The flow of new music is constant and occasionally overwhelming. On First Listen helps you (and us) keep up by sharing our initial reactions to the latest releases.
I was scrolling through my emails Friday morning and came across an inspiring new song sent to me by That Eric Alper. It didn't take long for me to fall in love with the track and the story. From the press release:
Chasing a dream isn't easy, but sometimes the right song can motivate you to keep going. Alongside singer Mariame, Indigenous Garden Hill First Nation hip-hop artist Mattmac inspires others to follow their dreams in his new single, "Find My Love."
Mattmac knows a thing or two about following dreams. The blind music producer and recording artist got discovered in 2016 by traveling music-studio program N’we Jinan and received an invite to collaborate on a project that became "Help You See." From there, he released debut album 20/20 in 2020 and more recently won the CBC's Searchlight contest with the song "Rez (Remix)."
This fresh track opens with a catchy chorus and sweet vocals sung by Mariame. The lyrics of "Find My Love" show how you smile through the pain and strife while trying your hardest to achieve your dreams. It hooks the listener and leads them into the song's first verse, delivered by Mattmac.
'Everybody if you hear me time to wake up
Get your grind, get your coin, get your Cake up
Yeah just ride with the boy I’m on the way up
I’m feeling young, feeling free and Feeling dangerous
This for the haters
To all the brave ones
We just doing our thing can you blame us
We on fire let’s show 'em what the flame does
It’s a vibe yeah we on that new wave son
It’s a celebration
Throughout the song, Mattmac's verses are a rallying cry buoyed by youthful exuberance and a strong drive. Moreover, Mariame's vocals provide a soothing yet strong-willed presence in the chorus, as well as the song's penultimate verse.
"Find My Love" is a celebratory anthem for Indigenous Peoples, released just in time for Orange T-Shirt Day and the National Day For Truth & Reconciliation. That connection resonates with both artists on the track. In addition to Mattmac's roots in the Garden Hill First Nation, Mariame hails from the Cree Nation of Chisasibi in Northern Quebec. The song is part of Mattmac's upcoming album, THAT SAUCE Volume 1, a self-produced effort coming out later this fall that features 16 Indigenous artists.
