After a previous successful album trilogy exploring African-American history, Haitian-born Canadian singer Dominique Fils-Aimé focused on the nature we supposedly enter as strangers, while being an organic part of it.
There is a cinematic quality to “Our Roots Run Deep”. Dominique Fils-Aimé frames her latest album with a loose, dreamlike narrative structure that tells a story of growth. The first track sets the stage with the phrase: “our roots run deep underground”. Along the way, there are a myriad of human challenges and forms of interference. An underlying life force presses on. The final track closes with the lyric: “let me climb all the way to the sun”.
Dominique provides a spaciousness in her work by creating her own musical language. She layers a variety of catchy, wordless vocal licks that feel like mantras or prayers—repeating, soothing the nervous system, and distinguishing her sound. These patterns don’t have any literary definitions attached to them so they escape the clutches of our interpreting minds. The result is a sonic space where the listener can feel and dream alongside innovative melodic structures.
“IT HAS RECENTLY BEEN DISCOVERED HOW TREES TALK TO EACH OTHER THROUGH THEIR ROOTS. BECAUSE WE CAN’T SEE UNDERGROUND, THEIR DIALOGUE HAS REMAINED HIDDEN TO US. WE HUMANS ARE THE SAME WAY, WHEN WE RECOGNIZE OUR ROOTS, WE DON’T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT EACH OTHER.” SAID DOMINIQUE.
“To Walk A Way” marks a shift in the narrative. A song that embraces the freedom that can come from change. A clapping beat, joyful trumpets, and the warm sound of hand drums radiate an energy of encouragement. Dominique’s bright vocals bring an infectious positivity, nudging the listener forward.
“Quiet Down The Voices” embodies Dominique’s songwriting style. She enters a mood with one vocal riff which she texturizes and branches off from—creating a variety of counter melodies, giving the song contour and shape. This approach allows her to build the track from the ground up, influencing the musicality of a song without picking up an instrument.”
For Dominique, nature acts as an anchor—a source of inspiration that provides her with metaphors to express the unique but interconnected journey of a human being.
Her lyrics bring a calming clarity to the already spacious atmosphere encompassing the album: “Just like the tide gets high, my love will grow back”. These elements are intricately balanced, with an ear for subtlety, creating beautiful melodic terrains. The album traverses these soundscapes. Each song feels like stepping foot into a new habitat.
“Our Roots Run Deep” is an album that can be played from start to finish. Songs move in organic sequence—flowing leisurely, falling dramatically and shaping the environment. This style of continuity allows the audience time and space to sink into Dominique’s world on a trip of their own.
NMR (photo: press Dominique Fils-Aimé)
