Multi-award-winning Halifax artist Aquakultre releases new single and video for “Scotia Born”
Multi-award-winning Halifax singer, rapper, composer and storyteller Aquakultre aka Lance Sampson releases the new single “Scotia Born” , his first music release since 2023’s Polaris Music Prize longlisted album Don’t Trip. The anthemic new single is destined to become a new soulful source of Canadian east coast pride, while simultaneously nudging the rest of Canada and global audiences to pay strict attention to this historically significant region. Produced by fellow acclaimed songwriter and two-time Music Nova Scotia Producer of the Year Erin Costelo, “Scotia Born” also boasts contributions from a few of the finest pure vocal talents who represent two of the oldest Black communities in Nova Scotia; Juno-nominated Canadian Idol finalist Gary Beals from Cherry Brook, and North Preston’s Haliey Smith, one of the most recorded background session singers in Atlantic Canada, whose credits include Canadian music icons David Myles and Joel Plaskett.
“This is a song recognizing the cultural richness that we have here as Black Nova Scotia, the resilience, the togetherness, and how all communities of Black Nova Scotia are connected,” says the former CBC Music Searchlight competition winner and Prism Prize recipient. “It’s about being proud of that cultural richness and being aware of it. I didn’t have that when I was a teenager, I really wish I did. In the generation before me there were people who understood what that was, but somehow down the line that awareness of identity as Black Nova Scotian didn’t come through. Scotia Born is just being proud of our ancestors for paving the way for us and being proud for coming home, and being proud of our birthplace when we’re abroad. It’s just about being proud of being Black Nova Scotians.”
Equal parts catchy and celebratory, “Scotia Born” offers a rich glimpse into the storied musical and cultural histories that emanate from a distinct ethno-cultural Canadian community, incorporating vocals and lyrics that invoke what it truly means to be from this region. The music video co-directed by John Butler and Juno-winning artist Shad provides a bird’s eye view of a multi-generational community-centred cookout and dance-friendly retrospective that acts as a tribute to some important Black Nova Scotian music luminaries. With heart-on-sleeve intensity, “Scotia Born” is a life-affirming anthem that provides just the right backdrop for Lance’s big, warm vocals and potent rhymes to shine through, while paying tribute to a unique region of the Black diaspora.
First off care to introduce yourself to our readers?
My name is Lance Sampson, musically known as Aquakultre. I am from Halifax, Nova Scotia. I have been here since 1992 but I can trace my roots back to 1783.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
The track is called Scotia Born. It’s really a celebration of being Black Nova Scotian. That’s a historic community here that not a lot of people know about. I didn’t know any of that when I was a teenager. I didn’t know that I was part of something. That awareness of my identity as a Black Nova Scotian didn’t come through. Same story for a lot of my generation – we didn’t know about where we came from and we kinda got lost in the sauce. Scotia Born is just being proud of our ancestors for paving the way for us and being proud for coming home, and being proud of our birthplace when we’re abroad. It’s just about being proud of being Black Nova Scotians.
How do you typically go about the songwriting process? Do you have a specific method or creative routine that you follow?
My particular process always starts with rhythm. If I have a certain rhythm that I feel within my mind or my body, that prompts what I want to write about. I don’t like to force my writing – I like to wait until I am inspired by a certain event or conversation or person and that will approach how I write a song.
Looking ahead, what are your plans for supporting this new release? Are there any upcoming tours, music videos, or additional content that fans can look forward to in connection with this project?
There’s a music video for the track. Beyond that, I can’t say right now but watch for me on socials – there’s going to be more announced in a couple of weeks.
Looking back on your musical career, is there a particular moment or accomplishment that you consider a turning point or a highlight?
When I started looking into my family and doing regional research about the Black Nova Scotian experience, that was a turning point. I started meeting people and discovering histories and stories and all of it has fed into my work. Getting behind something that I know means a lot to me and to others in Nova Scotia, I am creating more purposeful and intentional work.
Last but not least, it’s time to pay it forward, what upcoming band or artist would you recommend your fans check out?
Check out Zamani Folade – she’s the daughter of Four The Moment’s Delvina Bernard and I really love what she’s doing. In fact, shout out the whole roster of the new Maidie Music House –Haliey Smith who is featured on Scotia Born, Reeny Smith, and Jody Upshaw…All amazing women artists.