A Chat with Heart - with Christina Martin
Canadian singer-songwriter Christina Martin started a podcast to hold sacred conversations with friends, family, and colleagues, gathering resources to help people navigate their own life, with expert tips and tricks on how to support a path with heart and personal growth. Authentic, playful and free from regulations, A Chat with Heart gives listeners an opportunity to call the Heartbeat Hotline, help shape future episodes and be featured on the podcast.
A Chat with Heart - with Christina Martin
DeeDee Austin: Canadian Indigenous Pop Powerhouse
Christina chats with acclaimed singer and songwriter DeeDeeAustin about the challenges she's experienced on her path with heart, but also the immense gratitude she has for the music community in Atlantic Canada. DeeDee is not afraid to tackle difficult subject matter, and strives for love and connection with her work. Find out something that even her biggest fans don't know about her!
DeeDee Austin, an 18-year-old Indigenous Pop Powerhouse and member of the Abegweit First Nation on PEI. DeeDee, who you could call a hybrid artist embraces the contemporary and traditional Indigenous music which she creates and implements into each one of her infectious high energy performances. Her authentic songwriting is bringing her recognition not only in the Atlantic Provinces but across the Nation and is no stranger to entertaining crowds of 10 thousand plus!
DeeDee’s goal is to touch the hearts of her listeners and to consistently strive to make change in the world we live by coming together as one with love, peace, equality and friendship being the forefront.
Got a question for Christina? Call her Heartbeat Hotline in Canada: 1-902-669-4769
Explore Christina's music, videos and tour dates at christinamartin.net
DeeDee Austin
Christina: [00:00:03] Welcome to a Chat with Heart. I'm your host, Christina Martin. I'm a singer songwriter. I live on a dirt road with my best friend Dale in rural Nova Scotia, Canada. I chat with her. Is just me having chill conversations with people I want to celebrate, and topics that I'm curious about. If you have a question or a comment for this podcast, call my heartbeat hotline 1-902-669-4769. To send this podcast even more love, visit me online at Patreon.com/ChristinaMartin. I'm so happy you're listening. Our personal stories have great power to heal, influence, and inspire. All we have to do is show up for the conversation.
Song 'Talk About It': [00:00:49] If we just talk about it, we can find a way, we can break a dark day. If we just talk about it, we can cut a way, we can make a brighter day.
Christina: [00:01:17] Hey, I feel like it's been a while since we've had a heart to heart. Where should I begin? Well, um, as some of you know, Dale and I traveled to England, uh, recently, and, uh, the tour went really, really well. So I kept a tour blog, um, which, if you're signed up to support me on my Patreon, you can access that tour blog, uh, for all the finer details. And, uh, yeah. So check that out. And it went super well. I came home and, uh, and I was at my mom's when she had her, uh, surgery. My mom had a mastectomy and that. So. Yeah, she was incredible. Um, and I've really been enjoying spending time with my mom, like, it's. I don't enjoy seeing her have to go through, um, you know, experience cancer and and treatments, but she is just so strong. I mean, she always has been, but, like, holy shit, holy shit. Like, it's just so positive and and, you know, is ready to deal with anything. And, um, yeah, it was just sort of ironic because I was there to take care of her, and then I had a cold that I caught from Dale. And so I was in bed for a week at mom's while she was healing from her big surgery, and, and, and, uh, and then I flew to British Columbia.
Christina: [00:02:46] I was still kind of recuperating and just exhausted. And mom, meanwhile, mom had had this major surgery and was just doing great. So, I mean, I felt really good about mom. Um, and, uh, on I on I had to go to, to, uh, to do some shows, some solo shows in BC and, um, yeah, having a cold on tour is, is no fun. But, uh, I had some time to rest and I got to reconnect with some friends. The shows went great again. This is all in my tour blog on my Patreon. Um, I don't want to go on and on about it here, but, uh uh, I'm glad I did it. It was hard to kind of be away from home, and I certainly would have liked to have spent more time with mom, but. As soon as I got back from British Columbia. Um, I got together with mum. She just got more results. And it turns out she does have to have, uh, more surgery. And her chemo starts, uh, tomorrow. So she has some more scans this week as well to see if there's anything else that we need to be concerned about. She's still in good spirits, and we're optimistic that she's going to do great with her upcoming, uh, chemo treatments. And, um, a lot of my patrons, I just want to say thank you so much.
Christina: [00:04:08] Uh, a lot of you sent my mom some, uh, well wishes and postcards, and she just really appreciated that. And, um. Yeah. And some good news, um, is that we adopted an eight month old kitty little calico cat for mum. So I'm actually bringing the cat over to my mum's today, and, uh, and my mom will have this great company with her, um, when she starts her chemo this week. And the kitty cat is a very sweet cat. My mum wants to call her Lola, so unless that changes, that's what her name will be. She's so. She has a great demeanour. She's lovely. She doesn't scratch her bite. Um, she loves to cuddle. And so mum's gonna have, uh. I'll be with her this week. And then my brother Alex, um. He's great. He's coming to see her for another week, and we'll be spending a lot of time with mum, and we're all doing good. We're staying positive, taking care of what needs to be taken care of. So that's a quick personal update. Um, and I hope you all are doing good. I know everybody has her own stuff they're dealing with in their in their personal lives and also professional lives. And feel free to call, uh, my heartbeat hotline if you have any questions or comments or just want to share or vent, um, and feel heard, um, I'll be happy to answer any questions or comments on a future episode.
