Zoon is a Canadian shoegaze band from Hamilton, Ontario, whose core member is Anishinaabe musician Daniel Monkman."Zoon puts the 'Vibrant Colours' in a new style of music called moccasin gaze". CBC Music, September 30, 2020. They are most noted for their 2020 album Bleached Wavves, which was a shortlisted finalist for the 2021 Polaris Music Prize.David Friend, "Dominique Fils-Aimé, Mustafa, and Leanne Betasamosake Simpson are among the 10 artists shortlisted for this year's Polaris Music Prize". Toronto Star, July 15, 2021.
Career Originally from Selkirk, Manitoba and a member of the Brokenhead Ojibway Nation, Monkman moved to Hamilton after stints living in Winnipeg, Manitoba and Calgary, Alberta.Ric Taylor, "Daniel Monkman's Zoongide'ewin" . View Magazine, August 8, 2019. They abandoned music for a number of years during which they struggled with drug and alcohol addiction, before getting sober with the help of the traditional Anishinaabe Teachings of the Seven Grandfathers.Graham Rockingham, "Zoon’s soundscapes find inspiration in traditional teachings". Hamilton Spectator, July 29, 2020.
Monkman reestablished their musical career in Hamilton, initially using the band name Bloom before adopting the name Zoon from the Grandfathers' teaching of zoongide'ewin (bravery and courage). The band, whose music blends shoegaze rock with elements of traditional First Nations music in a style which Monkman refers to as "moccasin-gaze", features a varying lineup, with its current members being guitarist Daniel Wintermans, bassist Drew Rutt and drummer Andrew McLeod.
Selected tracks from Bleached Wavves were released as an EP in 2019, before the full album was released in 2020 on Paper Bag Records as the band's full-length debut.Josiah Nelson, "Zoon Transcends His Shoegaze Origins on Remarkable Debut 'Bleached Wavves'". Exclaim!, June 16, 2020. Monkman has also collaborated with Adam Sturgeon of Status/Non-Status in OMBIIGIZI, who released their debut album Sewn Back Together in 2022.Alan Ranta, "OMBIIGIZI Make Noise with a Purpose on 'Sewn Back Together'". Exclaim!, February 9, 2022. Their 2023 album Bekka Ma'iingan was longlisted for the 2023 Polaris Music Prize,"2023 Polaris Music Prize long list: Feist, Jessie Reyez and more". CBC Music, June 13, 2023. and received a Juno Award nomination for Contemporary Indigenous Artist of the Year at the Juno Awards of 2024."Here are all the 2024 Juno nominees". CBC Music, February 6, 2024.
Monkman released his third album, Happy Thought School, on June 2026 via Paper Bag Records.
Discography
Studio albums
Bleached Wavves (2020) Bekka Ma'iingan (2023)
Extended plays
Big Pharma (2022) A Sterling Murmuration (2022)
References