Career Defining Moments and the Road Between with Logan Staats

Rosalyn: Hello and welcome to Refolkus. Today, our guest is Logan Staats, Mohawk folk and soul musician. Logan Staats, began as a diamond in the rough on the streets of Brantford, Ontario.

He He had no formal musical training, just a good ear and raw, lyrical talent. He played the local circuit for years before his 2015 debut released Goodbye Goldia, an unvarnished yet hard-hit folk album. He went on to win CTVs the launch in 2018, gaining commercial success and touring North America and Europe. But traveling the [00:01:00] world can really open your eyes to what's going on right at home. And the fight for indigenous sovereignty has become a focal point for Staats, in recent years. It all intermingles with the music, the passion, the rage, the love, and most of all the healing. He's making road trip in music for those traveling the red road, a path towards reconnecting and relearning indigenous ways. This is the philosophy behind his sophomore album, A Light in the Attic released in 2023. These songs are healing, self contemplatively composed and offered to listeners in need of comfort. Nowadays, he's gearing up for his newest release, a soulful Americana album set to be released in the fall of this year. Welcome, Logan. How are you doing?

Logan: I am good for having me here.

Rosalyn: Yeah. I'm so excited to chat with you. I feel like we've crossed paths many times. We've been in the same room many times, but we've never got a chance to sit down, and have a real chat. So this is a real treat for me.

Logan: Me too. Me too. Thank you so much.

Rosalyn: So let's talk about the new album. 'cause my, [00:02:00] interest is, peaked there, you say it's coming out in the fall, you working on titles, you mentioned that it's a bit of a departure from the stuff that you've previously done. What is the inspiration for the departure and, and where are you taking us on this, next recording?

Logan: My last couple albums, you know, have been more of an indie folk acoustic kind of vibe, you know, and I really wanted to just go outside of that realm, And, the closest thing that I could think of that felt right, that felt authentic was kind of like more Americana.

Kind of sounds like a more country sound, you know, so I thought the best way to do that and the best way to kind of learn and absorb, you know, that sound was to go to Nashville. You know, so for the last year, you know, I've been back and forth from six Nations to Nashville writing, you know, learning, performing, [00:03:00] soaking it up, in every way that I can, So I've spent a lot of time in Nashville for the last year writing this record, writing new songs, honing my craft as a songwriter, and, Having that kind of Nashville sound and vibe rub off on the way that I write songs.

Rosalyn: And how did you get connected to folks to co-write with? Was that set up by the label, or, or did you find these folks on your own? How was that set up for you?

Logan: It was all sorts of different ways. You know, I had the label set some stuff up. I worked very closely with SOCAN to set up some writing sessions. I worked very, very closely with different organizations from Canada. But then also, you know, throughout my travels there in Nashville, you know, I just met some amazing songwriters and, and all of the co-writes that I did were, were really amazing.

And I learned so much from 'em and got so many great songs. But it was really the people that I organically bumped into in Nashville that I feel like I wrote the best songs with. I met a [00:04:00] songwriter, who was playing in a boot shop named Patrick Wiley. Russell. And me and him just clicked, you know, so every time I go to Nashville, I go see Pat, we crank out a couple different songs, you know, and if I don't use them for myself, they've been getting used in other spaces too, it's been really cool to go down there and to soak all of that up, all that magic up and learn, as much as I can, and then watch how it kind of, the whole journey imprints itself on my, my writing style.

Rosalyn: Met at a boot shop that's like the most romantic like Nashville co-write story I've ever heard. That's so good. Had you done co writes before and were you like, nervous about, about that? I feel like you kind of, you need to be in the zone maybe, or, or like, really comfortable, like sharing to get into that mode where you're able to collaborate with folks.

Logan: Yeah, I've done some co-writing. You know, like when I did the launch in 2018, [00:05:00] it was kind of the first time I went to Nashville and started throwing my weight around, you know? And I've met some really great people and did some co-writes, you know, but I've always kind of in the co-write situation felt like, especially when you're in the big city of Nashville, I kind of felt like I needed to take a back seat and just kind of learn, you know? And now this time around going to Nashville after having two records and I'm a little bit more confident, so I'm able to get in those rooms and just feel more confidence in my ideas, in my lyrics, in my writing, in the melodies, that I have a knack for finding. You know, so it's been a way, uh, it's been kind of, it's been an interesting adventure, you know, to find the right people to co-write with. You know, I think that's so important, and finding people that really understand you, understand the way that you wanna write music, you know, and are in a way cut from the same cloth, you know?

