Another Friday rolls around, and while we have no fixed agenda with our postings, we find ourselves with another fresh single landing here at GDW HQ that just has to be shared. Such a sentiment applied to our Friday feature just a fortnight ago, when an artist who had dropped off our radar for a while resurfaced with an amazing solo tune. Ditto for last week too, when a super cool vintage country ditty earned my full attention. As for this week – well, when discovering a unique collaboration between two JUNO nominated Manitoban artists, to the top of the playlist you must go…
Music from Dauphin, MB singer-songwriter Desiree Dorion has graced our pages many times, most recently just a little over a year ago when GDW’s Jess Lahr reviewed “Remember Your Name.” As for Jason and Nadia Burnstick, this incredibly talented husband and wife roots duo were one of the shining stars at the Canadian Folk Music Awards ceremony in Gatineau, QC last spring, and became instant GDW favorites. Learning that Jason and Nadia have collaborated with Desiree on this fresh release – yeah, talk about a no-brainer when it came to selecting a tune for today.
Blending imagination with quiet family mystery, “Daddy’s Tattoo” sees Desiree Dorion turning an unanswered childhood question into a haunting, story-driven Americana song (Official Press Release). “My dad had a rough-looking tattoo he never talked about, and even after it was covered up, I never learned its story, so I made up my own, “Desiree recalls. “That’s the beauty of songwriting: using imagination to create and share stories people can connect with.”
Co-written with Joel Schwartz, and with vocal harmonies from Burnstick (Jason also credited with lap steel, dobro, and acoustic guitar), the track explores the spaces between truth and imagination, where silence invites invention. With no choice but to move on from chasing a definitive backstory, Dorion leans into the freedom of songwriting, crafting her own narrative by transforming curiosity into art. “This is honestly one of my favourite songs I’ve ever written,” she posted on her social media pages recently. “I am so thankful that my friends Burnstick loaned their voices and talent to this song.”
Photo Credit: Marcel Druwé
The British guy that crossed the ocean and crash landed in central Pennsylvania (to quote Greg Keelor, “And I wonder what am I doing here?”). As the youngest of four siblings, exposure to music from a very early age nurtured my passion and appreciation for many musical genres. Continuing to discover some amazingly diverse and talented musicians based in Canada, I gravitate to live music experiences and remain devoted to spreading the word about such a vibrant music scene.
