He was quickly becoming a role model, someone Indigenous people were seeing themselves in. Earlier this year, he became the first Indigenous artist to hit number one on Mediabase, Canada’s Alternative Rock Chart. Aysanabee started to get a sense of awareness of a bigger picture, and seeing it through meant less time spent in other areas of his life. “We were becoming a part of this really important conversation, this piece of Canada’s history,” he says. “Important work that needed to be done, and so much at the sacrifice of my personal life.”

Here and Now goes through the many difficult stages of a breakup. The song “Waste My Time” captures those initial feelings of anger and frustration when the separation is fresh. Later on in the project, “Alone” discusses the idea of losing yourself while trying to keep another person happy. 

Aysanabee worked with Ali Milner and Derek Hoffman on the song, which, according to him, turned out to be a really good trio. Milner was one of the first people Aysanabee started to write with, and the chemistry made things comfortable in the studio. “Ali has a calming presence, it just makes the room feel like this space where you can just, you know, spill your guts,” he says.

Here and Now quenches the appetite as a sequel. Although the context of this record is different, the authenticity remains. Like a true artist, Aysanabee is always experimenting, growing and putting his heart into the music. “I have definitely dated people who are like, ‘Why are you like Spock? Why don’t you have any emotions?’ I do,” he says. “I just put them on the songs now. I am shelved for a bit, but I’ll be back.”