Lindsay Layla is an emerging dub poet soul singer based in Toronto. This stunningly talented and rangeful Metis Algonquin vocalist and multi-instrumentalist is rebuilding her music career after over a decade being away from the industry raising her Son and discovering her Spiritual path. She has recently shared the stage with notable artists such as Ammoye and The Dub Chronicles Trio, and released her debut ska EP entitled 'Dead Poets Honour' on November 22nd 2024. Born, Lindsay Regina Marie Hachey in Northeastern Ontario, Cochrane district in the nearby town of Timmins, located on the Mattagami River. Lindsay had humble beginnings, born in a trailer park off of highway 65 (Timmins) she lived with her parents and older sister until her younger sister Kayla was born. When Kayla was a small baby she was diagnosed with cancer in her eyes which led to the removal of her one eye and leaving her blind in the other. Despite this challenge Kayla showed Lindsay a different perspective on life using their other senses to explore the world around them. The two sisters were far removed from traditions and land. From an early age, Lindsay demonstrated her talents for dancing, singing, acting, art and athletics. She joined several sports teams after school and made several traveling teams to compete nationally and internationally.  During her high school years, Lindsay auditioned and then toured across Canada with a French musical troupe called Tout Feu Tout Flamme (All Fire All Flames) TFTF. While touring the East coast, in New Brunswick, she met a man in the audience who shared the same last name which led to the realization that she had relatives on the East coast on her father’s side (Hachey). Similarly, the artist also had a lot of unknown family and relatives on her mother's side (Major) in Northern Ontario. This experience led Lindsay to discover that her lost lineages and identity had been kept a secret. Lindsay's paternal grandparents came from New Brunswick and her maternal grandparents from North Bay area but moved around a lot. Both maternal and paternal grandparents eventually settled in Timmins Ontario where Lindsay's parents met and started their own family. Shortly after the birth of her younger sister Kayla they moved into a local 'neighborhood' in Timmins where Lindsay lived until she left to pursue her music career and post secondary studies in Toronto Ontario. Lindsay graduated from Randolph School of the Performing Arts in 2006 and established herself as a triple threat Artist. She signed with AMI, an artist management firm based in Toronto after her final performances with the Arts school; however, shortly thereafter, her sister Kayla was diagnosed with cancer for the second time, and Lindsay dropped everything to return home to be with her sister and stayed by her side until she passed on March 31st 2008. Lindsay remained in her hometown caring for her mother and father after their tragic loss. Lindsay returned to Toronto 1 year after in hopes of starting where she had left off but the grief from the loss of her sister led to struggles with depression and addiction. Despite these obstacles, Lindsay's resiliency to continue to follow her dreams eventually found Yoga and started to sing again. In 2012, the songstress was given a miraculous gift with the pregnancy and birth of her Son. One year after her son's birth she wrote and recorded a Christmas Song called Christmas all Over the World to celebrate her given birth to her Son. In 2014 Lindsay released two singles – ‘Rewind’ and ‘Unforgettable’ with late producer Michael St.Clair. Around this time, the singer, songwriter and new Mother was forced to flee her home with her son and lived in shelters with her child in Toronto. She experienced many challenges and systemic barriers as an Indigenous woman but realized that her musical abilities and skills were meant for much more than popular world music. In 2018, after graduating from a transitional housing program for women and their children called Homeward Bound, Lindsay’s professor gave her a book entitled ‘Fractured Homeland’ by Bonita Lawrence, a book about federal recognition and Algonquin identity in Ontario. Lindsay Layla researched more intensively on the Red path to her healing journey, and in 2018 she landed a job as the Indigenous Language and Family Program coordinator at the Native Canadian Center of Toronto as Coordinator and Early Childhood Educator, where she met her colleagues, mentors, and Elders; who taught the old languages of Anishnaabemowin & Kenien'keha:ka which she had a dream to learn and speak. Lindsay and her team of language teachers co-created many learning materials using the Arts to learn the languages. As her earlier training in the Performing Arts proved to play a big role in making educational content. Lindsay learnt more about Anishnaabe culture and traditional ways. Lindsay also wrote an Indigenous Language puppet series with Indigenous Language Speakers for children and families using her puppeteering talents and Early Childhood Education. As Lindsay Layla grew stronger in her sovereignty and autonomy, and through a lot of healing, she has decided to take this time to work on her next musical projects dedicated to her resiliency, her love for her son and her mission. The dub poet songstress released a single on September 30th 2023 entitled 'Come Back Nation' co-produced with Jimmy Smallback along with a music video directed by Jim Wesley and Osawa Muskwa. Lindsay explained that "the song is a rebellion against the systems that have disempowered and disenfranchised many of us". She wanted to honour the children who never made it home and everyone affected by Residential Schools and the Day School systems. Lindsay Layla released her debut ska EP  'Dead Poets Honour' on November 22nd 2024, which is available on all streaming platforms. Lindsay blends English, French, Michif and Anishnaabemowin over dub plates and rhythms, smooth funk sounds, soulful vocals and spoken word in her music and share her message of unity and oneness. She hopes to give a voice to other lost native women, youth, men and children through her music and the Arts. ​