(submitted photo/ Hazel Waskewitch)

By Nicole Reis

RISING STAR

Vocalist from Onion Lake Cree Nation makes Indigenous Music Countdown top 10

Sep 10, 2020 | 5:09 PM

A rising star from Onion Lake Cree Nation has made it to the top 10 of the Indigenous Music Countdown with her latest track Feel Free.

Hazely is an R&B vocalist fusing acoustic pop melodies and hooks with traditional Indigenous Round Dance songs. She is also a member of Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation in Alberta.

Hazel ‘Hazely’ Waskewitch, 19, has been singing since the age of seven and comes from a musical family of 14. She said her top 10 song is meant to uplift and inspire people to feel strong and happy.

“Feel Free is a story about myself,” she told meadowlakeNOW. “I want to inspire people to stay positive, always remember who you are, don’t give up on yourself and always be safe.”

According to her Facebook fan page, Hazely got her start performing locally and winning a series of talent shows. Her culture remains an important part of her life.

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Hazely was first launched into the Canadian music scene when she was invited to work with N’we Jinan – a travelling music studio program to create the song and video for the single Young and Happy which was released in 2018, and later featured on the N’we Jinan Firemakers, Volume 7 album in 2019. The video has garnered over 195,000 views on YouTube and Facebook combined and continues to be streamed nationwide. The young artist recently released her debut album All Good Things in June.

Her father, Lionel Waskewitch says Hazel grew up listening to his late mother who was a sought-after singer from Onion Lake. His late mother was said to have many requests to attend wedding and festivals as her voice was compared to the late Patsy Cline.

Lionel has been raising Hazel since she was 11 months old and says she was always singing her own songs and always heard her around her the house singing. He has been supportive of her music career by taking her to talent shows and said her ability to find her voice gave her the self-confidence he always knew she had.

“When I go to powwows and I sing, I see different people. The powwow drummers have a certain character of chins-up and chest out — a sense of pride to be known for that,” Lionel said. “That’s what I see in her. She’s just proud to be herself.”

The community has been supportive of the family’s musical talents. Lionel said he always knew she’d see success.

In her final year of high school, Hazely plans to continue making music which helps to uplift everyone.

The public can still vote for her music and support her climb the charts by emailing countdown@ncifm.com.

—

nicole.reis@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @nicolereis7722