- Story by David Wylie Photography by Suzanne Le Stage Photography
Kelly Derrickson received her first acoustic guitar from her grandfather.
When her Okanagan house was destroyed in an arson fire about 10 years ago, the guitar was one of the only things that remained unscathed. It became a symbol of inspiration after Kelly plucked it from the ashes.
B次元官网网址淚t was a sign for me,B次元官网网址� said Kelly, whoB次元官网网址檚 from Westbank First Nation.
From the age of four, her heart was filled with music. Educated at the Victoria Conservatory of Music, Kelly studied opera along with other styles of music during her childhood. She gravitated toward musical theatre. And during her teens, she even snuck out to play music.
B次元官网网址淚 was in so many bands that I shouldnB次元官网网址檛 have been in, playing with older guys in clubs with my uniform in my backpack, sneaking out of windows. ThatB次元官网网址檚 all I ever wanted,B次元官网网址� she said.
In another life, Kelly could have been a lawyer, which had been her fatherB次元官网网址檚 dream. A force unto himself, KellyB次元官网网址檚 dad is Grand Chief Ron Derrickson, a self-educated entrepreneur who led the Westbank First Nation for years.
Kelly felt the responsibility to fulfill her familyB次元官网网址檚 vision of her future. She had a fellowship to the University of B.C. and even completed an internship in a law office.
Yet, music pulled at her heartstrings. She applied to the prestigious Berklee College of Music for Music Business and Performing Arts, and was accepted and granted a scholarship.
Her family was not initially supportive of that direction. She invited her dad to her first performance at Berklee and made him a deal: if he didnB次元官网网址檛 like her performance, she would go to law school. But if he liked it, he would give her his blessing to stay in music school.
The performance was a hit.
Since then sheB次元官网网址檚 released two full albums and three singles, and has started the writing phase for her third album. KellyB次元官网网址檚 music has been played on more than 1,200 radio stations in North America. SheB次元官网网址檚 been recognized consistently at the Native American Music Awards across various categories, winning best female artist for two consecutive years (2017 and 2018). She won the 2015 Coachella Valley Music Award for best country artist, and her single B次元官网网址�40,000 Ft. Over YouB次元官网网址� is considered the Best of 2016 in North America on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown.
She was recently nominated for two 2019 Native American Music Awards: for best indie single and best music video narrative for her latest song release, B次元官网网址淲e Are Love.B次元官网网址�
Her style has been uniquely described as B次元官网网址渃ountry tribal rock.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淎 lot of my music has a message,B次元官网网址� said Kelly. B次元官网网址淭he lyrics may be self-explanatory to me or to the next person, whereas the lyrics might feel like something different to you or to somebody else.B次元官网网址�
Her songs are often an honest perspective on the challenges facing Indigenous communities.
B次元官网网址淪uicide SongB次元官网网址� B次元官网网址� from her second album, I Am B次元官网网址� is a look at the crisis facing First Nations young people and was co-written with her dad.
B次元官网网址淢y dad was in residential schools and he was the one who really wanted me to write this song,B次元官网网址� she said.
It was the last song she was set to record for her album I Am. But Kelly said she was exhausted and wanted to wait until her next album to record it. However, her dad encouraged her to dig deep and find the energy, explaining that as a kid heB次元官网网址檇 had thoughts of suicide.
B次元官网网址淢y dad being one of the strongest personalities that I know, I couldnB次元官网网址檛 believe that. It completely broke me and gave me the energy and the power to write the song the way it should be,B次元官网网址� she said.
B次元官网网址淟ook at how many kids there are out there B次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 not just our native population B次元官网网址� there is so much bullying and stuff going on in schools. I think that every little kid needs a chance. I really wanted to create hope. If I save one life then IB次元官网网址檓 doing what I set out to do,B次元官网网址� she said.
Kelly said Indigenous people face constant criticism because of the colour of their skin.
B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e told youB次元官网网址檙e not good enough and you never will be. What the hell is the point then? Why live?B次元官网网址� she said, adding B次元官网网址淪uicide SongB次元官网网址� communicates that everyone has a unique purpose and gift.
The video for B次元官网网址淪uicide SongB次元官网网址� has been re-released as a cross between a music video and a mini-doc. ItB次元官网网址檚 one of seven videos sheB次元官网网址檚 releasing.
Kelly wants to accomplish through music what her father has achieved through leadership and politics.
Her song B次元官网网址淚dle No MoreB次元官网网址� is a social commentary about the First NationsB次元官网网址� rights movement that caught the worldB次元官网网址檚 eye in 2012.
KellyB次元官网网址檚 latest single, B次元官网网址淲e Are Love,B次元官网网址� is a rock anthem celebrating the feminine and honouring White Buffalo Calf, a female First Nations deity responsible for teachings such as the Medicine Wheel, Four Colours and smudging.
B次元官网网址淚 really suffer for the human condition and I have eternal heartbreak,B次元官网网址� said Kelly. B次元官网网址淢y heart breaks for animals and how we are interacting with and raping the Earth. It really affects me deeply. IB次元官网网址檓 trying to balance that with my everyday life and throw that all into my music in one thing but have a great message to give everyone where we can figure out how to deal with that in a positive fashion and through love. I think love is the answer to do all that.B次元官网网址�
Kelly now travels between her home in Palm Desert, Calif. and her home in the Okanagan.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e lived out of a suitcase my whole life. This is the first time IB次元官网网址檝e wanted to stay in one place,B次元官网网址� she said about Palm Desert. B次元官网网址淜elownaB次元官网网址檚 my roots. I always come back there and IB次元官网网址檝e always kept a home there.B次元官网网址�
SheB次元官网网址檒l be performing at the Native American Music Awards in November. For more information and to listen to her music, visit .
Story courtesy of , a Black Press Media publication
Like Boulevard Magazine on and follow them on