Christina: [00:05:38] The number to call is 1-902-669-4769. That's the heartbeat hotline (902) 669-4769. You can call it from anywhere in the world. Uh, it's probably going to have some charges from outside of Canada, but. Yeah. Um, listen, I just got back from the East Coast Music Awards. Shout out to the ECMAs. It was one of my favorite. And maybe because I'm sober now, maybe because I was just so tired, it was more relaxing for me. Um, but I really enjoyed and I'm grateful for the chance to perform at the ECMAs and perform with old friends and meet new friends. I saw some great music. Joe Henry was a great new discovery for me. Um, I got to see my guest today on this episode, perform her own concert in Charlottetown, um, on Prince Edward Island to a sold out room. And she was dynamite. So, uh, let's get to this Chat with Heart, as I've been really looking forward to getting to know my guest today and to share with all my little heartbeat listeners an incredible young female artist named DeeDee Austin. So DeeDee is an 18 year old Indigenous Pop Powerhouse and member of the Abegweit First Nation on Prince Edward Island. DeeDee, um, who you could call a hybrid artist, embraces the contemporary and traditional Indigenous music, which she creates and implements into each one of her infectious, high energy performances.
Christina: [00:07:15] And I, I can attest to this. She absolutely is, um, an incredible performer. And, uh, her songwriting is, is really, um, catchy and has really important messages. Um, listen, she recently sat on the 2024 Junos event committee. The Junos are like our, uh, the Grammys in Canada. Um, so she sat on that committee as part of the local Junos team as a voice representing young emerging artists, youth, local artists and the Mi'kmaq culture. She carries, get this a combined total of 16 award nominations in 2022. I'm laughing because it's like she's 18 and she's already just so acclaimed. And, um, in 2022 and 23, DeeDee garnered Music Nova Scotia's Indigenous Artists of the year and 2022 New Artists Recording of the year, along with SOCAN songwriter of the year Honorable mention Chief Noel Doucette Youth Achievement Award and was nominated for Women in Music Canada honors 2023. And I'm just I could go, I mean, I'm going to go on and on. Nominated for the Lieutenant Governor's Award in 2023, along with being nominated for the Best of Halifax Pop artist, New artist, music video and solo artist. Holy shit. She's recently performed at the road to the Junos, headlined the 2023 Canada Games closing ceremonies, opened the 2023 North American Indigenous Games, opened for April Wine to a sold out show performed at the Wildfire Relief benefit um to over 8000 fans, and has shared the stage with some of Canada's greats like Bruce Guthro, Neon Dreams, classified, Matt Mays, George Canyon, Jimmy Rankin and Dave Gunning, to name a few.
Christina: [00:09:14] DeeDee's goal is to touch the hearts of her listeners and to consistently strive to make change in the world we live in by coming together as one with love, peace, equality and friendship being the forefront. How about that? Only 18 at the time of this chat with heart, with DeeDee Austin.
Christina: [00:09:36] This is, um, literally a chill chat. The thing about interviews, like it's not super interviewee. Like it's just a chat where I do have questions, but like, you might have questions too. Who knows? And I do find like interviews, especially like the five minute interviews can feel kind of stressful sometimes. I remember early in my career to like just kind of getting, oh my goodness, I fudged so many of them. But I love these long form ones because it kind of gives you, um, it's like they're a little more relaxed and they really gives people the opportunity to get to know you better. How like, how do you feel about interviews and things?
DeeDee: [00:10:19] Well, like for me, like it varies. Like it also depends on like who the interview is with. Um, but like I love interviews just because like, I think it's super cool that like, I started my career at a young age and like, I'm kind of like on a mission to encourage other youth to kind of like, follow their dreams. So any interview that I get, like, I kind of take advantage of it because I just, I want to encourage other people to like, follow their dreams. And I'm trying to, like prove to everybody that, like, it is possible to, like, get to where you want to be.
Christina: [00:10:51] I love that, I love yeah, I love that you brought that up too, because I didn't want to like, bring it up so much that like, oh, you're so young and all that. But like, when I, I first saw you, um, and your band performing Natural Born Original. Like, I walked into the the Scotiabank Centre, um, at the Wildfire recovery concert in Halifax in the spring of 2023. And right away I was so my first thoughts were like this. Wow, this song and this performance is so great. And and I, you know, I couldn't help but notice you were young and I was like, I, I was so far away from having that poise and confidence and how excited I got so excited like that. Oh, here's a young here's a young woman, um, sharing her positive message, like making connections and, like, what? I just got really excited about you for what you're doing now, but for your future as well. So.
DeeDee: [00:11:54] Oh. Thank you.
Christina: [00:11:56] I like to ask my guests, what were some of your first memories with music and maybe writing songs that kind of you can now go, oh yeah, like I was kind of destined for this.
DeeDee: [00:12:08] Oh, that's a good question. Actually. I haven't had anybody like, ask that question before, but, um, like one of my major, like one of the major things that I always will remember in my career is actually my first ever EP release party. Um, so so I released Stepping Stones, which was my first EP in 2021, in the summer of 2021, and I actually decided to have my EP release party in P.E.I. because I'm from the Abegweit First Nation in, uh Scotchfort. Oh, wow. So so I wanted to kind of like, go back to like, my community and have my EP release party in my, like, hometown, I guess. Yeah. So, um, I did that and it was actually so, like, so successful. I sold out the old triangle two nights in a row. Oh, amazing. Um, for my first EP, and I'll never forget it. And after that moment, I was just like, yeah, like, this is for me. Like I'm meant to be here. I'm meant to do this.
