Stream the Roots/Folk Rhythm of William Prince's New Single, "7"

Winnipeg-based singer/songwriter William Prince sent the Peguis First Nation graduating class of 2016 off with a nostalgia-inducing track embedded with the seven sacred teachings.

William Prince is storytelling singer/songwriter from Peguis First Nation who sidesteps clichés to provoke thought and facilitate discovery. His baritone vocals pay tribute to his late father and his genuine delivery acknowledges the hundreds of hours he’s spent on stage. Writing songs since the age of thirteen, he produced and played all the instruments on his father Ed Prince’s acclaimed gospel album …it’s Supper Time at the age of fifteen. The two went on to record two more albums, On Christmas Day and Won’t That Be A Morning!, for Arbor Records and Sunshine Records, respectively, in Winnipeg.

A recent alumni of the tri-annual Planet IndigenUS Music Festival, William Prince was named the 2014 Aboriginal Songwriter of the Year at the Indigenous Music Awards. His lead single “The Carny,” from his debut album Earthly Days, had been featured as Manitoba Music’s Download of the Week, and he has been featured in numerous showcases for Manitoba Music, Aboriginal Music Program, and the Winnipeg Folk Festival. Prince is also a veteran to the APTN Aboriginal Day Live stage and his performances still garner rotation on APTN’s Solstice Concert Series.

Prince gained nationwide attention writing music for a CMT reality show and later went on to write songs for Jason Kirkness’ debut album Life On The Road, which scored three top 20 singles on Canadian country radio. To this day, he is still an active member of the First Nations supergroup Indian City. Their albums Supernation and Colors have received international acclaim and numerous Indigenous Music Awards.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icHiB66oeiQ

"7" is William Prince's first track release since Earthly Days dropped in December 2015. The song is a lovely reminder to graduating native youth to always carry your teachings with you as you make that great leap forward into the next phase of life.

LISTEN: William Prince - "7"

"Earthly Days"and "7" are available now on iTunes and GooglePlay  For more visit: www.williamprincemusic.com Check out William Prince on Facebook: facebook.com/williamprincemusic

WHOOP-Szo Creates Space for Indigenous Alternative Art Rock Lovers

As Indigenous artists continue to strive to occupy space in a world where hip-hop and pop have taken over the mainstream music industry, it's even trickier for Indigenous rock musicians and fans alike to find space where their identity is present in the alternative rock scene.

Guelph-based rock band WHOOP-Szo can be described in many ways, but it's the feel of their sound that cannot be contained within one genre. The Grunge/Shoegaze/Folk/Art-Rock group have just come off their summer tour, and Anishinaabe frontman Adam Sturgeon (Dzhkon Zibi - Antler River/Chippewa of the Thames) talks with RPM about what it's like for an Indigenous artist such as himself to find a Nish audience within their niche.

How has your touring been going?  We’ve been super lucky to have played a ton of really great festivals the last couple of years and are looking forward to what is next. We’re not gonna mention too much on this end quite yet!

How did you guys start out as a band? How long have you been making music? The band started with myself and Kirsten Palm, a Finnish non-native who has been a welcome addition to the communities she has worked with. We started over a common desire to explore our healing relationships… we met because both of our parents were in wellness programs recovering from drug and alcohol abuse and we recognized our shared family history and how it had impacted us both in similar and differing ways. Kirsten’s family were punk rockers and mine athletes so there were a lot of funny differences despite the chaos of their addictions. We also recognized our own vulnerability but found strength in each other which has remained a huge driving force for our band. How did your culture influence the music you make? Both my father and my aunt have instilled a huge influence on myself personally and helped maintain our Indigenous teachings since I was very young. Our healing journey is so influenced by our “culture”, or as I like to say and my teachers like to say "our way of life." It simply is who I am so it seeps into absolutely everything I do be it very “traditional” or “modern", like metal music.

What influences your style of music? Both my writing and Kirsten’s is influenced by our surroundings and the emotional attachment we have to it. Sometimes it is easier to express things through sound over words so we’ve added a lot of members and collaborators along the way to help shape the overall vibe of what we are putting down. So often we are referenced as political, however we don’t see it that way, we follow our teachings and the words follow that.

