iskwē Talks About Indigenous Representation In Music And New Collab Single ‘Get High’

She is a music artist you need to know!

With over 1 Million streams on her music, on just Spotify alone, iskwē is a star in the making! And now, she’s back with a new single ‘Get High’, with Nina Hagen.

We had the amazing honor of talking with iskwē about her growth as an artist, Systema Solar, and more!

When did you first realize that you wanted to pursue a career in music?

i: “When I was around 21 years old. I had grown up with ballet and contemporary dance as my first love, but never even imagined that my love for singing could one day be a career. It finally took Canadian Idol (our version of American Idol) arriving in Canada for the first time to get me to audition, and even though I totally bombed, I realized that I absolutely LOVED being on stage and using my voice. I never looked back!”

Tell us more about your amazing new single “I Get High.”

i: “I grew up smoking weed, listening to Nina Hagen, and singing loudly when I knew no one was listening; always self-conscious, always self-aware. This piece was written in response to a painful experience of mine, where I wanted to remind people of the power of love and the importance of supporting each other in this lifetime, rather than trying to cancel each other out. I realized it was finally time to let go of worrying about what people thought of me and my art. As the legendary Peter Tosh sings, “I am who I am who I am.” This song is a call-out for us to hold each other up as we attain our many successes in life, knowing there is room for us all to win. And while we’re at it, let’s exhale and get high!”

If you had to choose, what has been your favorite song you have released and why?

i: “Oh, that’s a difficult question! Each record has tunes that I’m really proud of, usually because of what they stand for, and to be honest the same applies to my latest release, “I Get High.” This song is about release, it’s about letting go and loving the ones around you. It’s been a wonderful feeling to release new music after a bit of a hiatus, made even better by the fact that the song is about letting go of things that have hurt me, all the while inviting others to join me in the high of letting go.”

How do you think you have grown both as an artist and as a person since your debut?

i: “Well, considering I started my music career over 20 years ago now, I’d need to write you a novel to answer this! Growth has been the theme every single year over the years, in the ways I express through my art to how I process the lessons I’ve been offered in this lifetime so far. I’ve lived around the world, I’ve toured all over as well, and I’m grateful for all the experiences this has brought me, both in my soul and in my art.”

How important do you think indigenous representation is in the music industry?

i: “It’s very important as it helps to promote our stories, perspectives, and experiences with broader audiences. As indigenous people, we are also a part of mainstream society and in order for humans to better understand each other and all the beautiful ways we share similarities or differences, we need to know the other exists from their own voice, not based on what someone else has told us.”

If you could collab on a song with any artist, who would you choose and why?

i: “In this very moment, I would absolutely say Systema Solar! They are an incredible soundsystem from Colombia and I absolutely admire their ability to champion causes and important social conversations all while getting people moving on the dancefloor.”

You have over 1 Million streams on Spotify! Is there anything you want to say to your fans?

i: “Yuhuuuuuu!! THANK YOU for being a part of this journey with me! I only hope we continue to share our love of music and art together.”

Where can we follow your amazing journey?

i: “I spend most of my time on Instagram, so come find me at @iskwe. I’m also on all the music platforms, etc, but if you want the realest side of me, IG is where it’s at!”

Stream ‘Get High’, available now on all music platforms!

Photo Credit: Lili Peper

Je’Kayla Crawford– Founder and Director– Je’Kayla has been a journalist for years and decided to start a publication of her own, New Scene. When not helping her team and working on the monthly issues, you can find her watching a movie on Netflix or baking using a viral Tasty recipe.