When singer-songwriter Nancy Nash moved to Moose Jaw from Vancouver Island in 2016, she came home to the land of her birth and felt committed musically to honouring her roots.
“It was just the experience of … leaving the ocean and seeing the giant farms (and fields), so I said, ‘There’s the sea right there,’ and my sister and I agreed (that) it’s just as magnificent and beautiful as the ocean,” Nash recalled, adding she was also impressed with the rolling countryside while travelling on Highway 363 south of Moose Jaw.
It was that idea of the Prairies as a land-based ocean that prompted Nash — also known by her Aboriginal name as Sazacha Red Sky — to create her seventh album entitled “Prairie Sea.” Many of the nine tracks recall some aspect of living in Saskatchewan, whether near her hometown of North Battleford or living in Canada’s Most Notorious City.
Much of “Prairie Sea” is unplugged, so most songs are acoustic, aside from a few percussion instruments thrown in.
Part of the song “Somewhere Saskatchewan, Landlover Blues” is based on Nash’s experiences as a child howling outside with friends. This is apparently a unique activity that only Prairie kids do.
Another theme in that song talks about meeting at a crossroads, which refers to Highway 16 and a particular range road near North Battleford where Nash used to ride a motorcycle.
“It’s really about the experience from childhood where there was a certain magical quality growing up,” she said. “We were all poor; no one was rich. And the richness was that connection of going outside on a warm summer night, looking up, and something would come over the kids, and we’d all howl … we felt great after. And then we’d continue to play kick the can.”
On another track, “Momma Knowed,” it reflects the wisdom that Nash’s mother used to give her daughters. One specific instruction was to shoulder-check while driving since it seemed fewer people were doing it. Nash noted this song is a touching tribute to her mother.
The song “Moosoochapeesk’un Kississasask’chuan” refers to the Cree name for Moose Jaw and deals with the community’s beauty, along with some parodying of its history, including ghosts and Al Capone.
“It’s a potpourri of a whole bunch of things. It even mentions Thunder Creek and … the railways,” she said. “To me, it’s quite haunting because it’s based on the idea (that) I’ll never forget Moosoochapeesk’un Kississasask’chuan since I don’t know if I’ll always live here.”
Writing and recording
Although the pandemic did not spur Nash — who ran for mayor during the 2020 municipal election — to create the album, it did give her time to finish it. She pointed out that it can be difficult to find the time to write, create music, and make an album. However, the majority of the songs were recorded in 2020.
“The writing of them, you’ll sit down at the piano and you’ll play a song for a few years before you commit to writing it,” said Nash. “You won’t record a song right away.”
The song “Momma Knowed” was recorded live using just a steel guitar, but other songs required instruments to be layered on the track since Nash couldn’t play keyboard, harmonica and sing all at once. Her favourite instrument is the harmonica — it kicks off the title track — that she learned to play under Chicago blues mentor Walter Horton.
As for which song is Nash’s favourite?
“It depends on the day,” she laughed, before adding she likes the track “Prairie Sea” since it’s about her adventures on the West Coast and living off the grid. Overall, she is satisfied with her album since it’s a project that makes beauty out of uncertainty.
“I hope that the Saskatchewanians realize that they have a land of unparalleled beauty and I hope they are inspired to protect that,” Nash continued, “and to realize how lucky we are to live in the true north, strong and free … . (It’s important) that we really take time to ponder and reflect on what we have in our backyard.”
Anyone interested in purchasing “Prairie Sea” for $15 can contact Nancy Nash at [email protected].
