Francis Baptiste

Francis Baptiste is an Indigenous musician and music journalist based in Vancouver, British Columbia who grew up as part of the Osoyoos Indian Band. He is Syilx Indigenous and his songwriting covers topics of cultural reclamation, addiction, and fatherhood with unflinching honesty and vulnerability. In 2022, Baptiste released his debut album, Sneqsilx (Family), an album that features songs sung in his native language Nsyilxcən, the endangered language of the Syilx people. The ten-song album was his effort to preserve and connect with his heritage, representing a powerful act of cultural preservation and personal healing. Following the release, Baptiste performed at Talking Stick Festival, Vancouver Jazz Fest, Music Waste Festival, Rogue Arts Festival, Barnside Harvest Festival, Shipyards Festival, Khatsahlano Festival, and the PNE. Singles from Sneqsilx (Family) received airplay on CBC Radio, SiriusXM, and college radio stations across the country. Baptiste's second album, Sənk̓lip, the Trickster, features lushly hypnotic music with songs sung in a mix of English and Nsyilxcən. Reviews describe his music as bluesy, bruised, and blossoming, with vulnerable folk rock songs about addiction and self-discovery. Baptiste packs a lot of perspective into his music, creating a bridge between traditional Indigenous culture and contemporary folk rock. His work represents both personal catharsis and cultural activism.

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