We contacted Laura Vinson, a roots musician who features songs about history, heroes, culture and issues of aboriginal people, the fur trade and the Mountain Metis life style, about being this month's featured artist. Her response was so fabulous that we wanted to share her words directly with you.
LAURA: "I have been creating music for over 30 years, starting with a focus on Country music, evolving into the folk and roots music in the last 20 years.
I realized that the mainstream society and many aboriginal people, especially the youth, were not aware of aboriginal culture, history, and the issues that have brought us to this place in time. There are many misunderstandings that are not helping our people to realize their potential in current society and I hope to address this through my music and performances.
I encourage everyone to learn music. It is essencial to our make up as human beings and the mainstream culture inhibits this to a degree. It is a very satisfying means of expression, even at the amateur level. As far as considering it as a career, I always say: "Unless you love music more than anything else in your life don't get into the business".
My ideas come from so many places like newspaper articles, old stories, cultural teachings, requests for songs to be written for venues like documentaries and other personal life experiences. As a song writer I am always hearing things in the form of a song title or hook. I am a lyricist so usually the words come first then the melody. I often collaborate with my husband and other members of our group to compose."
Laura's DVD 'The Spirit Sings: Live in Europe' DVD is available to purchase in the Galloway Station Museum gift shop. You can also go to her website, www.lauravinson.com, for more information on her work.
