Community selects songs for Qalipu Mi’kmaq singer songwriter’s first album
By Jamie-Lee McKenzie
TEMAGAMI, ONTARIO – New and promising Qalipu Mi’kmaq First Nation artist, Esther Pennell, is set to release her first album, “Since You’ve Been Gone”, later this month on June 21.
Pennell, a self-taught banjo player and folk-blues singer songwriter now living in Temagami, Ontario, shares her stories through her music. About a year ago, Pennell was faced with the loss of her son. “Music, for me has been my medicine,” says Pennell.
Though the loss of her son proved to be challenging, she channeled that hardship which transcended beautifully into her album and became a way to honour her son. “I never had ‘give up’ in me and I knew my son wouldn’t want that for me and this is my way of honouring his memory,” says Pennell.
“He’s my biggest inspiration, I want to do him proud,” states Pennell.
While working with Musique Nomade, a Quebec-based organization dedicated to promoting indigenous musicians, to write and record her first song “Salty Bannok” back in February 2015, Pennell felt the push to make her first album.
With the help of her long-time friend, Mary Laronde, Pennell is launching her music career. “I am honoured that Esther is taking me on this fun and exciting journey,” says Laronde.
Pennell has received a lot of support from her community. “It became a community project, it wasn’t just about me, I wanted people to feel like they were involved in the process,” states Pennell.
Earlier this year, the community came together to participate in the Esther Makes a People’s Choice CD concert. With the help from her community, Pennell showcased approximately 30 of her original songs and allowed the community to vote for their favourites. The top 10 voted songs are the songs chosen to be on her album. “They’re the ones that will be buying the CD’s, so why not let them pick the songs they want to hear,” added Pennell.
“I’ve got a really good community, everybody’s been really supportive of my music career,” says Pennell. Through concerts, donations, and grants, many of the community members helped Pennell raise the needed funds to record her first full length album.
Pennell states that her music has been inspired by life in general. Her music has its own style and she really enjoys sharing her life story through the songs she creates.
“I have lots of inspiration, life in general and a lot of my songs are about resilience and just keeping going,” states Pennell. Pennell does not rely on traditional banjo style, she creates her own unique sound, giving a twist to the traditional folk-blues music.
Not only has Pennell been busy with recording “Since You’ve Been Gone”, she continues to play live shows and rampantly booking up her summer.
Pennell is set to perform at the sub-festival Live and Original Songwriter Showdown, a part of the Collingwood Elvis Festival in Collingwood, Ontario starting July20-25, where she made the top 12 out of over 100 musicians. “I’m just excited to be in the top 12, I already feel like I won,” says Pennell.