Canadian singer-songwriter Crystal Shawanda has released a new rendition of The Mavericks’ “Come Unto Me,” using the first single from her forthcoming album, Homesick Indian Blues, to pay tribute to the late Raul Malo and acknowledge the role his early encouragement played in her career.
The JUNO Award-winning artist, who was born and raised in Wiikwemkoong First Nation on Manitoulin Island, has built a career spanning country and blues music. Her version of “Come Unto Me” connects those musical influences with a personal story dating back to her early years performing in Nashville.
Raul Malo’s Early Support Left a Lasting Impression
Before signing a major record deal, Shawanda and her band performed for tips in an upstairs back room at Tootsies on Nashville’s Broadway. Their sets combined pre-1975 country music with blues and rock and roll, gradually attracting songwriters, producers and other musicians.
Among the visitors was Malo, the frontman of The Mavericks. Shawanda said the band respected his privacy when he attended their performances.
“We never bothered Raul when he came in,” Shawanda recalls. “We could see he was trying to lay low.”
The relationship took on greater significance when Malo attended Shawanda’s RCA Records showcase. For Shawanda, seeing an established artist she respected in the audience provided encouragement during an important stage of her career.
“That support, that interest, it inspired me and encouraged me,” she says.
Shawanda has described the experience as one of the signs that convinced her to continue pursuing music professionally. She particularly admired Malo for building a career without fitting neatly into conventional country music expectations.
Eddie Perez Joins the Tribute Recording
Years later, after The Mavericks reunited with Eddie Perez in the lineup, Shawanda and her husband, producer and guitarist Dewayne Strobel, began considering the possibility of collaborating with members of the group.
The couple started developing their interpretation of “Come Unto Me” shortly before Malo’s death in December 2025. Rather than abandoning the recording, Strobel encouraged Shawanda to complete it as a tribute.
Perez subsequently joined the project, contributing electric and acoustic guitars as well as backing vocals. He also worked directly with Shawanda on his parts for the recording.
“I was like a little kid, so nervous and excited,” she says.
The session also gave Shawanda an opportunity to hear Perez’s memories of performing alongside Malo.
Malo previously explained that “Come Unto Me” was inspired by King Kong and the concept that even a powerful giant can become vulnerable through love. Shawanda’s interpretation draws on that emotional theme while incorporating the blues-oriented vocal approach that has become central to her work.
The recording also features Tex-Mex influences and a Flamingo Pink Stratocaster that Strobel acquired directly from Perez.
“My husband and I have lived these words,” Shawanda says, “and I think that really shines through in this track.”
Shawanda Builds on a Career Across Country and Blues
Shawanda signed with RCA Nashville in her early twenties and released Dawn of a New Day in 2008. The album became the highest-charting release by a full-blooded Canadian Indigenous country artist during the SoundScan era, according to the announcement.
In 2009, she became the first Indigenous woman to receive the Canadian Country Music Award for Female Artist of the Year.
Her career later shifted toward blues, leading to further recognition in Canada and internationally. Church House Blues earned a JUNO Award, while Midnight Blues debuted in the Top 10 of Billboard’s Blues Albums chart.
Her 2025 album Sing Pretty Blues reached No. 1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown and received nominations from both the JUNO Awards and the Canadian Blues Music Awards.
New Sun Records Adds an Independent Business Dimension
Beyond performing and recording, Shawanda has developed a role in Canada’s independent music sector. In 2012, she founded New Sun Records, described as the country’s first female- and Indigenous-owned record label.
She continues to operate the label while mentoring emerging Indigenous musicians, adding an entrepreneurial component to a career that has moved between Nashville’s country industry and Canada’s blues scene.
“Come Unto Me” now serves as the opening release from Homesick Indian Blues, connecting Shawanda’s upcoming work with one of the artists who encouraged her during her formative years.
Canadian Tour Dates Continue Through Early 2027
Shawanda’s announced schedule includes performances across Ontario, British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, followed by additional Ontario dates in January 2027. Upcoming stops include Nanaimo, Toronto, Massey, Vancouver, Mississauga, Drumheller, Québec City and Lakefield.
The 2027 schedule includes shows in Thunder Bay, Dryden and Fort Frances.
With Homesick Indian Blues on the way, “Come Unto Me” provides the first indication of the album’s musical direction while also serving as a personal tribute to Malo and the encouragement Shawanda received during the earliest stages of her professional career.