advertisement
FYI

Adrian Sutherland: Respect The Gift

Spirited guitar riff, funky rhythms, and solid backing vocals make this an upbeat song of celebration.

Adrian Sutherland: Respect The Gift

By Kerry Doole

Adrian Sutherland - Respect The Gift (Independent): On Tuesday (Jan. 12), this Indigenous singer/songwriter released a new single, Respect The Gift, days after it received a radio premiere on The Strombo Show and debuted online via American Songwriter


A press release explains that "the song was co-written one year ago by Adrian, and brothers Chris and Matt Gormley – the same songwriting team behind Adrian’s solo debut, Politician Man. The Gormleys also perform on the track, with production and mixing by Carl Jennings. While the new song was essentially completed then, as the pandemic situation unfolded, the decision was made to wait for a better time for release. That time is now."

advertisement

The track features a spirited guitar riff, funky rhythms, and solid backing vocals, turning it into an upbeat song of celebration. Sutherland states that "Respect the Gift is about using our ‘gifts’ for good, and not taking for granted the everyday freedoms and luxuries we have. There’s never been a more important time to appreciate all that we find precious, especially given the world we’re living in today."

“Anyone who hears this song just feels happy, it has a positive vibe, and it’s a really great dance tune,” he adds. “We found this out when I played the demo for my family for the very first time. They all jumped up and started dancing – including my two-year-old grandson Ezra! It was a totally unexpected moment, and made us realize we have something pretty special here.”

This is only Sutherland's second solo single, but he previously made a mark as frontman and leader of northern Ontario Indigenous roots-rock band Midnight Shine. His work in that group helped boost his status as a respected cultural leader and an eloquent spokesperson for his Attawapiskat First Nation community.

advertisement

He is currently writing his first book for Penguin Random House Canada, and is working on music for a debut solo album slated for summer 2021.

Links

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Publicity: Beth Cavanagh, What's The Story

Management: RoseAnna Shick, RAS Creative

advertisement
EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.
Courtesy of Girl Connected

EMPIRE's Tina Davis (left) and Girl Connected's Lola Plaku at Conversations with the Pros at Toronto Metropolitan University in Toronto on March 28, 2025.

Record Labels

EMPIRE President Tina Davis Gives Strategic Advice to Women in Music at Girl Connected's New Speaker Series

On Friday (March 28), the president of EMPIRE, the Bay Area-independent label and music company, came to Toronto for Conversation with the Pros offering tangible advice to the mentorship program's community. Davis also spoke to Billboard Canada about her impressive journey in the industry.

Girl Connected has launched a new series that connects the next generation of women in Canadian music with powerhouse executives for the global industry.

On Friday (March 28), Tina Davis, president of EMPIRE, sat down with Girl Connected founder and music industry veteran Lola Plaku at Toronto Metropolitan University for the first in-person Canadian edition of Conversations with the Pros (Billboard Canada was a supporting partner). The series brings in inspiring music industry figures from Girl Connected's international network to talk about their journeys and offer actionable information and advice to help the budding music professionals develop their skills and reach the next level of their careers.

keep readingShow less
advertisement