Megan Bonnell is a Canadian folk musician.

Megan Bonnell
BornCaledon, Ontario, Canada
GenresFolk
Instruments
  • Guitar
  • Piano
  • Vocals
Websitemeganbonnellmusic.com

Early life

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Bonnell was born in Caledon, Ontario[1] Between the ages of four and twelve, she taught herself to play piano by ear. Bonnell attended Mayfield Secondary School, where she studied voice.[2] She performed her first gig as part of "Caledon Idol" at the Caledon Inn. In her late teens, Bonnell moved to Toronto. She later pursued a degree in English and political science at the University of Toronto.[3]

Career

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Before graduating high school, Bonnel formed the indie-pop band, Reily, with friends.[4] While in university, Bonnel toured Canada with the band.[2]

Bonnell's first full-length solo album, Hunt and Chase, was released by Toronto's Nevado Records in 2013.[1] It was produced by Chris Stringer and Joshua Van Tassel, whom Bonnell met while working as a barista at Ella's Uncle Café in Toronto.[3][5] She released Magnolia on April 15, 2016, with Cadence Music.[6][7] In 2016, she toured Canada as a supporting act for the Great Lake Swimmers.[8] She toured with them again in 2018.[9] Bonnell's third album, Separate Rooms, was released on April 6, 2018.[10] The lead single and title track of Separate Rooms, which was co-written with Donovan Wood, reached number one on the CBC Music Top 20.[11] The single "Your Voice" reached number 4 on the list.[12] As part of the 2019 Juno Awards' Juno's 365, Bonnell covered Blue Rodeo's "Try".[11]

Discography

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  • Maps (EP)[6]
  • Hunt and Chase (2013)[13]
  • Magnolia (2016)
  • Separate Rooms (2018)[14][15]

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Result Notes Ref.
2016 Canadian Folk Music Awards Solo Artist Nominated for Magnolia [3]
Contemporary Singer Nominated
2018 SOCAN No. 1 Song Award n/a Won for "Separate Rooms" [3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "No rest for Toronto's Megan Bonnell". The Record. 2014-02-03. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  2. ^ a b Andrews, Coral (2018-04-13). "Megan Bonnell dives deep into the human condition". The Record. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  3. ^ a b c d Head, Bruce (2019-03-12). "Megan Bonnell brings her raw musical honesty to Peterborough's Market Hall on March 28". Kawartha Now. Retrieved 2022-05-20.
  4. ^ Volmers, Eric (2018-05-16). "Singer-songwriter Megan Bonnell brings honest and dark third album to Calgary's Stampede City Sessions". Calgary Herald. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  5. ^ Kelly, Ken (2017-09-07). "Megan Bonnell Looks Forward To Returning To 'Magical' Parkindale Hall". The MusicNerd Chronicles. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  6. ^ a b Ballagh, Sarah (2016-04-15). "Review - Megan Bonnell". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  7. ^ Melanson, Jenna (2016-03-30). "Interview - Megan Bonnell". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  8. ^ "Megan Bonnell hits the road with Great Lake Swimmers this fall". Canadian Beats Media. 2016-10-19. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  9. ^ Melanson, Jenna (2018-05-31). "Megan Bonnell announces tour with Great Lake Swimmers". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  10. ^ Wilkins, Glenn (2018-03-24). "Megan Bonnell sings from the heart at Donaleighs". Barrie Today. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  11. ^ a b "Megan Bonnell performs Blue Rodeo's Try in Juno Awards' promo video". The Peterborough Examiner. 2019-02-27. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  12. ^ Ougler, Jeffrey (2018-09-18). "'It can make something beautiful'". The Sault Star. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  13. ^ Smith, Simon (2013-12-04). "Megan Bonnell - "Hunt and Chase" Review". Higher Plain Music. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  14. ^ Zivkovic, Ljubinko (2018-04-07). "SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: MEGAN BONNELL - SEPARATE ROOMS". The Spill Magazine. Retrieved 2022-05-21.
  15. ^ MacLean, Marianne (2018-04-06). "Review - Megan Bonnell". Canadian Beats Media. Retrieved 2022-05-21.