NORTHERN STAR

— Acclaimed Canadian songwriter Danny Michel returns with his first new release since 2023’s Ghost Town, this time diving headfirst into the stormy waters of modern politics. Inspired by a fan’s message suggesting musicians should “stick to their trade and keep their political views to themselves,” Michel responded the only way he knows how—through song.

“Northern Star” is both a protest anthem and a tribute to the political songs that first inspired Michel to pick up a guitar. “Art is a reflection of society,” he says. “Songs hold real power and shape the way we see the world.”

Paying homage to the protest anthems of the past, “Northern Star” threads lyrical nods to iconic songs through a sharp and timely critique of today’s political landscape—including Canada’s uneasy proximity to American influence. Its defiant chorus lands with force:

“Climb in your rocket ship and fly off to Mars,
Take all your money and buy all the stars,
But we ain't for sale like one of your cars—
And the Northern Star, that one's ours.”

At a time when cultural identity, sovereignty, and economic pressures are front and centre, Northern Star is a timely and fearless contribution to the conversation—reminding listeners that music isn’t just entertainment; it’s resistance, reflection, and a rallying cry.