Mike Bern honours the voices of those who came before him in his stirring, shimmering new single Ancestors — showcasing today on Tinnitist.
Hailing from Tobique First Nation, the award-nominated New Brunswick singer-songwriter penned Ancestors after visiting an Angel Reader — a person who can communicate and receive an angel’s words and visions. Bern, grieving a family passing, received a message; a call to action to use the power of song to honour those who came before. Ancestors is his dedication to the sacrifices of previous generations upon whose shoulders he rests.
An ethereal soundscape with lush guitars, anthemic vocals, and catchy synth harmonies, Ancestors tells this story of pride while a range of musical influences is complemented by bold lyrics that draw on the strength of Bern’s forbears and the connection to his ancestry. He crafted Ancestors by arranging traditional folk melodies and sprinkling hints of rock ’n’ roll to create an auditory patchwork.
His skills as an instrumentalist/songwriter come from an already-impressive music career that has spanned numerous projects. Drawing influence from artists like Frankie Miller, Chris Otepka and Ben Schneider, Bern had already found success playing in award-winning bands such as Kickin Krotch and District Avenue before going solo. Opening up for bands like Seaway and The Trews, Bern has also found his work on international stages — a video made during his time with District Avenue being featured at the Pyeonchang 2018 Winter Olympics.
Check out Ancestors above, sample more of Mike Bern’s music below, and find him at his website, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.
