“I feel like I'm living my dream. When I look back at my hardships, would I like to go back in time and change it? I don't think so. All these things that happened to me shaped who I am, in my music, in everything, my art, right?” muses Wayne Lavallee. His family is originally from the Métis community of St. Laurent, Manitoba but he was raised in Vancouver. Growing up in foster care away from his birth family but surrounded by music, he was inspired to pursue that and now makes music for the film industry.

In the beginning, Lavallee created a theatre company called Spirit Song, something that helped him learn about his history as an Indigenous person. He made connections that got him into film scoring, a good fit for him as a singer-songwriter who had already recorded several albums. He first worked with Marie Clements and his eyes were opened to the Indigenous film industry.

He’s watched the development of Indigenous music and film and has been inspired watching his people telling their own stories instead of participating in Hollywood’s misinterpretations and romanticizations. “We can use that medium, film, as a really powerful act of resistance, as well,” he opines.

Working mostly from home in Vancouver but sometimes from location like when he worked with a full symphony orchestra in Victoria, he’s been busy. Working on an Indigenous reality show about veterinarians, indie films, documentaries, and whatever else comes his way, he gets to tell stories through music. Lavallee is in a position where he’s able to just take the projects he believes in that share messages he supports and he’s occupied full time doing what he loves.

Building a network over thirty years, he’s watched his peers’ careers blossom over time alongside his own. Collaborating and supporting each other, they’ve brought many stories to life. Treating others well is something he believes in because you never know who will be in a position to hire you one day.

He transitioned to film when life as a touring musician no longer inspired him, when the pressure to crank out and market new music became a grind. He’s missed writing songs though, so he’s created a new album in the background to release into the world. Film scoring lets him make music without the overexposure and hyper-vulnerability of performance. He started playing metal as a teen and moved into playing rootsy folk-rock guitar, cultivating his own sound to integrate his culture into a contemporary Indigenous blend. In film scoring, he brings originality, depth and spirit.

Full of excitement about his industry, where it’s headed and the quality of its products, Lavalee also loves being location-independent. With so much emerging Indigenous talent and more authentic parts to play, it’s a rewarding time to be involved. It’s a departure from the stereotypical experiences he had starting out.

While building his career, Lavallee was also navigating intergenerational trauma. Couch surfing without a strong support system, he struggled to find his way. A high school dropout, he didn’t go to university.  With aspirations in music and acting, he followed his passions, poring over ads for auditions, and surrounding himself with professionals to find inspiration and opportunity. He’s learned passion, inspiration, commitment and community drive success, but sometimes you need a little luck, too.

To maintain his mental health with work pressure and deadlines, Lavallee spends time in nature, swimming and walking. He takes extended holidays, cooks, and spends time in the mountains. Working with other musicians to avoid isolation and using music as part of his own healing journey has been helpful, too.

Collaboration has helped him not just heal but also move through creative blocks. Creating on-demand can be a challenge. Free writing pages and pages of material and then creatively editing what comes from it reveals the pieces he wants to save. Writing in pencil in a certain book, Lavallee finds he can’t write on a computer if he wants to have an organic feeling to his work. Never erasing, just crossing things out, everything comes together in the end.  

When it comes to inspiration, Lavallee looks to the filmmakers whose stories he’s composing music to enhance and the actors who are bringing them to life. Being part of the storytelling process and seeing all of the new talent excites him. Continuing to hone his craft and explore music by learning the fiddle and the piano inspires him too. Working with the orchestra had him wanting to learn more about the strings. He believes it’s never too late to learn something new, go back to school and try new things.

Looking back on when he first started, he just wanted to be a rockstar and didn’t expect he would be contributing to the development of the Indigenous music and film industries. Through his collaborations, he’s developed a sense of connection to the Indigenous arts community nationally. In creating art and enjoying art created by others, he’s also built up his capacity to appreciate art and beauty in the world. Other people’s art inspires him to create more himself.

“Our people's voices are really strong right now. We're trying to use our art to fight injustice, or just to say, ‘This is who we really are as a people’”

Seeing Indigenous people reclaim their narratives is something else that inspires Lavallee. Contributing to films that share those stories makes him want to keep going and being part of a community and a movement within the industry is powerful for him. “We're able to really create beautiful art, and still have a sense of humor at the same time which is important,” he reflects.

In closing, Lavallee encourages Indigenous youth to follow their dreams and passions. “You can achieve and accomplish anything you want, if you just go for it, and hit it hard. You don't have to be the best at it in the world. As long as you love it, and you're passionate, you're gonna make your mark with your art or whatever you feel like you want to do and that's what's going to make you feel really fulfilled in the future,” he urges.

Living his dream, Wayne Lavallee wouldn’t change what he’s been through. His struggles have shaped his music, art and self and now he’s making a soundtrack for Indigenous film, television and the life he’s always wanted to live. Connecting to the Indigenous art scene and the creative process that works best for him, he’s honing his craft and creating his life the best way he knows how.

Thank you to Alison Tedford for writing this article!