Attikamek singer Pako will be part of the sold out triple launch party at the Lion d’or in Montreal tonight along with two other Aboriginal groups, Maten and Shauit.
Pako, whose real name is Pascal Ottawa, will unveil his second album called Nanto tonight. Recorded under the Makusham Music label, this opus gives pride of place to the folksinger’s “hoarse voice and rasping speech,” which draws depth from his Atikamekw roots.
• Also read: A fourth album for Maten
If the folk-rock-loving singer-guitarist, veteran group Maten (who will be releasing their fourth album Utenat) and Shauit have chosen March 31st to release their albums together, it’s because it’s National Indigenous Language Day is.
“I travel a lot to other communities and everywhere I see the same need as at home in Manawan,” explains the singer-songwriter in a press release. Nanto is a quest, a reflection, but above all, Nanto is a message of confidence for the future.
Described as a somewhat philosophical poet, Pako writes and sings in his native language. He makes a point of exploring strong themes fueled by various strong emotions, often relating to the spirit of the forest of Manawan in Quebec, where he lives.
“His songs are short stories, real-life anecdotes that serve as a pretext to address issues such as the history of his community, cultural identity, the preservation of his language, the environment. Anchored in the present, its message points to what is to come, like a ray of sunshine crossing the clearing of a dense forest. »
- Tonight’s triple launch at the Lion d’or is already sold out.