DAMN COYOTE CHRIS RELEASES “BETHY’S GIFT” — A QUIET GOODBYE WRAPPED IN STARS AND SONG
With a guitar in his fingers and a narrative etched deep in his bones, Rattling Coyote Chris returns with “Bethy’s Present”, the soul-stirring fourth observe from his 2025 album Departures — a report he describes as “an trustworthy and private assortment of comfort-food songs from my Non-public Reserve.” “Bethy’s Present” is a love letter, a farewell, and a mirrored image abruptly — a delicate lullaby for these studying to dwell with loss.
“Stars out tonight / Goals in my eyes / Wishin’ I may fly as much as that cloud and provides it a chunk…”
From the opening strains, “Bethy’s Present” floats like a whisper throughout the night time sky, stuffed with reminiscence and moonlight. The tune is sparse however wealthy, tender however grounded — a snapshot of grief, wrapped in sensible philosophy and unshakable human heat.
For over 35 years, Chris Nikiforuk-Rhyason — a.ok.a. Rattling Coyote Chris — has been a fixture in Alberta’s cultural scene, whether or not fronting Them Rattling Coyotes within the ‘90s, making award-winning tattoos, or creating visible artwork that resonates simply as deeply as his music. With Departures, he turns inward, writing what he is aware of: mortality, resilience, and the quiet energy of tolerating love.
“The top of the road / A celebrated life / And I may do worse than utilizing a tune for saying goodbye…”
Chris doesn’t dramatize loss. He honours it.
“Bethy’s Present” shouldn’t be a mourning — it’s a second of presence. “It’s about accepting that we’re all heading for a similar horizon,” Chris explains. “And if a tune might help us make peace with that — even for a second — then I’ve accomplished my job.”
The highway to Departures was not straightforward. In 2015, after a 12 months of heartbreak, near-death experiences, and months of homelessness, Chris discovered himself dwelling in his truck along with his canine, trying to find a spark. He booked studio time with longtime buddy and producer Stew Kirkwood. What got here out wasn’t what he anticipated — it was one thing new.
“Does this sound like Blues or Outlaw Nation to you?” he requested. “That’s Outlaw Nation,” Stew replied. “Shoot. That’s what I used to be afraid of,” Chris laughed.
He embraced it. Departures turned a patchwork of lived expertise, laughter by tears, and tales you inform to maintain going. Each observe was constructed piece by piece, typically recorded between lengthy stretches of actual life.
“After I run out of causes to not take the subsequent step,” Chris says, “I take it — whether or not I’m prepared or not.”
Bethy’s story is tucked gently into this bigger mosaic. There’s no explosive refrain, no theatrics. Simply strains like, “Pinholes of sunshine / Burn in my thoughts / It’s a beacon that’s main me protected off the sting of a knife.” The tune walks the effective line between vulnerability and hope, carrying listeners towards the sunshine with out dashing the darkness.
Chris calls his songs “100% human generated” — a tongue-in-cheek nudge at AI traits, but additionally a severe declaration of intent. There’s no algorithm behind “Bethy’s Present.” Only one man, a guitar, and the desire to recollect somebody dearly by melody.
With tour dates on the horizon and a rising group of listeners connecting along with his mix of folks, blues, outlaw nation, and quiet philosophy, Rattling Coyote Chris affords one thing uncommon: music that feels lived in. And “Bethy’s Present” is his providing to anybody studying to say goodbye with love as an alternative of concern.
As a result of generally the best present is a tune that permits you to maintain on — and let go — on the identical time.
Hello, Chris! Good to fulfill you! Care to introduce your self to the readers for these not acquainted with your music?
Thanks for the curiosity!
My title is Chris Nikiforuk-Rhyason. I’m a singer/songwriter based mostly in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada.
I’ve been concerned with numerous musical initiatives all through the years. The longest stint was simply shy of 20 years with my Psychedelic Blues Rock outfit Them Rattling Coyotes (which is the place I acquired my moniker). All my social media for the reason that TDC days had been Rattling Coyote Chris, so it felt less complicated to make use of that than to have folks spell my precise final title. Hahaha
“Bethy’s Present” feels extremely intimate. Are you able to share who Bethy was to you, and what moved you to jot down this specific farewell?
Bethy is my niece.
In 2004, (when she was about 8) my maternal Grandmother Joyce was within the strategy of crossing-over as a consequence of lung most cancers. My members of the family and I attempted to make it possible for we had been at all times collectively after we weren’t at work in order that if the unhealthy information got here, we wouldn’t be alone.
My sister Lethe, Bethy, and I had been taking part in playing cards and having that same-old dialog about what we’d do if we ever discovered ourselves unexpectedly rich.
Whereas my sister and I had the standard predictable schemes, Bethy appeared to be daydreaming about different issues when she piped up: “if I ever get to fly in a airplane, I’m going to open a window and take a chunk of a cloud to see what it tastes like.”
