SlimBabyJesus from the Big House to the Big Time
For so long, Indigenous peoples were unable to express their stories, histories, and knowledge through their language, song, or art. However, Indigenous musicians are making their mark on the Canadian music scene, bringing their unique voices, causes and experiences to every genre from rap to folk to punk. In this issue, we wanted to highlight one of our own Snuneymuxw artists who is learning to navigate the music industry while drawing from the teachings and traditions of his community.
Logan Manson isn’t your average musician. From indie music to punk rock, this 22 year old Snuneymuxw mustimuxw expresses his creativity through writing and producing music. “SlimBabyJesus” enjoys working on different styles of music through different genres. “I wouldn’t say I have a particular genre, sometimes I like to look at flowers, and sometimes I like to break stuff,” Logan shares. “I use my feelings and I put that energy into my music”.
From the age of 18, Logan has taught himself the ropes of writing and editing music. In high school, he spent his time creating beats on iPhone apps and recording his own vocals. 4 years later, his talent continues to grow and he maintains a consistent work ethic – challenging himself to learn and improve his skills. With 5 singles and 10,000 streams (and growing) on Spotify, Logan takes his music from the studio to live shows anywhere from Nanaimo to Vancouver. “Performing live to an audience feels like a movie, and this is my movie”, Logan shares. He is always writing music; with friends, other artists and on his own. Whether the music is released to the public or not, he’s just getting started on his musical journey and looks forward to this path.
For Logan, his connection to culture in the Big House was a huge influence on him. “Growing up around the Big House, there is something about the energy there, the drums, the voices; that’s what I want others to feel when I am performing live”, Logan shares. “And maybe I can one day pass my skills down to the next generation, or to anyone that is passionate about writing their own music.”
Check out Logan’s music on Spotify, Soundcloud and Apple Music under SlimBabyJesus.
Looking to discover other Indigenous music? https://nikamowin.com/en/about-nikamowin allows users to search and stream music by Indigenous artists – you can even search by genre, Nation or language.