A Winnipeg musician who grew up in Stony Point is the winner of Manitoba Country Music Association’s NCI FM Indigenous Country Music Award.
Brandi Vezina received the honour in November at the association’s annual awards night. She also had nominations for female artist, interactive artist and video of the year.
“It’s an honour to be able to make music, let alone have people listen to my music,” said Vezina. “I’m just grateful that my hard work has been recognized.”
Vezina grew up in a musical Métis family in Stony Point, the traditional name for Patricia Beach Provincial Park. While she loved music, she didn’t pursue it as a career right away. She earned degrees in environmental science and teaching and started working as a teacher.
She enjoyed working in the classroom, but something was missing.
“My passion for my music, I wasn’t utilizing it, so I was getting pretty depressed, to be honest,” she said. “I decided to get serious about my music and really learn about the industry and go to all the conferences I could, especially during the pandemic, and just learn about the business aspect of music, and as a result, I’m very thankful I’ve had a lot of success.”
Vezina took a leave of absence as a teacher to pursue music, and after returning to the classroom, she reduced her contract to part time to continue focusing on music.
Her music is categorized as country, though she’s inspired by many genres. She grew up in a country music-loving family, but she also loved rock and roll.
“My producer, Murray Pulver (who played with Crash Test Dummies and Doc Walker), made it very clear in the beginning of us working together that what I’m doing is authentic to me, and I’m not chasing a different sound. I want to make music that I love,” she said.
“I love classic country. I love the fiddle. I love the steel guitar. I grew up on Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash and Loretta Lynn, so you can hear that in my music. I’m not a pop country star. That’s not my intention. I’m staying in my own lane and making music that I love, and I like writing songs that are meaningful to me.”
Among many themes, her music touches on relationships, hardships and her sobriety, something she said has had a major influence on her life.
“I wouldn’t be making music today if I wasn’t sober,” said Vezina, who’s been sober for 11 years. “It’s interwoven in there.”
She said her family and culture have also been major influences on her life and music. Vezina’s grandmother even sings on one of her tracks, “Dodged a Bullet.”
In Stony Point, she and her mom lived with Vezina’s grandparents, and her grandparents and uncle helped raise her. She remembers often going to Selkirk with her papa, a fisherman, to deliver freshwater fish.
Vezina’s new single “Old Fashioned Values” is about learning from your grandparents and passing on those traditions.
“I can’t separate my music from my culture. It’s just a piece of who I am,” she said. “I am proud to be Red River Métis, no matter where I go. I carry that with me.”
Leaving her secure teaching position was a big risk, but it’s paid off, Vezina said. Her music has had lots of airtime since the release of her first single in 2019, and she’s played many shows throughout Manitoba.
“It’s time for me to expand outside of Manitoba and make authentic relationships with other artists and music industry professionals outside of Manitoba because my intention is to be a touring artist, and it’s just a matter of time,” she said. “It’s happening. It’s coming.”
Dates for upcoming shows and links to Vezina’s music, including her 2023 release “No More Tears This Christmas,” can be found on her website (brandivezina.com). She will be releasing new music in 2024.
For her upcoming EP, Vezina has worked with songwriters from across North America, including songwriters from Nashville signed to the music publishing company Warner Chappell. She has also been working with a writing team in Alberta.
“I continue to push myself to work with artists who are more skilled songwriters and people who have more experience than myself, but I think I’ve been able to move pretty quickly as a result of my hard work and my determination,” she said.