Christina: [00:13:06] So that was just. Yeah, a confirmation. Yeah. Wow. You must have been buzzing and and, I mean, now we're full circle, ECMAs Charlottetown this year. Um, um, this this must, like, feel really good that 2021 like, that wasn't that long ago and that was no pandemic. Like, that's. Yeah. Uh, you know, we hear a lot of stories about how, like, the lost years people didn't, you know, really get much done, um, during that time. But it sounds like you were really busy and nothing was stopping you from pursuing this path.
DeeDee: [00:13:43] I honestly believe Christina, like, the I honestly believe that the pandemic helped me because I was kind of like one of those artists that were just, like, hidden by the pandemic. And so I kind of just utilized the pandemic to just create and write and get my kind of get all my ducks in a row so I could break out after the pandemic. And that's kind of how it went, because, like, literally like during the pandemic, I wrote like I did Stepping Stones and I started working on, um, other singles and stuff like that. But like, I was kind of just like one of those artists who was like, oh, like, where did she come from? But I actually, like, utilized the pandemic majorly to kind of get my ducks in a row so that I could, you know, pursue my career and whatnot.
Christina: [00:14:28] Okay. That's incredible. Whoo! Okay, so there must be some, like, people in your life, like, I don't I don't know if. You were just born out of the gate. Like, I have a plan and I'm an organized person. Like, were there mentors or key people in your life that have kind of helped coach you, you know, or do you have a do you have a team when it comes to the music side of things? What's going on, what's going on behind the scenes?
DeeDee: [00:14:57] So I have so many people who like, I want to shout out and I hope I don't forget anybody. And if everyone is listening to this podcast, please don't come after me for because I'm so thankful.
Christina: [00:15:09] Oh, that's okay if you forget after, you can write me and I'll mention them. I'll say, oh by the way, did you wanted to mention so and so?
DeeDee: [00:15:18] Okay, okay, so first off, I would like to thank my parents because my parents were they've invested, you know, everything into me, um, financially, emotionally, you know, just everything. They put their all into me. So I really wouldn't be here without them. Like literally, but like, career wise, too. Yeah. Um, and so I'd also like to shout out Scott Ferguson, he was one of the first people to actually one of the first producers that I worked with ever. Um, he actually recorded, uh, produced, um, Stepping Stones and then, um, for my EP release party. That's when I had to, you know, get with a band and get a band together. So I'd like to shout out Kersee and Eddie, Jeff Barrett, sir, cancer. Um, and Sean Downey, they were my first people who I ever played with. And it was super cool because, like, I was so young, but I was immediately accepted into this world of professionals. And so I feel like I was, like, super fortunate enough to, like, skip all the little steps leading up to the big stuff. Um, and so they actually they brought me a long way. And Chrissy and Eddie actually is we still are best friends ever. Um, and he's still a major part of my career as well. Love it. Um, and then I have Brooks Diamond Productions, so they work with me. They're my booking agent. I'm super thankful for them. Um, they've done a lot of work with me in the past couple years, and, um, I'm just super grateful to have them on the team. They're a great asset. And, um, yeah, they've also been helping me big time as well.
Christina: [00:16:59] Fiona and Brooks love them.
DeeDee: [00:17:01] Yes. Yeah. Yeah. No, they're they're great people. Um, and then honestly, like, I just like to shout out the whole music community in general because, like, I was so nervous coming into the music industry because I always looked at it as a competition. You know, I was so young, I didn't feel like I kind of, like, fit in with the rest of them. But the more I kind of like got involved in the industry, I was like, this isn't a competition. This is art. Like, we make art to make art, then make art. So, like, why am I competing against everybody else when I'm just making art for me? You know what I mean? So now I look at it as, uh, bridging divides and coming together as one, um, to hopefully just have the community focus on the art itself and less on the competition aspect of the industry.
Christina: [00:17:46] It probably hasn't all been easy for you, but I'd love to hear if you care to share some challenges that you have experienced and what what kind of things you've done to sort of overcome them, because that's also a good thing. You know, no one ever starts out and says, by the way, you're going to have it's going to actually be a slog. It's going to be hard. They just say, kind of go after your dreams, which is absolutely. I'm a huge proponent of like, definitely chase your dreams and but but it can be really hard. Like, what kind of things have you experienced hardships in in pursuing your dream?
DeeDee: [00:18:21] Um, so actually for me, it mainly stems from my, my culture and, you know, my ethnicity. Ethnicity. That's a big word for me. That's good. You got it. Um, but anyway, um, so for those of you like, who don't know, um, my mom from the First Nation, um, my mom is Mi'kmaq and my dad is white, so I'm 50 over 50, which that doesn't matter, because when you're native, you're native. But however, other people in the world don't see it that way. And so they decide to kind of. Degrade on people who are 50 this, 50 that. And so throughout my career I've dealt with a lot of bullying, a lot of discrimination, a lot of racism, a lot of, you know, verbal abuse, um, especially towards my music, because whenever I was 14, I released my first single and it was called wishes. And, um, I actually like now, looking back on it, I have a vision, like to hopefully get it synced into a Disney movie and stuff like that. But back then, whenever I first released it, everybody was like, oh, like, what are you doing with yourself? Sort of thing? They were like, why did you even release that? Like, it's a sucky song.
DeeDee: [00:19:34] Oh, it's so childish that that, this, that and the other thing, but it's like, dude, that's a that's a piece of art that I took the time out of my day to create. So why do you think that you have the right to sit there and just, you know, basically just talk down on it because like, now that I've been in the industry for so long, like it's just like art is art and it takes so long to create art no matter what it is a song, a painting, a drawing, whatever. Art's art, and it takes so long to create. And so now I'm just like. You know, I was I was sitting there and I was just like, why am I letting these people just, like, talk bad about me and my music and why am I, you know, letting that get to me? Because, like, I, I have a dream and I have a passion and I want to follow it. Um, so basically what I did was I took the hate and discrimination and the racism, and I turned it into a motivation. And that's actually what motivated me to get where I am now.
