Claude McKenzie

Claude McKenzie, born on January first, nineteen sixty-seven, is a celebrated Canadian singer-songwriter hailing from the Innu community of Maliotenam. He gained prominence as one half of the renowned folk music duo Kashtin, which holds the distinction of being the most commercially successful musical group in First Nations history.

In nineteen ninety-seven, McKenzie launched his solo career with the release of his debut album, Innu Town. However, his journey took a challenging turn when he suffered serious injuries in a car accident a few years later. Despite this setback, he persevered and returned to the music scene with his second album, Pishimuss, which translates to 'Little Moon' or 'December', in two thousand four.

After a period of two years dedicated to rediscovering his artistic voice, McKenzie made a triumphant comeback in two thousand nine with the album Inniu, meaning 'He is reborn'. Collaborating with Montreal producer Ulysse Personne, he recorded this album alongside his former Kashtin partner, Florent Vollant. Notably, Ulysse Personne also contributed to the writing of the album's sole French track, 'Nous', while McKenzie included an English song titled 'Away'. The majority of the album features songs written in Innu, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the language found in Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador, reminiscent of the trio of albums recorded by Kashtin in the late eighties and early nineties.