On National Indigenous People’s Day, Lauren Mann released her new single, “Medicine”. Lauren co-wrote this song over five years with her friend Johnny Aitken. The song focusses on truth, healing, and reconciliation. Johnny is a First Nation 2spirit multi-disciplinary artist. This collaboration was intentional, it was an opportunity for a member of the Settler community to create a piece of art with an Indigenous community member with the hope of helping heal from past injustices and to heighten awareness on Indigenous issues throughout Canada.
Lauren Mann and Johnny wrote the song by getting together on SḴŦAḴ (Mayne Island) and SDȺY¸ES (Pender Island), going for walks in different parts of the island and having lengthy conversations about reconciliation, truth and healing, and lived experiences. In the process of writing this song, a friendship was formed, strengthened, and trust was cultivated and nourished. Slowing down and taking their time permitted space for subtle nuances to appear within the lyrics. The song was produced by Adam Iredale-Gray (Aerialists, Fish and Bird) at Fiddlehead Studio on Mayne Island, BC and Toronto, ON.