Rosalyn: I was wondering if, the folks, like, did you connect with any other [00:06:00] indigenous songwriters when you were in Nashville? Or does do you feel like, you know, you're writing from your indigenous perspective and, and it is, thematic in the music that you're making.

Was it important to you to connect specifically with other indigenous songwriters and did that come into play there?

Logan: Yeah, you know.

Honestly, it was a very rare occurrence for me to meet another indigenous artist in Nashville. And believe me, I tried, and it just like, there weren't many musicians in Nashville that were indigenous. You know, like the history of Nashville and the Cherokee people is like. you can kind of feel it when you're in Nashville a little bit.

You know? And the one really, really good thing was, during the Americana Fest, Ko de did, an indigenous showcase, you know, and all sorts of different artists from Nashville, surrounding Nashville areas who were, who were native, came through and played the event, you know, so I met some people. build some relationships with folks out there, you know, but I am yet to explore [00:07:00] that avenue as far as writing music.

Rosalyn: And you mentioned that you, you know, you felt like at the beginning of that co-writing time, or when you first started that you felt like you had a lot to learn. Were there any, like specific lessons that you took out of, that time, that you'd like to share with folks?

Logan: Yeah. You know, I think it's just to like really, really believe. In yourself and your own writing ability when you go there, because it's so easy to get swept up and like, oh my God, I'm in Nashville. This is like the place of the best songwriters in the world. But there's a reason that we're there, you know? And my advice to just like not lose yourself completely in it, And take those lessons that you learn from those big, huge Nashville writers, and implement them into it. What works for you, don't let it take over. Don't go to Nashville and come back with a, you know, southern accent. You know, like go there, learn and apply that to your writing style and your, music style.

Rosalyn: You were mentioning, during like the showcase at Americana [00:08:00] and recently, I know you were out with some of the Folk Canada team too, as well as Indigenous Music Summit and, and the ish Kade team, at Fluvial and Chile. what was that experience like at Fluvial, and did you feel like you were able to connect that market and, and to the, the folks working there.

Logan: Yeah. You know, that to me was one of my favorite little adventures that I've been on, I also got to bring my family with me, you know, so I had my little daughter, I had my partner. And we got to do a lot of exploring around Chile, which was huge for me. The festival itself was like, you know, it was such a unique and great experience and getting on stage was a little intimidating, because it's like there's this language barrier, but the festivals did a really, really good job of like having translators there and keeping everyone really in, touch with the singer songwriter is whoever was performing, you know. So each time [00:09:00] I played, I would tell the story of the song, you know, and then the translator would tell the story to the crowd of the song that I was playing, you know? So that was really, really helpful, And then aside from that, like music is just this kind of thing, this universal language, right? And that. Was really evident for the first time. I was like, yeah, you know, like I'm seeing it in action. You know, like people are really, really vibing and really, really enjoying not only my music, but the other artists, you know, that were there from Canada, you know, and the language barrier didn't really seem to be a thing, you know?

Everybody was enjoying themself. Everybody was dancing and everybody was crying.

Rosalyn: that's encouraging 'cause especially like right now when, given the, the political climate with the US and I know it's, uh, a lot of artists, and music companies are just like looking for other markets and, you know, they might be intimidated by, going to a market in the language that they don't speak. So, that's really encouraging to know that there's, connection possible there.

Logan: Yeah, especially for me, you know, because I'm such like a storytelling [00:10:00] lyrical guy. You know, my music is very little about the music when I play solo by myself, you know, it's my stories and my voice, you know, and I was worried about that, you know? but people enjoyed it, you know, and it felt like I really, really connected and, you know, I can't wait to eventually, hopefully go back.

