March 16, 2021 – Music·Musique NB is proud to announce that Cal Johnson (photo below), of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, is the first recipient of the Indigenous Artist Development Program. The initiative was created to provide one emerging Indigenous artist with the tools, support and guidance to achieve a new musical project.
Multi-instrumentalist Cal Johnson plans to re-record traditional Wolastoqiyik songs, previously recorded by Elders from the Tobique First Nation community. The songs will be re-imagined in an EP format and include a full musical accompaniment, as the original recordings have no instrumentation apart from the traditional drum.
Cal Johnson will be supported throughout this project by Mi’kmaq artist Wolf Castle, from the Pabineau First Nation, as well as by the Music·Musique NB (MNB) team. Hip Hop artist Wolf Castle initiated the project to create more spaces where Indigenous voices can be heard.
“We hope that this pilot project becomes a full-fledged recurring program,” says Jean Surette, Executive Director of MNB. “Our goal is to widen the scope and support many more emerging Indigenous artists.”
Cal Johnson is currently residing in Truro, where he completed the Music Arts Program at NSCC.
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Media contact: Jean Surette / jean@musicnb.org / 506.383.4662