ABOUT MIMI O’BONSAWIN
Mimi O’Bonsawin is a contemporary roots singer-songwriter from Northeastern Ontario. Through her rhythm and story-driven songs, Mimi embraces the beauty of the land, all the while yielding to her Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki roots. The ethereal quality of her music whisks you away with uplifting melodies and introspective lyrics that weave pop sensibilities with acoustic instruments. The layers of percussion and surprising harmonies make you feel the music rather than just hear it.
“Making music and growing food are very much the same. They both start with a seed, and with proper care, can grow into a beautiful garden that we all can share. I put intention and love into every seed and every note,” Mimi says.
Fresh off a Coast to Coast Summer tour , Mimi often performs as a duo with her husband Ryan Schurman on drums making it an intimate yet uplifting experience for the audience. They recently added Anthony King on lead guitar into the mix. Drawing on his years of touring with Internationally recognized artists, he adds layers of atmosphere and energy to their full band sound.
Mimi’s latest album, Willow released March 2023, (independent) features four singles, “Here’s to the Women”, “I am Alive”, “I Wish I Was a Farmer” and “The River”.
“Willow” is a collection of 14 songs, with an album cover so welcoming in its own right that I wish I could just take off my shoes and lay under that willow tree while I listen.” - Great Dark Wonder. Just like her previous release, and first instrumental album Fiddleheads & Ferns (2022), this album was produced and recorded in Mimi and Ryan’s log home studio. “Just like the bark of the willow tree, the making of this album has brought me so much healing. I have never felt more alive.”
For many years, Mimi struggled to find her ‘sound’, her ‘voice’. “This album sounds like the music I have always heard in my heart.” Mimi adds; “It is honest, it is real and it is full of life. I feel like all of my previous albums have led me to where I am now, learning and growing at every chapter.”
It is important to note that no software instruments were used in the making of this album. All of the instruments are real and recorded live. Mimi and Ryan draw on a wide range of percussive and acoustic instruments in their home and weave them with sounds from the land and vocal play. “I like to paint with instruments and leave space for intention and breath.”
Mimi’s album, Elle danse (2020), also a self-produced French EP, was nominated for Best New Artist & Best EP at the Trille Or Awards (2020) which recognizes francophone artists outside of Quebec. Additionally, the album was among ELMNT FM’s top 10 Best Albums of 2020. Since Elle danse, Mimi has been performing for both the English and the French audiences. On Télé Québec’s program ‘Belle & Bum’, Mimi performed her song “Elle danse” and was subsequently featured in two Radio-Canada documentaries. In 2019, Mimi was awarded Best Pop Album at the Indigenous Music Awards with her album Connected.
The launch of Mimi’s instrumental album Fiddleheads & Ferns has led her and Ryan to pursue composing instrumental music such as the theme song for Radio-Canada’s «Le matin du nord» and an important segment of music for the Parliament Hill light show in Ottawa 2022. Fiddleheads & Ferns Won “Best Folk/Trad/Country Album” at the Trille Or Awards 2023. Further, Mimi’s music has been featured on CBC’s Trickster series (Trailer), Ontario’ Highlands Documentary (2021), Precious Leader Woman Docu-film, APTN’s Mohawk Girls, Showtime’s Ray Donovan (E1S5) and more. She also composed the lyrics for Music Monday’s National Anthem for 2022.
When not creating or recording music, Mimi shares her passion for songwriting and art through workshops with youth in schools across Canada. “Music is a powerful healer,” says Mimi. “Songs and art are great tools to empower our youth and to provide an outlet. No matter the intention, I believe that everyone can and should write a song.”