From your experience, what's the scene like for a Nish grunge/shoegaze/folk band such as yourselves? What is your fan following like? Our fans are most definitely white, for the most part but it’s very very common that those marginalized groups present at our shows gravitate towards our band. There aren’t a ton of other grunging Nish out there, but I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some Indigenous folk along the way. We talk about this and some of us are thinking of forming some kind of coalition or whatever, we don’t know yet, but I’m very thankful for those conversations along the way. People like Kayla Stevens from Crossed Wires and Dan from Dri Hiev, Coco from Construction and Destruction. There are others, but our voices are still shy. We all have a similar history and we feel a bit different than the rest of the scene. That said, we are very fortunate to make it known that we play in safe spaces, we drift away from bar culture and our audience is very inspired and intrigued by our beliefs… So that is a start. Your last full album was released two years ago, and a single released last year. Do you have plans to release new music anytime in the near future? We’re working away on new material and have a bunch of collaborations and such in the works. It seems as though you are either touring or putting out music. We have basically been on the road the last two years touring and truly enjoying that momentum but are anxious to show the world what we have up our sleeves.

STREAM: WHOOP-Szo's Nizhwaaswo

For more on WHOOP-Szo visit: thenoisymountain.bandcamp.com and SoundCloud.

Digging Roots' "AK-47" Calls for Awareness to Gun Violence in New Video and Summer Tour

Digging Roots has an answer to the gun violence plaguing the world today: more love, more truth, more music. “I think we can use the word ‘epidemic’ when it comes to gun violence in society today,” says singer ShoShona Kish, whose powerful and inspirational new video AK-47 calls for an end to violence and oppression through love and understanding.

The new video is already creating an instant buzz with its catchy psyc-blues soul sound and empowering messages of ending the violence paradigm through peace and courage…and good music.

“The song 'AK-47' is very personal and emotional for us. Especially in the wake of the recent horrific events in Orlando this last week,” says Raven Kanatakta, one of North America’s finest guitar slingers and the second half of Digging Roots.

The video for "AK-47" was produced by media artist and musician Doug Bedard (aka Plex), whose vision of the song runs the gamut from technicolor dreamscapes and bursting flowers to benevolent warriors adrift in a landscape of grenades and soldiers. The clip also features Sarain Carson-Fox, who burst onto the Canadian media scene as the host of VICEland’s controversial documentary Cut Off following Justin Trudeau’s recent visit to Shoal Lake 40.

As with any epidemic or public health crisis, the appropriate next step is to design an intervention to stop the spread of the disease. This new song is a metaphoric call to arms by Digging Roots; the intervention has begun and they want everyone to join them in a violence-free world, chanting the AK-47 anthem of “Nizoogide’e, Nizoogide’e.”

“There’s an Anishinabek word in the chant at the end of the song that distils it all for me,” says ShoShona. Nizoogide’e means “My heart is a stronghold.”

“'AK-47' is about opening fire on hate, oppression and violence, both lateral and physical. Not with bullets and guns but with the full force of love. Cynics might say that we’re naive but to me it’s the only rational way forward. This song is a proposition that its time to stop oppression and the violence against one another, against ourselves and against the land.”

The song "AK-47" is available on iTunes. Enjoy the new single and crank up the entire For The Light album!

Watch: Digging Roots - "AK-47"

Digging Roots is on tour across Canada this summer. Check out the remaining summer tour dates:

July 23, 2016 - Great Northern Arts Festival, Inuvik, NT

August 4, 2016 - Montreal First Peoples Festival, Montréal, QC

August 5-7, 2016 - Edmonton Folk Festival, Edmonton, AB

August 10, 2016 - TBA, Winnipeg, MB

August 19-21, 2016 - Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival, Salmon Arm, BC

For the most complete up-t0-date tour dates please visit diggingrootsmusic.com/tour

Samantha Crain's New Album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, is the One We've Been Waiting For

With her fourth album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, Samantha Crain has hit her stride.

Five years ago in the original RPM offices in Vancouver's Chinatown, a few weeks before the site launched, Ostwelve said to the team "do you know of Samantha Crain?" We stopped to watch the video for Santa Fe and all fell fast for her rich, almost husky croon, her sweet, inviting, folk style. We've all been fans ever since.

As a fan, while I've adored her vocal and musical style since that day, I felt as a songwriter she hadn't yet grown into her own - not something unexpected from a young artist. With her newest release, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, and now with years of touring and performing and living this life, Crain has grown up and into her voice as a writer and recording artist. The result is not only her best album yet, but one of the best albums this year. I'm excited we can finally say so - RPM was lucky to get an advance listen of the record and we've been bursting to share our praise for it.

