Indigenous Queer Artist Edzi’u Drops New Single “This Love” Ahead of Upcoming EP Tunnel Vision
Through heavy whispers of new wave and influences of cultural storytelling, Tahltan, and Tlingit Canadian artist Edzi’u has released her latest musical effort. A new single titled “This Love”, this track is the first to be released ahead of the artist’s upcoming record. The indie pop storyteller’s new EP, Tunnel Vision, is a four-track album that conveys themes of love, heartbreak, and grief. A deeply sensual and vulnerable ensemble of songs, Edzi’u weaves a vast array of human emotion throughout, enticing listeners with her modern 80s pop sound, delicate vocals, and passionate lyricism.
“This Love” is a deeply romantic and poetic lead single, combining emotive lyrics over dark and haunting synth melodies. As she sings of a love that appears to awaken the strongest of emotions – desire, and hate – Edzi’u delivers an honest, addicting, and otherworldly musicality. Although expressed through lush vocals and light-as-a-feather composition, “This Love” is successful in lighting a fire within anybody who listens to it.
“Sugar” is an appropriately sweet song from Tunnel Vision as it delivers a story of past lovers with its soft reverb and longful songwriting. This track blends seamlessly into “Not Enough,” a melancholy number that dresses futuristic beats as an 80s pop ballad.
The EP ends with “Ego Death,” a more upbeat number compared to its predecessor as it decorates itself with pulsating electro-pop drenched in reverb drums. Expressing a story of strength and liberation, “Ego Death” tells the story of somebody who is rising above a love that they realize isn’t real.
Following the announcement of Tunnel Vision, which is slated for a summer 2024 release, Edzi’u has several tour dates throughout this summer including Adaka Festival, Jam In Jubilee, Vancouver Pride and Vines Art Society.
Edzi’u is a Tahltan and Tlingit artist based in Vancouver, Canada on the unceded territories of the Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations. As she fuses her inspirations of cultural storytelling with ethereal vocals, Edzi’u draws inspiration from her roots and life experience as an indigenous person, delivering a discography and musicality that is deeply poetic and impactful. Her upcoming EP Tunnel Vision is preceded by two full-length studio albums, including Kime Ani (2018) and Potlatch in the Box (2023). Following her sophomore album, Edzi’u made a name for herself as an inimitable force in the Canadian music industry and has unapologetically expressed her two-spirit indigiqueer identity. Not only is Edzi’u a rising pop icon to keep on your radar, but she is also a cultural advocate and spirited storyteller.
Hi Edzi’u! Care to introduce yourself to the readers?
Hello! I’m Edzi’u and I’m a Tahltan and Taku River Tlingit musician, composer, and singer.
Tell us about the process of recording “This Love”?
I wrote This Love several years ago under a different name, called Tunnel Vision – which became the title of the EP. It used to be a slow indie track I played on electric guitar, about a horrible abusive relationship I was in at the time. Unfortunately, I found myself in a similar situation in the past few years. I was freshly released from that situation when rewriting and recording This Love. My co-producer Lin Gardiner and I sent some sounds back and forth up until I arrived in her studio in Roberts Creek BC. I was so heartbroken! Recording this was such medicine and I really felt every word when tracking the vocals. We then thought this needs some bass and guitar additions outside of the synths – she called up friend and bandmate Clef Seeley and this version of This Love was born!
What emotions or experiences did you draw from while creating “This Love”?
The song really is about the realization that I was in an abusive situation. The ups and downs of relationships like that can feel like an addiction, you’re always chasing the high of reprieve after conflict. It’s a strange mixture of desperation, joy and disgust. That’s really what I was feeling in the initial draft of the song and those feelings were very present in the completed version. In this version, I added the “best that I’ll ever find, worst that I’ll ever find” as a reclaiming the truth out of the delusion – that love is ultimately more harmful than fulfilling.
How does being a two-spirit indigiqueer artist influence your artistry and the messages you convey through your music?
It influences my daily life, really! I want other Indigiqueer’s to feel heard and represented and feel love and relatability through my songs.
Can you talk about the influence of 80s pop on your current sound?
I was raised by aunties with big hair, loud voices, and leather jackets who also had the softest hearts. They all grew up in the 80s and loved 80s ballads and music. I am obsessed with 80’s drums and I love Stevie Nicks leather and lace era. I couldn’t keep it out of the music if I tried.
Upcoming Shows:
June 28 to July 1, 2024 – Whitehorse – Adaka Festival
July 4th – Abbotsford – Jam In Jubilee
July 26-Aug 4- Vancouver – Vancouver Pride
August 16th – Vancouver – Vines Art Society