Song to the Whales:
A Gathering of Voices
When ancestral musical and vocal traditions unite to celebrate the richness of the oceans
July 21, 2025
Oktoecho, in collaboration with the Australian collective Corrina Bonshek & Collaborators, presents Song to the Whales/Chant de la baleine, a unique international musical project bringing together artists from Indigenous cultures—Inuit from Canada, Māori from New Zealand, and Aboriginal peoples from Australia—alongside non-Indigenous musicians from these same regions.
Created as an initiative to foster an intercontinental musical dialogue, Song to the Whales was born from a deep desire to honour and protect whales, powerful symbols of marine ecosystem preservation. By bringing together ancestral musical and vocal traditions, the project is rooted in an approach of respectful exchange and mutual recognition, while also opening up new spaces for contemporary experimentation.
A Common Theme: the Ocean and the Whales, spiritual beings at the centre of many traditions.
Inspired by traditional Māori, Aboriginal, and Inuit songs, this work fuses ancestral voices with contemporary instrumentation. It offers a sensory journey that celebrates the symbolic strength of the whale while raising awareness about the urgent need to protect marine ecosystems.
The vocal heart of the performance is based on the collaboration of powerful Indigenous voices, including Lydia Etok and Nina Segalowitz, two renowned Inuit throat singers who convey all the intensity and ritual power of this ancestral vocal art. Alongside them, Bunna Lawrie, Mirning Elder and “whale dreamer” from Australia, shares traditional Aboriginal songs that honour the deep connections between his people and the sea. Whaia, known as the “Maori Sonic Weaver,” enriches the ensemble with the spirituality of her culture, guided by respect for the ocean and all its living beings.
In addition to these Indigenous voices, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous musicians come together to create a unique fusion of musical expression. A gong orchestra, led by acclaimed Australian percussionist Michael Askill, envelops the audience in enchanting sounds that evoke the ebb and flow of the waves. This is paired with contemporary instrumental pieces by Australian composer Corrina Bonshek and Canadian composer Katia Makdissi-Warren, both inspired by the cyclical movement of nature and the polyphony of the marine world.
A Dialogue between Tradition and Modernity
Song to the Whales/Chant de la baleine inhabits a space where tradition meets the contemporary, blending musical roots with the avant-garde. Vocal interplay and the powerful resonance of the gongs blend with compositions inspired by natural patterns—wave movements, the resonant songs of whales, and tidal cycles. This sonic kaleidoscope offers an immersive experience in which each culture expresses its connection to the sea and the spirit of the whales.
This approach is part of a global movement. Other projects, such as Tara’s Le Cri des Baleines or Pierre Lavagne de Castellan’s Shelltone Whale Project, share similar goals: to create a profound link between humans and cetaceans through music, to foster awareness of the need to protect life, and to bring forth new ways of listening to the natural world.
A Collective Ode to Biodiversity
Beyond performance, Song to the Whales is a committed artistic gesture: it draws attention to the fragility of the oceans and the need to reconnect with listening to and respecting all living things. Stories, poems, music, and songs are woven together as a vibrant tribute to whales—messengers of planetary balance—and invite each of us to reflect on both the ancestral and current ties that unite peoples around the globe to the sea.
With its scope and intercultural dimension, Song to the Whales / Chant de la baleine opens a unique path that resonates with ecological concerns and the reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. This universal musical dialogue celebrates diversity, transmission, and care for our oceans, reminding us how art can fundamentally transform our view of the world.
‘An intercultural musical project exploring deep connections between indigenous peoples and the ocean.’
This project encompasses creative workshops in Montreal, concerts in Canada, the United States, and Australia, as well as conferences, panel discussions, and activities designed for youth. It also features a unique series of concert-talks, where music and science come together in an engaging and welcoming atmosphere, particularly around the theme of whales.
Concerts
Song to the Whales / Chant de la Baleine
August 6 & 7, 2025, 9:30 p.m.
Festival international Présence autochtone (FIPA), Montreal
Song to the Waters
August 15 & 16, 2025, 7:30 p.m.
Niagara Parks
Song to the Whales / Chant de la Baleine
September 2025 – New York
Venue to be announced on August 6
Australian tour in October 2026 – (festivals to be confirmed)
Workshops, Panel Discussions, and Other Performances
Performances, film screenings, workshops, and discussion circles
August 7–10, 2025
With Bunna Lawrie at FIPA
Discussion circles on water stewardship, an open drum circle, and creative arts workshops in Niagara Falls
August 12–16, 2025
August 19–29
The Australian collective will be in Ottawa and Toronto for a series of experimental performances, discussions, and musical exchanges, including Summer Music in the Garden at Harbourfront on August 28.
For more details and ticket links, visit the Oktoecho website.
Feature image courtesy of Oktoecho.
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