An Alberta-raised singer on her journey from Saddle Lake to Spotify

From Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Alberta to the City of Angels. Tia Wood followed her heart from Prairie to coast, then sang her way onto stages all over North America, red carpets, and most recently, Spotify’s ‘Indigenous’ playlist as a featured artist.

Inevitable, but not easy

As the daughter of two musicians, it is no surprise that she’s an accomplished singer/songwriter.

Her father, Earl Wood, co-founded the Grammy-nominated powwow drum group Northern Cree, and her mother, Cynthia Jim, was in an all-women drum group.

Despite this, success wasn’t without sacrifice.

Tia left much of what she knew behind when she moved from Alberta to L.A., a decision that inspired her song ‘Dirt Roads.’

“‘Dirt Roads’ was one of the first songs I wrote when I left the Rez, when I left for L.A., and that whole song is about that lonesome feeling that you feel when you leave your home for the first time,” she told Curiocity.

“When I moved there, I felt like I lost access to my family, my ceremony powwow, and you know, my home.”

While she admits that she “doesn’t get to go back there enough,” the singer returned to film the video, which has captivated over 810,000 people on YouTube.

“It just made sense to go shoot back there, and we filmed a lot of things in my actual home, where I grew up.”

“We went and filmed at the racetrack, we had some Indian relay races because when I think about home I think about all those things—it just really made sense to film it back where it all started.”

Spotify’s ‘Indigenous’ Playlist

In addition to appearing on Toronto’s iconic Yonge-Dundas Square this September, Tia Wood also was asked to take over Spotify’s ‘Indigenous’ playlist, which features a number of fellow artists, including her sister, Fawn Wood, who is a Juno-Award-winning singer.

“I really wanted to showcase and highlight some of my favourite Indigenous artists in Canada,” she explained.

“I added some pop artists and R&B Artists, but I also added some traditional music.”

From ‘C.C. Blues’ (Nathan Pelly ft. Bill Dylan), ‘Adult Swim’ (Ruby Waters), and ‘DEVIL’S CLUB’ (Snotty Nose Rez Kids ft. Rezcoast Grizz), which are all songs she says she’s had on repeat, those who listen are in for a ride.

“You’re going to feel a lot of things when you listen to this playlist.”

“There’s stuff that will just tug on your heart, there’s stuff that is going to make you want to dance.”

This of course isn’t the first or last time Tia will use her platform to showcase other Indigenous artists.

She’s also incredibly active on TikTok and shared with us some of her fellow creators, which include James Jones (@notoriouscree), Shina Nova (@shinanova), Michelle Chubb (@indigenous_baddie), and Brett Mooswa (@brettstoise).

What’s next for Tia Wood

Want to hear more?

Tia announced in August that her brand-new EP ‘Pretty Red Bird‘ will be released on September 27th, plus you can catch her live!

She’ll be opening for Ruby Waters in Calgary, Alberta on October 4th at The Palace Theatre, as well as The Midway in Edmonton, Alberta on October 5th and tickets are still available.

If, however, you can’t make any of her shows this fall, keep your eyes on her website for future dates and new music—because this is only the beginning!

“We’ve got a ton of shows planned for this fall and winter and next year, we’re actually putting out more releases,” she said.

“More shows, more festivals—I love doing festivals—so I’m hoping for that.”