SHADOW STORIES SLATED FOR RELEASE ON JUNE 13

Sandra Sutter is an award-winning singer-songwriter and poet based in Calgary, whose music is rooted in oral traditions and shaped by contemporary sounds, honouring ancestral wisdom while embracing modern expression. Her latest single, “Just Like the Moon,” which will appear on her third album Shadow Stories, is a moody and melodic blend of folk, rock, and jazz that explores cycles of solitude, self- discovery, and renewal.

Inspired by the ebb and flow of nature, and the moon’s pull on the body and spirit, “Just Like the Moon” uses the moon’s cycles as a metaphor for personal transformation. As Sutter explains, the night before recording the song as part of a songwriting residency at MacEwan University’s Bent River Records, she found herself in a university dorm room, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about the songs she had prepared. Born from self- doubt and lunar musings, “Just Like the Moon” emerged, replacing both songs she had originally planned. “In the end, what I thought was anxiety was actually a doorway, and walking through it led me to one of my most joyful studio sessions,” Sutter says. “The next day, I walked into the studio filled with excitement and enthusiasm. That’s what the moon can do for us.”

Sutter reflects on how the moon’s pull mirrors the emotional cycles we all experience, particularly women. “We all move through phases and sometimes we need to retreat before we rise,” Sutter shares. “Women are especially attuned to the moon as life givers whose cycles mirror its phases, just like the blood within us. Just as ocean tides respond to the moon’s magnetic force, we too are aligned with nature. The moon, with all its mystery and power, reminded me of the cycles we go through – quiet times, low periods, and the inevitable return to fullness. It showed me that magic happens when we let the mystery inside us out, while welcoming the mystery of nature in.”

Like much of Shadow Stories, “Just Like the Moon” showcases Sandra Sutter’s gift for transforming personal experiences into something universally resonant. Building on the foundation laid by her acclaimed 2017 debut, Cluster Stars, which opened conversations around truth and reconciliation, Sutter continues to bridge worlds through music, drawing from a myriad of genres and her Indigenous culture to remind us that we’re all part of something larger, cyclical, and deeply human.

More about Sandra Sutter:
An award-winning Cree Métis singer-songwriter, poet, and filmmaker, Sandra Sutter was raised in a loving non-Indigenous family, and later came to fully embrace her ancestral and cultural roots. Like many displaced Indigenous people, reclaiming her cultural heritage has become a significant part of her life, shaped by the loss of her birth heritage through time and circumstance. Sutter has since grown into an active and passionate advocate for Indigenous traditions and rights. Known for experimenting with a melange of genres, including Native Americana, folk, country, pop, jazz, blues and rock, the versatile artist brings her affinity for jazz to the forefront on Shadow Stories.
The album weaves social issues and traditional storytelling with lush, nature-inspired imagery, welcoming listeners to reflect on their connection to the world around them. Originally set to collaborate with producer Vince Fontaine of Indian City for Shadow Stories – whom she worked with on both of her previous albums, as well as in 2021 on Code Red’s guest artist track “Storyteller” – and multi-instrumentalist Jim Peace, the album took on new meaning following their passing. Now produced by Chris Burke- Gaffney, Shadow Stories carries the emotional impact of their loss while honouring their legacy. It serves not only as a tribute to those who have guided Sutter’s path but also as an invitation to the next generation of Indigenous youth to explore new creative expressions, particularly jazz. For her work, Sutter has garnered many industry nominations and awards, including multiple Indigenous Superstars Music Awards, Summer Solstice Indigenous Music Awards, a Native American Music Award, and an Indigenous Music Award. Sutter also received an Esquao Award (Arts) from the Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, an Aboriginal Role Model of Alberta (Arts) Award, and a Women’s Executive Network Top 100 Most Powerful Women in Canada Award.

Shadow Stories Tracklist:
01. Sunshine Child
02. Should I
03. Just Like the Moon
04. Change Your Mind
05. Rebound
06. Trapeze Girl
07. Midnight Serenade
08. Change Your Mind prod. Alexander Alexanderov (bonus track)