Rosalyn: Great. In the bio, we talked a lot about the traveling that you've done, especially since, 2018. I was wondering if you could talk a little bit about that and how you stay grounded, while you're out there on the road and, and what these journeys have been like for you?

Logan: Yeah. You know, it's, it's shifted over the years. You know, I've been doing this for 20 years. my main thing in my life on the road now is like sobriety, you know, and no drinking and no partying on the road. That's like, just really, really helped my mental health and my clarity when I'm on stage. And, you know, that's a big part of it. Exercise, and just like maintaining my training schedule. eating as healthy as I can you [00:11:00] know, is super important for me, also I think the biggest part for me is I bring my family with me, when I am in these spaces, when I am at shows, you know, I'm my little daughter's there and my partner is there, and that makes it so much more fun and such a different thing than it normally has been in the past. You know, it's usually like being alone in your hotel room but now I'm able to bring my family and they're able to experience, you know, these new places and go on a little adventure with me, And that is the biggest part of keeping me grounded and keeping me healthy, you know, is just like having my family with me by my side.

Rosalyn: Amazing. And I'd love to talk a little bit more about that for a second. 'cause I know it's something that, um. folks struggle with, especially the isolation and, Being away from your family or being away from your loved ones. and there's like logistic things about taking your family on the road with you and I feel like When I picture like taking family on the road, I picture like, like you're Sheryl Crow with like a giant tour bus [00:12:00] and you can have your nannies on the bus taking care of the kids or something like as a, musician assigned to an independent label, who I assume is not on like a massive tour bus with nannies. Like how do you make it work? can your family come into venues with you? Like, how are you navigating it?

Logan: Well, the first thing is, is me and my partner are like such a great team together. You know, like she handles so much of the road management side of my career, you know, and does such an amazing job of keeping me organized and keeping our lives organized, you know, and I would not be able to do anything without my partner, you know, like really, really, really steering the ship while I'm like in my creative zones and, you know, so she's keeping everything organized, you know, and whenever I'm talking to a festival or someone or a promoter, you know, I always say that it's like very, very important for me to have.

My road manager there with me, you know, so that's part of that part that's kind of worked into the deal before the shows [00:13:00] happen, you know, is like making sure she can travel with me, making sure that that's covered, and most of the times when I play, you know, it's like they're flying me in, they're flying me out to play, and there's usually an accommodation included in, the festival performance or package, you know, so.

If my family can't come to the venue with me and there isn't a little space like a green room, then they just kind of wait it out and wait for me at the hotel or go to a park or do something on their own for the night, you know? But they're always really close by,

Rosalyn: Do you feel like it's changed the way that you tour? In terms of how you're relating to others or how you're kind of relating to yourself in that way.

Logan: there's definitely been a shift, you know, like there's definitely been a shift, like since my last album and it's just like I'm even in the writing, you know, like the songs that I'm writing aren't as sad, I'm writing happier songs, believe it or not.

I think that it shifts, it shifts, you know, like people are normally used to me just [00:14:00] singing these really, really, really sad songs, you know? So I think that, emotionally things have shifted for me, you know, and health wise, you know, I'm a lot healthier of a person than I was at the beginning of my music career, You know, I'm singing about this process of reclamation and I'm singing about, this process of healing and going on this journey, this medicine walk, what I like to call it, you know, and I feel like my listeners are co are on that journey with me, I feel like that's what my music is about is, you know, relating to people that are on that journey of healing, you know, and there's ups and downs on it.

Rosalyn: Tell me more about if you can, that relationship with your fans and with, your audience who are taking this walk with you.

Logan: You know, my fans are in real time. watching me, whether it's through the music or listening to me, they're watching me on social media. You know, they're with me every day and they're watching me in real time. Go on this journey of just finding myself and finding how to, take care of my own wellbeing while being a, [00:15:00] being a musician, finding balance, and being a father, and being a musician.

You know, like I'm just. Really, really kind of doing my best and keeping everything open. You know, like I'm very open with my fans and my followers, you know, like, So it's just like I'm just kind of doing my best and, and people are, um, following along and, seeing my journey in real time.

Rosalyn: Is there some, like two way communication there where you're also being inspired by the folks who are with you on this?

