 Tusaayaksat Article, May/June Issue 2007.pdf (click to veiw) Dez Loreen Northern News Services Friday, February 9, 2007 INUVIK - A song that Leanne Goose and Laurie MacNabb wrote last year has found its way onto radio waves across Canada. "'Anywhere' was recorded in May 2006," said Goose. "Laurie MacNabb wrote this song for me after a conversation we had. For me, the song is about feeling isolated, stressed and wanting to get out and live life." The song was first heard in Inuvik, then was submitted to southern radio stations. "Anywhere" was released in August 2006 to Aboriginal Radio Network stations CKLB FM in the NWT, CHON FM in the Yukon, and NCI FM in Manitoba. "I chose to focus on Aboriginal Radio Networks first, since they have a large broadcasting area and work hard to promote aboriginal artists," said Goose. Goose said the song is relevant to her life and the feelings that many people share. "The feedback I've received from others about the song is similar and that's what I love about it," she said. "The message is universal and to each person the sentiment is unique to their lives." Goose said the demand for a sampling of her new album was requested by friends in town at first. "I have received a lot of support and people continue to ask 'When is your CD coming out, can we hear some of your songs?'" said Goose. The track was unleashed upon unsuspecting listeners in Inuvik to test their reaction. "I chose to release this track to give a taste of what is to come," said Goose. "We also have tracks being played on independent radio stations in the U.S. and Canada." Goose said she is grateful for being on the charts and she couldn't have done it without the support from tune-playing disc jockeys. "When I heard that I had entered the charts, I was taken by surprise," said Goose. The remote location of Inuvik has been a factor holding her back from a mainstream audience across Canada. "It is the fact that our location in the world is remote," she said. "If it wasn't for the Internet, I often wonder how we would ever get our music out to the people. I have to give so much credit to CKLB, CHON and NCI for standing behind aboriginal artists." Leanne Goose and Laurie MacNabb are online and on the radio with their new single "Anywhere." The track debuted on an online radio site and has been climbing the charts because of votes cast by listeners. Goose is currently in Yellowknife and will play a few shows in Tulita next week. - Dez Loreen/NNSL photo ~~~~~ Goose earns arts grant Jason Unrau Northern News Services Yellowknife (Aug 29/05) Thanks to a $6,500 NWT Arts Council grant, Inuvik singer/songwriter Leanne Goose is on the way to cutting her first demo with her band Snowblind. "My goal is to get steady work in music," Goose said. Her love of performing began at the age of 12 when she sang Blue Moon of Kentucky from the back of a flatbed truck during Inuvik's Midnight Madness festivities. Since then, the 30-year-old has continued singing, occasionally with her father's band. Dad is Louie Goose, who is well known in the music business around the Delta. "I still have so much to learn from my dad, he's an excellent showman" she said. Leanne Goose's musical influences include the likes of Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin, two female rockers with amazing pipes. The other members of Snowblind are Whitehorse musicians Rob Hunter on guitar and Alex MacKay on bass, and Inuvik's Ryan Chalupa on drums. The band recently opened for Canadian glam rockers Sweeney Todd, of Roxy Roller song fame, at the Farrago Music Festival in the Yukon and performed at the End of the Road Music Festival in Inuvik. ~~~ Goose goes for her dream Jason Unrau Northern News Services Inuvik (Aug 19/05) Like the lyrics sung by one of her favourite bands, AC/DC, singer/songwriter Leanne Goose knows it's a long way to the top if she wants to rock 'n' roll, but with a $6,500 NWT Arts Council grant, she's a lot closer to her dream. "My goal is to get steady work in music," said the oldest daughter of Louie Goose, already a household name in the music business around the Delta. Leanne's love of performing began at the age of 12 when she sang Blue Moon of Kentucky from the back of a flatbed truck during Inuvik's Midnight Madness festivities. Since then, the 30-year-old, who is a member of the band Snowblind, has continued singing and occasionally lends her powerful voice to her father's band. "I still have so much to learn from my dad. He's an excellent showman" she said. Not surprisingly, Goose's other influences include the likes of Stevie Nicks and Janis Joplin, both female rockers with amazing pipes. "There's so much feeling in their delivery and their ability to control the power in their voices," said Goose, adding that their technique is something she'd like to emulate. "It's one thing to deliver a song well, it's another thing to be able to take the audience to another place." At the moment, Goose is collaborating with Inuvik guitarist