Mi’kmaq rapper and producer Wolf Castle has launched Castle Records, an imprint of Forward Music Group dedicated to supporting Indigenous artists in the Atlantic region. As the first Indigenous-focused label in the area, Castle aims to amplify Indigenous voices, ensuring artists have the tools and support they need to thrive on their own terms.

“There are only a small handful of Indigenous labels across the country,” says Tristan Grant aka Wolf. “Right now, Indigenous music is in a golden age—listeners are engaged, and the demand is there. But we need to make sure the power stays in our hands, so we can protect our stories, our culture, and our future.”

Alongside the announcement of the new label comes its first signees, Wabanaki-based collective The Hello Crows. Formed in 2022 when members Judie Acquin, Dylan Ward, Mattie Comeau and Quinn Bonnell first came together as part of a songwriters’ circle for National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Crows released their debut single, ‘Come Back to Me,’ in 2024 and dropped a new one alongside their announcement of joining Castle Records.
 

– listen to ‘Warbler’ by The Hello Crows // read CBC Music piece –
 

“Warbler is a story about love and loss, sharing the adventure of a retired husband, and his widow’s journey of grief and gratitude,” says Judie Acquin, one of the four members of the Crows. “It reflects on the familial connections that Indigenous traditions carry with animals, landscapes, and how we view animals as messengers. In all of its clutter and chaos, death can be beautiful. Joy and love can be born from death.” 

Castle Records was created to address a gap in the music industry where mainstream labels and talent buyers often struggle to fully understand how to market and support Indigenous artists. Castle Records aims to change that, ensuring Indigenous artists have a label that understands their needs and uplifts their artistry in an authentic way.