MUSICalinspirations: Dressed in Black N Blue

Lance Kejick-Echum Contributor

My name is Lance Kejick-Echum, I am twenty-three year’s old and I am from Iskatewizaagegan Shoal Lake #39 Independent First Nation in Ontario. I am the lead singer in a band called “Dressed In Black N Blue”.

Recently I have been given a grant from The Ontario Arts Council to get a professional CD recorded, and I am currently working on getting it (the CD) released.

I went to high school and graduated from Beaver Brae Secondary School in Kenora, Ontario. I was greatly interested in Art while attending school, my favorite subject’s were English, Art, Drama and Music. My music teacher’s probably had the greatest influence on me during that time when I was just learning how to play instrument’s. One guitar teacher encouraged all of us who took the course “to practice, and only through practice would anyone ever get any better”. I once took a vocal class in grade 11 or 12 where I remember some advice our teacher “Ms. Mac” once told us at the start of the course, she said “You all can sing higher, you’re just not used of it yet” or something like that, but that advice encouraged me to test out that theory and I actually started trying harder to improve on singing.

I took a music class where I learned how to play the clarinet, but my interest was more about the big black grand piano the school had right in the music room, the music teacher “Mr. Scott” used to let me stay in the music room during lunch hour so I could play the piano as long as I wanted to, and I know I wouldn’t have gotten any better at it if it weren’t for him letting me play the piano and he was actually giving me time to focus on making my own music during school hours.

Last year I went to audition for the Canadian Idol, where I made it in playing my own material for the judge’s until I advanced to celebrity judge round. I decided to play my own material for the celebrity judges as well, only because I wanted to see if my music had the right stuff since they’re all professional’s in the music business and know what sounds good, after performing a song for them of my own… sure enough, they liked it. The celebrity judge’s encouraged me to pursue my own music career and get a CD recorded, after that I needed help… lots of help, funding wise.

I got in contact with a lady named Marilyn Macintosh who helped me apply for a grant from the Ontario Arts Council, later on I received the grant and if it wasn’t for the grant I wouldn’t have been able to get a CD professionally recorded. Someday I would hope to achieve some kind of music award, and I would also hope to make more fans for the music the band creates.

I have learned that it takes a lot of hard work, patience, practice and motivation to really get things done, and to never give up on whatever it is you would like to do with your life.

Usually if I’m having a bad day, or going through a rough time I usually tend to draw, listen to music or even write a song. It is just best to try and turn something bad into good, like the saying goes “turn that frown upside down”.

Today being apart of the seventh generation means being proud of who you are, and where you come from, as well as respecting our culture and looking forward to the future of our people and hopefully we can restore many teachings of the past.

My last words come from my cousin Blair whose one line from his graduation speech had an impact on me, it was kind of funny they way it was said actually but it stuck with me, he said “Pursue your dreams, if you have any”.

You can hear Dressed in Black N Blue at these sites
www.myspace.com/dressedinblacknblue
and
www.youtube.com/dibnb