Laurie MacNabb on material for Snowblind's upcoming demo. The other members of the band are Whitehorse musicians Rob Hunter on guitar, Alex MacKay on bass and Inuvik's Ryan Chalupa on drums. Snowblind played recently at the Farrago Music Festival in the Yukon - opening for Canadian '70s glam rockers Sweeney Todd of Roxy Roller song fame. Inuvik will get its first taste of the band at the upcoming End Of The Road Music Festival, Aug. 26-28. "We're going to hit them with some of our original material then," said Goose. "And we're looking forward to seeing the reaction." When asked to describe Snowblind's sound, Goose had this to say. "It's a flavour of the Delta, some ballads, mixed with kick-ass dance songs," she said, taking a look around the Mad Trapper Pub where she has performed on numerous occasions. "It's Trapper music, you know, a little country and a little rock 'n' roll." |
 The Scoop on Whats New I am Leanne Goose-Arctic Rocker, business woman and emerging singer/song-writer. These are the goals I am working to accomplish. 1. Promote my music around the world using the internet, media and digital distribution. 2. Build my technical skills in voice and music so that I can ‘hold’ my own with world class musicians. 3. Create my music business to ensure longevity, support myself and my music by creating multiple revenue streams; music sales, merchandise, workshops, teaching, grant writing, radio tracking, photography and online marketing assistance. 4. Learn to write songs that connect with my audience. 5. Play an instrument(s) piano, guitar. 6. Learn to take care of myself as a creative spirit. I was at home in Inuvik, playing my guitar until my fingers ached. Playing simple chord patterns, experimenting with sounds, create melodies and find rhythms to match. I was ecstatic when I found out that I been awarded grants from the Canada Council for the Arts, NWT Arts Council & Yellowknife Community Fund for my proposal, "Musical Education in a Non-Conventional Form Through Mentorship & Collaboration." I now have access to funds for professional music teachers, provide a gratuity to learn from other musicians and have time to write songs, learning from the pros so I can become a working musician and eventually teach someone else. I prepared to leave for new and wondrous experiences. I was and still am little anxious about leaving the comforts of my community. However, when I think about it....it is what I'd wished for. I have worked hard to come this far. I know that I am on the path to something bigger. I want more then just to sing in a bar and believe me I’ve done that for far too long. I want to play the world, sing, write songs, and make a sustainable living by utilizing skills I am learning. Truly live by my craft. It still feels unreal; all the things I’ve wanted to do for years are coming to pass. I have had the privilege to record an album of songs and do what I love… sing. Now I am living it. I write, work, perform and travel with extraordinary people. Rayne DeLaronde, Tracy Bone, Dj St.Germain, Glory St.Germain, Ray St.Germain, Karris Weibe, Lorilee Votiberg, Alicija Seaborn, Sal Ferraras, Jared Sowan. The funding for this project has led me to new and exciting ventures with other musicians, music promotion companies and helped to reveal opportunities allowing me to demonstrate my skill, and commitment to the craft of making, promoting and living by music. I come from a musical family and it is in my blood, it is who I am and where I come from. My father has been a tremendous motivator and biggest influence in my life. Over the last few years I have been honored by friendships and teachings with my fellow musicians. I have accepted that in order to be me I have to be on a stage, I have to sing, and learn as much as I can about living by my creation. An artist. It is hard work. It takes a lot of time and effort to sit and focus on the business aspect of my life’s passion. I had to ask myself some pretty tough questions and think about how I was going to relate my soul to a group of folks who may have never heard me or seen me sing and don’t know me. It took time to research, ask questions from other musicians, technicians and read the trade books. I realized that this was more then just the music and the sound of my voice. I had to prepare myself for the hard work and dedication to making a name for myself as a business woman in a non aboriginal male dominated industry. I had to feel all the fear, anxiety and joy of just letting go of my self-consciousness and do it. This year has been an amazing time for me on all levels. It all began in 2006 with a high level of anxiety. I embarked on my first my CD recording project. I had just been accepted to the Aboriginal Music Program (AMP) Camp. For me, it opened my eyes to the many possibilities for my music and my own strength to pursue my musical goals. I was in the company of real people, real musicians - my cousins. I was blown away time after time by their