Mimi O'Bonsawin

Mimi O’Bonsawin – Five Questions With

Mimi O'Bonsawin
Artwork by Carole Diotte-O’Bonsawin

Mimi O’Bonsawin Celebrates Life with her New Single, “I am Alive”

Contemporary roots-pop artist Mimi O’Bonsawin celebrates life with her new single, “I am Alive.”

The single will be accompanied by an official video coming out on September 14th.

I am Alive is a vibrant celebration of life. It may be cliché but the journey of life is worth celebrating;” says Mimi. “In my own life, I have experienced so much loss this year. Many people have over the course of the pandemic. I’ve learned that life is a precious gift, and should never be taken for granted. For me, celebrating life is through music, with my family, and on the land, that is where I feel most grounded. I am Alive reflects the happiness and love I feel in my spirit and invites the listener or audience to join in the celebration.

A rhythm and chant heavy song, this tune wraps up that summer feeling of August. Her floating harmonies and driving ukulele make the song’s production feel pop yet remain true to her roots/folk origins. Mimi’s music has an authentic way of lifting the spirits, and this new single does precisely that.

Listen to “I am Alive” below, and find out more about Mimi O’Bonsawin via our Five Questions With segment.

Care to introduce yourself to our readers?

Kwai Kwai, Bonjour

My name is Mimi O’Bonsawin. I am a contemporary roots singer-songwriter & composer. I am Abenaki and Franco-Ontarienne, originally from Northeastern Ontario, and I love making music and growing food.

My music weaves together textures and stories from my life as a touring songwriter, a gardener, an artist, and a family person.

Tell us a bit about your most recent release.

“I am Alive” is my new uplifting and celebratory single. It was a sing-along anthem at our shows across Canada this summer. From large audiences to intimate audiences, everyone joins in to sing and celebrate this beautiful life. The song has the ability to make you feel instantly happy, just like the sun on a beautiful summer day. A rhythm and chant heavy song, this tune wraps up that summer feeling of August.

The single was produced with my partner Ryan Schurman in our log home turned studio tucked away in the woods and is reflective of the organic and roots-driven music my fans have heard from me before but with a new sense of strength, courage, and honesty. This song is also rooted in the North, where I grew up.

We all have experienced so much loss over the last few years. I myself have lost people I love very much. Through that, I learned that life is a valuable gift worth celebrating.  Ryan and I wanted to capture that in the production.

Where do you tend to pull inspiration from when writing?

It might be the most obvious answer, but LIFE!!!!

As an artist, I see the world through a different lens. Sometimes I hear songs in the wind, sometimes I notice small little details not many people pay attention to… As an artist, I feel it is my duty to absorb all these beautiful stories, moments, and experiences around me and share them with the world in songs. I draw inspiration from the land, from my roots, from my family….. from the things around me and inside of me.

I do workshops with youth, and I always tell them to “see the world through a creative lens because everything around you can be a source of inspiration for your art or self-expression.” I think it is important to slow down and pay attention to the little things in life… that’s where the magic is.

Do you have any upcoming shows or festivals you’d like to tell us about?

Yes!

I just wrapped up an amazing three months of touring festivals, and it felt amazing to be back on the road sharing our music LIVE!!!! We live to play concerts!

I have some lovely fall shows coming up, like Francophonie en Fête Festival in Toronto on Sept 18th, Cultivate Festival in Port Hope, Ontario Sunday, Sept 25th, and a few more that haven’t been announced yet.

I am also in the early stages of planning an Album Release Tour to follow up on the upcoming album launch.

But, it’s also harvest season…. so we will be working hard on our Gnomestead gathering food for the winter ahead.

What’s your goal for 2022?

Growing.

Growing is always the goal. This includes learning, listening, practicing, and working hard.

I am so excited to be launching two albums this upcoming year as well as heading out for the album release tour, which will be a brand new show.

I hope that our music and concerts resonate with people, offer healing in music and bring people joy. I want to bring people into my universe through music and let them find something to hold on to while they are there.

I have so many plans & projects in my heart and on the workbench… the goal is to keep the magic alive while working very hard.

Connect with Mimi O’Bonsawin:
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