Tee Cloud

Founder of the Sacred Wolf Singers, Tee Cloud has been performing at hundreds of powwows across North America for 15 years. Born in Metepenagiag, New Brunswick, his love for traditional Mi'kmaq music has taken him to Vancouver, Albuquerque, New York and even Honolulu. Since 2015, Tee Cloud, via Sacred Wolf Singers, has been bringing together musicians thirsty for stages and road trips. Together, they share their love of connecting with the lands and peoples of the world. Their debut album, Four Sacred Colours, is a beautiful folk work with reggae, soul, and blues influences that gently immerses us in the world of traditional Native drumming, while keeping it fresh and contemporary for all to enjoy. With special collaborations from Laura Niquay and Anachnid, his feel-good music will make you want to see the world. His song, On My Way to Hawaii, recorded with Musique Nomade in Carleton-sur-Mer, takes us on a journey as Tee Cloud knows how.

When did you first realized you had a passion for music?

Before the drum and Powwow, I was traveling with my mother listening to oldies. She had cassette tapes in her car and I found my passion for music in our travels. I always wanted this feeling for the rest of my life.

What inspired you to make music and pursue a career in it?

Just to see what other artists are doing, lots of my friends are musicians. Like Pura Fe, huge influence when I was hanging out with her. It was our common language.

What are your biggest musical influences or sources of inspiration, and how have they shaped your sound?

My biggest influence is Eddy Cornelius, an RnB singer. I am such a big fan of his rhythm. For Powwow, it is White Fish Jr growing up. I just love their singing.

How would you describe your music and what makes it unique?

I’m trying to get out of the box with my melodies, kind of like a reggae feel to it. So, the style would be Powwow Folk.

How does your creative process unfold as you write and compose new songs?

I used to create with a cassette recorder in my car, so I would record my song, then play it back in the car and record over it to do the backing vocals. Like The Beatles back in the day, but the car version.

How do you prepare for a show or concert?

Put tobacco on the drum, go over the songs to make sure of the order. I like to leave the drum out in the sun to warm up.

What is your favourite song to perform live and why?

I like to sing ‘Heading to New Mexico’, just because it’s catchy and people really love it. It makes me feel good.

As a Mi'kmaq artist from the community of Metepenagiag in New Brunswick, how has your upbringing influence your music?

Mostly through my father and uncles, who were always on the drums in the 90s. They taught me the traditions behind it, and it was every single night. We don’t see that nowadays. It was a way of life.

What led you to the creation of Sacred Wolf Singers X Simon Walls?

A collaboration that started when I did my solo album with Simon. After that, we wanted to do more like a powwow style, including a lot more people and Indigenous people from other countries

Congratulations on releasing your latest album L’nu’k Mawiejik (The People Gather Together) in February 2025, can you tell us a little bit about this project and your collaboration with Montreal-based music producer and roots/folk artist Simon Walls?

Our goal was to gather musicians from everywhere and put forward the Powwow music culture. We all worked as a group, all equals. It was a very unique experience.

What have you learned about yourself and New Brunswick's artistic community through your work?

I appreciate the people who are trying, even though they’re not trying to have a huge career. I learned to appreciate everything around me.

If you weren’t a musician, what career path would you have chosen?

Probably would’ve been a truck driver. For my love of traveling.

What are your goals for your music career in the future?

My goals are to exchange with others, go to other countries, and jam with as many people as I can. My goal is to connect.

Describe what you are most proud of in your career?

Singing with Brett Kissel and K’Naan in Ottawa in front of 90,000 people.

What advice would you give to aspiring musicians?

Work at it, work hard, don’t expect anything, and do it for the love. Don’t criticize your surroundings, and don’t rush it.