Peggy Revell
A budding musical career hit a high note earlier this month when local teen Larissa Desrosiers was named the winner of this year’s Aboriginal Music Tour.
“I felt so honoured, I feel so honoured,” enthused Desrosiers, who performed alongside four other finalists Feb. 12 in Thunder Bay—ultimately being selected to travel as a paid musician on tour with award-winning singer/songwriter Shy-Anne Hovorka and her band for two weeks later this year.
It’s a big step for the 15-year-old singer, who first auditioned for the competition at the Townshend Theatre here last October when the Aboriginal Music Tour swung through Fort Frances.
Back then, she and two other area youths were asked to attend a second round of the competition in Thunder Bay, with Desrosiers then chosen as one of the five finalists to compete Feb. 12 at a concert held at the Thunder Bay Auditorium.
“I was so intimidated by the stage,” she admitted. “I’ve never played on a stage that big before, never mind a venue that big.
“I’ve been there, I grew up in Thunder Bay and I’ve been to the auditorium so many times, I’ve seen it inside,” she noted.
“[But] it’s just so different when you’re on stage looking out to the sea of seats.
“It was amazing, pretty intimidating.”
For her audition, Desrosiers sang her own song, “Anishinabekwe,” which encourages aboriginal youth to be proud of who they are.
“It felt so good to be up on that stage, singing my song and getting my message out there,” she enthused. “I just felt proud.
“I wrote this song a little over a year ago, and look at where I’m singing it.
“It was such a rush.
“Obviously, she’s talented,” remarked Hovorka, adding that it also was the message in Desrosiers’ song which led her to being chosen.
“Her song had a positive message about being proud of who you are, your culture,” Hovorka noted.
“From her perspective, it’s being aboriginal,” Hovorka added. “But the lyrics lend well to being just happy in your own skin and proud of who you are, of your culture and traditions, and living your life the way that your culture does.”
This is the second year that Hovorka has taken her Aboriginal Music Tour across Ontario, visiting as far north as Attiwaspiskat First Nation to hold concerts and auditions.
“It’s just amazing how, it doesn’t matter where you are—all the kids have so much talent,” Hovorka said.
“And it’s kind of cool to give them the opportunity to showcase that talent, and the excitement behind it and the community excitement behind it.”
Hovorka said she’s met a lot of great kids through the tour, adding those who advance to the next round in the competition isn’t just about talent but having a positive message that they’re delivering with their music.
The final audition also featured a performance by Hovorka—who was most-recently recognized as Aboriginal Female Entertainer of the Year by the 2010 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards—as well as award-winning hip-hop artists Joey Stylez and Feenix.
“I was really shocked to hear my name,” Desrosiers recalled of her reaction when the winner was announced at the end of the evening.
“The little support team that came out to cheer me on screamed like they had won the lottery or something—it was so funny.
“I was up there [on stage] and it was like, ‘How lucky am I right now?’”
As the winner, Desrosiers will head out on a two-week tour in September with Hovorka and her band as a paid artist.
“I’m pretty excited,” she conceded, noting at this point, details for the tour—including where they will be performing—still are being confirmed.
In the meantime, Desrosiers said her thoughts now are to “get cracking” and write some more songs, and write every day.
“I’m going to make an effort and spend more time with my guitar and stuff,” she noted. “Basically, just work on myself and get myself prepared because I’m thinking that this is what I want to do with my life.
“And to get a little taste of what it’s going to be like, I want to be prepared,” she explained.
And while it’s “a lot to take in,” Desrosiers encouraged others to pursue their dreams like she has.
“No matter what gets in your way, you really can do it,” she stressed. “It’s not like it’s going to just happen for you, but you have to try.”
It was just a little over a year ago that Desrosiers had her “first big show,” singing with Angus Jourdain at a “Good Life for Young People” fundraiser dinner here.
“To see how much I’ve changed and how much has happened to me, to see how far I’ve gone in exactly a year, playing with one big name to the next—it just blows my mind,” she remarked.
“I just wonder what this year to next year will hold for me.”
Desrosiers also noted she has “so much support” from her family and community.
“I’m really grateful for everyone who has supported me and is supporting me right now,” she said, adding she also is thankful for what Hovorka has done for her.
“I owe so much to Shy-Anne,” she said. “I just really am grateful that she came into my life.
“It’s amazing!”
For those wanting to see Desrosiers perform, she will be singing this Saturday (Feb. 26) as part of the “Hometown Heroes” concert that kicks off at 8 p.m. at the Couchiching multi-use facility. Doors open at 7 p.m.
The show also will feature performances by Wab Kinew, Ryan McMahon, Angus Jourdain, and “Mack Sickz.”