Logan: Yeah. You know, I met people all across Turtle Island, and built such strong relationships with people. Well, traveling and playing music, you know, and for so long, that's where I found my wealth. There wasn't really a lot of monetary wealth when it came to music, but I was so rich in the people that I met and the relationships that I got to build and the different communities that I got to connect with, you know?

And, I'm so lucky to do what I do and to play music and, You know, be [00:16:00] able to connect with people like that, like, you know, I'm so happy that people are listening.

Rosalyn: Yeah. And what's your connection like with your community at home then? It's kind of, I would say, somewhat of a, a common thing for artists when you're traveling a lot, you know, sometimes it can take a while to settle back into home life. Like when you're not on the road, what's the connection to, the land where you are in your community at home and, and what's that like for you?

Logan: Yeah. You know, I think home is the first place that ever really got behind me or my music, you know? And I spent the whole first time in my career, you know, like earning my stripes out here on Six Nations, you know, and, and that wasn't just through music, but that was through many, many different, just like being involved in the community, you know, being involved with our youth, you know, being involved at playing Back lane, these are all ways that I felt that I earned my place here in six [00:17:00] Nations.

You know, and all these, beautiful people that you know back home. 'cause I'm at home, you know, I carry their lessons and their teachings with me. wherever I go, I. Six Nations there's a sound that resonates from this reservation and it's special and, you know, like from Robbie Robertson, Derrick Miller, Lacey Hill, like Jay Martin, and, you know, there's so many amazing musicians that have come from this nation.

And I'm so glad that I get to be a little bit of a part of that and that's embodied in my music. And I get to carry that and share that. Across Turtle Island.

Rosalyn: You mentioned Robbie Robertson and that amazing list of musicians that have come out of, of Six Nations. and you were involved recently, in a tribute to Robbie Robertson at the Forum, which, definitely myself and I'm sure, many folks that follow you were, Glued to our, you know, screens, watching, you know, our folks, uh, down there repping and yeah. I was wondering if you could tell, tell us a bit about that [00:18:00] experience and what that was like for you.

Logan: To me, that's like the biggest moment of my career. You know, like the launch and all this crazy stuff that I've done. It's, it's all been great. But, to be up there with, my heroes, Nathaniel Rale, van Morrison, you know, like. To be up there with those guys was, it still feels like a little bit of a dream to me that that even happened, you know?

I have to say so much thank you to the amazing Alison Russell, you know, who was paramount in making all of that happen. and it kind of started when she invited me the year previous to perform the weight at the Junos and then again at the forum in LA.

And I don't know, man, I played to some big crowds, but 18,000 people, that's enough people to really, really make you scared, you know? And it was really, really, really scary. Really, really scary. And I was like, oh my God, how am I gonna do this? But then you go out on stage and you start to kind of like feed [00:19:00] off the energy of the crowd, you know?

And things shift while you're on stage. And yeah, it just became so exciting and. I am so proud of the whole thing, you know, my favorite part was I got to bring my community's flag. I stuck it in my back pocket, the Haudenosaunee flag, and I, at the end of my song, at the end of my verse, I waved the flag in front of the whole crowd in la and I didn't really know what people would think, you know, because, It's LA and it's so far home from home and, but people, everybody that was there was there for Robbie and, you know, knew that he was from Six Nations. So the crowd did this giant roar. I was like, and I was like, that's pretty cool, you know, that I got to, bring that flag on that stage and wave it in front of so many people and, represent my community and represent Robbie in that way.

Rosalyn: That gave me goosebumps. That's so neat. And then just around that event, was it a feeling [00:20:00] of excitement? Do you feel like you got a lot of attention from that? performance itself?

Logan: Yeah, I feel like. it snowballed into some really, really cool stuff, you know, and some really, really great friendships and musical allies. I really, really got to know Nathaniel. I. Who was like, I'm such a fan girl over Nathaniel. I've listened to all of his music since I was a kid and like to follow him all around.

And then I got to hang out with him and he's like actually super, super nice down to GR Earth man, you know? And he was just like, has invited me to some shows and to hang out with him, you know? So that was like really, really cool to meet someone that I've listened to all their records and become their friend.

so many little moments that are like, are coming back to me right now. Like, I had this awkward moment with Eric Clapton,

Rosalyn: Do tell.

