Decolonize Your Playlist: Stream the New Mixtape from Sovereign Trax

Sovereign Trax is back with their June playlist of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Our cross-continental collab continues with the crew from Sovereign Trax, bringing you the dopest sounds of "nue & old trax...from contemporary and experimental" artists from the lands of occupied 'Australia'.

Last month, SovTrax launched the second issue of their new zine, Sovereign Apocalypse, blending artful contributions into future imaginings of Indigenous sovereignty. Their latest issue, appropriately rocking on an Indigenous Futurism vibe, is themed around "Galactic Imaginings"—and features an interstellar mix of interviews, art, poetry, fashion photography, lyrics, recipes, and more. Equal parts Indigenous intervention and aesthetic subversion, SOVAPOC is bringing new forms to decolonizing self-representations and Aboriginal reimaginings of our collective present and future freedom.

Shout out to co-creators Hannah Donnelly and Gabi Briggs for pushing the #IndigenousMusic and media movement forward. Check this recent review via The Lifted Brow:

The zine was launched last month in Melbourne with an all-star line-up of live performances by Seeka, Birdz, GekkZ, Tahu Dubs and Marze, as the SOVAPOC collective continues to update your essential listening list with the best of contemporary and experimental music by black artists. Blackfulla musicians, artists and writers en masse whether in performance, playlists or publications can evoke a great sense of solidarity and excited strength among blackfullas, but also offer something thrilling and new to a general public. This is what this eye-catching, tactile zine is doing in Melbourne, I think, and perhaps its applicability is because it feels as if it has come from Wiradjuri country, country pre-colonisation (only 230 years ago, I’ll keep saying it, it’s such a short time), and country now urbanised, slick and gritty and flashy – the mix of both these truths finding popularity in the hand-selling and online selling of this publication.

On the musical tip, the latest selections of Sovereign Trax celebrate indigeneity and resistance in multiple forms, featuring new songs from the likes of R.3.B, JPoint, Robbie Miller, and Lady Lash. The talent runs deep and the sounds are an effortless mix of hip-hop, electronica, R&B, reggae, and bluesy-acoustic...all representing Indigenous pride and power.

Enjoy.

STREAM: SOVEREIGN TRAX - JUNE MIX 

Sovereign Trax: June Playlist - Track List

1. E.T.P - Habit’s Die Hard
2. Nathan Morrison x Robbie Miller - Oceans
3. Golden Features x Thelma Plum - No One
4. Coedie Ochre Warrah - GRIIIND
5. Marze x Seeka - Lady Lady
6. Lady Lash - World Gone Silly ft. Pyne
7. Philly - Dreamchaser
8. JPoint - Get Wrecked
9. Zaacharia Fielding - She is the Light
10. Scott Campbell - Tipsy
11. Bow and Arrow - Midnight
12. Paul Gorrie - Pay the Rent
13. Karate Surfing - Shadows
14. Eastern Reggae - Grog’s No Good
15. Marlene Cummins - Pemulwuy

PREMIERE: Blue King Brown's "Born Free" - Album Stream

In an already incredible week for Indigenous music, Blue King Brown drops Born Free, a strong contender for album of the year. RPM is very excited to bring you an exclusive first listen.

Calling on all nations to 'rize up' and be counted, Blue King Brown's new album Born Free is an uplifting and powerful soundtrack to global struggles for freedom and unity.

Riding the wave of their massive lead singles, "Rize Up" and "All Nations", the anticipation for their new album has been building for almost a year. And by all counts, it's been worth the wait. Born Free is easily BKB's most accomplished album to date.

Production on the new album is handled by Styalz Fuego, Notis, Mista Savona, James ‘Bonzai’ Caruso, and Chris Macro, and was recorded at the legendary Tuff Gong studios in Kingston, Jamaica and studios in Melbourne, Australia. As lead singer Natalie Pa'apa'a (newly dubbed Natalli Rize) says: "After spending most of the year in studio mode and off the road, we are proud to be bringing our new album...to the world, and returning to the stage with the full force live show".

BKB already has a reputation as one of Australia's premiere live acts, and the songs on Born Free demand to be heard on a huge sound system—performed live to a massive mob of freedom fighting warriors.

