Aquakultre releases single What Are You Sayin’
Announces new album 1783 out on Next Door Records
Guests include Measha Brueggergosman-Lee, Linda Carvery, Gary Beals, The Sanctified Brothers, Haliey Smith
Toronto ON (October 15th, 2026) – Award-winning Halifax singer, rapper, composer and storyteller Aquakultre aka Lance Sampson releases the new single “What Are You Sayin'” and announces his much anticipated third studio album, 1783, arriving February 2026 via Next Door Records. The soul, R&B, gospel and folk-fuelled new album produced by two-time Music Nova Scotia “Producer of the Year” Erin Costelo, mixed by Grammy-winner Qmillion (Robert Glasper) and mastered by world-renowned multi-Grammy nominee Chris Athens (Drake), follows on the heels of his critically-acclaimed 2023 Polaris Music Prize longlisted album Don’t Trip, his second longlisted effort.
Having emerged as an artist who has thoughtfully showcased Black Nova Scotian musical brilliance from Canada’s east coast, the second single “What Are You Sayin'” from his forthcoming full-length 1783 guides listeners with skilfull precision to questions surrounding cultural self identification amongst his own historically unique Nova Scotian community. “Growing up in Overtown (what we call Uniacke Square, a large public housing complex in Halifax, Nova Scotia) everybody would use the phrase “What are you sayin’”, and it meant so much – what are you doing, how are you doing, where are you going? Are you doing okay?” explains the former CBC Music Searchlight competition winner. “Through this song, I am giving people exactly who I am. On the bridge I sing, “We avoid who we are.” I struggled with not knowing who I was for a long time. The cultural identity of being Black Nova Scotian was not in me at a young age. As I got older I began to understand, and this song is me answering that question many different ways. I’m also posing the question to the listener. I want to leave you with that question, and answer it for yourself when you’re alone. Who are you? What are you sayin?”
For Aquakultre’s forthcoming full-length album, 1783, the events of 1783 sparked the origin story of a unique people and culture, sometimes called African Nova Scotia or Black Nova Scotia, which served as the inspiration for his new musical output. Descended directly from those first settlers, Lance has created a profound concept album that is deeply rooted in his own rich family history. The 17-track album comprises 11 full- length songs and six interludes, with each track describing Black Nova Scotian history, thoughtful family stories, and intergenerational reflections on Aquakultre carrying the torch passed on to him from elders, and acting as a beacon of light for a brighter future.
Pre-Save 1783
Tracklist
- What Are You Sayin’
- Bags Packed
- Letter to the No. 2 Construction Battalion
- Holy
- La Joux
- The Great Judgment Morning
- Gallows
- Keep Me Down
- Make That Change feat. Measha Brueggergosman-Lee
- The Avenue
- Old Bones
- Black Doll
- Matriarchs feat. Linda Carvery
- Father’s Fresh Start
- I’ll Be Damned
- Show Me The Way To Go Home
- Scotia Born feat. Gary Beals, Haliey Smith
ABOUT NEXT DOOR RECORDS
Established in 2019, Next Door Records supports a diverse array of artists across multiple genres with the hope of bringing recognition to underrepresented groups in the Canadian music industry. They strive to support their roster’s integrity, ambition and desire to better the world through music by being a trusted ally and partner. Next Door Records is the label home of The Weather Station, Yves Jarvis, The Dears, Charlotte Cornfield, Ada Lea, Land of Talk, poolblood, Casper Skulls, Hua Li 化力, Super Duty Tough Work, Louie Sanchez, Wild Black, and Luka Kuplowsky.
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