RezX Music Review: Leonard Sumner – Rez Poetry

Posted On 09 Jan 2015

By : RezX Editor

Comment: 0

Tag: Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, AMP Camp, AMP Sessions, Leonard Sumner, Rez Poetry

Leonard Sumner – Rez Poetry

Rating: 4.5 Sterlings of out 5

Leonard Sumner’s first musical memories came courtesy of the radio in the family car. “We had this old Chrysler Dynasty. It was a red one. We’d always listen to old country music like Dwight Yoakum, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, all that old stuff driving into the city.” If it wasn’t dialed in to country then his mom must have switched it over to the station that “played a lot of oldies and Motown stuff.” Young Leonard was only five or six and had no way of knowing the impact that this blend of rural and urban music would have on him or that one day it would be his voice coming over the radio.

Leonard is a proud Anishinaabe and grew up on the Little Saskatchewan First Nation in Manitoba. Soon enough the family car rides included taking Leonard to sing in Treaty Day contests. “I’d sing in those contests. I’d sing karaoke and stuff like that and then around the same time I started really getting into hip hop. I remember I saw a War Party video. That was like the early 2000’s. I was like ‘Man, that’s cool that they have a video on Much Music. I could probably write a song.’ So I started dabbling with hip hop. I’d been already writing a little bit, rhyming and free styling. It all came together through my teenage years.”

Far removed from his first rhymes, Leonard has honed his craft and his well thought out, powerful lyrics flow effortlessly as he tackles topical issues that are important to Indigenous people. Pairing his words and grooves with an acoustic guitar carved out a niche for Leonard to thrive in and he worked hard to turn that into something tangible for fans. “I’ve always been singing and writing though. It’s been probably 15 years of working with music but it was finally within the last year and a half that I finally got my album out.”

Releasing an album is a daunting and costly venture and Leonard found help through programs at Manitoba Music*. “Without them I wouldn’t have been able to understand how the music industry works… That was the biggest thing in my career was being able to get the album out. Without the help of Manitoba Music and helping me make those connections I probably would have never known how to put it all together.”

Opening up the first box of cd’s was very special for Leonard. “There it is. There’s everything you’ve worked hard for. In your hands…It was an incredible feeling.” It was also an incredible day for music lovers. Leonard’s debut album entitled ‘Rez Poetry’ was produced brilliantly by Doug Cox and showcases the talent, range and substance that Leonard has to offer.

To say that the cd was well received would be an understatement. “Rez Poetry’ helped catapult Leonard into the national spotlight as he won the award for Best New Artist and was nominated for the Best Folk/Acoustic CD at the Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards.

“The joke was that I’m the Best New ‘Old’ Artist. My friends were kind of ribbing me about that but it was really a highlight for what I do, for my career, for my music. It was a really big moment for me… When they said ‘The winner is Leonard Sumner, I was like ‘Wow!’ I looked at my parents and I was kind of surprised. I was kind of in shock. I went up and gave my speech and the rest of the night is kind of a blur.”

That blurry night included interviews, photographs, celebrations and a concert for the Winnipeg crowd who sang along and shared in the moment. “It felt almost ceremonial. The singing was empowering.”

It hasn’t slowed down much for Leonard since that night. He’s been busy playing shows and introducing his music, message and charm to people everywhere he goes. “The way I approach it is I take every opportunity that I can… I just go out and give the best performance I can and they’ll decide whether they like it or not.” It would seem that the majority of fans like what Leonard has to offer and are eager for him to travel to their local venues. However he’s traveling, I’m sure there’ll be music playing.

– Review by Shane Bellegarde

Local artists looking for assistance or direction should visit Sask Music at www.saskmusic.org