ELSA GEBREMICHAEL
More than 250,000 unique citizens make up Saskatoon. StarPhoenix photographer Michelle Berg and reporter Stephanie McKay share the many different ways people in the city live, work and create in The People Project, a monthly photo and video series. Watch for new profiles at the beginning of each month and catch up on the collection at thestarphoenix. com/peopleproject. Elsa Gebremichael has been making music in Saskatoon for 20 years, but her skill set includes so much more than writing and performing songs. As an independent artist, she’s also worn hats like tour manager, music video creator, stylist, producer and much more.
More recently, she’s also taken on the role of mentor.
“I feel more a part of the community in Saskatoon in the last few years through Girls Rock Camp, through working with the Open Door Society in their music programs, through the PAVED music video workshop, through doing some radio hosting on CFCR, just all of these things that I’ve been allowing myself and pushing myself to do,” she said.
Gebremichael started her first band, Surface, in Grade 11 with her three best friends. The group started out playing in the school cafeteria and eventually local venues like Bud’s and the Wash ’n’ Slosh. The band toured and released two albums.
Gebremichael said the group got a lot of attention as the only all-girl band in the city at the time.
“It was a boy’s club, and I think for the scene and ourselves to pave the way and represent girls and women in the music scene, and myself as a black woman, having a person of colour in the music scene — there aren’t a lot of us — was important,” she said. “At the time, we didn’t really think we were an example or anything, but a lot of people have told us over the years that they looked up to us and we inspired them to play music and be in a band themselves, so I think that’s really nice.”
Since then, Gebremichael has been part of a wide array of Saskatoon bands, from the experimental rock of From Chimpan-A to Chimpan-Z to the psychedelic guitar rock of Powder Blue. More recently, she started singing with the Motown cover band Mo’ Love. Her longest-running band, We Were Lovers, is an electric pop duo with Ash Lamothe. The band played its last show for the foreseeable future in July. Gebremichael said it’s not the end, just a hiatus.
She has shared her wealth of experience with the next generation of creators through volunteer work at Girls Rock Camp Saskatoon and other local organizations. It’s been a life-changing experience, she said.
“What it comes down to is empowering youth through the creation and performance of music. I think it’s not just about music, it’s also about social justice and inclusivity and so many other things. It’s been really great to see light bulbs go off in these young folks’ minds and just have conversations with young people about things that matter.”
At the end of August, Gebremichael packed up for her next big adventure. She decided to make the move to Toronto, a longtime dream. As she reflected on the big life change, she said Saskatoon will always be home.