Shawn Mendes Joins Emerging Cree Singer Tia Wood at Vancouver Show

Shawn Mendes recently featured emerging Cree and Salish singer Tia Wood during his concert at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on October 12. This performance marked Wood’s second appearance at the venue, which has a capacity of 19,000. She previously performed there at the Juno Awards in March.

Significant Moments During the Vancouver Show

Before inviting Tia Wood to join him on stage, Mendes shared his reflections on his interactions with Indigenous communities worldwide. He expressed gratitude for these experiences, emphasizing the invaluable lessons learned from Indigenous peoples.

“I’ve been so incredibly lucky and blessed to spend time with some Indigenous communities around the world,” Mendes stated. He noted that words often fall short of capturing the beauty and healing offered by these communities.

Duet Performance of “Youth”

During the concert, Mendes and Wood performed a duet of “Youth,” a track from Mendes’s 2018 self-titled album. This song transforms feelings of hopelessness into an anthem for marginalized youth.

• Wood added a poignant verse addressing the issue of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls:
• “Where do I start? How do I say it?”
• “My voice is so tired and I cannot fake it.”
• “Our mothers, daughters, sisters go missing every day.”

The performance blended Mendes’s pop style with Wood’s powwow influences, showcasing their harmonious voices accompanied by Mendes on guitar. As the audience applauded enthusiastically, Wood expressed overwhelming joy at the experience.

Tia Wood’s Reflections and Support from Family

After the performance, Wood took to Facebook, sharing her emotions about the experience. She wrote, “That was for my rez babies everywhere. I spoke my truth and tried to represent the best way I could.”

Although her family could not be there physically, Wood felt their support. She mentioned, “They all war cried and lele’d behind me … a reminder that I wasn’t walking on stage alone.”

Wood’s sister, Fawn Wood, also an artist, praised her performance via social media, celebrating Tia’s emergence as a prominent figure in the spotlight.

Upcoming Releases and Tour Information

Shawn Mendes’s “On the Road Again” tour is set to conclude on October 17 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. He recently released a new single titled “Home,” in collaboration with Eddie Benjamin. Similarly, Tia Wood is gearing up for the release of her new single, “Sage my Soul,” which will debut on the same day.