* Listen to Adrian's Interview with Dean! *
Photos courtesy of Adrian Sutherland
One listen to Adrian Sutherland’s music and you’ll know he’s unlike anyone else. Born and raised in Canada’s Far North, the roots-rocker-with-heart from Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay has the voice of a songbird, a wealth of talent, and an ocean of muses. Sutherland’s melding of rock, roots, folk and blues is unlike anything else. Drawing inspiration from his life, the land, and his Cree culture, Adrian’s songs ripple far beyond stages. His soulstirring sound is influenced by the likes of Tom Petty, Neil Young, The Tragically Hip, Bryan Adams, Coldplay, and Kashtin – the folk-rock duo from Quebec who sang in Innu-aimun. Notawe (Father) is the lead single from Adrian’s second solo album “Precious Diamonds.” It’s one of two all-Cree songs written, marking the first time he is making music in his mother tongue. “Precious Diamonds” was produced in Nashville by Colin Linden, and mastered in New Jersey by multi-Grammy-awarded Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone. The album will be released March 15, 2024.
The first time Adrian and Colin worked together was remotely in 2021. Cut off from the rest of the world during the pandemic, Adrian constructed a recording studio inside a shipping container to record his debut solo album. “When The Magic Hits” earned nominations at the 2022 JUNO Awards and 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards, while title track Magic Hits won Best Music Video from San Francisco’s 47th American Indian Film Festival. Adrian released three albums as the frontman and founder of all-Cree rockers Midnight Shine, before starting solo projects. His debut single Politician Man reached #1 on the Indigenous Music Countdown (IMC), and won Best Performing Arts & Entertainment from Yorkton, Canada’s oldest film festival.
In addition to being a musician, author, and advocate, Adrian is a respected cultural leader, and a traditional knowledge keeper who is fluent in Omushkegowuk Cree. He is passionate about empowering young minds through arts, education, and land-based learning. Adrian is writing a book for Penguin Random House Canada about being born and raised in Attawapiskat. He cares deeply about many causes, with first-hand perspective on issues like contaminated water, food insecurity, addictions, and mental health. At this time of growing awareness around reconciliation, Adrian is hopeful for Canadians to walk together in love and respect.
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