Adrian Sutherland releases second solo album Precious Diamonds

Adrian Sutherland has released his sophomore solo album Precious Diamonds today on his own label, Midnight Shine Music. Precious Diamonds features ten tracks with contributions from legendary musicians like Mickey Raphael, Jim Hoke, and producer Colin Linden. Following last night's album release celebration The Cameron House in Toronto, Sutherland heads to Ottawa for a show at the National Arts Centre Fourth Stage on March 22.

“Making another solo album brought me so much pleasure as an artist,” says Sutherland, who draws inspiration for his music from his life, the land, his Cree culture, and other musicians that he admires. “My music has been inspired and shaped by so many artists I’ve listened to in my life, like the legendary Gordon Lightfoot who was a brilliant songwriter, and who shared such timeless music about what it means to be Canadian. Making this new album gave me the chance to share some of the stories of my people cinematically through music.”

“Writing and recording two full songs in my language makes me feel proud. It’s not every day you get to hear songs in Cree or any native language, and it feels kind of exotic to me. The feedback I’ve been getting has been so wonderful, and it means a lot to be able to share my language in this way,” says Sutherland.

Says producer Colin Linden: “I’m honoured to have worked on this album. Adrian is so free… free of pretense, free of constraints, and free of limitations on where his music could go. His life experience and genuine musicality shine through in every note. He is really one of the best and most honest artists anyone could work with.”

Precious Diamonds was produced in Nashville by Colin Linden, who first worked with Adrian Sutherland during the pandemic. Cut-off from the rest of the world for two full years, Sutherland constructed his own recording studio inside a shipping container to be able to stay active in music. In 2021 he worked remotely with two producers – Colin in Nashville and Tim Vesely in Toronto – to record his acclaimed debut solo album. When The Magic Hits earned nominations at the 2022 JUNO Awards and 2023 Canadian Folk Music Awards, while title track Magic Hits won Best Music Video from San Francisco’s 47th American Indian Film Festival.

Sutherland travelled to Nashville in May of 2023 – his first-ever trip to the United States – to record Precious Diamonds in the studio with Colin. The album features two songs in Omushkegowuk Cree, marking the first time Sutherland is making music in his mother tongue.

Musicians bringing their talents to the tracks (in addition to Linden who plays acoustic, electric, dobro, 12-string and resonator guitars) are legends like Mickey Raphael on harmonicas, Jim Hoke on saxophones, Jeff Taylor on accordion and dulceola, Gary Craig on drums and percussion, Jerry Roe on drums, John Dymond on Bass, Janice Powers on organ, and Brandon Robert Young on harmonies.

Additional writers on the album are brothers Chris Gormley and Matt Gormley, who co-wrote four songs with Sutherland: Diamonds, Feeling Of Love, Let It Shine, and Precious.