TORONTO, ON - With Mother Love iskwē | ᐃᐢᑫᐧᐤ (Cree Métis) and Tom Wilson | Tehoh’ahake (Mohawk) have created an album that’s as powerful as it is personal, a set of songs on which their disparate vocal styles fuse seamlessly and, in doing so, result in a sound uniquely their own. Released on July 22nd, iskwē and Tom have shared an incredible debut collaboration of 8 songs featuring songwriting credits from some of Canada's most celebrated singer-songwriters including Serena Ryder, Colin Linden, and Tom Wilson.

To some, these two may seem an unusual pairing, given iskwē’s high concept recordings and live shows and Wilson’s (Junkhouse, Lee Harvey Osmond, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings) reputation as a rootsy, no-nonsense storyteller. But the result – a soulful pairing of two of Canada’s most distinctive musical talents – sounds like the two have been performing together for years. That was obvious to anyone who heard their first performance together (with trumpet player Chuck Copenace) at the 2020 Indspire Awards. A performance that led to the recording of "Blue Moon Drive", "Coal Mine", and "Starless Nights" at Jukasa Studios; tracks that became the foundation for Mother Love.

The dynamic of those songs is subtly different from those produced later ("Rolling In My Dreams", "Mother Love", "Long Way Down", "Stir The Ashes", "Dream You Home") by Serena Ryder at her Toronto-area studio, ArtHaus. “But there’s a sentiment that travels with those three that fits the tone and story of the record," iskwē says. On Mother Love, that sentiment is reflected as much in what sets Wilson and iskwē apart vocally – the stark contrast between iskwē’s hauntingly beautiful vocals and Wilson’s rich, gravel-tinged baritone – as it is in the emotional weight their contrasting styles bring to the record, something that's abundantly clear on the lead single and album opener, "Blue Moon Drive", and only becomes that much more evident with each successive track.

Tom shares; "Working with Serena Ryder on this project was a real pleasure for us. She delivered creative guidance and great songs." “The music led us and we followed;" says Serena. "It was one of my favourite musical journeys to date and I’m honoured to have been a part. Want to take a trip to a land made of paint and dreams and deep love? Press play.”

The album is currently available on all major streaming platforms.