Mikhail Laxton – Ottawa’s Ice Dragon Boat Performer – Interview

Originally from Australia, now based in Ottawa, Mikhail Laxton has two projects running. His self-titled solo career and latest project, Blackbird Valley.

Mikhail will perform at the Ice Dragon Boat Festival in Ottawa on February 9th at 8pm at The Rainbow Bistro.

Listen to Wasting Our Time below and learn more about Mikhail Laxton in our festival edition mini interview.

Would you like to introduce yourself to the readers first?

I’m Mikhail Laxton, Mik (Mick) for short.

I am an Indigenous man from Far North Queensland, Australia. I now call Ottawa my home and am a singer-songwriter and recording artist.

Tell us about your latest release.

So I actually have two projects. Mainly my solo career “Mikhail Laxton” and a side project called “Blackbird Valley” which I created during the pandemic.

My debut EP was released in 2021 and the last single “Wasting our Time” was released earlier in the year. It’s a song about two lovers who come to a point in their relationship where they are both together
realize they are not meant for each other. They love each other, but they just don’t get along.

This song has been added to the SiriusXM channels North Americana and Indigiverse.

Blackbird Valley’s latest release, Seasons, is a song I wrote about moving from Australia to Canada. Myself and my people (the Kuku-Yalanji) hail from an ancient rain forest on the northeast coast of Australia, where we have never experienced seasons like autumn when the leaves fall from the trees. I’m pretty sure the coldest temperature in my hometown isn’t below 8°C.

So when I came to Ottawa in February 2016, I walked into a breathtaking -20C night. That night I also saw snow for the first time.

In the coming months I saw things I had never seen before, snow, seemingly dead trees, then the slow rebirth of spring, the beautiful lush greens of summer and then a true autumn.
I needed to write a song about these amazing things, and I couldn’t help but see the connection between the seasonal patterns in nature versus my own life.

Blackbird Valley will release his fifth and final track, “Dance With You,” off his self-titled EP on February 10, 2023.

You will be playing at the Ice Dragon Boat Festival in Ottawa in February. Is this your first time performing at the festival?

This is my first time attending and performing at Ottawa’s Ice Dragon Boat Festival. I’m excited to see what you crazy Canadians will do at this event and I’m so happy to have been invited to play my songs for you wonderful people.

What other bands/artists are you looking forward to at the festival?

My good friends, The Lionyls and Lynne Hanson! I’m also looking forward to being positively surprised by the other artists in the line-up.

What’s next for you?

What I can tell you is that I am preparing to release my first single from my full-length debut album in the spring.

Connect with Mikhail Laxton:
website
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

I’m Jenna, the founder and publisher of Canadian Beats. I have a strong love for Canadian music that began many years ago. I have a passion for promoting these talented Canadian bands and artists and that’s how Canadian Beats was born.

Canadian Beats has evolved into more than just a medium and what a journey it’s been.

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