After losing his studio and 20 years of work in a fire six years ago, Mike McDonald is rebuilding his career and has now been nominated for two MusicNL AwardsPublished Aug 03, 2026Last updated 6 hours ago9 minute readMike McDonald, also known as Mike Sixonate, stands in front of what remained of his studio after a fire destroyed the building. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentMike McDonald was earning $4.35 an hour at a grocery store bakery when, on a sunny day, he took an old guitar downtown, sat on the steps outside the courthouse and started playing.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentHe had never taken a music lesson and was not asking anyone for money when someone dropped a $5 bill into his guitar case.Article contentArticle content“I felt like I did something wrong,” McDonald laughed. “I wasn’t looking for money, I wasn’t even asking anybody.”Article contentArticle contentA few minutes later, another $5 appeared.Article content“I thought, holy moly, there is something to this.”Article content Mike McDonald plays for students at Twillingate Island Elementary, where he brought the RPM Challenge to the school and worked with them to create and record “Home in Twillingate.” CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentMcDonald began looking for ways to make a living from music, although his first attempt did not go to plan.Article contentAfter playing under his real name without much success, he went into the trades and eventually became a contractor, but found himself with sore hands and too little energy left to play music.Article contentThen, while working on a tiling job, one of his labourers knocked a box of expensive Italian tiles off the back of a truck, leaving McDonald to replace them and wiping out the profit he had made over two weeks.Article content“That was the moment when I said, ‘I can’t do this’,” he said. “I need to figure out a way for me to create something meaningful and to put it into the world.”Article contentTHE NAME SIXONATEArticle contentWhen he returned to music, he did so under a new name: Mike Sixonate, pronounced “six and eight,” which came from 618, the first three digits of the golden ratio and its connection to the Fibonacci sequence and spiral.Article contentArticle content“It’s really dorky and really nerdy stuff,” he laughed.Article contentThe name marked the point where he had decided to give music another chance, with the spiral representing the idea of continuing to grow while always being able to trace his way back to where he started.Article contentDuring the pandemic, he turned an old church in Twillingate into The Gate, a studio and live-streaming space where he hosted concerts and helped broadcast Newfoundland musicians to audiences around the world.Article content Mike McDonald’s music setup inside the church before it was destroyed by the fire six years ago. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentWith funding, he bought cameras and live-streaming equipment, and the broadcasts eventually attracted more than 100,000 views.Article contentBut the studio would not last forever.Article content20 YEARS OF WORK LOSTArticle contentSix years ago, McDonald was out shark fishing in Bonavista Bay when his friend Denver called him.Article content“Mike, you’re never going to believe it,” Denver told him. “The studio’s on fire.”Article contentThe entire strip mall burned, taking McDonald’s instruments, equipment, artwork, accolades and an archive containing 20 years of his career with it.Article content Mike McDonald’s Taylor 324CE acoustic guitar, the only instrument to survive the fire that destroyed his studio. It was badly damaged in the blaze before being restored by Chris Kearsey. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentHe tried to get Denver to save the computer, but police and firefighters would not allow anyone back into the building.Article content“My daughter had just been born,” he said. “My relationship had fallen apart, so now I was single, and I was facing it alone, and my daughter was an infant.”Article content Clara McDonald, Mike Sixonate’s daughter, has been involved in music from a young age. Mike said sharing his passion for music with his daughter is one of his greatest joys. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentSix years later, McDonald said he still had not completely got over what was lost.Article content“It was devastating. It was a reset,” he said.Article content“There were things in that building that were a lot more important than just physical items. There was an archive of 20 years of my career that went up.”Article contentThe owners of the Anchor Inn brought him in to perform six nights a week during the summer, giving him a way to get back to performing and begin putting money into another studio.Article content“I wouldn’t say that I’m well on my way,” he said. “But I’m definitely on my way.”Article contentMUSICNL NOMINATIONSArticle contentMuch of McDonald’s work now happens away from the stage, including songwriting workshops in underserved communities and projects intended to give people access to music and production opportunities they might not otherwise have.Article contentArticle contentLast year, he brought the RPM Challenge — an annual project that challenges participants to create and record an album in one month — to Twillingate Island Elementary, where students wrote the lyrics for “Home in Twillingate.”Article contentMcDonald worked with them on the melody and chord progression before finishing the recording in his studio.Article content Mike Sixonate works with students at Twillingate Island Elementary, where he brought the RPM Challenge to the school and helped students create and record their own song. CONTRIBUTEDArticle contentThe students still run up to him when they see him around town.Article contentMcDonald is now nominated for Producer/Recording Engineer of the Year at the MusicNL Awards, as well as Industry Professional of the Year, a category he won in 2020.Article content“This is a nomination for all of us, it’s not just me,” he said.Article content“Our peers have recognized what we’ve done, and that, to me, is a win in itself.”Article contentIf he does win, McDonald already knows where he would like the award to go.Article content“I would gladly give the award to Twillingate Island Elementary to put in their trophy case,” he said.Article contentThe MusicNL Awards take place during MusicNL Week in October.Article contentMAKING ROOM FOR MUSICArticle contentFor McDonald, the work with the students is part of a wider effort to create more opportunities for music and art in Twillingate, where he said there was a stronger focus on sport.Article contentArticle content“I never played sports growing up, and Twillingate is a very sports-centred community,” he said.Article content“There’s not a lot of musical