Meet the Artists: Luminato’s 2022 Artists in Residence Cohort
Art has the ability to lower our guards, to let things in we normally wouldn’t even notice or hear. For me, it is a huge honor and responsibility to create art, to be an artist. It’s a path I will continue to be on for as long as I’m alive. It’s a path that has allowed me the space to feel and create on a timeline that works in balance with both my daughter and myself.”
Ontario Presents • Spotlight on Ansley Simpson
“I started to write this album not knowing it was a story, just focusing on building a framework that I could relate to, something to help guide myself through and into the future based on the teachings that I know. About three songs in, I saw a storyline emerge, I saw characters continuing to show up as I wrote, as well as new ones, and a journey began to map out before me and lock into place. So I continued to write songs until I wrote myself into chaos, broke everything down and the kept writing until I was at a place of calm again, into a place where I could live, a place where my daughter could live.”
Music Buddy • Ansley Simpson • Sky Woman • Season 1 • Episode 24
Ansley’s enchanting and powerful sophomore album “She Fell From the Sky” delves into the origin story of Gizhiigokwe (Sky Woman), who embarks upon an emotional and brave journey on earth in an attempt to repair and restore humanity, and the planet. Ansley's musical continuation of the story is filled with compassion, humour, mystery, and a healthy blend of dark and light.
The Borderline • The Great Lakes Odyssey Radio Hour • Water, Water Everywhere (Not A Drop To Drink)
“Ansley Simpson of Alderville First Nation delivers scintillating song and voice on her take of the Lakes’ past and current state.”
The Sound Cafe • A Conversation with Award Winning Singer-Songwriter Ansley Simpson
Ansley Simpson’s newest album “She Fell From the Sky” is master work in song writing, storytelling and compelling recording. In this, her second album Ansley take us all on a timeless journey that will open the heart and mind with profound insight and hopefully instill a sense of urgency and purpose for those who have ears to hear.
Exclaim! • Ansley Simpson Breakwall • (9/10 Review)
“Toronto singer-songwriter Ansley Simpson's first release, Breakwall, is a stunning debut from an already accomplished artist.
It's rare to witness an artist emerge fully formed, but with Breakwall, Simpson offers the good stuff right out of the gate. Her fine guitar work and heartrending vocal performances anchor the sweeping production by James Bunton. The pain and experience of these songs are driven into the soul by Simpson's voice, which glides from soothing to searing in a single line.”
Exclaimed! • A Radical Act: Canadian Musicians in Conversation About Being Sober in an Industry Built on Booze
“I started to write songs as a first step. Then I took it a step further and decided to figure out if I could sing in front of people, and I worked with Micah Barnes as a singing coach. Micah is sober, and spoke a lot about that; he normalized it a bit for me, and he got me to a place where I could sing in front of people and not be a complete mess, but I still had to drink to perform. Double bourbons were with me on stage every time I played. I tried many times to get sober. Then one day, without much thought, I decided I would only drink if it was in a good way. In my [Anishinaabe] culture, we have a saying, "mino bimaadiziwin," which means to live life in a good way. After about a week, I knew that meant never drinking again. For me, there was no good way. Once I got two weeks in, I went for longer. Each month I tacked on made it more difficult to ever consider drinking again. So I held steady then and I continue to now, and that's where I am today.” Ansley Simpson
CBC Music • 6 Indigenous artists you need to know in 2022
Five years ago, musician and artist Ansley Simpson released their debut album, Breakwall, to enthusiastic reviews and critical acclaim. A little over a year later, they were reportedly already putting the finishing touches on their followup album, She Fell From the Sky.
Toronto Star • The pandemic practically killed culture. How five artists plan to use a chance to revive it
“To have a residency program in the city that I live in, that allows me to still take care of my daughter, that actually pays my bills and is on my traditional territory as an Indigenous person. I really couldn’t ask for more,” Simpson said. “There were a lot of tears when I actually found out I got the spot, good tears.” Ansley Simpson
By Bruce DeMara Culture Reporter
FRONTRUNNER • Ansley Simpson and Anishinaabe Traditions
“FRONTRUNNER spoke to Simpson about song writing through storytelling and her upcoming album She Fell from The Sky. Ansley talks about Indigenous reclamation and Gizhiigokwe, or “Sky Woman”, as an inspiration for the songs that will be released along with her new album.” Paula Dicu
Exclaim! • Ansley Simpson Announces New Album ‘She Fell from the Sky’
Ansley Simpson has detailed a new album. The award-winning, Toronto-based Anishinaabe singer-songwriter will share She Fell from the Sky on June 21.
She Fell from the Sky follows Simpson's 2017 debut Breakwall, and their 2021 score for Tanya Talaga and Michelle Derosier's documentary Mashkawi-Manidoo Bimaadiziwin Spirit to Soar.
Per a Bandcamp album intro authored by Niko Stratis, Simpson's 11 songs were inspired by Gizhiigokwe (Sky Woman), a spiritual being present in the creation stories of Anishinaabe people.
The Rumpus • Picking the Green Path: A Conversation with Ansley Simpson
The last few years have been a transformative time for Anishinaabe singer-songwriter Ansley Simpson. Even before the release of her debut album, Breakwall, Simpson had been awarded the Imaginative/Slaight Music Bullseye Award for developing artists. With the release of Breakwall in 2017, she revealed herself to be a writer of tremendous insight and power.