wo-time ADISQ Félix Award-winning Atikamekw singer-songwriter Laura Niquay announces her new album, Nir Wactenama [Neer wash-teh-NAH-mah] (I, the Light), arriving Friday, November 6, 2026, via Musique Nomade. Sung entirely in Atikamekw and brought to life alongside her all-female band, the album marks a bold new chapter for the celebrated artist, blending gritty electric guitars, warm acoustic textures, blues and folk influences into an intimate exploration of identity, family, healing and the strength of Indigenous women.
With Nir Wactenama, award-winning Atikamekw artist, Laura Niquay shares an electrifying new album that celebrates the person she has become. Known for her critically acclaimed 2021 album Waska Matisiwin which paid tribute to her community of Wemotaci, Quebec and her ancestral territory, Nir Wactenama is a journey of self-discovery, transformation and the reclamation of her inner light. Exploring new sounds and moving away from her folk-grunge sound, her new album moves seamlessly between explosive rock energy and intimate, blues-inflected moments. Journeying through real-life experiences and celebrating the people who have shaped her, Niquay’s third studio album finds strength in vulnerability. Across the project she explores family, resilience, identity and her connection to the world, creating a rich sonic landscape where raw emotion and unapologetic self-expression coexist.
A distinct voice in Canadian music, Niquay has been celebrated for her powerful, raspy vocals, commanding stage presence and unique folk-grunge sound. Her acclaimed 2021 album Waska Matisiwin earned a place on the Polaris Music Prize Long List and received significant recognition, including two Félix Awards at the 2022 ADISQ Gala for Indigenous Artist of the Year and Indigenous Language Album of the Year. She also received multiple honours at the 2022 Teweikan Gala and the TD Indigenous Songwriter Award from the SOCAN Foundation. In 2024, she released Comptines Atikamekw – E Aistahiak (The Six Seasons), a musical and cultural project developed to support the transmission of the Atikamekw language to younger generations. Through her songwriting and performances, Niquay is a champion of her language and culture while expanding her musical identity and celebrating the strength of Indigenous women.
On Nir Wactenama, Niquay embraces an electrifying rock and blues direction, working alongside her all-female band to create an album that feels powerfully uninhibited. Produced by Simon Walls who co-composed the album’s music with Niquay, the project features Raphaëlle Chouinard on electric guitar, Sarah Dion on drums and Marie-Philippe Thibeault-Desbiens on bass, with all three contributing backing vocals. Walls also provides guitar, percussion, keyboards and backing vocals, while celebrated Quebec musician Mara Tremblay contributes violin to “Nitawacim.” The musicians bring new depth to Niquay’s signature sound, moving between gritty electric guitar riffs, warm acoustic arrangements, driving rhythms and tender blues melodies. Representing a profound personal transformation, Nir Wactenama allowed Niquay to embrace every facet of herself while honouring the women whose strength and resilience continue to inspire her. “My last album, Waska Matisiwin, was written to pay tribute to my community, the people from my home and to our land. This time, with Nir Wactenama, I’m coming back to myself and daring to reveal myself just as I am,” Niquay shares. “This album has allowed me to reconnect with my inner light, with strength and resilience. With my all-female band, we wanted to go all out on a more rock and blues album.”
The album’s focus track, “Mikwetc” [mee-GWETCH](Thank You), offers an intimate and heartfelt dedication to her father, sharing a deeply personal expression of love, gratitude and the profound influence he has had on her life. Through memories of simple, cherished moments, from the warmth of his hugs to the comfort of visiting his home, Niquay reflects on the unwavering love and sense of security he has provided throughout her life. The song also honours his influence on her musical journey, acknowledging the role he has played in helping her make music and find her voice. A celebration of family and the relationships that shaped her, “Mikwetc” reminds listeners that strength is also found in love, connection and the people who help us become ourselves.
Title track, “Nir Wactenama,” serves as a powerful declaration of self-acceptance, as Niquay embraces every part of herself from her laughter, anger, tears, resilience and hard-won confidence. Drawing on images of thunder, water and earth, the song celebrates the woman she has spent a lifetime becoming. On “Nosim” (My Granddaughter), Niquay channels the joy of becoming a grandmother into an uplifting folk-rock track driven by gritty electric guitars and infectious rock energy. In contrast, the explosive “Kekwan Tca Ni” (What Now?) transforms the hurt of cruel words and painful experiences into a defiant rock anthem about reclaiming one’s voice and refusing to let others define who we are. Niquay also joins forces with celebrated Quebec musician Mara Tremblay on “Kice Manito,” a spiritually grounded soft-rock track that takes the form of a prayer, exploring pain, faith and the search for healing. Meanwhile, “Petcimote Ote” (Come Here) is an invitation to gather, walk and sing together, gradually building toward an exhilarating rock finale that celebrates community and collective resilience.
With Nir Wactenama, Laura Niquay delivers her most revealing and electrifying work to date, showcasing the freedom that comes with embracing every part of ourselves. Through raw, guitar-driven rock, intimate blues melodies and deeply expressive Atikamekw storytelling, she invites listeners into a world where vulnerability is a source of strength and the connections between family, community and the living world remain central to her identity. Moving beyond the tribute to her community that defined her previous album, Niquay now turns that same powerful storytelling toward herself, acknowledging the experiences that have shaped her while celebrating the woman she has become. A tribute to resilience and Indigenous women’s strength, Nir Wactenama is an album about finding the courage to reclaim one’s voice, embrace one’s identity and rediscover the light that has always existed within.
Upcoming Performances
October 10 2026 – Folk Canada Showcase – Hamilton, ON – Showcase
November 20 2026 – Mundial Montreal – Montreal, QC – Showcase
November 21 2026 – Le Palace Granby – Granby, QC – Tickets
November 26 2026 – La Société Du Centre National Des Arts – Ottawa, ON – Tickets
November 27 2026 – Ausgang Plaza – Montreal, QC – Ticket Link Coming Soon
November 28 2026 – Le Pantoum – Lancement, Quebec – Tickets
Nir Wactenama will be available everywhere on November 6, 2026
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