Mike Bern and the Muskrat Singers Capture the Lost Sounds of Indigenous Basket Making in Rhythmic, Breathtaking “Echoes”
On his new single “Echoes,” folk rocker Mike Bern guides you, like a soaring bird, over a stretching and breathtaking landscape where the sounds build in intensity and then become more vivid and enveloping.
In the valley
Where the ancient sounds reside
There’s a rhythm that echoes
Deep inside
From the past
They call out to me…
I feel so free
Bern is coming off yet another Top 10 on the Indigenous Music Countdown for his single “New World.” On this latest “Echoes,” Bern enlists the help of the drum group Muskrat Singers to create a richly textured and multi-layered soundscape meant to recreate the pounding of ash (the process of making ash baskets). The song shimmers, chants, builds, and dissolves around the joyful rhythm of the ancient practice.
“The echoes would resonate throughout the valley,” Bern recalls of the practice he often observed in his childhood. “You don’t hear that anymore. It’s like the sounds disappeared.”
Now, the pounding of ash is, sadly, nearly obsolete.
“There were a dozen basket makers in my small community in my younger years, of which only a few remain,” Bern says. “I wanted to express my love for my ancestors and community throughout the Wolastoq Territory.”
On “Echoes,” Bern was able to fulfill a dream he’s long nurtured of collaborating with a drum group.
“This has always been what I wanted to do since I started my musical career,” he explains. “I got in touch with my friend from St. Mary’s First Nation Percy Sacobie and his drum group Muskrat Singers and asked him if he’d be interested in collaborating.”
Fortunately, the Muskrat Singers were enthusiastic, and so Bern also got in touch with Dylan Ward, a Mi’kmaq local musician in Fredericton who owns a studio, and had him record the Muskrat Singers for the track. The rest is history, and “Echoes” truly captures a sense of vastness, awe, and majesty.
Mike Bern is deeply rooted in Tobique First Nation, situated along the Tobique and Wolastoq rivers, where the Wolastoqiyik people are known as the “people of the beautiful river.” His love for music began in childhood, when he was captivated by his late uncle playing the guitar and the secret music sessions held behind closed doors. This early fascination ignited a lifelong passion, leading Mike to self-teach himself acoustic guitar three decades ago.
What drives Mike’s musical journey is a strong connection to his ancestors, his personal challenges, and the healing power of nature. A turning point came during his time in rehab when a counselor recognized his talent for songwriting, noting that his writing felt like singing. This pivotal moment set him on the path to becoming a musician.
Mike refuses to be confined by genre labels, often blending folk and rock influences in his compositions, earning recognition and nominations, including three number one hits on the Indigenous Music Countdown. His discography features notable releases such as “Waponahkew” in 2020 and “Ancestors” in 2023, with his recent single “Reverberation” skillfully capturing the essence of the sweat lodge experience through an ethereal soundscape, and “New World” hitting the Top 10 again.
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