“I don’t write protest songs in the traditional sense,” Crain told The Guardian recently, “but I’m always listening to the voices of people around me. These stories are told from the perspective of the underdog, the 99% of us that are working people. They might not be literal protest songs, but the lives of the people within these songs speak at the same volume if you listen.”

Indeed, the songs showcase nimble, poetic lyrics that tell stories of bitter circumstances, the downtrodden, and broken hearts, with a knowing intimacy that comes from the pen of an adept listener. These stories are wrapped in folk and country stylings (with an occasional synth keeping the indie cred alive and well) and despite the sombre or sad stories, they are lifted by striking imagery and elegant musicality.

Samantha Crain serenades The Dakota Tavern, Toronto, Ontario

Crain is an artist who is seemingly always on tour. Earlier this year she did a number of dates opening for Buffy Ste. Marie, she has headlined her own countless shows, and played major festivals - she is at home in front of large crowds. It was a rare treat that her current CD release tour included a stop in Toronto at the legendary but small Dakota Tavern where Crain charmed the lucky, grateful few there.

There may not be another chance to be up close for a solo performance - Under Branch & Thorn & Tree has the makings of a turning point. Catch her live show soon and get the album even sooner. If you haven't fallen for her yet, you will now: this is the album and moody, sweet summer soundtrack you've been waiting for.

Stream the Full Album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, below:

The album is also available on Spotify:

DOWNLOAD: A Tribe Called Red's Killer Remix of Buffy Ste Marie's “Working for the Government”

A Tribe Called Red drops a free single on this most colonial of national holidays.

And that song is none other than a 2015 remix of legendary Cree singer Buffy Sainte Marie's classic "Working for the Government". In A Tribe Called Red's capable hands, the song transforms from an already upbeat anthem into a rockin', four-on-the-floor, dancefloor destroyer.

Mixing politics and partying you say? Ironically celebrating Canada, you say? Sounds like a perfect pairing.

And what could be more CanCon than a collab between the first lady of Indigenous song, and one of the newly dubbed Top 10 Canadian Bands of All Time?

Get the free download right here.

DOWNLOAD: A Tribe Called Red ft. Buffy Sainte-Marie - "Working For The Government 2015 Mix"

ATCR - Summer 2015 Tour Dates

July 4 – Eskasoni, NS – Eskasoni PowWow

July 12 – Toronto, ON – PanAM Park, Echo Beach (free show)

July 17 – Trumansburg, NY – GrassRoots Festival

July 18 – Toronto, ON – Aboriginal Pavillion, Fort York (free show)

July 23 – Peguis First Nation, MB – Peguis Arena

July 24 – Brandon, MB – Brandon Folk Music & Art Festival

July 31 – Montreal, QC – Osheaga Music & Arts Festival

August 1 – Sept-Iles, QC – Innu Nikamu festival

August 7 – Washington, DC – Smithonian Museum (free show)

August 12 – Toronto, ON – Nathan Phillips Square (free show)

August 15 – Sudbury, ON – UP FEST, Durham Playgrounds

Silver Jackson Premieres New Music Video for "Starry Skies Opened Eyes (Pt.II)"

Silver Jackson drops a video for the title track from his latest album, Starry Skies Opened Eyes.

One of our favourite releases of 2014, Silver Jackson's Starry Skies Opened Eyes is a bold imagining of an Indigenous future found in the reclamation of life and the rediscovery of present possibilities in the here and now.

Collaborating with Diné filmmaker Dylan McLaughlin, the Tlingit Unangax̂ artist has released an evocative black and white music video for the album's title track, "Starry Skies Opened Eyes".

Here's what he had to say about the clip and the album:

"Starry Skies Opened Eyes features" vocals from multidisciplinary Métis artist Moe Clark. The album was recorded over a three year period that saw Jackson narrowly escape death in a hunting accident, and traces his path to newfound perspectives on life through love and gratitude…friends and family.

Watch the video below and stream the full album, Starry Skies Opened Eyes, right here on RPM.

Silver Jackson - Starry Skies Opened Eyes (Pt. II) from Dylan McLaughlin

Buffy Sainte-Marie Continues to Push Boundaries on New Album, "Power in the Blood"

At age 74, activist, artist, and icon Buffy Sainte-Marie remains refreshingly forthright, not to mention downright danceable, on her new album, Power in the Blood.

A collection of originals and cover songs, the album includes the techno-laced, anthemic title track (the result of a collaboration with electronic group Alabama 3) Power in the Blood, the reiteration of the longevity and diversity of Buffy's career in the re-imagining of the title track from her 1964 debut album It's My Way, her take on UB40's Sing Our Own Song, and the fiery reworking of her 1972 released break-up song Not the Lovin' Kind.

