Donita Large is a Cree singer-songwriter that can lift the hair on the back of your neck when you experience her singing and feel the story in her songs.
Immersed in Metis, country and gospel music, Donita began singing at a young age at important life events like weddings and funerals. Donita learned early that music could help with healing. Donita started to add blues, rock, traditional and contemporary Indigenous music to her genres. Performing solo or in groups, Donita has sang in Indigenous women's acapella and drum groups, for special events like in the Indigenous & Black Choir for a Johnny Reid CCMA performance, an Indigenous quintet performance at Carnegie Hall, and on intimate stages like for an Edmonton "Tribute to The Hip – Downie Wenjack Fundraiser". Most recently (May 2021), Donita created and produced the music for a University of Alberta educational video called “Territorial Acknowledgements: Going Beyond the Script”.
Donita’s first single debut can be best described as Indigenous Blues, as her vocals leave multiple flavours. Donita states that "Going To Walk That Line" was born out of her time jamming with other women. Being with other women and all singing their faces off left her inspired. The song speaks to women's tenacity of overcoming painful relationships and deciding what line they want to walk.
The pandemic halted her women's gatherings and Donita found herself turning within, and deciding it is now or never, “I want to share my music - I am going to walk that line”.
Donita reached out to the multi-talented singer-songwriter Cindy Paul for her expertise and Cindy came on board as Recording Engineer and Producer. Some of Cindy’s notable mentions include nominations from New York’s Native American Music Awards, Western Canadian Music Awards, Canadian Folk Music Awards & Milwaukee’s Indian Summer Music Awards, & she composed the theme song for the World Indigenous Nations Games. Donita told Cindy that she had one dream for the recording and that was to find a sweet, slide guitar player that could give her the blues sound she had been searching for. Cindy called on accomplished guitar player Gord Matthews. Gord, the guitar player for KD Lang's former band the Reclines and member of Ian Tyson’s acoustic trio, came into the recording session in Edmonton, sat down and recorded the lead guitar, bass and steel slide in one evening. Donita expressed how amazing it was to hear the song she imagined played back to her for the first time. As many artists have discovered over the pandemic, with the magic of technology and file sharing, percussion was made possible by in demand session drummer Jaime Cooper. The last touch to bring it all together, was for final mixing & mastering by Winnipeg Rapper & Producer Osani Balkaran.
"I'm singing for all the momma's and sisters out there. getting it done. I hope you know your worth."
Single Release Date: June 5, 2021
