Uncle Trent (Agecoutay) and Ashley Ghostkeeper Celebrate Love and Legacy With “You’re the Reason” From Legacy Album
Following the success of “Burn a Smudge,” which reached the Top 20 on the Indigenous Music Countdown, Saulteaux from Cowessess First Nation in Treaty 4 singer-songwriter Uncle Trent (Agecoutay) returns with another heartfelt single from his upcoming album Legacy. “You’re the Reason,” featuring country artist Ashley Ghostkeeper, is a timeless celebration of love and devotion, written by Trent’s late father, Jim Agecoutay. Originally composed for a friend’s wedding, the song has found new life in this deeply personal rendition, weaving together two generations of musical storytelling.
“This song was meant to be sung at weddings,” says Trent. “It’s about love that stands the test of time, and my dad wrote it with that in mind. Ashley was the perfect voice to bring it to life—her tone, her sincerity, it all fit.”
Trent’s journey as a songwriter is rooted in the music his father played for over forty years in bars and dance halls across Western Canada. Legacy, his new album, is a tribute to that musical inheritance, featuring songs that Jim wrote, some co-written with Trent posthumously. Both “You’re the Reason” and “Burn a Smudge” are part of this project, offering different perspectives on tradition, connection, and resilience.
Ashley Ghostkeeper, a Métis-Cree country artist from Alberta, is known for her storytelling and rich, melodic twang, earning nominations for the Official Country Music Alberta Award’s Fan’s Choice category in 2023 and 2025.
“The first time I heard this song, I felt it,” says Ashley. “It’s simple and true, the way great country songs are meant to be.” Inspired by 90s country legends like Miranda Lambert and The Chicks, Ashley’s voice brings a modern yet nostalgic warmth to “You’re the Reason.”
Beyond his music, Trent has made an impact in amplifying Indigenous voices, co-creating The Deadly Uncle Podcast and Do You Hear Me Now…Amplifying Indigenous Voices. His dedication to storytelling extends beyond song, fostering spaces for Indigenous artists and cultural discussions. His work has earned him the Shane Yellowbird Award and nominations from the Native American Music Awards, Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, and Indigenous Music Awards.
How’s your year going so far?
I think 2025 is going to be a great year. I started the year off with a change, I left my position at Windspeaker Media as an afternoon drive host at CJWE. I needed time away from radio to put the finishing touches on the new album and I’m really excited to share it with everyone. The debut single, Burn a Smudge, from my upcoming album Legacy is currently at #6 on the Indigenous Music Countdown, and that feels like a great first response to the upcoming album. We were lucky enough to get a nomination at the Native American Music Awards, which we will find out the results soon, in early spring. I have also recorded a couple of collaborations with Kooteney and Co, a Calgary-based band that I have been playing bass guitar, as a side project, and at the end of April, we will be at Studio Bell cutting a new EP. So 2025 is off to a great start with the potential for more music to play and stories to tell.
“You’re the Reason” is not only a love song—it’s a generational gift from your father. What was it like emotionally to bring one of his songs to life after his passing?
I can’t truly express the gratitude I have for my Dad. He gave me so many gifts in life, the most important being music. The bittersweet part of this whole project is that the original intent was to finish these songs with my Dad. We played together for over 25 years, and when I approached him about the old cassettes in the desk, with his song demos, and song ideas, random melodies I asked him to work with me to finish some of the unfinished songs, as well as rework some of the songs he had written.
Life has other plans and although we never got to finish the songs together, I was able to work through the grief of losing my Dad, with my brother Bryce. Together we built the whole album, as a tribute and a thank you to our Dad.
Ashley Ghostkeeper brings a beautiful warmth to this track. What made her the right collaborator for this song, and how did your musical chemistry come together in the studio?
Ashley has a beautiful tone to her voice and I have been a fan of hers for years. I remember seeing her do early performances in Edmonton at an Indigenous craft market and watching her grow as an artist and performer over the last five years. We ended up sharing the stage a number of times as well and became friends. I knew her voice would be perfect for the song. When Ashley came in to record her parts, we had already tracked the music and I had a rough vocal track on it, we worked together to blend our voices and bring my Dad’s song to life.
Your new album Legacy features songs your father wrote and others you’ve co-written with him posthumously. How do you go about writing with someone who’s no longer here?
I moved forward in a good way, knowing I had my dad’s blessing to make these songs my own. I had an easier time, I believe, finishing the songs after he passed. When he was alive and we were playing together, it was difficult for us to write together. I always looked up to him and always tried to get his approval. He was never one to co-write with other people and he always stressed to me the importance of finding my own voice.
We spent a lot of time together playing music over the years and my dad was honestly my best friend.
He was a residential school survivor (Marieval Residential School Cowessess First Nation) and grew up without running water and electricity. He would always joke with me that I didn’t have it so bad, even when our family didn’t have money, he always said, you grew up in a house with running water, and electricity, and never had to hunt or trap to survive. You didn’t have it that bad.
When he was moved to hospice care in the late stages of his battle with liver cancer, he told me to do what I wanted with the songs. He knew how important they were to me, and he knew that I would work hard to make them the best they could be.
The final words my Dad ever said to me was make sure your Mom is taken care of and I know your life has not been easy.
So after he was gone I felt this drive to share his music and create an album that celebrated his life in music and his dedication to the craft of songwriting.
Between your work on The Deadly Uncle Podcast and Do You Hear Me Now, you’ve created powerful platforms for Indigenous voices. How do music and storytelling intersect for you as tools for healing and change?
There is so much power in telling your own story. For too long Indigenous people have not been given the opportunity to tell our stories, in media, and of course history. Being able to share my story and the journeys of other Indigenous musicians and community members has been a real catalyst for my own healing. Being able to demonstrate to listeners that we all struggle, but our circumstances do not define us and healing is possible, has probably been the most rewarding thing about being a creative.
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