In addition to the updated spin on existing material, the stand out new songs Carry it On and We Are Circling celebrate the sanctity and beauty of life and nature and, what we know and love Buffy best for, scathing political and social commentary.

Of seeming unending energy to speak and perform, Buffy is currently touring in support of the new album throughout the UK, the US, and Canada - check out the full list of tour dates below.

Listen to the title track now, actually don't just listen, stand up and join in, "there's power in the blood, justice in the soul."

STREAM: Buffy Sainte-Marie - "It's My Way"

Tour dates:

03/18 Cardiff, UK - Motorpoint Arena * 03/20 Leeds, UK - First Direct Arena * 03/21 Glasgow, UK - The SSE Hydro * 03/24 Belfast, UK - Odyssey Arena * 03/26 London, UK - The Tabernacle 03/27 Birmingham, UK - Barclaycard Arena * 04/26 Sidney, BC - Mary Winspear Centre 04/29 Campbell River, BC - The Tidemark Theatre 04/30 North Vancouver, BC - Capilano University Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre 05/01 North Vancouver, BC - Capilano University Centre for the Performing Arts Theatre 05/06 London, ON - Aeolian Hall 05/07 Toronto, ON Koerner Hall 05/09 Burnstown, ON - Neat Coffee Shop 05/15 Lincoln, NE - University of Nebraska Lincoln 05/17 Chicago, IL - City Winery 05/18 Philadelphia, PA - World Cafe Live 05/19 Washington, DC - The Hamilton 05/20 New York, NY - Highline Ballroom 07/16 Grass Valley, CA - California Worldfest 08/07 Little Current, ON - Manitoulin Country Fest

Buffy's new album, Power in the Blood, is available now on iTunes.

STREAM: Nick Sherman's "Knives & Wildrice"

Nick Sherman's much-anticipated new album, Knives & Wildrice, is finally here.

Since last year, Indian and Cowboy have been chronicling the lead up to the album's release through their Knives & Wildrice podcast and now the album is ready for the world.

It's beautiful. You need it in your life. Listen below.

Stream Knives & Wildrice on Spotify and download it now on iTunes.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0cx2nSqLHYT7RAXIYmoOxF

Samantha Crain Premieres New Video for "Outside the Pale"

Watch an acoustic performance of Samantha Crain's new single, "Outside the Pale".

Although Choctaw singer Samantha Crain's new album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, isn't coming out until July, the anticipation is already building.

After premiering the lead single, "Outside the Pale", earlier this month (grab the audio here)—this week Crain premiered a new video of an acoustic performance of the song over at Diffuser.fm.

Crain's incredible voice easily carries the tune, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar work, alongside bandmate John Calvin Abney. Minimal, hypnotic, and moving, "Outside the Pale" is a very good sign that Under Branch & Thorn & Tree will be another stellar release from one of our favourite Indigenous artists.

WATCH: Samantha Crain - "Outside the Pale"

Samantha Crain's Under Branch & Thorn & Tree will be released July 17, 2015. Preorder the album here.

Listen to the Final Episode of Nick Sherman's 'Knives & Wildrice' Podcast

Here it is: the final episode of Nick Sherman's Knives & Wildrice podcast—celebrating the successful completion of his new album. 

Appropriately titled "I Can't Believe We Did It", the episode brings together all previous 12 parts in Anishinaabe singer Nick Sherman's journey to bring the album to fruition, while offering some insider insight into his creative process and project.

Oh yeah—and, of course, the episode features some samples of new music from the album (check out the lead single "Ghost Town" here, if you haven't).

Indian and Cowboy break it down:

In this conversation Nick and Ryan break down the making of Nick's new album, Knives & Wildrice, the process of documenting the journey of making the album through a podcast and what it was like to crowdfund & create this album with very little resources and the good graces of his friends and family.

Sherman's new album, Knives & Wildrice, drops May 23rd, 2015. He will be out on tour with the Greenbank Trio all summer and all over Canada. Tour dates and album release info below.

