Mike Paul
Mike Paul is a folk singer-songwriter and storyteller of the Innu First Nation. His music, rich in emotional vocals, acoustic guitar and hand drumming, vibrates to the rhythm of Mother Earth and the people who inhabit her.
Paul was born in Mashteuiatsh (PointeBleue), an Innu community located on the banks of the Pekuakamit (Lac Saint-Jean), located on the Nitassinan traditional territory in the province of Quebec, Canada. For the past 25 years, he has been a pioneer of his community in the music industry.
His debut album meaning “all living beings on this earth”, was released in 2008 under his previous stage name, Mike O’Cleary.
In 2019, his second album Origine was nominated for Best Inuit, Indigenous Language, or Francophone Album at the Indigenous Music Awards, and the same album earned Paul a nomination for Indigenous Songwriter of the Year at the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards.
This talented musician is also an activist for the environment and an advocate for the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. His evocative lyrics, sung in Innu, French and English, combine with echoing drum beats to help us rediscover a thousandyear-old vibrant culture.
It’s a heroic act to sing in your own tongue, expressed Paul. It’s a form of resistance to preserve your heritage and culture (paraphrased from original quote in French).
A true nomad of modern times, Paul travels the roads and oceans to present his culture and compositions. He has performed in Europe and across Canada; participated in many live broadcast programs, including Makusham (hosted by Florent Vollant), Radio Canada’s and APTN’s and composed soundtracks for TV shows, such as Mishkuenita on APTN.
Paul is currently working on his next album, which is expected to be released in 2021.