Mimi O’Bonsawin Band
Ryan Schurman - Drums/Percussion/Sample Pad
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
2023- MaMA Music Conference- Paris, ON
2023- NCTR Gidinawendimin at TD Place- Ottawa,ON
2023- Festival Les Zébrures d’Automne- Limoges, France
2023- Peterborough Folk Festival- Peterborough, ON
2023- Summerfolk Festival- Owen Sound, ON
2023-North American Indigenous Games- Halifax,NS
2023- Steward Park Folk Festival- Perth, ON
2023- 2RiversRemix- Kamloops, BC
2023- RBC Ottawa Bluesfest- Ottawa, ON
2023- Capital Music Awards Performance- Ottawa
2023- Full House Album Release Concert - Place des Arts Sudbury (6 tickets short of Sold Out)
2023- Full House Album Release Concert - National Arts Center Fourth Stage- Ottawa
2023- Album Release Concert at Small World Music (8 Tickets short of Sold Out)- Toronto
2023- Your Roots Are Showing Folk Music Conference - Ireland
2022- Cavalcade of Lights Nathan Phillips Square - Toronto,ON
2022- Vancouver Island Music Fest- Courtenay BC
2022- Summerfolk - Owen Sound ON
2022- Festival des Traditions du Monde w/ Femme Du Monde by Melissa Lavergne - Sherbrooke QC
2022- TD Union Station- Toronto, ON
2022- National Center for Truth and Reconciliation Concert at Paramount Foods Stadium- Mississauga , ON ( 5000 audience)
2022- The NAMM Show - Anaheim, CA USA
2022- Cultivate Festival- Port-Hope,ON
2022 - Canada Games - Niagara, ON
2022 - NAMM Believe in Music Global Live Stream -20 Artists 20 Countries
2021- National Arts Center - Fourth Stage (SOLD OUT)
2021- Belle et Bum - Télé Québec W
2021- Mariposa Folk Festival - Satellite Concerts
2021- Trille Of Awards Gala at NAC ( Live for National TV)
Synch & Composing
Comission Works - Ongoing
Voice Over Work- Ongoing
Working from Log Home Studio
Composer for NAGAMO - An Indigenous Curated Catalogue (ONGOING)
Notable Synch Placements & compositions:
2022- Radio Canada Theme song ‘Matin du Nord’
2022- Light & Sound Show - Parliment Hill Ottawa,ON
2021-Ontario Highlands Tourism WATCH HERE
2021-Precious Leader Women Documentary
2019-CBC’s TRICKSTER Trailer ( Nagamo) WATCH HERE
2017-Ray Donnavon (E1S5)
ongoing-APTN’s Mohawk Girls
RECENT MEDIA
BORÉALE Album : Radio-Canada
Willow Album review : Great Dark Wonder
Willow Concert Review: The Sound Café
Published Column "A Touring Musician’s Journey into Growing Food” in Canadian Musician Magazine
A Day to Listen- Downie Wenjack Foundation
Radio Canada - Matin du Nord Theme Song
Sudbury.com - ‘A Love Letter to her Community’
CTV NEWS Sept 2022
Publicity by What’s the Story/Beth Cavanagh
AWARDS & NOMINATIONS
2023 Grammy Consideration for Best Regional Roots Album “Willow”
2023 Nominated Solo Artist of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, Music Video of the year at Capital Music Awards.
2023 Nominated Willow-Best Folk/Country/Trad Album of the year & Coup de Coeur at Trille Of Awards.
2020 Nominated Best EP & Best New Artist at TRILLE OR AWARDS
2019 Awarded Best Pop Album at INDIGENOUS MUSIC AWARDS
2017 Nominated Best Music Video for Beautiful Place at Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards (NOMFA)
2017 Nominated Best Songwriter at Toronto Independent Music Awards
2017 Awarded Best Music Video for HOW LONG at Toronto Independent Music Awards
2015 Nominated Best Songwriter at Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards (NOMFA)
Recent Career Highlights
Willow Album Track by Track on SiriusXM Indigivers
Was part of A Day to Listen for the Downie Wenjack Foundation - Heard across canada on over 500 radio stations. Listen Here
Composed theme song for Radio Canada’s program ‘Le Matin du Nord’.
Here’s to the Women & I Wish I was a Farmer Single added to Indigivers on Sirius XM.
Lyrics composer for Music Monday song 2022.
Composed a part of the Sound & Light Show on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
Performed on Belle et Bum - Télé Québec 2021.
Elle Danse EP was on ELMNT FM’s - Top 10 Albums of 2020.
Featured on Radio Canada’s Mini Docu. Series - “TOUT INCLU” WATCH HERE .
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