brilliance, kindness and generosity. Their songs and stories still burn through my mind. It was very hard to go home, to say, “see ya’ around”. I was lucky to have made life long friends at AMP Camp. I went to Winnipeg and felt like I was with family, a very talented family. I was taken under the wing of Rayne DeLaronde, an award winning songstress from Manitoba. She’s put me on stages around the city and gave me a chance to show my stuff. The idea of mentoring and collaboration came from AMP Camp experience and I went back home craving more. So I have been working toward this ever since. I began researching music lessons, schools, mentoring opportunities in February of 2007. I relocated for a short time to Winnipeg from May and June of 2007. I began Voice, Ear Training, Music Theory & Composition at the University of Manitoba, Faculty of Music - Div. of Preparatory Studies, in addition to working with Dj St.Germain and my song circle. It is a very different and empowering experience to learn to speak the language of a musician rather then just to go by feel. I have a long way to go yet, but my determination keeps me focused. I jumped right in and got dirty. I made my attempt for the first time ever at MC'ing for Tracy Bone’s album fundraiser. Funny this was for the first time I was lost for words! Can you believe that? The performances were killer; Rayne DeLaronde, Eagle & Hawk, JC Campbell, Tracy of course and jammed with my friends. What a night! Rayne has been nothing short of an amazing friend. Together we have jammed with Jay Ross, JJ Lavallee, Darren Lavallee, Billy Joe Green, Highway 373, members of Canadian classic rockers Streetheart. WHAT A CREW of talent! Rayne and I also performed for the Canadian Native Fastball Championships. I have opened for Kimberly Dawn at the Southern Chiefs of Manitoba gathering. I have worked independently as well at other small events around Winnipeg and continue to work on future engagements. I continue to jam everywhere and getting very good feedback. I can’t believe it sometimes. People are very enthusiastic and keep singing praises over my voice. It is a work in progress and I still have a lot to learn. My song ANYWHERE was selected to be on the NCIfm compilation CD after it hit number 1, thanks to fan based support. The compilation features artists such as Tracy Bone, Gerry McIvor, Art Napoleon, Leela Gilday, Steven Kakfwi and many favorites from the National Aboriginal Top 30. My lessons are going well and I am learning a lot and having to let go of bad habits. My sister in spirit Rayne has helped me a lot. I am finding an inner calm and learning more about accepting myself as a creative spirit. This is something new and I am thankful for good friends. The vocal lessons are interesting and you may notice the difference in my evolving style. I have finally found my place. As for the music theory, ear training and composition (song-writing), it's tough but I love, love, love it. I am learning to read music, charting and time signatures. This will help me when I am working with new musicians on original material. I was featured in a full length episode of Suuangan in October 2007 on APTN, a 1/2hr show focusing on the Inuvialuit settlement region. There is live performance footage from the End of the Road Music festival. You will see for the first time EVER, my band and I performing our original songs. The Inuvialuit Communications Society also has a magazine Tusaayaksat; there is a two page article in the spring 2007 edition. I continue to be featured in local media publications and this helps prepare me for larger media outlets. SUMMER 2007, I was an integral part of production of our community music festival. For the first time ever - my band rocked the Midnight Sun Arena with our original songs from the upcoming album. I was so very proud to have played my songs at home to my people first, before releasing them to the world. I was proud of the skills I have learned and put to use to assist in making our festival the biggest, best attend and most profitable in years. Vancouver & Aboriginal Music Lab (AML) - What a ride that was!!! I met with wickedly talented rising stars for a week of intense instruction. I am not traditional in my music. Themes in my songs reflect the life I lead and I think the sentiments are true in any setting. I met William ‘Wah’ Wasden and he spoke about the teachings of his people and how he became a song keeper. In his culture the Song Keepers are entrusted to create and pass down the songs, stories, and the teachings of the generations. They are keepers of history, past and present for the people to share. This lesson has helped me not be so shy about sharing my new works. Speaking of sharing...I made a guest appearance with the Honorable Billy Joe Green at the Yale with Jared Sowan. The whole Vancouver experience was amazing and led to other good things. The environment was conducive to creativity. I wrote a song there and performed at the showcase