From dance flooring to deep truths, LOV’s voice invitations listeners to lean in and really feel the which means behind each be aware. Premiering on Atwood Journal, her soulful anthem “Sister Period” celebrates womanhood, freedom, and the facility of letting go – rediscovering pleasure by yourself phrases.
Stream: “Sister Period” – LOV
I put plenty of love into my music in order that it looks like a heat hug, and I simply hope that the listeners hearken to the messages as a lot because the melodies.
* * *
It’s a great distance from Poundmaker Cree Nation in Saskatchewan to the streets of Camden, London, the place Amy Winehouse as soon as lived, however for LOV, music closed that distance.
When she first heard “Rehab” on the radio at age 11, one thing clicked. The voice was daring and messy and stuffed with fact… and in some way, it felt acquainted.
“I believed it was humorous how she was singing about rehab in such a spunky means,” LOV says. “As somebody who grew up with that language, seeing my household wrestle with issues like dependancy, I felt seen and heard in a means, understanding that different folks on this planet are speaking about issues that aren’t so good and really making some actually cool songs about it.”
That second stayed along with her. Years later, it might assist form the soulful, reflective sound she’s now making her personal: Music that speaks to the place she comes from, and the place she’s headed.
Her newest single, “Sister Period,” is a celebration of that journey: A monitor she describes as a dances between girlhood and womanhood, pleasure and launch, energy and softness.
Damaged concrete damaged ground
Don’t know ‘bout you however I want extra
I do know you had plans to remain in however
20 minute warning I’m at your door
Give your self a break
You been workin laborious
Come and really feel the glow
reside the second of your
Sister Period, Sister Period
“From a younger age, we’re taught to tackle a lot,” she says. “I wished to jot down one thing that reminded us it’s okay – even essential – to let unfastened generally.”
Raised in a comparatively small Indigenous neighborhood, the singer/songwriter is formed not simply by the place she comes from, however by who she comes from. Her roots run deep in her tradition and household, and the affect of the ladies in her life – particularly her Kokum (her grandmother) – continues to information her.
Yeah, we’re working laborious…
Come all people let’s transfer our our bodies
Yeah, we’re working laborious…
Come all people let’s transfer our our bodies
As a toddler in residential faculty, her grandmother wasn’t allowed to talk her language or totally be herself. Although she not often raised her voice, her presence was highly effective.
“She had this calm power,” LOV says. “I didn’t notice how fortunate I used to be, rising up round that, till I obtained older and understood all the things she’d been by way of.
“I usually consider her and the way she would have interpreted her granddaughter being on the radio, I think about her saying her well-known “wah hiy heee heee” (a Cree slang for “oh my goodness”). I wish to make her proud by showcasing this energy and resiliency that she had.”
Pent up purple pent up scene
Somebody’s obtained flashing lights on me
I do know we had plans to go residence however
20 extra minutes is all I want
Give your self a break
You been workin laborious
Come and really feel the glow
reside the second of your
Sister Period, Sister Period
That spirit lives in LOV’s sound. Her voice doesn’t have to be loud to go away a mark; it’s regular and certain – the sort that makes you lean in as a result of it carries extra than simply melody; it carries which means.
From “Mama” to “Matriarch” to “Sister Period,” her songwriting threads collectively generational knowledge to work laborious, to relaxation, to look after your self and your neighborhood.
And there’s loads extra forward. With a debut album on the best way this spring, an all-Cree single (“Maci Nimihtow”) coming quickly, and a fall tour within the works, there’s a lot to look ahead to from the rising artist.
Atwood Journal caught up with LOV to speak in regards to the energy of robust girls, discovering pleasure with out guilt, and the legacy of a grandmother whose quiet energy continues to echo by way of each tune.
Give your self a break
You been workin laborious
Come and really feel the glow
reside the second of your
Sister Period, Sister Period
— —
:: stream/buy Sister Period right here ::
:: join with LOV right here ::
— —
Stream: “Sister Period” – LOV
A CONVERSATION WITH LOV
Atwood Journal: Congrats on the brand new single! Are you able to inform me the story behind “Sister Period?”
LOV: Thanks a lot! “Sister Period” is a tune about girlhood assembly womanhood; it’s in regards to the initiation of younger girls expressing their mature facet and celebrating life by going out and having enjoyable, dancing, letting unfastened. I actually wished to create a tune that felt like my first time going out with the ladies, the place the one factor on the agenda is hanging out, dancing and having enjoyable. I believe from a younger age, girls are conditioned to tackle a lot accountability and it’s necessary to remind one another that it’s okay and really inspired to have an evening of enjoyable now and again.
You’ve written a few songs about robust girls (“Mama” and “Matriarch”). Who had been the robust girls who formed you, and the way do they present up in your music?
LOV: My Kokum (grandmother) was a residential faculty survivor; she was there from the ages of 6-14. I grew up along with her calm power, not realizing as a toddler how extraordinarily fortunate I used to be contemplating the quantity of trauma and loss she had skilled in these “boarding faculties.” I usually consider her and the way she would have interpreted her granddaughter being on the radio, I think about her saying her well-known “wah hiy heee heee” (a Cree slang for “oh my goodness”). I wish to make her proud by showcasing this energy and resiliency that she had, but additionally that so many extremely robust girls have everywhere in the world. Which is why I embrace plenty of solidified affirmations in my lyrics, “mama get to work” (“Mama”) and “Give your self a break, you’ve been working laborious” (“Sister Period”), are two opposing statements nonetheless, each wholesome reminders for ladies to observe their coronary heart work and nonetheless stay balanced by taking breaks.
