Donita Large

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.

Donita began singing at a young age at important life events and learned early that music could help with healing. Immersed in a musical family she was influenced by Metis, old country, and gospel music. She later fell in love with blues and rock adding them to her performance genres. She also was a founding member of an Indigenous women's acapella group Asani, and expanded her sounds with traditional (Cree) and contemporary Indigenous music. Performing solo or in groups, Donita has sang for special events like in the Indigenous & Black Choir for a Johnny Reid CCMA performance, an Indigenous quintet performance at Carnegie Hall, festivals and intimate stages like the Pêhonân stage at the Edmonton International Fringe Festival.

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. 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.

Donita released “Going to Walk that Line” in June 2021 and by the third week of September, it hit #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown. Donita has been humbled by the TV, radio and podcast interviews that have reached out to her to hear more about her debut single. Blues shows from Paris, France to the United Kingdom are asking for more and are awaiting an album.

Donita, fueled by the excitement of the success of her first single, decided she wanted to record a song that was close to her heart, called "Ancestors in My Bones" which is a call to action that speaks to “together, our circle is strong.” Donita had written the song as a drum song many years prior but was looking for a Producer who could create contemporary and Indigenous sounds that built the emotion of her message, to create the song she envisioned. In August 2021, Donita was introduced to Toronto based Producer-Singer-Songwriter-Musician Chris Birkett. Chris Birkett, who has worked with numerous Indigenous artists is also known for producing work by notable artists such as Sinead O’Connor, Steve Earle, Led Zepplin and Quincy Jones. Chris listened to Donita’s song and loved it and the two began to work together the following day. Chris delivered "Ancestors in My Bones" as a World Rock single that blew Donita's mind.

After the release of Ancestors in My Bones, Donita and Chris were excited to continue working together. In September of 2022, Donita released her third single, "Reconciliation Sky" a song that Chris and Donita collaborated on. Donita is passionate about Indigenous education and chose to release this song for Reconciliation Week in Canada to honour the children who went to residential school and those who didn't make it home.

Donita's next steps? Donita and Chris Birkett are positioned to create a full-length album, so expect more to come.

Releases

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Awards & Accolades

2022 Awarded an Edmonton Arts Council Stream II “Skills and Career Development” Grant
2021 #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown “Going to Walk That Line”