Christina: [00:20:28] I love I love that I do not love that you had to experience all that. But it is interesting to hear the back stories of people, like at certain times in our lives, like I used to be motivated by the pain in my life. I was so driven by it, you know, fierce and and then you get to a point and I, you know, I think you're you're perhaps I don't want to speak, you know, speak for you, but, um, where you're then motivated by love and all the, all the goodness, um, and I mean, I see that and you do you feel that that that. Okay. You in the beginning, that's what really pumped you up. And you turn that negative into a positive, but now you're actually flying by the from the positive vibes is that.
DeeDee: [00:21:18] No absolutely. Yeah I can agree with that 100%. Yeah.
Christina: [00:21:22] That's really cool. What's um. What's something about you that people just don't know about you? Like, I mean, I, I'm afraid of worms and snakes and, like, I love dill pickles. Um.
DeeDee: [00:21:36] Do you?
Christina: [00:21:37] Yeah. I used to eat, uh, dill pickle and mustard sandwiches. Um, are there, like, quirky things about you that I really. I'm really, like, shifting the the, uh, the topic, aren't I like.
DeeDee: [00:21:51] Yeah, but it's cool, I like this.
Christina: [00:21:54] Oh my God. Yeah.
DeeDee: [00:21:55] What are some quirky things that I like or that I do?
Christina: [00:22:00] That you do or, i used to have a stamp collection. I'm just throwing things at you to, you know, kind of get the juices flowing. Like, is there anything that you are embarrassed of from your childhood? Like, I don't know, this is not embarrassing, but like, did you collect, um, used Cabbage Patch dolls or something? Cabbage Patch dolls are pretty creepy, by the way.
DeeDee: [00:22:24] But I've actually never had an experience with a Cabbage Patch doll, but.
Christina: [00:22:29] It's for the best,
DeeDee: [00:22:30] Um, some, like, quirky things that I do. I guess that my fans don't really know about is like. Oh, I don't even know.
Christina: [00:22:42] Are you Quirkless? Are you?
DeeDee: [00:22:44] I don't know,
Christina: [00:22:45] Maybe. Maybe you're just like um.
DeeDee: [00:22:47] Like, I have some, like, weird things that are, like, kind of gross. Like, I could be a professional burper.
Christina: [00:22:53] Oh,
DeeDee: [00:22:55] Like, literally.
Christina: [00:22:57] Is that, like, is that something that you do in public?
DeeDee: [00:23:02] No, no. No. It's like behind the scenes. But like, I remember when I was in like junior high, me and my friends used to have, like, burp contests and I'd always win. Oh, always.
Christina: [00:23:16] You know, I have to share with you I, I almost choked on a burping episode. Uh, I had my boyfriend was with me, and I was trying to show off and, like, chug cranberry juice and then burp really loud, and it came up and, like, through my nose, and somehow, like, I started choking on it, and it was this. It was just me and him. And here I am trying to impress him. My mom is, uh, my mom is a nurse, and she was around the corner like, ironing. And and I started like I could not breathe. I'm gasping. There's gross stuff coming out my nose, and oh.
DeeDee: [00:23:54] My gosh.
Christina: [00:23:55] He's just staring at me. And I go to get my mom and she like, performs the Heimlich maneuver. And, uh, that was the last time I think I, I tried to, like, be cool with burping. I just wanted to. I don't want to freak you out, but, like, just just a fair warning. If you're doing those competitions and chugging, chugging like.
DeeDee: [00:24:17] I'll definitely, like, take a mental note for sure.
Christina: [00:24:21] Oh, my. Have you ever, um. You know what? What's fun, though, is, um, apple burps. Do you know what I mean by that?
DeeDee: [00:24:29] No, I don't think so.
Christina: [00:24:31] I eat apples really fast, and I always have these incredible burps that, like, come from deep within my soul and, like, are loud and long, and it's just usually one. And it's right after I eat the apple, probably because, like, I'm swallowing so much air, I'm probably gonna choke on an apple someday because I just anyway. So I like.
DeeDee: [00:24:57] Oh my God.
Christina: [00:24:57] I like the fact that you you can burp.
DeeDee: [00:25:02] Yeah, I burp like a man. So just just a warning to everybody.
Christina: [00:25:07] That's cool.
DeeDee: [00:25:07] So like a couple other things that my fans probably don't know is like, I love the outdoors. I'm always outside. Um, I love gardening with my dad too. We last year we did like a little vegetable garden in our lawn and it was like, right, cute. But we loved it. Um, so I'm like a super, like, outdoorsy person. Um, I love walking, I love biking, swimming is a big thing for me as well. Um, I'm not really like a big sports girl. Um, whenever I was in junior high, I kind of was, like, trying to figure out my career path. And I tried a bunch of different sports, and I just kept getting led back to music, so. I believe that I was put on this earth to make music.
Christina: [00:25:51] I think that's great. Um. All right, shifting gears again, I, I wanted I wanted to ask you about this sense of urgency that can come when it comes to songwriting. So I've had this experience a couple of times in my, in my life where, um, you know, I didn't just show up at 9 a.m. to do my regular writing session. It was like something happened. I was reading the newspaper. Um, it triggered something in me that I, you know, meant a lot to me in my life. And I had to write this song. And I heard you talk about urgency when it came to your song Buried Truth, which. Mhm. Um, I do want to mention that, uh, you're nominated for two East Coast Music Awards, um, this year, and your correct me if I'm wrong, but one of those is fan's choice video of the year for the video for buried. Truth is, am I right? I'm right.
