Meet the Artist: Mike Bern
Name: Michael Bernard aka Mike Bern (Spirit name: oluwikonok pisun nipawset)
City: Neqotkuk (Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick)
Genre: Indigenous folk rock
A bit about myself:
I am Wolastoqiyik (Maliseet), people of the beautiful river. I share my teachings in my music, which were taught to me by my elders. In our language we speak like the Wolastoq River: very slow and vacillating.
Influences:
Chris Otepka, Frankie Miller, Ben Schneider.
The first album I bought:
Tom Petty, Full Moon Fever
The first concert I went to:
Alice Cooper
The last concert I went to:
Dan Auerbach
The last song I listened to:
Frankie Miller, When I’m Away From You
My favourite song of all time:
The War on Drugs, Strangest Thing
The one song I wish I’d written:
The Heligoats, Goodness Gracious
My dream gig:
Singing side by side with Ben Schneider at Red Rocks.
Myself in three words:
Generous. Outgoing. Spontaneous
Best piece of advice I’ve ever received:
“Always think big.” – Allan Saulis
Beatles or Rolling Stones:
Beatles
What I do to pay the bills:
Seasonal contractor.
When I’m not making music, I’m …
Watching the Blue Jays, hiking, canoeing and doing anything that keeps me outdoors.
Something people would be surprised to learn about me:
I make pickles.
What I’m currently working on:
Raising my teenage son as a single parent and finishing this incredible album.
If my life were a song, the title would be …
Comfortably Numb
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