DOWNLOAD: Rex Smallboy - "Children Of God"

Here is new music from hip-hop veteran Rex Smallboy, his track Children Of God. Keeping along the lines of his pure hip-hop style, this track hits the ears and heart with real energy and focus.

Rex Smallboy is no newcomer to the art of hip-hop here in Turtle Island country. From the pioneering rap group War Party, Rex has been influencing and trailblazing Indigenous hip-hoppers here in Canada and beyond for years, and now shares with us a new track entitled Children Of God, which takes us on a real journey through the eyes of an observer of life and love.

DOWNLOAD: Rex Smallboy - "Children Of God"

DOWNLOAD: Will Belcourt - "Obliterate"

While Will Belcourt's latest album Epoch garnered "Best Rock Album" nominations at both the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards and the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, his music reaches beyond that genre into blues, jazz and country, all with a base of electronic beats.

From Marlboro, Alberta, Belcourt bills himself as a singer/songwriter/guitar player/performer/recording artist/music producer/writer/director/producer - ie, a one man show and reconnaissance kind of guy. His deep, rough around the edges voice calls to us to "forget about tomorrow" and "scream along" and it's hard to resist - download this track to get out of your seat and raise the roof.

DOWNLOAD: Will Belcourt - "Obliterate"

DOWNLOAD: Duster - "You've Got to Be Number One"

In family band Duster, father Jim Agecoutay plays guitar, and sons Trent and Bryce play bass and drums. Part Ronnie Milsap, Gram Parsons, Waylon Jennings and CCR, Duster loves to drive the party and fill the dance floor.

Within this track's country-rock jam, there's a darker tale. The inspiration for You've Got to Be Number One came to the band via the last boom in their home province Alberta. Says Trent Agecoutay " ...with all the money that was around we literally saw musician friends disapear from cocaine abuse."

The track is from their debut album The Foundation of Who I Am - download it now and spread the word of Duster!

We've got a copy of The Foundation of Who I Am to give away - leave a comment be 5pm PST Friday May 18th to be entered in the draw!

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DOWNLOAD: Duster - "You've Got to Be Number One"

DOWNLOAD: Shaun Anderson - "All That is Here is Me"

Shaun Anderson is a Métis artist from Alberta who has been working as a dedicated musician for over a decade.

Shaun grew up on the Fishing Lake Métis settlement to the sound of his father's fiddle and eventually picked up the guitar to help in navigating his small northern community life. He continues to draw inspiration from the landscape and pours it into soulful, emotional, moving songs.

DOWNLOAD: Shaun Anderson - "All That is Here is Me"

#PowwowWednesday: Close-Ups of Paul First Nation Powwow

Photographers Bert Crowfoot and Perry Mah took a long lens to the Paul First Nation Powwow to capture the spirit of the dancers, up close and personal. 

We've shared Bert's beautiful photography before. For the Paul First Nation Powwow, he was joined by Perry Mah, their sons and two friends - all photographers - and he wrote about the experience on facebook:

Perry Mah is my brother and we have known each other for over 30 years. He is a photographer for the Edmonton Sun daily newspaper and has been my mentor, constantly pushing me to be better and to try new techniques...

I titled this album "Thru the lens of Perry Mah" but in reality it was really my lens and his awesome eye and camera. (His son Cameron was using his 300 f/2.8 so he borrowed mine.) All three of his boys are photographers and it was quite the sight seeing the eight of us at Paul Band with our cameras.

The mental picture of a band of photograpers is delightful! Here are a few of the moments Perry captured.

 

 

See the whole set on facebook.