DeeDee: [00:26:51] Yes that's correct.
Christina: [00:26:53] Okay. That's amazing. By the way, I watched there's a couple videos, um, for this supporting this song. I watched them all and, um, it's a very powerful song.
DeeDee: [00:27:04] Oh.
Christina: [00:27:05] Uh. Very moving.
DeeDee: [00:27:06] Thank you.
Christina: [00:27:06] And very effective too, with with the visuals I found, which I'm a huge fan of music videos, but, um, I wondered if you could speak to that urgency when it came to writing this song.
DeeDee: [00:27:18] So basically, um, when I was younger, I found out that my great grandmother went to the residential school, and I, I immediately like, realized that I had a family connection to the residential school. So I was like, how can I write this song so that it not only tells the story, but it also is kind of like an outlet to those to the survivors and the people who have had people in the residential school who haven't survived. Because I find that, you know, there's so much generational trauma that stems from residential school, like my family included. Like we we struggle a lot with generational trauma from it. Um, so I wanted to just, like, be a voice for everybody in the indigenous community when it came to residential schools, because I not only do I have a family connection, residential schools are literally so inhumane. Like they're just not even. Like, it's actually disgusting. Like it makes me sick thinking about it. So whenever I wrote Buried Truth, I had the opportunity of writing it with Christie and Eddie, and I did a little co-write with Owen'O'Sound'Lee on it as well. And I honestly had a vision of whenever I wrote Berry truth, I was like, how can I make this so in-depth that it just literally captures everyone? That's that's literally how my brain went.
DeeDee: [00:28:40] And so I literally I stripped down to the bare bones like they scrubbed our skin with a wire brush like my grandma. Like whenever I was talking to my mom and we were, and she would tell me stories about, like, my great grandma or whatever, like my great grandma. Like she had her hair cut off, like her braid was gone. They scrubbed her skin with comment and a wire brush and scalding hot water in a bath. Um, they told her that she wasn't. Well. They stripped her language from her just like everyone else in the residential school. So there was just so many things that I wanted to, like, include in the song, because I'm just like, I'm such an activist for that, like, I, I really am, because it's just such a horrible thing that our government has done to our world. Um, and so whenever I had the opportunity to write Buried Truth, I was honestly honored to because I was just like, it's such an honor to be a voice for those who can't. And if I can be the voice by taking our story right across the world. And that's what I want to do.
Christina: [00:29:42] Amazing. And I. I just found out that you had Buried Truth part two and three.
DeeDee: [00:29:51] Yes.
Christina: [00:29:52] And I thought, oh, here is like a moving from telling this story. Uh, which is so important, so valuable, so healing, um, part of the healing for so many. And then this shift to, okay, this like this, you know, this crap, this crap happened. And here, here we are. And now what are we going to do? And yeah, I'm just I'd love to just read a the part that jumped out at me, which was I'd love for you to speak to it was there's some lyrics here. Um, move past blame. We've been torn apart. But the truth is we are one. So now the healing can begin with one another and within. Forget the actions of the past. Making new bonds healthy to last. So like, tell me about your your your process in in kind of moving to that. You know those lyrics and that message.
DeeDee: [00:30:48] Yeah. So I honestly this was kind of like a joint idea, um, the trilogy because I wanted to write very truth about the past. What happened? Very truth. Part two is the present. So like, we're all it's kind of hard for me to, like, explain because, like, I wanted to write it like past, present and future. So, like, our past is like, you know, what happened at the residential school? Our present is, you know, how do we come together as one and kind of just like, you know, heal each other and then our present or our future, sorry, would be like our, you know, looking into the future in hopes of like, love, kindness, friendship, etc.. So, um, like that, that one lyric, um, no more shame, move past blame. So like, I just like, I don't want to put the blame on anyone. Like what happened happened. But we kind of have to like, forgive but not forget, but move on in a way that everybody can still, you know, be sane, sort of, you know what I mean?
Christina: [00:32:03] Yeah. Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean, it doesn't doesn't feel good to stay in a place of pain. No. And unfriendliness or resentment or. I mean, I think that's the goal is how do we how do we get to this healthier place in our communities?
DeeDee: [00:32:23] Yeah. And I feel that placing blame continuously doesn't do anything. You can, you can blame them all you want, but it it already happened. So are you going to just dwell on the past or are you going to, you know, actually like come together with your community to make it better and to make it a better future for, you know, all of our indigenous youth that are, you know, coming into the world literally every day, like, so what are we going to do, dwell on the past or make a better future? And I want to make a better future.
Christina: [00:32:54] I love it, action has so much power. And, um, and that's what you're doing with your music. So this is pretty, uh, it's just great. It's I'm really. I'm I'm overly. This sounds creepy, overly tickled. I don't even like tickling, so I don't know why I use that. I actually hate being tickled, so I shouldn't not. I retract that word. I'm tickled pink. I, um, no, it's just really exciting. And one of the reasons I really wanted to talk to you. And I want to get to know you more outside of the podcast, too, is is just that it's infectious, that, um, um, you know, to see somebody taking action and in the right direction, what I believe to be the right direction. Um, and you want to you want to, I don't know, I like to I like to have those kinds of people around me or to get to know them and to. It's really great to have this platform that to share that message with other people, too, because, you know, the world can feel really heavy. Um, and sometimes I think people are kind of stunted in their life. They're like, I don't know what to do. It's just I'm just overwhelmed. And do you find that, like, it's just. You know, sometimes you just got to pick something and do it. Like, just just pick something and go do it.
