It's been a long way back to the North for Abe Drennan, but his guitar continues to lead him along the way.

Completing the second part of his master's degree in Indigenous education here in the Delta, the Inuvik-based musician is back in the North at East Three School and has a new single following him up the Dempster.

"Earth and its elements like wind, fire and rain, they all give us an opportunity to reconnect with ourselves," he said. "I think with so many distractions in our lives right now and so many critical issues in our communities and our world, it's important for me to remind myself that I need to slow down.

"I need to stop and listen to what is the truth is for me."

Drennan's new song, 'Whisper in the Wind,' was released July 9 on streaming services across the web.

Inspiration for the song came from self-reflection on recent events and the need for people to get in touch with their more introspective side, he said. Having grown up in a remote community, Drennan said he found his muse in nature.

"This song reminded me of the wind," he said. "How do I make decisions about my life that connect to my true nature and self? Life is busy and full of obligations, work, jobs and school.

"The idea is rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing and being. Reconnecting to the land is a way of healing ourselves and get clarity in our life," he added.

Much like the rest of the North last year, Drennan's plans were disrupted by the wildfires that forced the evacuation of much of the Northwest Territories, including Fort Smith, where Drennan's preferred studio, Bell Rock Recordings, operates. So the artist has been working on this song off and on for the better part of a year.

Drennan noted the draft of the song actually goes back nearly a decade, but was brought to the surface when he partnered with Andrew Shedden for an NWT Arts grant.

After working around the disrupted plans, Drennan sat down with his guitar and harmonica and got down to business. Accompanying him on the track is Jim Black, formerly of Fort McPherson, and Ryley Blake, of Inuvik. Joey Roy hammered out the drums while backup vocals were provided by XIMXIA.

Now, the single is laying the groundwork for another release and an album of sorts following that.

"I'm still deciding how to release," he said, "but nowadays it doesn't seem to matter what you do.

"As much as people try to tell you, there's no formula for releasing music," he said. "Just do whatever feels right."