The North Sound, a Saskatoon based duo featuring multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter Forrest Eaglespeaker and life partner Nevada Freistadt (who provides the crisp vocal harmonies) is our NSMZ Duo/Group of the Year recipients for 2020. Since releasing their sophomore outing As the Stars Explode this past October, Eaglespeaker and Freistadt have shot to the top of the Indigenous Music Countdown on three separate occasions. Eaglespeaker has also been a guest on CBC Radio's "Q" program with Tom Power. They were signed to Crystal Shawanda's record label in September which will no doubt continue to garner them street cred through 2021.
“I think the most important thing for me with music has always been the actual words and the message,” said Eaglespeaker in our November issue of NSMZ.
The autobiographical nature of Eaglespeaker's lyrics are what draws listeners into many of The North Sound's songs. On As the Stars Explode, Eaglspeaker speaks from places of pain, realization, and healing. Written before, during and after Eaglespeaker's road to sobriety, the record shines a light on topics not often dealt with in the country/roots circles. With album sonics that tip their cap to many classic roots acts like Jackson Browne, Steve Earle, The Allman Brothers and Crosby Stills Nash & Young, Eaglespeaker has found a formula for success that will hopefully continue to take him far.
“At the end of the day a big reason why I'm doing this now is to create opportunity for not only my children but for other indigenous children as well. Where I come from and where I was raised there was nobody doing what I guess essentially I’m doing now. There was a huge lack of representation and that was difficult for me. So I’m wanting to create something and do something with my life where it is about my future. Because I’m going to get where I’m going to get. I don’t know what that looks like or where it’s going to end up but what I do know is that I’m never going to stop pushing and moving forward and chasing my dreams because that confidence in the next generation and my children is way more important to me than that,” said Eaglespeaker.
Congrats to Freistadt and Eaglespeaker on being our inaugural duo/group of the year!
Our review of As the Stars Explode:
Scott's Article on The North Sound in our November issue:
