Award-winning alt-folk singer-songwriter Mimi O'Bonsawin invites audiences into a world where music, nature, and storytelling are deeply intertwined. Born in Northeastern Ontario, O'Bonsawin is French Canadian and W8banaki (Abénaki), and a member of the Odanak First Nation. Her genre-defying sound blends folk traditions with groove, playful experimentation, and heartfelt lyricism, creating songs that feel both intimate and expansive.

Her forthcoming album, Evoke (August 28, 2026), reflects her love of gardening, the natural world, and authentic self-expression. Featuring collaborations with OKAN and The Pairs, alongside deeply personal songs including the Indigenous Music Countdown #1 single "Steady," the album marks her most courageous work to date, exploring themes of identity, language, friendship, and belonging.

Performing as a dynamic duo with her husband, drummer, and co-producer Ryan Schurman, O'Bonsawin creates an immersive live experience that feels far bigger than two people on stage, inviting audiences to dance, laugh, sing, and connect.

Her recent years have been marked by remarkable momentum, including four 2026 Northern Ontario Music & Film Awards nominations, debut performances at Hillside and Mariposa Folk Festivals, and 2025's Solo Artist of the Year honour at the Trille Or Awards. She has toured Australia and appeared at major festivals across Canada while sharing stages with artists including Aysanabee, Basia Bulat, Good Lovelies, and Beverly Glenn-Copeland.

Guided by the belief that "music is medicine," Mimi O'Bonsawin continues to cultivate songs that, like a well-tended garden, are meant to be shared.

Show Intro

Award-winning alt-folk singer-songwriter Mimi O'Bonsawin creates music rooted in nature, storytelling, and connection. French Canadian and W8banaki (Abénaki), and a member of the Odanak First Nation, she blends folk traditions with groove and playful experimentation into a sound all her own. Her forthcoming album, Evoke (August 28, 2026), explores identity, language, and the natural world through richly textured songs and heartfelt collaborations. Named Solo Artist of the Year at the 2025 Trille Or Awards, O'Bonsawin continues to captivate audiences with immersive live performances and the belief that music, like a garden, is meant to be shared.

Courte Bio

Mimi O’Bonsawin est une autrice-compositrice-interprète franco-ontarienne et W8banaki (Abénakise), membre de la Première Nation d’Odanak. Sa musique, à la fois influencée par ses origines autochtones et la pop acoustique, est portée par des textes sensibles, des rythmes organiques et une profonde connexion à la nature.

Accompagnée de son partenaire Ryan Schurman à la batterie et aux percussions,elle propose une performance à la fois intime et vibrante, mêlant poésie, groove et émotions sincères.

 Lauréate et finaliste de nombreux prix, Mimi s’est produite en France, en Australie et à travers le Canada, séduisant les publics grâce à sa voix unique et sa présence lumineuse.
Pour Mimi, « la musique est un jardin que nous partageons ».