OMBIIGIZI - Sewn Back Together

OMBIIGIZI – (pronounced om-BEE-ga-ZAY, meaning s/he is noisy) – is a collaboration between Zoon (Daniel Monkman) and Status/Non-Status (Adam Sturgeon), Anishnaabe artists who explore their cultural histories through sound. An amalgam of their unique Indigenous heritages and personal musical architectures, Daniel and Adam imbue their lyrics with their families’ storytelling, revealing truths and finding common ground amidst their differences. The debut album Sewn Back Together is a fusion of individuality – a reflection on Adam and Daniel’s commitment to each other as collaborators and distinct members of community.

Putting aside the tonal nuances of their previous work as Zoon and Status/Non-Status (formerly known as WHOOP-Szo), OMBIIGIZI strips back the waves of distortion to reveal themselves, their voices, writing and improvising for the sake of the song. The family on Sewn Back Together includes the production duo of Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene and Nyles Spencer of The Bathouse Studio. Recorded there in fast and intentional sessions during the summer of 2021, Drew and Spencer – along with musicians Eric Lourenço and Drew McLeod from Status/Non-Status and Zoon, respectively – helped steer this collision of divergent artists into some glorious sonic territory steeped in shoegaze, dream pop, anthemic rock, Chicago post-rock, and 2nd wave emo. While not always getting to play and perform alongside other members of their community, OMBIIGIZI is a coming together – with Sewn Back Together, a resounding statement shaped by healing and the guidance of culture.

“The brainchild of Daniel Monkman of Zoon and Adam Sturgeon of Status/Non-Status, OMBIIGIZI finds the Anishinaabe songwriters shedding some of the distorted “moccasin-gaze” blur of their individual projects and leaning into cleaner tones, finding a clarity of songcraft and voice.” –  Exclaim!

“Together, Monkman and Sturgeon show new plaintive depths to their writing, crafting a tribute to the joys and innocence of childhood.” – Under The Radar

“The first taste of their work is “Residential Military,” an arty rock exercise that’s as stripped down and straightforward as these pair of musicians get.” – Dominionated