Logan: like walking down the hall and like we went to kind of shake each other's hand, but then like pulled away at different [00:21:00] times and then never ended up shaking hands. And then I was just staring at him like a weirdo. Yeah. And it was, it was really, really great. And just also just to strengthen that relationship with Alison Russell, you know, and get to know her as a human being and get to know her as a vocalist and now she's gonna be singing a duet with me on my new records, you know, we were just able to form that bond, you know, over, you know, these few days that we've.

Done all this Robbie Robinson stuff and, she really, really understood the importance of having a Mohawk artist in those spaces. And she really, really pushed for that. And she's amazing.

Rosalyn: Big fan here as well. Okay, so Alison Russell duet on the new album. I'm even more excited. I was already excited for the new album.

Now I'm even more stoked. tell us a little bit more about, about what we can expect on, on the new record.

Logan: Well, you can expect like [00:22:00] some really, really amazing collaborations. I was able to just like reach out to some of my favorite artists in the world and get them to come out and sing and play on the record. And I wanna give a big shout out to the pairs. they came into the studio last week and did some really, really beautiful vocals on everything. I was so excited about it. And I guess just like this album is more of a full sound and it's more me experimenting. With more instrumentation in my music, you know, and more of a full band album.

You know, like my last couple albums were like, good by Goldie was completely acoustic. A light in the attic was like, there's a couple songs with a band, you know? And now this album is like, you know, nine songs with a band and then two songs that are just me, well, it's, I would like to say that there's a little bit of growth there, you know, and me putting more thought into just the music, you know, instead of just the stories.

I wanted to [00:23:00] have moments with the listener where we're just like grooving and we're just like, lost in the music of it all together, you know? So it's like all throwback stuff. Like, and that's the one thing about the record is it's like instead of being just like country or soul or it's like the, what makes it cohesive is that it's like all kind of old sounding and

like kind of has this retro vibe and this old, there's everything from like old soul music to old blues music, to old country music.

And, uh, yeah, I'm just really, really, really excited for this one. I feel like it's gonna be my, um, it's gonna be one of my biggest records. It's what I feel. I have a special feeling about it, you know, and about these songs. Like, I have that feeling in my gut, like, oh my God, something big is happening, you know?

Rosalyn: That's really exciting. Sounds like there's a lot to look forward to. Do you have like a release plan? I guess, you know, you said you're still, it's still kind of in the [00:24:00] recording process. are you gonna, are you gonna put some singles out? What's, what's some

Logan: Yeah, we're gonna put some singles out. I think at the end of the summer. The first single's gonna come out and it's gonna kind of, we're gonna roll a couple out and then by the fall, the full album will drop. You know, my goal is For everyone to get a really good taste in their mouth before Juno submissions happen.

You know, I really want everyone to get a feel for the record and see how it does and, Now working with Kode and, you know, having. Uh, universal, kind of, they're backing up the label and backing up the artists. I feel like it's gonna be good.

Rosalyn: Well certainly, Be keeping an eye out for the singles when they drop. And I know, uh, a lot of folks are gonna wanna hear it as things are coming out. Where can people find you online? What's the best way to, to interact with you and, and, stay current with what, what you're up to.

Logan: I think my favorite, Instagram. You know, and that's like the one that I have personal control over. You know, [00:25:00] like my team helps me with Facebook and my team helps me with a lot of the different social media outlets and TikTok and stuff. But it's me on Instagram, you know? And I think like you can, you can DM me and I'll DM you back, you know?

And I like to keep open communication with all my fans and supporters and. You know, so I think that's the best way I'm on all of the different social media stuff, you know, but, if you want to hit me directly, Instagram is the way to go, and that's also the place where I've been posting little sneaky cheeky clips, some of the new music.

Rosalyn: Awesome. Well, we'll definitely link to that in the notes so Logan, it was such a delight to get to chat with you today.

I'm so glad we could do this.

Logan: Yeah. Thank you so much. I really, really appreciate you guys and everything you guys are doing, you know, and thank you so much for robbing me on the show today.