Raven Reid was born in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, raised Prince Albert, Saskatchewan as part of the Canadian government's "Sixties Scoop" that took Indigenous children from their birth parents and placed them in the child welfare system, and is now based in Saskatoon. Her latest single, "A Johnny Cash Night," is a rollicking country meets singer-songwriter style song. Musically, it's upbeat and cheery, and namechecks other famous country musicians, along with references to drinking and fighting. Seems like your typical alt-country tribute to the legends of the past, until you understand the backstory.
Raven Reid says of her latest single:
“That song was written in the heart of Saskatoon’s dark, dark ‘hood,” she says. “One night I heard gunshots and then a thud followed by running footsteps. Then an ambulance came and took away the body of an Indigenous woman, who I found out later had died. It made me think, this place is crazy but not as crazy as growing up in Prince Albert, where alcohol wreaked havoc on our lives. Listening to Johnny Cash was one of the things that got me through it. He had a hard start to life with addiction and I could relate to that.”
You can listen to "A Johnny Cash Night" below. Waiting for Change is due out October 11 on Merilainen Music. For more on Raven Reid, check out the artist's website.
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