CANMORE — One minute Aysanabee was playing solo open mics in crowded bars, the next he’s on stage giving an acceptance speech for his fourth Juno award.
The last four years for the Oji-Cree artist have been a whirlwind, from a debut album in 2022, to making history as the first Indigenous artist to win alternative album and songwriter of the year at the 2024 Junos and now, on the verge of his newest EP, Timelines, he’s reminded of where it all started.
“I was in the pandemic just recording (Watin), nobody knew who I was. I was just playing little bar shows in Toronto here and there … and just thinking about where I was to where I am now is just such a wild transformation,” said the alternative artist, who also won alternative artist and contemporary Indigenous artist of the year at the Juno Awards on Saturday (March 28).
Set to drop April 10, Timelines reimagines old favourites like Nomads, Home and Dream Catcher as acoustics — an ode to the sets that marked the start of the singer-songwriter’s journey.
“This is definitely a fan record,” Aysanabee said. “People who would’ve seen me play in the early days of my music career starting out, it was always just kind of me and my pedals and my guitar.”
Taking the stripped back tracks on the road for his Timelines Tour, Aysanabee is joined by Juno-nominated artist AHI for a “unique” Canmore show at artsPlace on Thursday (April 9) where the pair is stepping away from the lights, the backup bands and the production teams.
“In these spaces, it gives people a chance to get to see and meet the artist from a different perspective,” said Aysanabee of the show.
Playing their newest releases and tracks that span the eras of the artists’ careers, stories and anecdotes shared in between sets are the backbone of the night.
“We both have very powerful voices, but it’s not just like strong voice, no substance. I get the sense that when we write songs, we want them to mean something,” said AHI, a Toronto-based artist who blends folk, indie and roots rock sounds.
“The ability to just get on stage and share your songs and tell your stories, that’s what we live for, that’s what we strive for.”
Also on the heels of new music, AHI’s single House of Mirrors, released on March 27, marks “a new chapter” for the artist as he leans into producing and engineering his own music.
“I taught myself and I learned how to really dive into that and there’s no looking back now,” he said.
Along with House of Mirrors, written in Nashville, and songs from his 2025 album The Light Behind The Sun, AHI says he plans to bring out earlier tunes at the Canmore show and if his 2021 single Full Circle makes its way into the lineup, he’s already got a story at the ready.
“It could be a good opportunity [to talk] about the time that I gave away my mom’s ring when I was in Grade 1 to a girl at school. My guilt just locked that memory away and I never told my mom,” said AHI.
Attempting to one-up the other boys and impress his crush, AHI gifted the girl his mom’s ruby ring. Years later, as an adult, AHI would find the girl, who was also a singer, online and reach out.
“I tracked her down, she still had the ring and I got it back and I finally told my mom,” he said with a laugh.
“It’s literally a full circle,” he added, noting how it relates back to the song.
“People are gonna be able to hear different parts of where the inspiration from the song came from, maybe some of the process of making that song or maybe just a funny anecdote or memory attached to that song or playing that song somewhere,” Aysanabee added.
For Aysanabee, it’s a welcome return to town after playing at the Canmore Folk Festival last summer.
“I’m really excited to come back to Canmore. I love Canmore,” he said, recalling the days he spent travelling around in a camper van and eating some of the “best food he’s ever had” at the Spice Hut.
“When I played at the folk festival, I remember it torrential down poured and the people of Canmore were just sitting in their lawn chairs as rain is dumping upon them, so they will bear the elements to listen to music,” he added with a laugh.
Aysanabee and AHI take the stage at artsPlace at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (April 9).
On Friday (April 10), the pair will head to Calgary for performances at the Canadian Folk Music Awards where AHI is nominated for five awards, including Contemporary Singer of the Year.
Aysanabee is nominated for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year and Single of the Year with his 2025 single Edge of the Earth.
For tickets and showtimes, visit: folkawards.ca.
