Oshki Negamowina Showcase

photos submitted by Jamie Corston From top to bottom: Adrienne Sutherland of Attawapiskat and Chris Sutherland of Moosonee perform for the crowd, Kris Turner of Moose Factory, Dawn Scott of Fort Albany,  John Kapashesit of Moosonee with band.

Music.

It reverberated through his house for as long as he could remember. It has become an integral part of his identity.

“My father is in one of the longest running bands here in Moose Factory: The Smalls, and that influenced me a lot,” said Jon Kapasheshit, a youth musician who recently performed at Oshki Negamowina (New Songs) Showcase 2009, an event meant to showcase existing and up and coming Aboriginal youth artists from northeastern Ontario. “He always played guitar as he watched TV, jamming out to CCR, Rolling Stones, Johnny Cash, and a whole lot more.”

As a matter of fact, music runs in Kapasheshit’s family.

“I have uncles and cousins who have played music so it has come quite naturally to me.”

Kapasheshit’s solo music creations usually fall under modern rock and alternative genres with hints of folk.

“The folk probably comes from the music my dad played over the years,” Kapasheshit said, adding he’s very drawn to rock and acoustic elements with very catchy tunes. “My iPod is filled with David Bowie, the Beatles, Queen, Bob Dylan as well as modern artists such as Arcade Fire, Metric, Cold Play, The Killers, Radiohead, so my music tends to mix through influences.”

Kapasheshit is also in a band.

“I have a band that writes original music that also shares the same sound except my band ‘The August’ tends to steer more into the rock scene,” Kapasheshit said. “We’ve been writing new material for a good three years now and have a lot of unreleased songs under our belt, but it’s all just a work-in-progress in what we feel best represents us.”

Kapasheshit says his solo act is a way to express music in different ways with calmer, mellower songs.

“I have a solo EP in mind sometime in the future.”

And it was with celebration of music in mind that Kapasheshit went to Oshki Negamowina (New Songs) Showcase 2009, which was held at Ecole Secondaire Theriault in Timmins on Dec. 18 and 19, said event organizer Victor Linklater.

“Many audience members were so impressed by the sheer talent that James Bay has to offer with this first event,” he said, adding that Kapasheshit performed alongside other talent including the likes of Marilyn McLeod; Kris Turner; Dawn Scott; High Ridge Singers Caleb Turner and Brennan Govendor; Adrian Sutherland; Karen Sutherland; Andrea Jolly; Nicole Corston; and Chris Sutherland.

“There were all kinds of genres represented at the shows from hip-hop and country to rock and roll and pow wow,” Linklater said. “All the songs and artists stood out on their own merit because they had different vocals, unique personal styles and differing messages.”

Linklater noted that the talent are young.

“And for their age, they certainly showed how professional they were… and the way they carried themselves, with stage presence and charisma, I think the youth deserve to be given a leg up by older folks like myself stepping up to lend that extra hand on the music scene. Once they see that done on a consistent basis, they will always have something positive to get excited about and to work towards, and to see it as a beacon of upbeat encouragement to push themselves to create and write good songs.”

Linklater also said the event’s organizers – Moose River Broadcasting Association – intends to make Oshkinegamowina Showcase a bi-annual event.

“Unofficially, the next ON event will be in December 2011, so word to all those talented and aspiring singers out there – you have one year to get ready and get those songs of yours written, completed and ready to go!” said Linklater.

In the meantime, he also said Moose River Broadcasting Association has recorded this past year’s event on a digital 24 track mobile unit with plans of cutting a live CD that contains the event’s performances.

“The live CD, if funded, will be available by the spring of 2010 possibly between March and early May,” Linklater said, adding he would also like any youth artists, aged 16-30, who have original songs and want more information on being slotted to perform during the ON 2011 showcase, they can email him at vlinklater@gmail.com.