Precious | Adrian Sutherland

Barbara Nepinak formed the SummerBear Dance Troupe to share the cultures of Indigenous communities, with Ojibway, Cree, Assiniboine, and Sioux tribes represented within the group. The name originated from the original Ojibway name of Nepinak – “Neebin-ni-maqua” – which means Summer Bear.

Precious was inspired by soulful Black music that came out of the south. It comes from a place of being oppressed – something that Indigenous Peoples and People of Colour understand all too well. It’s an ode to the age-old fight for freedoms and rights that is happening all over the world. The song also pays homage to Mother Earth and her land protectors in its declaration, “this land is precious.” It features a solid back-beat along with pow wow singing, creating an anthem-like feel throughout.

Precious was co-written by Sutherland with brothers Chris Gormley and Matt Gormley. It was produced by Colin Linden in Nashville, and mastered by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone in New Jersey.

“Sutherland channels the emotive depths of blues and rock legends, with a vocal prowess that echoes the gravelly authenticity akin to the blues-rock realm… a tapestry that is as rich and complex as the landscapes he draws inspiration from… a cultural luminary whose voice will echo far beyond the realms of melody and rhythm…” INDIE MUSIC REVIEW

“A powerful single… a captivating blend of rock, soul and indigenous traditions, evoking both the fight for freedom and respect for Mother Earth, a powerful message… seriously irresistible…” EXTRAVAFRENCH

“A powerful message… a mix of guitar riffs, a strong backbeat, and catchy powwow-style singing… you are reminded how precious our Earth and our identity are… groundbreaking…” ILLUSTRATE MAGAZINE

“Ominous, bluesy, and ballsy… Adrian Sutherland manages with ‘Precious’ to create something totally unique…” ROCKERA MAGAZINE

“The roots-rock luminary hailing from Canada’s Far North, takes a cue from the classic musical tactic of coupling singles with complementary B-sides, infusing it with a contemporary edge in his latest release… Sutherland’s message of unity, love, and respect is both timely and resonant…” VENTS MAGAZINE

Born and raised in Canada’s Far North, Adrian Sutherland is a roots-rocker-with-heart from Attawapiskat First Nation. His melding of rock, roots, folk and blues draws inspiration from his life, the land, and his Cree culture, with songs that ripple far beyond stages. 

“Precious Diamonds,” Adrian’s second solo album (coming 03.15.24) was produced in Nashville by Colin Linden, and mastered in New Jersey by Greg Calbi and Steve Fallone (Sterling Sound). Adrian and Colin first worked together, remotely, in 2021. Cut off from the rest of the world during global pandemic, Adrian constructed a recording studio inside a shipping container to stay active in his music career. One of his projects was recording his debut solo album.

Released to critical acclaim in 2021, “When The Magic Hits” earned nominations at the 2022 JUNO Awards and the 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards. Title track Magic Hits won Best Music Video from San Francisco’s 47th American Indian Film Festival, while Scared reached #1 on the internationally-recognized Indigenous Music Countdown. In addition to musician, Adrian is a respected cultural leader and traditional knowledge keeper who is fluent in Omushkegowuk Cree. He is writing a book for Penguin Random House Canada about being born and raised in Attawapiskat. 

Adrian cares deeply about many causes, with first-hand perspective on issues like contaminated water, food insecurity, and mental health. At this time of reconciliation, he is hopeful for Canadians to walk together in love and respect. Adrian and his team would like to acknowledge and say thank you for the support of Canada Council for the Arts. Nous remercions le Conseil des arts du Canada de son soutien. He’d also like to acknowledge and say thank you for the support of Air Creebec, Adrian’s northern airline servicing the James Bay region.