La Rencontre by Kyra Shaughnessy

La Rencontre is a bridge between cultures and languages; an example of the beauty & friendship that emerges when we open ourselves to meeting "the other" without fear or preconceptions; a humble offering in honour of our ancestors, from wherever they may be, and the keepers of the languages & traditions that hold connection to the land & the sacredness of all things at their center; it is a drop in the ocean of movement towards cross-cultural healing & awareness. I sincerely hope these songs inspire you to take the time to learn more about your own heritage and the cultures that inhabit the places you live, to reach out to the unknown & let yourself be changed by new perspectives.

My deepest thanks to all the amazing artists and elders who have worked with me on this project over the last couple years and who have shared their hearts and stories with me, especially: Élise Boucher de Gonzague, Stephen Augustine, Andrée Levesque Sioui, Bear, Pascal & Sakay Ottawa, Marie Hamilton, Peadar Cox, Cédric Dind-Lavoie, Nicholas Williams & Louis Morneau, without whom these songs would not have come to life!

Kyra Shaughnessy’s music and writing invoke presence and awakening. Of mixed heritage, born, raised and unschooled in Québec, composing in multiple languages across genres, Kyra’s work represents a unifying vision of humanity through an artistic practice grounded in a holistic perspective of healing and respect for the interconnectedness of all life.

kyrashaughnessy.com