The Spiritual Warriors share new single, “Brothers and Sisters” (Interview)

Jenna Melanson·June 16, 2023

Indigenous Roots Rockin’ Father and Daughter Lead THE SPIRITUAL WARRIORS Unite with Inspiring Anthem “Brothers and Sisters”

The Spiritual Warriors drop “Brothers and Sisters”, the second single from their album Indigenize, both out now.

Fronted by father and daughter duo Leroy and Daisy Joe, The Spiritual Warriors weave together Indigenous chants with contemporary roots, rock, and reggae to create a sound that reflects life in the coastal mountains of the Lil’wat Nation.

With lyrics that swing smoothly from English to U’cwalmicwts, the Lil’wat language, all set to a reggae beat, Spiritual Warriors create a unique and intriguing fusion of two culturally important musical styles. It’s uncanny how seamlessly well The Spiritual Warriors combine Indigenous drumming and chanting with the cadences familiar to fans of reggae. It’s a marriage that makes perfect sense.

On the brand new single “Brothers and Sisters”, the band takes on social issues endemic to Canada’s many Indigenous nations. Singers Leroy and Daisy lament the countless Indigenous brothers and sisters who end up homeless, addicted to drugs or alcohol, or working on the streets.

“This song is to let them know that they are still welcome home,” Leroy says, “that there is a fire waiting for them to keep them warm and that their grandmothers, grandfathers, and ancestors have not abandoned them.”

During live performances, the singer and guitarist says he often gets a lump in his throat while thinking of friends and family members who ended up on the streets, some never making it back home to Lil’wat Nation, near Pemberton, British Columbia.

“I pray and sing for those trying to make it back home,” he says. “The song was so hard to write. I kept weeping while writing it.”

Drummer Rich Doucet, bassist Mike Rowe, guitarist Cuyler Biller and keyboardist Quentin De Lorenzis set a perfect rock-steady reggae beat for Leroy and Daisy, who chant and deliver their pleas in both English and U’cwalmicwts. The second verse, sung in U’cwalmicwts, is especially poignant.

“Brothers and Sisters” follows the recent Spiritual Warriors single, “Oh Ama Sq’it”, written in Leroy’s St’at’imcets language, also native to the Lil’wat Nation. A joyful, upbeat track, almost calypso in feel, it encourages people to get up, have fun, and dance. It’s a big hit during their live performances.

Both tracks appear on the full-length Indigenize, recorded at Abbotsford’s Studio Downe Under and produced and engineered by Leroy’s long-time collaborator, Andreas Schuld. Leroy says the record is Inspired by the Truth and Reconciliation initiative and the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls campaign.

Indigenize features eight tracks written by Leroy with the mission to give hope to his people and help non-Indigenous folks to better understand the issues that are still faced today by First Nations people. Composer Russell Wallace, longtime friend and original member of the band, co-wrote 2 tracks and arranged vocal harmonies on the album. Musicians on Indigenize include Norm Fisher, Rich Brown, and Geeta Das as well as special guests rappers Geo the Voice (George Ignace, Secwepemculucw) and Ostweleve (Ronnie Dean Harris, Stō:lo/St’át’imc/Nlaka’pamux).

Watch the lyric video for “Brothers and Sisters” below and learn more about The Spiritual Warriors via our mini-interview.

Care to introduce yourself?

My Name is Leroy Joe, my Indigenous name is P’i7p’i7 p’ius ( pronounced: paypay pea-yoosh) and it means baby face or doll face, given to me by my grandfather, I’m from the Lil’wat Nation which is located 2hrs north of Vancouver BC, I have been playing music since I was a young boy and started writing songs when I was about 19.

Tell us about the process of writing and recording “Brothers And Sisters?”

Well to be honest, one morning I woke up and picked up my guitar and just started strumming and the song just came, it’s really about how a lot of our young Indigenous people end up on the streets and lose their life out there. This song is to let them know that they can come back home now, that things have changed, they can come and live their lives as indigenous people to come back to the family, community, and all things that make us who we are. I feel that this song has been stewing for a while and I just needed that right moment to let it come out.

What’s it like having a band with your daughter in it?

Sometimes it’s hard to believe because not too long ago she was just a little girl plunking on piano and next thing you know we are sharing a stage together, it’s amazing for sure and she’s got her own thing going as she writes her own songs and now starting to rap. She started with us when she was 14 because we needed another female lead and she volunteered, I was very skeptical at first, just being cautious you know, but she’s really grown into a seasoned musician and I keep telling her to not forget us when she’s famous..haha…all kidding aside, its definitely challenging at times but it’s so cool.

Who was the first Canadian artist to blow you away?

Well, I think it had to be Neil, even though at the time I didn’t know he was Canadian because I was very young when I first listened to “Heart of Gold” on the Harvest Album and all those songs really blew my mind, they spoke to me and I was a bit older when I found out he was from Canada. I actually thought he was Native, lol. Also, Buffy really blew my mind when I first heard some of her earlier stuff, so yea Buffy and Neil. I met Colin James, Sara McLachlan, Jim Cuddy, Art Bergman, Randy Bachman, Bill Henderson, and other great Canadian musicians in my time as well. And of course, there are so many Indigenous musicians that have really inspired me.