• What is the story behind “K’eintah Natse Ju”?

“K’eintah Natse Ju” (pronounced Kay-tah Naht-say Joo) is a song I wrote for the project celebrating resilience of Indigenous northerners-Gho-Bah (first light of dawn). Natse Ju- healing, to heal. We are healing together. This song is about the legacy of colonization and its impact on our (Indigenous) family relationships- part of what happened in residential school was the dismantling of the Indigenous family structure. This was intentional- if you take away children from their families you deprive them of the love and cultural traditional values that growing up in a loving home gives to them. This song is about some of those relationships. Part of this was inspired by the tragic deaths of Colton Boushie and Tina Fontaine.

• How do you find inspiration? Is there a particular place or state of mind that gets the creativity flowing?

I am very impacted by my land and territory in Denendeh. Inspiration as we know is sometimes elusive, but I find that if I go outside and connect with my land I am able to feel that flow more freely. I also find reading to be very inspiring as well. I am an avid reader, I like mostly fiction, and sometimes when I finish a book I will find a story or phrase inspiring.

• What does your songwriting process look like? When songwriting, do you tend toward lyrics or music initially?

I normally write them both concurrently. Sometimes I will have a guitar lick in mind, or else a melody. Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night and record an idea into my voice memos so I don’t forget it, or pull off the highway to do that. Sometimes I write down a couple of lines that have come to me, or go back and read some of my writing or listen to song ideas I have recorded. I normally set aside specific time to write, because if I don’t then I can become overwhelmed with all the other tasks I need to do, and writing falls to the bottom of the list. I love writing residencies where I am inspired to put writing first, as I find a whole deluge of ideas come out ,as though they have been sitting somewhere patiently on a shelf watching me engage in my day-to-day life.

• What’s your favourite concert of all time?

Watching Emmy Lou Harris play the Ottawa Bluesfest from the side of the stage. Watching Buena Vista Social Club (when Ibrahim Ferrer was still alive) at Winnipeg FF main stage.

• What is you go-to karaoke song?

Living on a Prayer by  Bon Jovi ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!

Leela Gilday‘s new song, “K’eintah Natse Ju” hit the airwaves on Friday, May 3rd. Check it out below and tune in to hear it on ELMNT FM.

You can catch Leela in Ottawa at the NAC on May 4th, 2019 at Azrieli Studio.