Fans of independent Canadian music will likely recognize the name Shane Ghostkeeper from his namesake project GHOSTKEEPER, a band that has been responsible for some of the more thrilling music to emerge from Alberta during the last 15 years. But while his parent band trades in a highly unique, left-of-centre approach to indie rock, this new project is a deeply reverential tribute to the music he absorbed while growing up in the Northern Alberta Métis communities of Paddle Prairie, High Level, and Rocky Lane.

“The concept of this record,” Ghostkeeper says, “is to present, as a gift to my people, an exploration of the country and western and roots records they surrounded me with since childhood.” Songs For My People is a truly a family affair.

From the opening notes of the album, this notion rings true wholeheartedly; shades of classic boot stompin' anthems shine through, offering glimmers of Waylon Jennings, Johnny Horton, and Conway Twitty; and the singer took a particular shred of influence from the ‘Bakersfield sound’ scene, a strain of '60s-era artists that infused traditional country and western songwriting with the electrified, then-new zing of rock and roll. In turn, Shane achieved his own version of ‘this plus that’ by injecting the Bakersfield sound with his own musical hallmarks. Ghostkeeper's singing style is one of the most arresting aspects of his songwriting; his ability to mix conversational speech (a la Lou Reed or Bob Dylan), percussive breaths, and other mouth-driven sound production with traditional melodic singing makes Ghostkeeper one of the more dynamic vocalists you're likely to hear anytime soon.