Evan Redsky is a songwriter, hailing from the First Nations Reserve of Mississaugi First Nation. Raised in Blind River and now residing in Toronto, ON. His latest offering, Oblivion seamlessly weaves traditional storytelling, delicate nuance, and poignant commentary on the human condition into a cathartic collection of highway-song vignettes.

Drawing from early childhood memories of hearing classic Canadian roots music on one of his reserve’s few available radio stations, Redsky felt compelled to reclaim that form as a vehicle for recounting his own experience as a “Canadian”. Surviving a lineage plagued by the fallout of colonialism, his perspective on the plight of the indigenous peoples of Canada is one that is deeply important in understanding the urgency of truth and reconciliation. 

Though these topics are prevalent throughout Oblivion, there are still many personal stories of growth, healing, and resilience in the face of intergenerational trauma that cast a universally relatable net over anyone struggling through the human condition.

Growing up, Redsky was often compelled to hitchhike from Blind River to Toronto to immerse himself in the city’s burgeoning punk and hardcore music scene. Redsky recounts sleeping under bridges and on construction sites in order to stay as close as possible to the exciting culture. This commitment led to him joining up-and-coming punk band Single Mothers, with whom Redsky would remain a dedicated member for half a decade. Touring around the world and performing at high-profile festivals such as Pitchfork Festival, and Primavera Sound, provided Redsky with more context and perspective on his humble beginnings. He soon turned his focus towards advocacy for the injustices he and his family had faced their entire lives.

Redsky began hosting fundraising events for and bringing awareness to the clean water crisis which deeply affected his family still residing on the Shoal Lake #40 reservation in northern Ontario. Redsky’s desire to share the stories of his experiences can be traced to his prominent lineage of storytellers within his community. Notably, his great grandfather, whose work translating pictographs and the novel, “The Great Leader of The Ojibway”, was published by the University of Toronto in the early 1970s. His great grandfather was a prominent member of the spiritual group known as the Midewiwin and was one of the last people to possess ancient birch bark scrolls which contained etchings that date back hundreds of years. These scrolls informed the community of much of their history before being disenfranchised by the Glenbow Museum He was also involved in building the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora, ON as a child. Infamously known as the school where Chanie Wenjack attended in Gord Downie’s Secret Path saga. The same residential school, that Redsky’s father and grandfather attended.

On Oblivion, Redsky demonstrates that before you can properly help others, you must first learn how to help yourself. It’s an extension of his traditional upbringing and the oral history of his people. That first nations people throughout Canada are still here, still healing, and trying to mark a path forward. These real-life stories prove we are all united in our humanity, and that after the oblivion, the healing can begin.

"...an unfeigned country ballad about his indigenous bloodline and life on the reserve...an allusion to the residential-school system and its effects on his kin. Warm acoustic tones are cut with Redsky’s sandy drawl...a record showcasing a rugged sound that’s interspersed with whining lap steel and palatable twang."

- The Globe & Mail

“Though the songs' content is rooted in Redsky's Indigenous heritage, the sound is pure Americana, equal parts Springsteen and Petty...”

- CBC