Listen to Knives & Wildrice EP#13 - "I Can't Believe We Did It"

NICK SHERMAN - SUMMER 2015 TOUR DATES

May 23 - Thunder Bay, ON - Red Ride Tour May 29 - Sudbury, ON - NOMFA Showcase June 05 - Winnipeg, MB - Maw's Beer Hall June 06 - Regina, SK - McNally's Tavern June 10 - Golden, BC - Rockwater June 12 - Kamloops, BC - Chances Casino June 13 - Vancouver, BC - Heartwood Cafe June 16 - Kelowna, BC - Minstrel Cafe June 17 - Golden, BC - Rockwater June 19 - Fernie, BC - Brickhouse June 20 - Calgary, AB - Wine Oh's June 21 - Edmonton, AB - TBA June 24 - Red Deer, AB - Ross St. Patio June 25 - Red Deer, AB - Velvet Olive June 26 - Lancaster, AB - Lancaster Taphouse June 27 - Kenora, ON - Lake of the Woods Brewery July 06 - Peterborough, ON - Red Garnet July 08 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion July 10 - Ottawa Bluesfest July 11 - Montreal, QC - Brutopia July 14 - Windsor, ON - Pan Am Games July 17 - Toronto, ON - Pan Am Games July 18 - Harmony of Nations Festival July 24 - Sioux Lookout - Centennial Centre August 05 - Lac Seul FN Youth Conference August 06 - Lac Seul FN Youth Conference August 07 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 08 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 09 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 13 - Toronto, ON - Celebration Zone August 15 - Subbury, ON - UP Fest

Aboriginal Pavilion to Host Epic 10-Day Indigenous Music and Arts Festival in Toronto

The 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto will get a huge dose of Indigenous culture this summer, during the Aboriginal Pavilion's inaugural arts and music festival.

We heard word about the Aboriginal Pavilion's plans a while ago, but we didn't realize the extent of what they were planning.

The festival is going to be huge.

Coinciding with the 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Games in Toronto, the Aboriginal Pavilion will bring together some of the most dynamic Indigenous artists and musicians from across Turtle Island to perform over the course of ten music-filled days—from July 17-26, 2015.

In addition to the music, the organizers are also planning to feature comedy, visual arts, traditional crafts workshops, artist talks, film screenings and a curated exhibition.

Keep an eye on the Aboriginal Pavilion site for the release of the full schedule, but for now, check out the festival concert listings. All events are free and open to the public. Performances will take place at the Fort York Historic Site's Garrison Common grounds (250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto).

And just look at who's performing. It's going to get hot in Toronto this summer. Be there or be colonized.

ABORIGINAL PAVILION FESTIVAL LINEUP:

• 1491s
• A Tribe Called Red
• Susan Agluklark
• Gabriel Ayala
• Mob Bounce
• Tomson Highway & Patricia Cano
• Cris Derksen
• Brendt Thomas Diabo
• Bitterly Divine
• Ruben Esguerra
• Leela Gilday
• Quetzal Guerrero
• Dustin Hollings
• Nigel Irwin
• Iskwé
• Iskwew Singers
• Elisapie Isaac
• Reyes Poetry & Sacramento Knoxx
• George Leach
• LightningCloud
• Cheri Maracle
• Jace Martin
• Melody McKiver
• Plex & Rellik
• Ryan McMahon
• Nadjiwan
• Sierra Noble
• Candy Palmater
• Lido Pimienta
• Amanda Rheaume
• Classic Roots
• Digging Roots
• Don Ross
• Crystal Shawanda
• Nick Sherman
• Logan Staats
• Ulali

The Aboriginal Pavilion Indigenous arts and music festival runs July 17-26, 2015. For more information visit www.alppavilion.ca.

Listen to "Ghost Town", the Lead Single from Nick Sherman's New Album

Stream Nick Sherman's "Ghost Town" the first single from his upcoming album, Knives & Wildrice.

Anyone following the Knives & Wildrice podcast knows two things: first, that Anishinaabe musician Nick Sherman has had a hell of a time making this record; and, second, that the record in question is going to be amazing.

Last week, I&C Media dropped the first single from said album, which shares its title with the eponymous podcast in question, and we were, of course, instantly hooked.

Sherman has the unique talent of being able to take his smoky, raspy vocals and pairing them with mostly acoustic elements and thoughtful lyrics, while managing to avoid the pitfalls of the corny "Cafe Radio", satellite channel-styled associations most often made with "singer-songwriter" music.

"Ghost Town" rings out with the personal, intimate touch that Sherman is already known for, and builds the song into a heartfelt plea for solace and "mercy from the storm".

Check Nick out this summer as part of the Red Ride Tour starting May 23rd in his hometown of Thunder Bay, ON.

STREAM: Nick Sherman - "Home Town"

Knives & Wildrice drops worldwide on May 23, 2015.