night, three days after I had written it. I was invited by songstress extraordinaire –Sherry St.Germain, to visit top notch studio - the 'Greenhouse'. This place has had many Canadian greats lay down their hits and it was surreal to be just sitting there and look at the hundreds of gold and platinum albums lining the walls. She heard the song I wrote while in Vancouver and asked me to record it right then and there. I love my life!! Just before I was slated to leave Vancouver, Marty Ballentyne asked me to record a song for songwriter Marq DeSousa whom he was producing demos for to shop out to publishing companies. January 2008. I made the complete move from Inuvik. I had put feelers out in Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto and Winnipeg kept calling. I leave my self open to every opportunity there is out there to learn from as many talented people as I can. One thing I have learned is that when you surround yourself with successful people who are gifted in their crafts you become the average of those successes. This concept hadn’t crossed my mind until meeting Glory and Ray St.Germain. I will refresh your memory and tell you about some of their accomplishments. Ray is a Canadian Country Music Hall of Famer and has 52 years as an entertainer under his belt. He is a singer/songwriter, author, hosted hundreds of television shows, played his music all over the world, a radio personality, and amazing father to 5 children. Glory St.Germain has produced countless television shows, produced and promoted hundreds of live concerts, managed music, media and the marketing business for the many St.Germain business ventures. This dynamic woman has earned respect in the industry for being a go-getter. She is manager/agent in addition to shaping not only Ray's career but that of their incredibly talented children as well. She is an accomplished accredited piano teacher, currently writing a series of books on music theory, an inventor, and there isn’t anything she can't do. I have remarkable people to work with, learn from and have the opportunity to use my skills. Ray and I spend hours working my vocal ability, talking about the music business and what it means to truly be a world class entertainer. In the short time that we have been working together I have discovered new qualities in my voice. I am open to experimentation within songs and using my new breathing techniques. Ray can belt out a tune and hit notes with the same grace as he did in his early years entertaining. I am pushed to use his practical/tactical breathing to create life within a song. I was a hard core power house and my old frame of thinking about singing was 'harder, louder’. I can not put a value on the conversations and stories of his career and life experiences. I sit and listen in awe and marvel at the life I can now see for myself. He is patient and his sense of humor takes the edge off during sometimes challenging lessons. I am living with my good friends Tracy Bone and JC Campbell. They are song-writers, performers and valued friends. They have 5 kids between them and I like having a family to be around. I don’t feel as lonely as I did the first time I was here living alone. They are teaching me a lot about balancing family, career and making time to love. They are on the rise upward in their careers and I am lucky to have them to learn by. Our song-writing sessions are intense conversations about life experiences and how to relate our sentiments trying different formulas and strategies. The Video - I strutted into Winnipeg Jan 28th and it has been non-stop since then. I was at an open mic charity event and just stepped off the stage when my friend, Reil Munro comes over to say hello and give me a big bear hug. He and his lady were there cheering on the talent and heard me belting out a tune. He says,” Are you here in town for a bit, want to shoot your video on Sunday?” I had been in the city all of 4 days! So Sunday February 3rd, we went down by the Red River nature trails with his crew and began filming. I was nervous, but I reminded myself that this is what I asked for and it is coming true right now, so suck it up and do as you’re told. I listened to everything Reil said I needed to do to make the video work out to his grand design. My only problem was that the scene called for me to kiss and make out with the actor, Tim Kirlucke. I had to keep telling myself that this is acting so I could make the video seam real. After a pep talk and lots of breath mints it was on. Tim was nice and helped to calm my nerves by telling me stories about working with Limp Bizkit, Rene Zellwegger and other fine actors. Tim was very nice and polite, and like a pro, he did his job. Reil and his crew are the best around and I feel so fortunate that he made this video a reality for me. I learned that sometimes you have to let go of yourself to really be living your art. Mr. Munro is a stand up guy. Not many people in this business of entertainment actually