From chanting down the evils of Babylon on "Rize Up" and "Renegade", to calling for love, unity and change in the deep grooves of "Fyah", "Like A Lion", and "Babylon A Fall", Born Free sounds out hope and possibility at every turn.

Righteous without being preachy, optimistic without being naïve, Blue King Brown's unique mix of urban roots, dancehall, reggae and rock flows effortlessly through an album with no missing pieces and no weak links.

Powered by the clarion call of Natalli Rize's voice, Born Free is a wake up call to sleeping masses lost in a world of manipulation and continuous distraction. Like Rize says, on the album's closing track: "If you have a conscience / you should know just how to use it".

Blue King Brown is leading by example. Born Free is fire.

Stream Blue King Brown's "Born Free" 

Check out the video for their latest single "All Nations", filmed in the jungle and streets of Vanuatu and Melbourne, in solidarity and support for the West Papuan struggle for self-determination and freedom.

Download "Born Free" from bluekingbrown.com and follow them on Twitter, Instagram, and SoundCloud.

STREAM: Blue King Brown - "All Nations"

Indigenous Australian urban roots crew Blue King Brown is back in a big way with their massive tune, "All Nations".

Lead vocalist Natalli Rize and her reggae and dubwise BKB comrades are set to release their powerful third album, Born Free, on November 7th and their latest single and video are already catching fire.

"All Nations" is an uplifting anthemic call out to all people worldwide to reclaim our freedom and to make what BKB calls "music for this movement, for the battle and the fight for People over profits, Justice over Greed, Freedom over Slavery".

"'All Nations' at its core is about people power", says Rize, "Calling out to All People from All Nations to recognize their power and reclaim it, use it, assert it in these times of shifting consciousness, a time of discontent with the current world system and paradigm". To this end, the band dedicated and premiered the song in support of the self-determination movement to Free West Papua.

BKB have built a huge audience for their socially conscious and politically engaged music in support of Indigenous rights and global struggles for liberation. And they've stepped up every aspect of their production and songwriting this time around: Born Free was recorded at the legendary Tuff Gong studios in Kingston, Jamaica, Sing Sing Studios in Melbourne, and Blue King Brown's own studio in Melbourne, Australia.

Capturing the sound of the struggle and the essence of what art and activism can do to inspire change, "All Nations" will have you waving the flag of freedom and singing along with a raised fist.

Stream: Blue King Brown - "All Nations" 

And check the video for this epic tune below:

DOWNLOAD: Idle No More: Songs for Life Vol. 2

We are pleased to present Idle No More: Songs for Life Volume 2. As with Volume 1, the highlights are many!

Idle No More is just about 2 months old. It’s hard to know for sure how many strong in number the movement is now, but one thing is for certain - the message has circled the globe, crossed oceans, and reached people from all walks of life. Musicians are among those from the artistic community who have been vocal in their support. Some have written songs. Some have spoken out at shows. And some have graciously allowed us to share their music with you here.

The collection kicks off with the call to arms Red Action by power duo Indian Handcrafts, who will soon traverse our fair land as the opening act for Billy Talent. Blue Rodeo, who made national headlines for their shout out to Idle No More, offer the song Fools Like You, from the 1992 platinum selling Lost Together. Rising stars Nick Sherman and Tracy Bone are here, as are indie darlings Royal Wood and Hannah Georgas. The timeless power pop of Vancouver’s Odds. Reggae and R&B from New Zealand courtesy NRG Rising. And the poignant cello piece Theresa, by Anishinaabe musician, researcher, and media artist Melody McKiver. Plus much more - 17 tracks in all! We hope you enjoy it!

Some are asking, what IS the message of Idle No More? Read on below the set for words from the founders.

This exciting collection – and the additional volumes that will follow soon (there’s that many artists and voices!) – was conceived by Marty Ballentyne, Holly McNarland, Kevin Joseph and RPM’s Ron “Ostwelve” Harris. RPM is thrilled to collaborate on it!

And now -

DOWNLOAD: Idle No More: Songs for Life Vol. 2

‘We contend that: The Treaties are nation to nation agreements between The Crown and First Nations who are sovereign nations. The Treaties are agreements that cannot be altered or broken by one side of the two Nations. The spirit and intent of the Treaty agreements meant that First Nations peoples would share the land, but retain their inherent rights to lands and resources. Instead, First Nations have experienced a history of colonization which has resulted in outstanding land claims, lack of resources and unequal funding for services such as education and housing.

