BIOGRAPHY

Adrian Sutherland is a roots-rock recording artist with heart from Attawapiskat First Nation on James Bay. He’s a singer, songwriter, musician, speaker, author, advocate, and entrepreneur. He’s also a father of four, a grandfather to five, a traditional knowledge keeper, and respected cultural leader, fluent in Mushkegowuk Cree. 
  
After building a recording studio in a shipping container out of necessity during the pandemic, Adrian scored his first television series and completed his debut solo album. When The Magic Hits, released September 17, 2021, was produced remotely by GRAMMY Award winner Colin Linden in Nashville (seven tracks), and multi-award-winning producer and engineer Tim Vesely in Toronto (two tracks). Ten years deep into his music career, Adrian was happy to receive his very first JUNO Award nomination for When The Magic Hits, in the category of Contemporary Indigenous Artist or Group of the Year.      

The fascinating frontman and founder of all-Cree rockers Midnight Shine, Adrian wrote three albums for release with the band before venturing to solo projects. His debut solo single Politician Man, a response to the 2019 water crisis in Attawapiskat, reached #1 on Indigenous Music Countdown and won Best Performing Arts & Entertainment at Yorkton Film Festival – Canada’s oldest film festival. The powerful protest song continues to receive awards and nominations from film festivals around the world, earning new fans daily.   

Adrian’s second single Respect the Gift also reached #1 on the IMC, and was nominated Best Performing Arts & Entertainment at Yorkton Film Festival 2022. Right Here, the first single from When The Magic Hits, was released in June 2021 and earned national attention for its music video created from 1600 selfies. Magic Hits, the album’s focus track, earned airplay across Canada, the US, and Germany, while securing rotation on SiriusXM’s North Americana and Indigiverse channels, and Stingray Music.  

Adrian is presently writing a book for Penguin Random House Canada about growing up in Attawapiskat, a remote and sometimes-harsh place he still chooses to call home. He cares deeply about many causes, and is using his music and voice to share first-hand perspective on issues facing First Nations like contaminated water, housing shortages, food insecurity, addiction, and mental health.

At a time of growing awareness about Reconciliation, Adrian is hopeful for Canadians to better understand one another, and take further steps together.  
  
Passionate about making a difference, Adrian is driven to ensure young people have access to arts, education, recreation, and land-based learning. He’s a Master Corporal with the Canadian Ranger Patrol, guiding youth on wilderness trips. He launched a music program supported by MusiCounts, and was instrumental in bringing ArtsCan Circle to his community.  
  
With no shortage of unique stories to share, Adrian has written for Globe and Mail, Outdoor Canada Magazine, Canadian Musician Magazine, and Huffington Post. A devoted hockey player, too, he was thrilled to lace-up alongside other hockey-loving musicians and NHL greats for JUNO Cups in Ottawa 2017, Vancouver 2018, London 2019, and (almost!) Saskatoon 2020. 
  
Outside of music, Adrian is an entrepreneur in Attawapiskat who runs an eatery and convenience store with wife Judy. Early in his career he was a certified EMT, providing emergency paramedic services all over Northern Ontario. He was proud to be nominated for the 2016 Ontario Premier’s Awards for his unwavering commitment and dedication to the North.