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Stevens and Chiasson return with I Want To Rise

 Emma Stevens


 

July 7, 2021

-by John Gillis
    The young woman from Eskasoni, Cape Breton that brought global attention to the plight to save the Mi’kmaq language is back with a new single released this month doing the same and drawing attention to the plight of missing and murdered Aboriginal women in Canada.
    Emma Stevens received praise from home and abroad when she sang the Beatles classic Blackbird in a video, which went viral in recent years, even receiving a shout out from Sir Paul McCarteney during his Vancouver concert. Stevens had the opportunity to meet McCarteney, who praised her version of the song as “beautiful” saying it was so good it made him nervous of singing his own version in concert.


    Steven’s version of Blackbird according to Celtic Colours “has helped to bring awareness to various efforts being undertaken to revitalize endangered Indigenous languages around the world. Since its release, she has performed across Canada and internationally in Nairobi, Kenya, and Abu Dhabi, UAE for United Nations assemblies where she sang and spoke to leaders and policy makers from around the world. Emma is passionate about bringing awareness to important issues facing First Nations across Canada including the loss of language and the disappearance or death of more than 4000 Indigenous women since the 1970s. Emma resides in Eskasoni First Nation, the largest Indigenous community in Eastern Canada, where she is in her final year of high school.”
    Emma graduated recently from high school and says she intends to study social work and music at Cape Breton University this coming fall.
    Just recently, more than 100 staff, students, and community members of Allison Bernard Memorial High School in Eskasoni, Cape Breton, contributed to the new “single” and video of the song I Want to Rise, written by Emma’s music teacher, Carter Chiasson. Chiasson was instrumental in the production of Blackbird. He has often accompanied Stevens on guitar in her recording projects, including the new release, I Want to Rise. Check the video out on YouTube. It draws attention and call for change to the travesty of missing and murdered Aboriginal Women in Canada and around the world.
    It is remarkable and very encouraging to see Stevens, her supporters, and community take what has been a very tragic story, (i.e. missing and murdered Aboriginal women including Cassidy Bernard) and turn it into such a positive message through a call for change and taking back one’s art, music, culture, and voice and expression.
    I Want To Rise was written and recorded to help bring awareness to the more than 4000 missing and murdered First Nations women and girls across Canada and thousands more in the United States. It’s also hoped the song will empower First Nations youth and help them rise above the challenges of being an Indigenous youth in Canada and also in memory of the late Cassidy Bernard, a young mother from We’koqma’q First Nation who was murdered at the age of 22 in 2018.
    Emma Stevens has been an excellent ambassador and voice for her community, her language, and her culture and Aboriginal people. Emma’s teacher and collaborator, Carter Chiasson, Allison Bernard Memorial High School’s Music and Technology teacher, was awarded MusiCounts Teacher of the Year at the Juno Awards in 2020.
    Emma’s emerging music performances have opened many doors and opportunities for performances and public speaking engagements across Canada and around the world.
    Emma will no doubt continue to be in demand and will hopefully record more songs in English and her native language of Mi’kmaq. Hopefully, that success will continue to shine for her and Allison Bernard Memorial High School’s music and technology programs and students.

I WANT TO RISE // LYRICS (Written by Carter Chiasson)
I dream at night of the city lights, of the sights and the sounds and the feel
Of the wind in my hair, the open road, and the stars in the sky as my wheel
From the hills to the shore of this little town, my heart aches for what could be
So close, yet so far away.. to me
And I can’t wait for all the world to see

I wanna rise, I wanna fly
Spread my wings, leave the ground and touch the sky
I wanna walk this path, this winding road with you
I wanna rise, like an eagle in flight
Out of the dark, take back the night
Bring your voice into the light
I wanna rise
         
These are the days that hearts can break, this is the time and the place
I don’t know what to think, what to say, how to feel. What is real and what is fake?
Can you hear me scream, can you hear me roar, can you see me I’m right here
With my heart on my sleeve and my hands in the air

And I can’t wait to meet you when I’m there
I wanna rise, I wanna fly
Spread my wings, leave the ground and touch the sky
I wanna walk this path, this winding road with you
I wanna rise, like an eagle in flight
Out of the dark, take back the night
Bring your voice into the light
I wanna rise

Two rays of light shine bright in the night, for all the world to see
From the stars in the sky, to the clouds above to the depths of the deep blue sea
Can you feel my breath on the wind tonight, can you hear my voice in the air
Wherever you go, I’ll be there

Chorus x2
Spread my wings and take flight
I wanna rise

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


    

 


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