programming or artistic programming.”Article contentHis daughter, Clara, was also part of what motivated him to keep creating those opportunities.Article content Mike McDonald with his daughter Clara McDonald. Mike said creating opportunities for her to make and share art is one of the reasons he continues his work in Twillingate. CONTRIBUTEDArticle content“I want my daughter to be exposed to creating art, and creating art with friends and creating things together and sharing them with the world,” he said.Article content“So if I can do my little thing here in town, I love to do it.”Article content20 QuestionsArticle contentQ. What is your full name?Article contentA. Mike McDonald, also known as Mike Sixonate.Article contentQ. Where and when were you born, and where do you live today?Article contentA. I was born in Gander, grew up in Mount Pearl and now live in Twillingate.Article contentQ. What is one thing you would like people to know about you?Article contentA. I absolutely love to cook. My go-to comfort meal is steak and eggs.Article contentQ. What would people be surprised to learn about you?Article contentA. I don’t like watching TV. I don’t think it’s a constructive use of my time. If I’m sitting there watching a screen for two or three hours, I feel guilty because I could have got so much more done. I’d probably rather read, work on business plans or do something constructive.Article contentQ. What is the hardest thing you have done?Article contentA. Restart my business is definitely the hardest thing I’ve ever done. There’s not a doubt in my mind.Article contentQ. Can you describe one experience that changed your life?Article contentA. Losing 20 years of my career and having to start again from scratch in a town where I didn’t know anybody.Article contentQ. What is your greatest indulgence?Article contentA. I’m lactose intolerant, and I love ice cream. I consciously know it’s going to hurt me, but I can’t help myself sometimes.Article contentQ. What is your favourite book?Article contentA. “48 Days Adrift” by Captain Joe Barber. I found it at a yard sale, and it inspired me. Barber was the captain of a merchant schooner that was blown out to sea in 1929. They all survived, ended up in Scotland, and he repaired the boat and sailed home. I’ve read that book a hundred times. I even wrote a song about it called “The Great Polar Bear,” which is on my first album.Article contentQ. What is your favourite movie?Article contentA.Total Recall, the original one with Arnold Schwarzenegger. It used to come on when I’d go for sleepovers at my friend’s house when I was a kid, so I have a nostalgic memory attached to it.Article contentArticle contentQ. What music do you like to listen to?Article contentA. I have a pretty eclectic taste. I listen to a lot of classic rock, and Jimi Hendrix is probably my favourite to spin. I also listen to old guitar music like Chet Atkins and Marcel Dadi, as well as heavy metal, punk rock, country, classical and jazz.Article contentQ. How do you like to relax?Article contentA. I don’t. I have a garden where I grow vegetables, a big property and a flower garden that I take care of. I also have the kids over to play and swim in the pool and take them on adventures. For me, relaxing is doing productive things.Article contentQ. Who would play you in a movie about your life?Article contentA. Jim Carrey. He’s intelligent but goofy, loud and boisterous, but he also has a serious side. He always kind of gets to where he’s going, but takes the long way around and there’s lots of misadventure on the way.Article contentQ. What is your greatest fear?Article contentA. That my daughter doesn’t get the opportunities she deserves. That’s my drive and why I work so hard. This isn’t exactly a job where I get a normal cheque year-round, so my biggest fear is that I’m not able to provide and give her those opportunities.Article contentArticle contentQ. What is your greatest joy?Article contentA. My daughter. She got up with me and sang with The Navigators, and a few days before that she got up in front of a full stadium at the Fogo Island Folk Festival and sang with me. My greatest joy is getting to share my passion and my love with my little girl and seeing the joy that it brings her.Article contentQ. What is your most treasured possession?Article contentA. My Taylor 324CE acoustic guitar. It’s the only instrument that survived the fire, and it’s the guitar I write all my music on. It was burnt really, really badly, but Chris Kearsey restored it and fixed it for me.Article contentQ. What is the best advice you got from a parent or mentor?Article contentA. I played a show with Jim Payne many years ago, and people talked over my set and nobody clapped at the end of the songs. I was playing my own original music and I was so discouraged. Jim Payne said to me, “As a songwriter, you’ll have good shows, you’ll have bad shows. Just keep doing what you’re doing.” He told me that one day I would find my niche, and that advice stuck with me.Article contentQ. What would you say is your best quality, and what would you say your worst quality is?Article contentA. They’re probably both the same thing. I’m a “Nowist,” which I learned from a musician in Alberta named Carolyn Mark. When I have a good idea and I think it’s a good idea, I say, “Let’s do it right now,” and get the wheels turning. That’s my best and worst quality because sometimes it leaves things I should probably do on the back burner while I’m chasing something that might just be a flash in the pan. On the other hand, it has given me so many opportunities in my career, including touring and gig opportunities. It’s my biggest blessing and anchor.Article contentQ. Where is your favourite place in the world?Article contentA. Sitting with my friends at The Local in Roncesvalles, Toronto. I’ve been going there for the last 15 years. I’m surrounded by genuine, wonderful friends and people who genuinely care about me and my well-being, and I genuinely care about theirs. Sometimes I just go for a weekend because I can.Article contentArticle contentQ. What advice would you give to your 12-year-old self?Article contentA. Don’t worry about the bad stuff. Keep doing what you’re doing. It’s going to be okay in 28 years. I don’t think I’d change a thing. Everything that’s happened has led to where I am now, so I’d tell myself to weather the storm and know that it’s all going to pan out.Article contentQ. Which three people would join you for your dream dinner party?Article contentA. Stan Rogers, Jimi Hendrix and Captain Joe Barber, who wrote “48 Days Adrift”. The music would be great, and the stories would be even greater. I’d probably just sit quietly and absorb it all like a sponge.Article contentAnswers may have been edited for length and clarity.Article content
20 Questions: After losing 20 years of work, Mike McDonald is building again
