THUNDER BAY — Celebrated Indigenous artist Nadjiwan has returned to Thunder Bay to record his latest album, "Now is the Right Time of the Year."
The project is being recorded at local music studio Blueprints, with contributions from longtime collaborator Jean-Paul De Roover and engineer Mack Davis.
“Nadjiwan is an exceptional talent” said De Roover “and he doesn’t come as a solo act. He brings his whole crew, the full band and Ron Skinner, his recording engineer.”
Skinner has over 30 years recording live for CBC music and has worked with some of the finest artists, producers, and sound engineers in the music industry.
“To bring this kind of talent to the North is exceptional” said De Roover.
A band of their calibre get to experience the North and all that living up here has to offer and in exchange, said De Roover, we get to witness and work with some incredible talent.
This is not the first time Nadjiwan (Marc Meriläinen) chose to return to his hometown to record. His 2022 album was recorded at the Chippewa Pavilion. Meriläinen talks about choosing the location for the close proximity to the water and the view of the Sleeping Giant.
“It was a great experience in which the band hired local businesses, ordered food from Fort William First Nation and collaborated with a local film crew Apple Wagon Films on a behind-the-scenes documentary, Meriläinen said.
His return to Thunder Bay is more than a production choice, he said. It is a statement about the strength of Northern Ontario’s creative community.
This new album promises an eclectic mix of stripped-down acoustic moments and full-on rock anthems. The album draws off themes of Indigenous culture and connection. It was recorded ‘live off the floor’ where the full band played together in the recording space and will be adding keyboard plus vocal tracks post production. The album will be ready in the fall of this year.
Behind-the-scenes content can be found on Blueprints’ Facebook page and a full documentary will follow, available on the band's homepage.
