Red Canoe is Nikki Gregoroff and Claire Cushman, two gals who grew up in Canada, moved to the U.S. long ago, and met for the first time online during COVID. Then, as fate would have it, Claire moved to the same New Jersey town as Nikki, and the two were living just minutes away from each other. They became fast friends, bonding over music and art.

In September 2021, when Claire’s newborn daughter was diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder (STXBP1-related disorder), Nikki, a meditation teacher, helped her navigate the resulting shock and grief. Soon, she landed on an idea: to write and record children’s music with Claire. In part, the project injected some joy into an otherwise dark time. But more important, it also offered a way to promote inclusivity—the idea that all humans, regardless of their differences, deserve love and a sense of belonging.  The resulting record celebrates differences and highlights parents’ unconditional love for their children. It focuses on much else, as well: the beauty and mystery of nature and children’s wide-eyed wonder at the world. 

Nikki Gregoroff joined the musicians union in Hamilton, Ontario, at age 13 and has been singing and writing songs professionally ever since. She has sung with a range of artists, including Jewel, Britney Spears, Celine Dion, Roseanne Cash, Bette Midler and Joe Jackson. Her voice can be heard in video games (Sonic the Hedgehog, Pokemon), films (A Walk to Remember, Practical Magic, Mission to Mars), and many television commercials. (The voice singing “Maybe It’s Maybelline”? That’s hers.) Nikki lives in Montclair with her husband, dog, and cat. Her two grown kids are off exploring the world. Nikki's solo album, Spark & Glimmer, is available on Spotify and all streaming platforms.

Claire Cushman hails from Montreal and Toronto. She has sung before audiences in New York City, Toronto, and France, and her voice can be heard on a commercial for Taittinger Champagne. In 2019, she released a self-titled EP. Claire’s main vocation is as a visual artist, and her paintings have been exhibited in galleries in New York, Maine, and beyond (including on this very website; all art here was done by Claire). Claire is a graduate of Brown University and holds an MFA in painting from the New York Academy of Art. She lives in Montclair with her husband and two young children.

A portion of all proceeds from this record will go to research for STXBP1-related disorders.