Zoon (band)

Zoon is a Canadian shoegaze band from Hamilton, Ontario, whose core member is Anishinaabe musician Daniel Monkman.^[1] They are most noted for their 2020 album Bleached Wavves, which was a shortlisted finalist for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize.^[2]

Originally from Selkirk, Manitoba and a member of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Monkman moved to Hamilton after stints living in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Calgary, Alberta.^[3] They abandoned music for a number of years during which they struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, before getting sober with the help of the traditional Anishinaabe Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers.^[4]

Monkman reestablished their musical career in Hamilton,^[4] initially using the band name Bloom before adopting the name Zoon from the Grandfathers' teaching of zoongide'ewin (bravery and courage).^[3] The band, whose music blends shoegaze rock with elements of traditional First Nations music in a style which Monkman refers to as "moccasin-gaze", features a varying lineup, with its current members being guitarist Daniel Wintermans, bassist Drew Rutt and drummer Andrew McLeod.^[3]

Selected tracks from Bleached Wavves were released as an EP in 2019,^[3] before the full album was released in 2020 on Paper Bag Records as the band's full-length debut.^[5] Monkman has also collaborated with Adam Sturgeon of Status/Non-Status in OMBIIGIZI, who released their debut album Sewn Back Together in 2022.^[6] Their 2023 album Bekka Ma'iingan was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize,^[7] and received a Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024.^[8]

Discography

Studio albums

Bleached Wavves (2020)
Bekka Ma'iingan (2023)

Extended plays

Big Pharma (2022)
A Sterling Murmuration (2022)

References

^ "Zoon puts the 'Vibrant Colours' in a new style of music called moccasin gaze". CBC Music, September 30, 2020.
^ David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, July 15, 2021.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Ric Taylor, "Daniel Monkman's Zoongide'ewin". View Magazine, August 8, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Graham Rockingham, "Zoon’s soundscapes find inspiration in traditional teachings". Hamilton Spectator, July 29, 2020.
^ Josiah Nelson, "Zoon Transcends His Shoegaze Origins on Remarkable Debut 'Bleached Wavves'". Exclaim!, June 16, 2020.
^ Alan Ranta, "OMBIIGIZI Make Noise with a Purpose on 'Sewn Back Together'". Exclaim!, February 9, 2022.
^ "2023 Polaris Music Prize long list: Feist, Jessie Reyez and more". CBC Music, June 13, 2023.
^ "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 6, 2024.

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[cbc-1] "Zoon puts the 'Vibrant Colours' in a new style of music called moccasin gaze". CBC Music, September 30, 2020.

[2] David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, July 15, 2021.

[taylor-3] Ric Taylor, "Daniel Monkman's Zoongide'ewin". View Magazine, August 8, 2019.

[rockingham-4] Graham Rockingham, "Zoon’s soundscapes find inspiration in traditional teachings". Hamilton Spectator, July 29, 2020.

[5] Josiah Nelson, "Zoon Transcends His Shoegaze Origins on Remarkable Debut 'Bleached Wavves'". Exclaim!, June 16, 2020.

[6] Alan Ranta, "OMBIIGIZI Make Noise with a Purpose on 'Sewn Back Together'". Exclaim!, February 9, 2022.

[7] "2023 Polaris Music Prize long list: Feist, Jessie Reyez and more". CBC Music, June 13, 2023.

[8] "Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 6, 2024.

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