Marcia Chum is a captivating, Indigenous folk-pop singer-songwriter with an earthy, resonant voice, who was born in Kapuskasing and raised in Timmins, in Northern Ontario.

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Both her parents are musicians, so music was always a way of communicating at home. The stereo was full of old country like Loretta Lynn and Johnny Cash, and ‘70s rock like Bruce Springsteen and Tom Petty. In her teen years, Chum gravitated more to Joan Jett, Shania Twain, and Nirvana.  Of Cree heritage, Constance Lake First Nations, Chum is a traditional hand drum singer from the age of 14. She took up pop music when her father showed up at her place one day with a guitar, and told her to learn it. “It was a hard beginning, but I was eventually able to express myself in a way that I didn’t think I could. When you're born with a purpose it will find you no matter what. I wasn't planning on music but music found me,” says Chum.

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Since then, she’s released two singles, and a cover of the 4 Non Blondes hit “What’s Up?” Her original “If Only” earned a Song of the Year nomination at the 2017 Native American Music Awards. Chum has also participated in a placement with The Indigenous Music Residency, where invited artists from across Canada enjoy a full week of skill sharing, mentorship, and networking.

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Describing herself as ambitious, friendly, and confident, Chum has had her singing voice compared to that of Buffy Sainte-Marie and Stevie Nicks. The veracity of that comparison is evident on her current single and video, “Undone,” which examines the way bad timing can circumvent a possible romantic relationship, and how being hurt in love can prevent people from risking the prospect of loving again.

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Chum has been invited to share her story at many youth gatherings, summits, and schools, along with the likes of Ashley Callingbull, Ted Nolan, and Adrian Sutherland's Midnight Shine. When she’s not busy writing songs, Chum spends her time mentoring Indigenous youth at the Kapuskasing Indian Friendship Centre.