do what they say they will and he came through ten times over with his talent, skill and friendship. It pays to be nice to random strangers, because you just never know the opportunities they may bring into your life. I can say know that I am a piano player. I didn’t say that I was good at it yet, but I am playing. I feel so lucky to have the St.Germain’s in my life. In the hours that I spend visiting and listening to their stories, I have learned so much about practice and persistence needed to have longevity as an entertainer. All I can say is that everyday with them brings something new and I am pushing myself harder and harder to show up better then I did at my last lesson. I am truly blessed. Sometimes I can’t believe I can and AM doing this!! I am actually sitting at my keyboard with some sense that I just might know what I'm doing and it is awesome. I am writing new songs and I ain’t stopping for nothing! So now what next? Well I have begun writing and working with songwriters for my next album. I am developing my marketing plan, tour plan and video/album promotion for this current release, researching radio tracking, helping other artists write grants and providing assistance with their online presence. I am excited for all the possibilities. The St.Germain’s are to training me to work as a vocal coach for youngsters and learn their business from the ground up. My hope is to eventually travel with the performance and music workshop series delivered to small communities. Dj St.Germain and are developing the workshop series on basic music enhancement geared to isolated or underserved areas. We have been contacted by the NWT Arts Council and a variety of community groups interested in the program. (Please see attached). My focus is on development of basic skills needed to get aspiring musicians off the ground and tools to assist them to develop their talents as well as providing them with a network of people who have been where they are. There are so many things I wish I was taught when I first became interested in music. Sometimes it is more then music it is the atmosphere and the characters that surround the music scene in general. Learn to handle your self in a crowd. I have a clearer understanding what success means and surrounding myself with like minded, successful people. Letting go of old habits, old beliefs - the weight. The road I am on requires attention to detail, persistence, practice, patience and a destination. I am developing a clear vision of what I want for myself, what I will become and what I need to do to make it reality. My life as a musician - creative soul is richer now that I am surrounding myself with people who are like minded. To have a sea of successful friends to share experiences with and support one another as we grow and prosper. My life is changing in more ways then I could have ever imagined. A few years ago I was only breathing. Working a desk job, in debt, just doing what I could to get by. Today I am a full time independent artist. Living by MY creation. I am supported by my ambition, fueled by the thoughts and well wishes of many supporters. It is hard to believe sometimes as I watch my life transform. I have to say my life because it isn’t just my musical career. It is in every aspect of my life. My music and the lessons I am being taught apply to all spectrums. I work hard practicing and being very honest with myself, seeing where I lack harmony. I have learned to stick to a task long enough until it becomes a habit, subconscious thought/action. It is not easy to look in the mirror sometimes. To be honest about what you see and what you want to be. I struggle with the old ways of living as they are habits I am breaking daily. I hit a sour note on the piano and it makes me think back to when I have not been in tune with my own rhythm. Then I push myself to practice and be the best that I can be. I remind myself to keep practicing until I get it right. I am becoming rich in all aspects of my life, because my past life has taught me that I can overcome anything. My mind is focused on success! I am gifted. These experiences have paved a path to success. I am teachable and can learn. Fear has no hold over me. Fear is a motivator to push past limits that will reveal my ultimate successes. I have discovered my value and deserve everything I am working towards. I will dream big – think BIG. I am taking steps towards my own growth in all aspects of my life. I am accomplishing a life I could not have imagined for myself. From today on, it only gets better. I am, can and will achieve my own definition of success. These are the steps that have brought me to this place of humble gratitude. Watch out for me and my new band the Mosquitoes in Winnipeg! Thank you for your support! Canada Council for the Arts The NWT Arts Council Fort Norman Métis Land and Financial Corporation Yellowknife Community Fund - Fine Arts Scholarship Award |
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