What do you assume is your energy as an artist?
LOV: Songwriting – I’d must say my capacity to see the world in a optimistic lens, regardless of the issues I’ve skilled and what my folks have gone by way of. Perspective is all the things, and I make it my mission to steer my music with love and good intentions. Music has the facility to heal, and I acknowledged that from a younger age.
Perspective is all the things, and I make it my mission to steer my music with love and good intentions. Music has the facility to heal, and I acknowledged that from a younger age.
* * *
You describe your music as a mixture of resilience, rhythm and reinvention. (Love that!) What does that imply for you on a private degree? And what’s been the most important problem you’ve needed to overcome?
LOV: Being the mounted air signal that I’m (Aquarius), I’ve this deep want, or non-negotiable commonplace of doing issues in a means that feels genuine to me however can also be one thing that’s not being carried out on the similar time, so I really like mixing genres and getting tremendous artistic in the case of studio time.
The most important problem I’d say is being okay with being so uncovered as an artist, as somebody who grew up being a “closet” singer, I wrestle generally with the publicity.
You had been born in Saskatchewan. I’m from Winnipeg. These aren’t provinces I consider as hotbeds of UK-soul impressed music! How did you gravitate to this sound?
LOV: Working with Producer Connor Seidel actually impressed this sound to come back to life, nonetheless, my greatest influences rising up had been UK-based singers like Amy Winehouse and Adele, so I believe it simply got here naturally after we had been within the creating course of.
Do you bear in mind the primary time you heard a tune in that style and the way it made you’re feeling?
LOV: I bear in mind being possibly 11-12 years previous and listening to “Rehab” by Amy on the radio. I believed it was humorous how she was singing about rehab in such a spunky means. As somebody who grew up with that language, seeing my household wrestle with issues like dependancy, I felt seen and heard in a means, understanding that different folks on this planet are speaking about issues that aren’t so good and really making some actually cool songs about it. I’ve been a fan since.
When did you first notice music was your path?
LOV: My second month into tree planting (2023), I used to be working within the scorching solar and I believed to myself, “if I can do that extremely laboring and mentally draining job for 10 hours of the day, being away from my household, my consolation and my neighborhood, then I can do something and select one thing that makes me come alive.” I’ve been at it ever since. After tree planting, with no expertise I went busking to the west coast and sourced funds from grants and funders to get studio time. Quite a bit can occur in two years if you put your thoughts to it.
On one in every of your newest IG posts, you stated “only a rez lady dwelling her goals.” For individuals who don’t know or perceive rez life, how would you describe it?
LOV: Rez life looks like a paradox as a result of on the similar time that it’s residence, it governs these international ideologies that don’t serve my folks in a helpful means. I cherished being so near household, ceremonies and gatherings, nonetheless, there may be plenty of therapeutic that also must proceed and generally that signifies that the rez isn’t all the time the most secure or finest place to be for progress.
There’s obtained to be plenty of satisfaction in repping Treaty 6 territory, however most likely some strain too. How do you carry that as an artist? And what does that imply for you personally, particularly as your platform grows?
LOV: I really don’t really feel any strain doing so as a result of on the finish of the day, I’m simply an artist telling my story. I’m proudly from these lands and can carry that in all the things I select to do on this life and as my platform grows, I simply assume “now I’ve extra to provide.” Ultimately I see myself partaking in plenty of music applications that mix life expertise, well being and wellness and music into one. That shall be my means of giving again and in addition passing on the torch for the younger ones arising.
It looks like there’s energy and function behind your music. Do you’re feeling like that message is simply as necessary because the sound?
LOV: YES! 10,000 %, I believe the phrases we select to make use of and pay attention to hold a lot energy and affect on who we shall be and the way we’ll present up for ourselves. Talking good issues to your self is talking good issues out into the world, and if you do that you just create the potential of progress, evolution and peace.
What do you hope folks take away out of your music?
LOV: That life is easy and meant to be an expertise that we be taught from, that matriarchy brings peace to the world as a result of girls are highly effective healers, that Indigenous expertise is prehistoric and that it’s okay to really feel good with no need to sabotage that. I put plenty of love into my music in order that it looks like a heat hug, and I simply hope that the listeners hearken to the messages as a lot because the melodies.
What’s subsequent?
LOV: Album launch is arising subsequent spring! Which is so thrilling, I can not anticipate it to be out. I’ll have yet one more single earlier than than known as “Maci Nimihtow” which is an all Cree tune. I’ve a cute little tour in November, particulars are all on my web site.
Relating to music course, I actually wish to collaborate with some amazingly gifted Indigenous artists like Fawn Wooden and AntioneX and create one thing completely different! Hopefully all of it works out however till then I’ll be chillin’, making demos at residence and ready for my accomplice’s new present to come back out on Netflix known as The Abandons. I’m tremendous pleased with him and excited for the each of us!
— —
:: stream/buy Sister Period right here ::
:: join with LOV right here ::
— —
Stream: “Sister Period” – LOV
— — — —
Connect with LOV on
Fb, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram
Uncover new music on Atwood Journal
© courtesy of the artist
:: Stream LOV ::