Battleford Singer-songwriter Kjelti Katherine releases single dedicated to the life & legacy of Saskatchewan Cree painter Allen Sapp

Battleford Singer-songwriter Kjelti Katherine releases single dedicated to the life & legacy of Saskatchewan Cree painter Allen Sapp

by SaskMusic

January 9, 2017 in Artist News

He Perceives It - A Song for Allen Sapp Dedicated to the Life and Legacy of renowned Saskatchewan Cree Painter Allen Sapp - Kiskayetum

The Story: I’m Kjelti Katherine, a singer-songwriter from Battleford, SK. Since I was a little girl, I have admired and adored the work of the renowned Allen Sapp, who left behind a rich legacy of paintings when he passed away at the end of 2015. Allen Sapp grew up on Red Pheasant First Nation, northwest of Saskatoon, SK. His paintings offer an intimate and honest portrayal of daily life and ceremony as he remembered them from his early years. His paintings often evoke stories from First Nations and non First Nations alike of how times were, back in the day; hauling wood to keep warm, playing hockey on a frozen lake, and quiet moments in the cabin.

The Song: It was a cold winter night in February 2016 when I wrote a song inspired by his life, his paintings, and the stories they tell. The song is titled “He Perceives It,” which is the English translation of his Cree name, Kiskayetum. The lyrics tell the story along with a steady “heartbeat” drum, traditional singing, flute, and guitar. I truly hope listening to the song will connect people to Allen Sapp’s work more deeply and remind them of the beauty and honesty of his artwork, and the prairies and all which they inspire. The song was recorded at Workhorse Recording Company in Saskatoon and was produced by Troy S.G. Denet. It features fellow musicians Cordell Anderson on guitar and Joseph Naytowhow on vocals, drum, and flute. He Perceives It was officially released on Saturday, January 7th, 2017 in celebration of the beauty of Allen Sapp’s artwork and the legacy he has left across the prairies and beyond.

The production of this song was made possible with support from Creative Saskatchewan’s Song Recording Grant, as well as funding from family members and my community.

Listening: You can listen to the song online at kjeltikatherine.bandcamp.com Enjoy! 

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