Donita Large is a multi-genre Indigenous singer-songwriter that is renowned for giving your body shivers when you experience her singing and feel the story in her songs. From sultry blues to world rock with pow-wow inspired chants, to the soul stirring gospel and country sounds she grew up with, listeners are taken on an auditory ride of heart, mind, spirit and body.
A lifelong performer, Donita began singing as a child and has graced stages across North America throughout her musical career. As a founding member of Indigenous women’s groups Asani and Nîpisîy, she performed on notable stages including Carnegie Hall and the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. In 2021, during the reflective pause of the pandemic Donita launched her solo career and burst onto the scene with a #1 hit on the Indigenous Music Countdown for her debut single Going To Walk That Line. Soon after, she formed her band, Donita Large & The Small Band captivating audiences with her powerful stage presence and vocals, and the band’s stellar musicianship. Each member brings world-class experience and artistry, creating unforgettable live experiences.
Blending blues, rock, country, and Indigenous influences, Donita’s original music honors the stories of her Cree ancestors, weaving themes of truth, reconciliation, empowerment, and healing. Her artistry is rooted in tradition and the stories of the land, yet is unapologetically contemporary, best described as folk with Indigenous sizzle.
Donita’s creative journey has led to collaborations with industry legends. She partnered with Grammy-winning Producer Chris Birkett (Sinéad O’Connor, Steve Earle, Led Zeppelin) to craft the stirring anthems Ancestors in My Bones and Reconciliation Sky. Her electrifying blues single Too Much of Anything was produced by bandmate Anthony King, a former L.A. based bass virtuoso who has shared stages with icons like Carlos Santana and Slash. In December 2024, Donita released Moose Mountain Stew, a gospel album inspired by the songs of her childhood. Her highly anticipated full-length album, The Ancestors, drops January 30, 2026, a powerful collaboration she co-produced with Birkett and King that promises to be a defining moment in her artistic evolution. Following the album drop, the Donita Large LIVE: Album Release Concert will take place on February 8, 2026, at the Backstage Theatre at the Fringe Arts Barns in Edmonton, Alberta. This show isn’t just a concert, it promises to be a powerful celebration of Indigenous strength, memory, and healing through song.
Donita’s voice has earned high praise from top industry professionals. Micah Barnes, a leading music coach who has worked with Juno, Emmy-winning, and Grammy-nominated artists, says:
“Donita possesses one of those ‘one in a million’ voices which can travel from a powerful low range to spine-chilling high notes that seem to resonate in our very bloodstream.”
Barnes, known for his Singers Playground studio and his work as Vocal Coach & Musical Advisor on Canada’s Got Talent for three seasons, has brought his acclaimed Performance Master Class to singers in Los Angeles, New York, and across Canada. He also toured globally as a member of the internationally celebrated a cappella group The Nylons.
Beyond the stage, Donita is a respected Indigenous wellness professional and is humbled to also be mentored as an Associate Voice Coach. She began her mentorship at the Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity in the Indigenous Voice Intensive Program, training under Barnes and Master Voice Teacher David Smukler. Her expertise in adult education, wellness, and Indigenous knowledge systems earned her the distinction of becoming the first Indigenous Associate Voice Coach in the program.
Looking ahead, Donita and Micah will co-host an Indigenous Voices Master Class in Edmonton on March 15, 2026, a culturally responsive, performance-focused workshop for Indigenous artists across all genres. This unique experience blends contemporary vocal techniques with Indigenous-centered approaches in a Two-Worlds bicultural framework.
Donita Large is currently living in Edmonton and is from Saddle Lake Cree Nation in Treaty Six Territory.