DeeDee: [00:34:21] Yeah. Yeah, I agree with you 100%.
Christina: [00:34:25] Yeah,
DeeDee: [00:34:26] Absolutely.
Christina: [00:34:27] I'm going to shift gears again. You ready?
DeeDee: [00:34:29] Okay. I'm ready.
Christina: [00:34:31] I really want to hear about your experience preparing for and participating in the road to the Junos this year, because that's pretty big.
DeeDee: [00:34:39] Um, it was so much fun.
Christina: [00:34:41] The Junos, for listeners, uh, international listeners are like the Grammys. Everyone knows what the Grammys are in the United States or like the Grammys of Canada. Really? Yeah. So what was your. Tell us about your your role in that and. Yeah, how it was.
DeeDee: [00:34:57] Um, so actually I was pretty involved in the Junos this year, which was actually a surprise. And I'm super honored to have had, um, this big of a part in it. But I actually had the honor of sitting on the local Halifax Junos committee. Um, so I was asked this year to, um, basically represent youth and be a voice for the youth, uh, for the Mi'kmaq youth, and to make sure that Mi'kmaq culture was represented at all of our event sites. Um, and along with that, I had the opportunity to perform at road to the Junos. So what I did was I literally spent two weeks literally, like probably even more than two weeks, to be completely honest with you. And I was just like, road to the Junos. Road to the Junos. Yeah. Just so focused on preparing for it because I was so excited because like, whenever I was younger, like I always had like the dream of, you know, being at the Junos or being at the Grammys or winning an Oscar or whatever. But like, whenever the opportunity, like, actually came to me to play road to the Junos, I was like, uh, what the heck? It's life right now. Uh huh. Um, so I literally like, put all, like, my everything into prepping for the Junos because I was just, I was over the moon, like, I couldn't believe, like, it was so surreal to me. Um, so, anyway, me and the band, we rocked out at road to the Junos and it was absolutely amazing. We played alongside Wolf Castle and Morgan Tony, who was also nominated for Juno Award this year.
Christina: [00:36:28] Nice.
DeeDee: [00:36:29] Um, and it was just so awesome. It was such a great experience. I got to meet so many people and actually, I just graduated high school in January. Um, I'm a nurse. Thank you. I'm an early graduate, and, um, my, actually my whole administrative team at my school, they actually came to road to the Junos, and they watched me perform because they never like, throughout school. I was always like the kid that wasn't present, like my butt was never in a seat at school because I was just on the road. I was doing music, I was in the studio, I was performing, touring, rehearsing, etc. you know, the life of a musician.
Christina: [00:37:05] Mhm.
DeeDee: [00:37:06] Um, and so they, I don't think that my school really like, understood like how much work I actually put into it. Like I was like trying to explain to them like that I do play with a five piece band and that like I do do this for a living. And then whenever they came to my performance, it was just so special to me because it felt that I was just like that. I made them like, understand, like who I was as a person and what I wanted to do, like, you know, for my career, like career wise and stuff like that. So it was an absolute honor to be at the road to the Junos and to have my school there supporting me and my family and friends, and everyone was there. I got to reconnect with so many old sound techs, like lighting texts, like everybody, like it was so awesome. Um, and then I also had the opportunity of having a little interview with CBC music as well, um, which they actually aired the little piece of the interview, um, at the beginning of my performance for The Road to the Junos, which you can find on YouTube. Um, but yeah, no, it was just an incredible experience. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, I couldn't make it to the awards show. Um, but I did do road to the Junos, and it was such an honor, and I'll never forget that experience.
Christina: [00:38:19] I love it. Awesome. And now, now, coming up, we have the ECMAs. Um, yeah. And you're nominated for two awards, ECMA for Dance Recording of the Year and Fan's Choice video of the year for Buried Truth. And so, so is it different your prep for the ECMAs? You probably put so much prep into the road to the Junos that you're like, kind of already prepped. Would you, would you think.Do you think?
DeeDee: [00:38:45] Yeah, absolutely. Um, I honestly like I just, I prep every day, like I just look at it as a job. I wake up, I go to the studio and I, I practice for myself. And then I get together with my band, and I rehearse like, that's kind of just like, that's my routine. I wake up, I go to the studio, do what I have to do, come back in, live my life. And I usually like I usually set aside like two hours. So like, I'll do like one hour in the morning or one hour in the afternoon, or like one hour in the afternoon and one hour late at night, like wherever I can fit it in just because I am. I am 18 and I do have, you know, the teenager life as well. Yeah. Um, but yeah. No. Like. For ECMA this year. I'm super excited. I'm playing two showcases, so I have an export showcase, and then I have, um, a free concert actually at the Confederation Court Mall. Um, they're actually shutting down the whole mall and doing a distance day dance and free concert.
Christina: [00:39:42] Um, amazing.
DeeDee: [00:39:43] So there's going to be, like, appetizers and drinks at the pop up bar and a VIP meet and greet, and it's just going to be so much fun. Um, and then I'm also presenting an award at ECMA this year as well. I'm presenting the Indigenous Artist of the year award. It's going to be so much fun. Um, I love ECMA. Last year, ECMA, um, I was given six showcases in five days when they were in Halifax.
Christina: [00:40:08] Oh, that's a lot. That's a lot.
