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."

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.

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.

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Publicity: Beth Cavanagh, What's The Story

Management: RoseAnna Shick, RAS Creative