes that people will not feel so alone when struggling on their journey. They are over the moon to be invited to perform at this year’s Alianait Arts Festival in Iqaluit, Nunavut, where they will join Inuk and diverse artists from around the world on the circumpolar stage.

Aqua not only creates music, they actively create spaces where artists can share their original works. They curated for the inaugural Tłabat'si Copper Box at the Confluence Concerts and showcased a plethora of LifeGiver talent. Aqua is a mentor to many up and coming Indigenous artists who they feel will change the world.

They have always lived by the belief that there is enough light for everyone to shine.

As a producer and recording artist, their journey began with their EP Spirit Music, and soon after with their debut solo album, Hand Drum Stories. They were grateful to have received funding from the Ontario Arts Council through the Music Recording Grant as the creative visionary for Red Rhythm & Blues’ debut album, ALIVE. Buffy Saint-Marie listened to ALIVE and said, “Aqua’s music is great! I have Burry Me Deep & Come On Home on heavy rotation. Amazing!”

Aqua is a storyteller at their core.

This is apparent when they are leading and teaching in circle and ceremony, as well as when they step on stage. They have toured western Canada on a speaking tour sharing the power of storytelling and empowered youth to reach for the stars and believe in their dreams. Aqua has worked with all the school boards in Tkaronto (public/private/catholic) and has had the great honour of working with tens of thousands of youth across the globe through Indigenous workshops that they have created and developed for our next generation of leaders. As a community member and arts worker, they have been fortunate to partner with many Indigenous and non-Indigenous non-profit organizations in Tkaronto and have lead thousands of circles that included the medicine of the hand drum, ceremony, and traditional Anishinaabe teachings that was passed to them from their teachers. They are rooted in their Anishinaabe heritage (Bear Island) and proudly identify as a mixed ancestry being; embodying all the beauty of Ojibwe, Irish, and French bloodlines. 

Aqua is currently writing their first play Water Hunters which they were graciously awarded the 40 Seeds grant from Native Earth Performing Arts, who have been long time collaborators of this ever growing artist. Aqua was honoured when they shared original music they created in the studio for the Earth To Sky documentary, which won Best Music Score and Best Sound at the Motion Pictures International Film Festival in Nairobi, Kenya, and Nigeria. They also composed all but one of the original melodies for the Good Medicine album to aid in beings transitioning from the physical world to the spirit world with the help of the Room 217 Foundation. This has been a large part of their inspiration to create medicine music; to heal and feel good. 

In essence, Aqua has taken her soul music made of magic and shared it with the world.