INTERVIEW: Trina Simard on the 2025 Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, Moving To Wesley Clover Parks

Elmnt FM’s Shawn Allen sits down with Trina Simard, CEO of Indigenous Experiences, to talk about the 2025 Summer Solstice Indigenous Festival, why the decision was made to move the festival to Wesley Clover Parks, and where she sees the festival in the next five years. Listen to the full interview below. The 2025 Summer […]

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INTERVIEW: Celeigh Cardinal on Support for Emerging Indigenous Artists, Playing National Arts Centre

Elmnt FM’s Shawn Allen had the chance to sit down with the one-and-only Celeigh Cardinal to talk about growing support for emerging Indigenous artists, her upcoming show at the National Arts Centre, and more. Listen to the full interview below. You can catch Celeigh Cardinal at the National Arts Centre’s Azrieli Studio in Ottawa on […]

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INTERVIEW: Aspects on The Gladstone Presents! Ottawa’s Wintertime Music Festival, Wordsmiths in the Round

Elmnt FM’s Shawn Allen sits down with Ottawa-based Indigenous hip-hop artist Aspects to talk about his eclectic influences, performing with his daughter, and what to expect from Wordsmiths in the Round at The Gladstone Presents! Ottawa’s Wintertime Music Festival. Listen to the full interview below. The Gladstone Presents! Ottawa’s Wintertime Music Festival takes place at […]

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Minoshkite 2024: Siibii on Making Space for LGBTQ2S+ Artists, Returning to Minoshkite

Elmnt FM’s Shawn Allen had a chance to sit down with Cree singer-songwriter Siibii before their set at the second annual Minoshkite Music & Arts Festival. They talked about the need to make space in the music industry for Indigenous and LGBTQ2S+ artists, their favourite things about the Indigenous music scene, and what it’s like […]

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Minoshkite 2024: Mimi O’Bonsawin on The Challenges of Breaking Into the Music Industry, What is Music to Her Ears

Elmnt FM’s Shawn Allen had a chance to sit down with Franco-Ontarian and Abenaki singer-songwriter Mimi O’Bonsawin before her set at the second annual Minoshkite Music & Arts Festival. They talked about the challenges of breaking into the music industry as an Indigenous woman, what it’s like working with her husband Ryan Schurman, what to […]

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Ottawa music industry facing “boom” of musicians according to local music coalition

Mayor Mark Suticliffe standing in front of a podium at the CMAs of 2023. A band is behind him watching him talk.

The Ottawa Music Industry Coalition (OMIC) is seeing more musicians joining their coalition since the pandemic provided a period of creativity to aspiring artists. Melanie Brulée, executive director of the OMIC is encouraged to see this level of growth. The City of Ottawa is well known for its love of music, Brulée said, and that […]

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