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Lenya Wilks overcomes trauma, considers return to music

Digicel Rising Stars alum appeared in audition round of Canada’s Got Talent

Published:Tuesday | May 3, 2022 | 12:08 AMStephanie Lyew/Gleaner Writer
A happy Lenya Wilks at ‘home’ in Canada.
A happy Lenya Wilks at ‘home’ in Canada.
Lenya Wilks
Lenya Wilks
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Prior to performing Sam Smith’s Too Good At Goodbyes for the audition round of ‘Canada’s Got Talent’ reality series, which was televised recently, singer-songwriter Lenya Wilks bravely shared the story of being involved in a home invasion and also that she was a victim of sexual assault. However, in an interview with The Gleaner, she admitted that she never thought she would ever speak about it publicly.

“A lot of it was denial for me. I block things out of my memory, and for a long time I did brush it under the mat,” she said. “It’s been a long process. For me, it was having very strong family support through it all.”

Then, while attending Brandon University in the Canadian province of Manitoba, she took advantage of the therapist who was made available to students.

“Through talking about it, I recognised it was beyond my control, not because of anything to do with me, but circumstances. After a while, I looked at it that way and said maybe I can help someone else by sharing,” Wilks explained.

She also said that she refuses to give into the victim mentality and has not allowed the traumatic experiences to cripple her or prevent her from returning home.

Following the incident, Wilks shared, “I was asked to come and view bodies, but it was not any of the perpetrators; and I’m not sure if they’re still walking around freely, because karma works in a strange way.”

Wilks said that she feels strongly about not making her past define her future. She has also applied that thinking to her visiting home.

“My parents have moved on from the situation, they still live in their home, as my mom was very strong and said she was not leaving her home. They built a massive wall around that place and still enjoy living there. They have risen from it, I think we have all surpassed or overcome the trauma and are living in the moment,” she said.

“Last time I was there in December 2018, I felt fine. Apart from the typical ‘come in, lock the door’ type of behaviour, I felt at home. It [has been] home for many years and I will always go back there, and I am not afraid of going back there anymore. I can’t wait to return. I wanna do everything, party, dance and do all the exciting things and act like a tourist,” she continued, followed by laughter.

NO CLEAR PLAN

As it relates to her future in music, Wilks said she does not have a clear plan. She entered Canada’s Got Talent when she first saw the posting in summer 2021 and received the callback a few months later, and was accepted to do the video audition in November.

“I’d be lying if I told you I had a plan. I love to sing, but the music industry takes a lot out of an artiste on a daily basis. I am still figuring out how to navigate the system. I am assuming I didn’t make it passed that stage to go on to the semi-finals, because when a singer enters a ‘got talent’ competition, he or she goes up against a variety of talents, dancers, acrobats, and so on,” Wilks explained of her not being one of the 18 selected from 81 performers.

The former Digicel Rising Stars contestant has regained confidence knowing she was able to wow all four judges. Canadian record executive and recording artiste Kardinal Offishall, who is of Jamaican heritage, told her she “demolished the stage”, while comedian and actor Howie Mandel said “a door opened tonight”.

The possibilities are endless, she said, explaining that while she has completed studies in jazz vocal performance and earned her bachelor degree in music, she is not working in her field. She currently works in project management since she moved to Surrey in British Columbia.

“One thing about living here, you are not tied to what your degree says. I am still thinking about it. I could do something in education or pursue a masters. I may not have made it to the semi-finals, but I will sing, and Canada’s Got Talent showed me that I should consider my return to music,” she said.

Wilks praised her husband for being a strong support and helping her to work through a lot of her emotions.

“Finding love, my husband, who is such a sweet person and who I kept out of the public eye for such a long time, and having him see me beyond the scars and baggage, it helped me to progress. I must also say that if COVID has taught us anything, [it] is that life is short or life can be short. And what I went through in the past, it was a traumatic situation, but it has shaped me to be the strong, resilient woman that I am today. We’ll see where I go from here,” Wilks said.

stephanie.lyew@gleanerjm.com