DeeDee: [00:40:10] Yeah, that's a lot. So this year I'm excited. I'm going to P.E.I., which is right by my reservation, and I'm just going to have the opportunity hopefully to just, you know, watch other showcases and, you know, connect with people and hang out with people and actually enjoy a little more than I could have last year. So I was performing so much. So I'm definitely looking forward to that. Like I loved performing that much. Any chance to get on a stage is amazing to me. Like I I'll take it any chance that I get, but last year was I'm grateful, but it was definitely a lot.
Christina: [00:40:44] Yeah, I'm I'm a fan of the like, give me two shows. Yeah, please give me something and, uh, I'll take whatever. But I can relate the I used to do way more shows at the ECMA and it just is. It's overwhelming, particularly when you're, um, when you are also like, I've always been self-managed and, and so you're doing meetings and, and you're trying to keep, you know, check your voice, make sure you're, you're not straining. And it's, uh, it can be a lot, but it sounds like a really healthy pace, um, for you this year. And I will see you there. Yay. Okay, well, I've got a, um, one sort of last question before I read you my, um. Goodbye. I started writing my goodbyes out in advance so that I don't totally fudge it up. Um, but I do have, like, what are some things in in your near future or distant future that you're like, I really want to do that.
DeeDee: [00:41:44] That's a good question, because my dream has always been to play stadiums. I've never pictured myself playing a little bar gig or anything like that. Like I've always pictured just like big and beyond, um, which is kind of funny because like, literally in the past. Like two years. I've played Scotiabank Centre three times.
Christina: [00:42:12] Mhm.
DeeDee: [00:42:12] Um, and it was absolutely incredible. But now I want to so like one stadium that's like really on my radar is the Rogers Centre in Toronto.
Christina: [00:42:24] Mhm.
DeeDee: [00:42:25] Absolutely love that venue. Want to rock out in it. I want to sell it out. Um yeah. But like my vision for myself is just like playing in front of like 70,000, 80,000 people. Um, and then I eventually want to get to the point where I'm playing for like, 4 or 5 million.
Christina: [00:42:42] Okay. Um, now, no biggie, no biggie. You know,
DeeDee: [00:42:45] Like, I have, i have, like, a pretty big dream. And I, you know, whenever you listen to my songs, like, I literally tell, I kind of tell my life story through my songs in a way. Um, because, like, my Stepping Stones was where I kind of started. Um, and then it kind of like, well, literally, the stones kept stepping into stay dancing and whatnot. And so now, you know, that sort of tells an aspect of my life as well. So I want to just take my music and just share it right around the globe, because I just put so much work into it. And I'm literally obsessed with music. I literally say this to my dad all the time. I was like, I'm literally such a nerd when it comes to music. Like, I'm literally like overly obsessed. So any chance that I can get to, like, share my music in hopes to, like, have it affect other people in like a way that it resonates with me as well? Like, that's kind of like. What I hope for and what I want to do.
Christina: [00:43:47] I mean, it's happening and it sounds like it's going to happen, I love it. You have a very clear, clear vision. I think it makes sense.
DeeDee: [00:43:55] Thanks.
Christina: [00:43:56] I'm turning my video on because I'm going to read you my, my, my goodbye. Yeah, sure. Let's let's try that. We might freeze up, but. It might not. Um. Uh oh. So this is going to be a little bit repetitive because I already mentioned some of this, but okay. Ready.
DeeDee: [00:44:14] Mhm.
Christina: [00:44:15] Dee dee. I first saw you in your band performing Natural Born Original at the Wildfire Recovery concert in Halifax in the spring of 2023. I heard and saw a unique and powerful musician on stage, a great band, and I thought how awesome to be so poised and making positive connections at such a young age. Congratulations on all of your accolades and I wish you a long and prosperous lifetime doing what you love.
DeeDee: [00:44:44] Oh.
Christina: [00:44:47] Oh, did I make you cry? Yes.
DeeDee: [00:44:50] Yeah.
Christina: [00:44:52] That's my mission. No. Just to make people not cry, but feel something.
DeeDee: [00:44:58] Oh, thank you so much.
Christina: [00:45:00] Oh, it's just such a delight. It's been great to talk to you, and, uh, I, I really look forward to, like. Like seeing you at the ECMAs. Like, I know you're going to be busy.
DeeDee: [00:45:10] Me, too, i'm excited to see you, too. Whenever I saw you at the, um, at the wildfire recovery concert, and we talked after, and you were like, I'm such a fan. I was like, yeah, this is my girl. I was like, me and her are gonna click.
Christina: [00:45:25] I was. Yeah, I was fangirling for sure. I was fangirling for sure. And I and and I remember I was like, you were like what? I think you're like, do you want to write a song? And I'm like, yes, I don't, I'm not good at co-writing. But like, yeah.
DeeDee: [00:45:40] You were like uh, I don't really know how, but.
Christina: [00:45:42] I'm terrible at it.
DeeDee: [00:45:43] Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
Christina: [00:45:45] I've been thinking about it because, like, I think it's going to happen for us. I just, I think it's just a matter of like, I don't know, you know what I mean? It's something will hit where I'm like. Like I've been I have been thinking though, like, you know, whenever I'm not ready for a new record yet or I'm not even in writing mode, but I keep thinking there's going to be a powerful, um, message that involves two women, an older and a younger.
DeeDee: [00:46:09] Right? Mhm. Yeah.
Christina: [00:46:11] There's something I feel like we can do on that. You know, just with that like.
DeeDee: [00:46:18] Yeah, absolutely.
Christina: [00:46:19] And I'd love, I'd love for whatever it is to be something that we can sing together, like really and really strong. Like two womens voices.
