M'GIRL profile picture

M'GIRL

singing our worldviews into being

About Me


M'Girl [pronounced ma-girl], an Aboriginal Women's Ensemble is: Renae Morriseau, Sheila Maracle and Cheryl L'Hirondelle. The group's first recording entitled Fusion of Two Worlds (independent) was produced by Kat Hendrix (session drummer on Heart's 'Dreamboat Annie' and Terry Jack's 'Seasons in the Sun' albums). Kat has also produced a variety of up-and-coming Canadian talent such as soul/R&B vocalist Fara Palmer and 2000 Canadian Aboriginal Music Award winner & rock/blues guitar player George Leach.
In the studio, M'Girl was joined by an all-star cast of players: multi-instrumentalist Joseph Pepe Danza (Soulstream, JouTou), guitarist George Leach, Juno nominee & guitarist Jason Burnstick (Leela Gilday), Juno nominee Murray Porter (Pappy Johns) on keys, spoken word artist/vocalist Skeena Reece, bassoonist Antonio Gonzalez (Guadalajara Philharmonic Orchestra) as well as important contributions from keepers of traditional, ceremonial and social songs: Shirley James (Nlakapamux), Frank Settee (Saulteaux) and Joseph Naytowhow (Cree).
Already Fusion of Two Worlds has garnered M'Girl the 2006 Female Traditional Cultural Roots Album Award from the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards ; two nominations from the 2006 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards for Best New Artist and Best Group and a nomination from the 2007 Canadian Indie Awards for Favorite World Artist/Group of the Year!
M'Girl's harmonies incorporate the sounds of R&B, blues, folk/roots, house and world beat with traditional Aboriginal melodic phrasing, songforms and rhythms. Though officially performing together now for over three years, their personal artistic and musical histories spans throughout each of their lives - they were so born to do this! The message in the music is an emergence of cultural ideals and worldviews from the perspectives of their Metis/Cree (Nêhiyawin), Ojibway and Mohawk backgrounds.
Stories and narratives within the lyrics are poignantly amplified via dynamic harmonies, spoken word, woodwinds, keyboards, guitar, bass and driving rhythms. The mix created is eclectic, urban worldbeat with aboriginal sensibilities at the core of the overall sound that keeps it honest and true to their voice & hand drum roots.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 5/21/2006
Band Website: mgirlmusic.ca
Band Members: M'Girl performs at the Royal Ontario Museum's World of Possibilities Concert

M'GIRL hits 1 on the NCI charts for the week of March 7, 2006!

M'GIRL is the winner of the 2006 CANADIAN ABORIGINAL MUSIC AWARD - Best Female Traditional Cultural Roots Album

M'GIRL was also nominated for two 2006 ABORIGINAL PEOPLES CHOICE AWARDS - (Best New Artist & Best Group :-)

(click on the images to learn more)

M'Girl is:
Renae Morriseau (lead, b/u vocals & percussion)
Sheila Maracle (lead, b/u vocals & percussion)
Cheryl L'Hirondelle (lead, b/u vocals & percussion)
other M'Girls include:
Tiare Laporte
Jenifer Mallett
Janet Panic
Kym Gouchie
Shakti Hayes
M'Band (ok, that's what we call 'em now ;-)
Julie Blue - (Julie Blue, Singspirational Singers...) keyboards
Joseph Pepe Danza - (Soulstream, JouTou...) percussion
Darren Paris - (Soulstream, Daniel Powter...) bass
other amazing musicians who've joined us on stage include:
Kevan Mckenzie - (Buffy Sainte Marie) drums
Etric Lyons - (Kush) bass
Glenna Powrie - keyboards
Jason Burnstick - (Leela Gilday) guitar
Tyson Naylor - (Tyson Naylor Trio, The Crackling, Deadpan...) keyboards
Murray Porter - (Pappy Johns) keyboards
James Forrest - (Alita Duprey, Tamara Nile, Jason Burnstick, Leela Gilday) bass
Rob Thomson - (Intellifunk, Sister Says) bass
Trevor Ainsworth - (Sister Says) percussion
Debut CD "Fusion of Two Worlds" featuring special musical guests:
Kat Hendrix (drums, percussion, keyboards, guitars)
Joseph "Pepe" Danza (percussion, flutes)
Skeena Reece (spoken word/rhyme on "Astam Awasisak")
(the late) Antonio Gonzalez (bassoon on "Love Medicine")
(the late) Fraser Lang (saxophone on "Echoes of the Sisters")
George Leach (guitar on "Don't Have To")
Shirley James (lead vocals & hand drum intros on "Healing Song" & "Lullaby")
Jason Burnstick (guitar on "Lay With Me")
Murray Porter (keyboard on "Lay With Me")

Fusion of Two Worlds is available online and at a variety of locations...
ONLINE:
CD BABY
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/mgirl
IN PERSON:
Vancouver
Aboriginal Art
1044 Granville Street
Vancouver, BC
Zulu Records
1972 West 4th Ave
Vancouver, BC
Banyen Books
3608 West 4th Avenue
Vancouver, BC
Hill's Native Art
165 Water Street
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Aboriginal Friendship Centre Giftshop
1607 East Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Banff
Walter Phillips Gallery
Banff Centre for the Arts
Banff, AB

Type of Label: None