We each roared with laughter, and my sister says, “I really feel like that belongs in a tune!”. On the time, I used to be engaged on this light, reflective guitar half, and positive sufficient. It ended up inspiring the primary line.
The primary and second verses had been completed instantly.
Shortly after, I used to be visiting my Grandma within the Hospice. I introduced in my guitar and instructed her how this piece got here. I requested if she wished to listen to it, and naturally, she mentioned she couldn’t wait.
Till this level, I had not often sung in any respect, particularly for my household and NEVER for my grandma, so I used to be nervous.
I figured that I higher do it, although, since I could not get one other likelihood, and with simply her and me within the room, what may go fallacious?
I began taking part in for her and simply began the second verse when my household barged into the room like a herd of bison. I acquired so rattled I misplaced my fingers and the tune fell aside.
The household demanded I begin over, and I refused, “this wasn’t for you guys.” I snapped.
Grandma was a imaginative and prescient of pure pleasure. It may have been the painkillers, however I select to suppose it was the tune. Hahaha
In fact, she beamed about how a lot she cherished it and instructed everybody she may about it.
My household stored up with the stress, so I instructed them that in the event that they wished to listen to it, they might chip in on recording a demo, they usually may all have a duplicate. They did, and it has at all times been a supply of pleasure for my household.
In 2004, I recorded the demo with Stew Kirkwood in Edmonton. I added it to a pile of unfinished demos and forgot about it. Stew didn’t, although.
In about 2022, I used to be strolling my canine and fascinated by methods to complete among the songs in my catalog.
The third verse of Bethy’s Present at all times stumped me.
On that stroll, it occurred to me: it may discuss my singing it for grandma in her final days… and with that, the final verse simply fell out of my fingers.
Once we had been recording the songs that might turn into Departures, Stew decreed that we needed to report Bethy’s Present.
Though I wasn’t in opposition to it, it’s a tune that I’ve at all times felt very susceptible over. It’s so near my coronary heart, and I actually would solely pull it out and sing it after I was going by a loss that mirrored how I felt again then.
All of the “what-ifs” had been daunting. Placing one thing like this on the market could be scary- however I made a decision that if the one cause to maintain it from different folks (who might really feel alone of their grief) is as a result of I’m susceptible… that could be a “me downside” and it isn’t a ok cause to disclaim this tune an opportunity to positively have an effect on others.
I attempted each angle to speak myself out of constructing it a single. I examined the album out on a number of buddies and colleagues to see which tracks stood out for them. Everybody preferred totally different tracks, BUT everybody introduced up Bethy’s Present. So I selected vulnerability.
You name your songs “100% human-generated.” In an age of AI and automation, why is that human ingredient — imperfections and all — so essential to you as a songwriter?
At its easiest, I would like to have the ability to decide up a guitar wherever I’m and precisely signify the songs I make.
To get extra in-depth: There are countless shortcuts to creating one thing polished, and a few individuals are wonderful at utilizing these instruments.
If I would like digital wizardry, I’ll humbly rent a digital wizard.
I feel I COULD be taught to make stuff that manner if I had been , however doing so would take time away from doing the half that I actually love.
Having emotion fall out of my fingers whereas I pay attention on and ‘steal’ from them is rewarding in a manner that’s robust to quantify.
Taking nothing, and utilizing time to erode it into one thing folks can discover pleasure in is certainly one of my favourite methods to decompress.
I come residence after a day of whole focus and let my mind unwind on a instrument intentionally made to talk emotionally.
All musicians have a singular relationship with music, and I’ve to take the great with the unhealthy or else I really feel like I’m displaying others a limitless model of myself, which is dishonest and boring, frankly.
I imply, if the world truly appeared prefer it does digitally, everybody would have 6-pack abs and levitate.
The real world is way extra attention-grabbing than that.
After years of constructing music, tattoos, and visible artwork, what does Departures signify for you creatively at this level in your life?
The title comes from the primary tune on the album Distracted By Departures, however as I listened and meditated on the tracks, I wasn’t ready to think about a extra becoming title.
Like, through the years, I collected these tunes that I wrote in robust occasions, which I may sing to myself, or lose myself in whereas I performed them.
It was a special strategy to an album for me, since, in my youthful days, I’d “set out” to jot down an album.
This one was a compilation of songs that had been already (largely) written.
It’s a departure from my common processes, model, and motivations for making an album. It’s a collection of songs that even lean away from one another sonically at occasions.
I’ve stored them to myself, some for many years. They’ve given me consolation and have pushed me over the sting.
It’s also a departure from my consolation zone since it’s the most private stuff I’ve launched to this point.
If somebody listens to “Bethy’s Present” whereas grieving, what do you hope they stroll away with — or really feel — by the point the final be aware fades?
Grief is tougher to foretell than the climate.
I hope Bethy’s Present may give them one thing snug to assist beautify the sluggish passing of time, and when they’re able to embrace the solar once more, I hope it helps them push their manner by the clouds… these tasty clouds. Hahaha
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