Yellowknife (Mar 13/06) - Just a few months after achieving national acclaim at the 2005 Aboriginal Music Awards, recording artist Diga is busy working on his next album.

Diga won Best Male Artist of the Year at last November's Aboriginal Music Awards gala in Toronto. - photo courtesy of Beth Covvey

Already an admired musician in the North and now recognized as a rising star in the south, Diga plans to resist conformity and keep being himself, despite the spotlight.

"I don't consider myself a role model," he said. "Never have. Probably never will. Who am I to be seen as a role model? I'm just a guitar player loving what I do and I'm very passionate about music - seeing it for what it is. I think to do what you love is probably the best joy that you can have."

This winter he is doing what he loves by working on his new CD, planned for a summer release. The concept album will feature mostly instrumental work, possibly with some lyrics in Dogrib.

"I'm trying to communicate visual images of the land, the horizon, sunsets and stars through sound. I don't know if it's possible, but it's something I want to try to do and I'm going to try to finish it in six months."

Diga credits his brother, musician David Gon, with first inspiring him to play guitar and write. His music and lyrics continue to be influenced by his family and his experiences growing up in Fort Rae.

Diga left the North at age nine to attend school near Red Deer, Alta.He returned to the NWT more than eight years later for a final visit with his dad, before he died of cancer and Diga finished high school in Yellowknife.

"Most of these songs are basically from that perspective," he said, referring to his award-winning album, "Earth is Crying."

"Writing all these songs is sort of through the eyes of a nine-year-old child. I tried to write in respect to those memories and experiences. We're all growing and learning new experiences as we go. Sometimes a song just captures that part of your life."

Diga's unique, contemporary sound weaves together themes of Tlicho tradition and oral history. His metaphors and narratives embrace the North, its land and its people.

"Maybe some day I'll continue where my father left off and learn," he said. "It might be from somebody else, to teach me what my father lived. When that time comes, so be it. In the meantime, I'm doing what I love. It's probably the best thing for me - that is to play guitar and write songs. "Sometimes that's all that I have. The only thing that gets me through some days is just picking up my guitar."

Diga's next performance will be at Yellowknife's Northern Arts and Cultural Centre during the Dream Weavers concert on March 17.