DeeDee: [00:46:25] Yeah. Like, I, I literally like whenever I asked you to write like I pictured because, like, we all sang on the stage at the end for the finale. And so I, like, pictured like me and you writing a song that like, we would, like, perform together, like, so whether it's like in your set where you call me up or in my set where I call you up, I don't know, like I just picture me and you like just rocking out on stage. The one song.
Christina: [00:46:49] Yeah. So. Yeah, let's I mean, we're both young still. We have lots of time. And I have, you know, we have a studio here. I'm sure you have access to studios, too, but, like, we can get you up here to workshop something. And, and the cool thing is, there's no rush. I'm a big fan of just like let's just make it great whatever it is. Yeah. When it's great, we'll know it's great. You know, there's no pressure.
DeeDee: [00:47:15] Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
Christina: [00:47:18] Um. Well, DeeDee. Thank you. Um, I won't keep you any longer, even though I want to with you. I want to hang out with you all day, but I'm gonna go. I honestly, I have to pack for the ECMAs.
DeeDee: [00:47:28] Me, too. I'm going to pack my suitcase right after this podcast. So
Christina: [00:47:33] It's kind of stressing me out because I just want to wear, like, sweats and a t shirt, but I. But that's also not like me. I don't. I mean, it is at home, but like when I go out, I try to try to switch it. Up a bit.
DeeDee: [00:47:44] I don't even know I like, I have to go like shopping or something, like I need to get more outfits. I don't even know.
Christina: [00:47:51] I do love.
DeeDee: [00:47:52] Like because now, because now I'm breaking into like my 90 minute sets.
Christina: [00:47:56] Yeah.
DeeDee: [00:47:58] And I'm just like, I'm trying to do it so that I can do, like stepping stones at the beginning. So where my brand for my stepping stones and then switch my outfit for stay dancing. Like, that's kind of how I'm picturing it, because I actually took the inspiration from Taylor Swift from one of her performances, because she actually she performs each album, but she like, wears her brand for each album. And I'm like, that's actually like fire. Like, that's cool.
Christina: [00:48:22] It's a very cool idea.
DeeDee: [00:48:24] Yeah, yeah. So I'm, I think I'm gonna try and do something like that as well.
Christina: [00:48:30] Do it, do.
Christina: [00:48:31] It, I love it, actually. Can you let my audience know where they can find your merch? And.
DeeDee: [00:48:36] Yeah, absolutely so I have merch on sale in my store, which is on my website. So you can go to www.deedeeaustin.com and go to the store tab. And I have merch, and I'm working on getting new merch right now for my new album. And I'm also in the works of creating another album to release in November, which I'll have merch for that as well. So I'm always creating, always on the go, and I'm creating my third and fourth album right now.
Christina: [00:49:01] So amazing. Congratulations. And your tattoo that I see for Buried Truth on your left arm can be seen on your merch, on your t-shirts, on your page.
DeeDee: [00:49:11] Yes, absolutely.
Christina: [00:49:13] I love a good tattoo and I love a good, uh, I have these, um, uh, when I see you. Oh, what's the other arm?
DeeDee: [00:49:21] This one, this one is in my mom's handwriting. It says you didn't come this far to only come this far.
Christina: [00:49:28] Nice. Wow.
DeeDee: [00:49:29] And then this one. This is a paw that I got for my first ever dog. That we got our first ever family dog. She actually ended up passing away for about a month ago, but.
Christina: [00:49:40] Oh, I'm sorry.
DeeDee: [00:49:41] I wanted to get I wanted to get her paw because it was our first ever dog, so.
Christina: [00:49:45] Oh, that's so sweet. That is so sweet.
Christina: [00:49:47] When I see you, um, I will give you. I have these temporary tattoo packs I made for my album, and there are eight tattoos in there. Um, symbols from the music, so I will. There's some of them are these are real tattoos on my hands, but some of them are like, uh, the ones on my hand or, like, cool. They're all little, little tattoos. So I'll, I'll, I'll give you one of those when I see you at the.
DeeDee: [00:50:14] Absolutely. And I'll promote it. I'll like, take a bunch of pictures.
Christina: [00:50:16] That's right. You will.
DeeDee: [00:50:17] Yeah I. Will absolutely.
Christina: [00:50:19] That's right. That's the purpose.
DeeDee: [00:50:21] Yes.
Song 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You': [00:50:31] It's love. I don't want to say goodbye to you. I don't want to say goodbye to you.
Heartbeat Hotline: [00:50:48] Welcome to the Heartbeat Hotline 1-902-669-4769. I'm the host of a Chat with Heart Podcast, Christina Martin, and I'm so excited you called. Leave me your question, a suggestion for the podcast or a comment about this episode. Please be aware your message may be used on the podcast and social media. Tell me your name, where you're calling from and it's also fine if you want to remain anonymous. Thanks for listening. Have a great fucking day!
Christina: [00:51:20] Thanks for listening to A Chat with Heart podcast produced by me, Christina Martin. Co-produced and engineered by my husband Dale Murray. Dale is a stellar singer, songwriter and music producer, so check out his website dalemurray.ca. The podcast theme song 'Talk About It' and 'I Don't Want to Say Goodbye to You' were written by me and recorded by Dale. Visit my bandcamp to find a CDs, vinyl, digital music and fun merch like custom made puzzles and temporary tattoo packs. Become a monthly or yearly supporter of this podcast and my music endeavors on Patreon. If you're new to Patreon, it's a membership platform that helps creators get paid. I love it! Sign up is a free or paid member at Patreon.com/ChristinaMartin. I would love it if you had time to share rate, leave a review and subscribe to a chat with heart on all the places you listen to podcasts. Wishing you, my little heartbeat listeners, a great day.
