Toronto-based singer/musician Jeremy Dutcher is coming to town this month, and he’s bringing with him his music’s themes of Indigenous identity, our relationship to our surrounding world, and our connection to each other.
“Because I sing in Wolastoq language, my Indigenous language, the themes are definitely exploring identity through language and also our relationship to man,” says Dutcher. “Because a lot of the music I sing is based on traditional music, a lot of it talks about the natural world and our relationship to it, so a lot of the songs I sing are about the sacredness of water or our relationship to the trees or our connection to each other, and what’s important is how we treat each other.”
Dutcher says that when he makes music it also makes him feel a sense of connection to his ancestors and those that taught him to make music.
“When I make music, I feel like I am connected into spirituality and my ancestors,” he says. “So, it’s a very special thing to make music and it’s the most beautiful gift in the world, and I have been so well guided in my life, I mean from teachers and people who have guided me to make music in this way.”
Dutcher says that making music is very personal for him.
“For me, music is the air I breathe,” he says. “It’s everything to do with my life. It’s my job and my deepest pleasure and something that I get to do with my friends… I have been making music since I was a very little kid, so it’s been a big part of my life. And, yeah, I feel very lucky that I get to share it for a living.”
Dutcher’s appearance in Victoria is part of a BC-wide tour.
“I’m going to be coming to Victoria in September, and I am doing a series of shows all throughout British Columbia,” he says. “So, I will be playing in Nelson and Nanaimo and Victoria… I’m going to be coming with my full band, so I am really looking forward to it.”
Dutcher says that what he hopes to do with his concerts is to provide his audience with a good musical experience.
“My audience can expect to have a good time and, hopefully, feel the power of music and language, and to just come and witness how beautiful Indigenous people are and how diverse our songs are.”
Jeremy Dutcher
7 pm Friday, September 9
$30 and up,
Farquhar Auditorium, UVic
uvic.ca/farquhar