We contend that: The state of Canada has become one of the wealthiest countries in the world by using the land and resources. Canadian mining, logging, oil and fishing companies are the most powerful in the world due to land and resources. Some of the poorest First Nations communities  have mines or other developments on their land but do not get a share of the profit. The taking of resources has left many lands and waters poisoned – the animals and plants are dying in many areas in Canada. We cannot live without the land and water. We have laws older than this colonial government about how to live with the land.

We contend that: Currently, this government is trying to pass many laws so that reserve lands can also be bought and sold by big companies to get profit from resources. They are promising to share this time…Why would these promises be different from past promises? We will be left with nothing but poisoned water, land and air. This is an attempt to take away sovereignty and the inherent right to land and resources from First Nations peoples. We contend that: There are many examples of other countries moving towards sustainability, and we must demand sustainable development as well. We believe in healthy, just, equitable and sustainable communities and have a vision and plan of how to build them. Please join us in creating this vision.’

Jessica Gordon, What is Idle No More?

Don't forget you can also grab the first volume of songs for life here: DOWNLOAD: Idle No More - Songs For Life - Vol. 1

This exciting collection – and the additional volumes that will follow soon (there are that many artists and voices!) – was conceived by Marty Ballentyne, Holly McNarland, Kevin Joseph and RPM’s Ron “Ostwelve” Harris. 

DOWNLOAD: Street Pharmacy - "Make You Well"

From alternative-rock-reggae band Street Pharmacy, turn up this week's RPM download - Make You Well - from the band's most recent album Divorce.

Street Pharmacy is a 5-piece band hailing from Welland, Ontario, and lead by Métis singer-songwriter Ryan Guay. Ryan started the band after he was released from the Hamilton Mood Disorder clinic due to a misdiagnosis of Schizophrenia. The experience inspired the band's name and a lot of their early songs. With four albums now under their belt, Ryan and the band are just getting better - Divorce is a polished, solid mix of passionate and driven alternative rock, laced with reggae grooves. Get your prescription filled and download Make You Well now.

DOWNLOAD: Street Pharmacy - "Make You Well"

VIDEO: NRG Rising - "From Darkness to Light"

NRG Rising, the New Zealand reggae band that features three powerful Maori women, performed at The Gathering of Nations over the weekend. For anyone not at Stage 49 of that legendary powwow, you can still groove with NRG via their brand new music video.

NRG Rising is Benita Tahuri, her two daughters, Anahera-Pono Tahuri-Whakatope and Honey Tahuri-Whakatope, Bevin Hira and Trinity Blake. Their music is conscious, soulful, Indigenous.

Watch NRG Rising - "From Darkness to Light":

VIDEO: Sac Storytellers - "Top Secret"

Sac Storytellers serve up roots, reggae and ska, Indigenous style.

Rachel Fowler AKA Rachelonia (Yaqui/Apache) grew up in South Sacramento, CA, and has been gigging and playing in bands for eight years. She was a member of the bluegrass band Nevada Backwards and the electronic group Jeffrey Valentine Extravaganza before becoming the lead singer of this Sacramento based reggae ska band - Sac Storytellers. Clearly a versatile artist, her rich alto voice shines in this genre. Enjoy this performance of their Top Secret, captured at a recent gig at DigitalisStudios, and keep an eye out for more on this band from RPM soon.

NDN-Jamaican: Native Roots Interview and Video Playlist

Native Roots has been making their unique "NDN-Jamaican" music since 1997. Their sound has a solid foundation in reggae but is blended with the band's Indigenous culture.

The songs incorporate traditional drums, flute and chants, but you can hear the cultural influence in Emmett "Shkeme" Garcia's vocals as well - his voice reflecting his experience singing traditioanl pueblo and powwow music.

Indian Country Today's Saturday Night Videos featured all Native Roots this week. If the band is new to you, the playlist is a great introduction. Sit back and enjoy at indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com.

For further insight, NAPT recently posted an interview with Native Roots co-founder, Sisseton-Dakota/Chippewa multi-instrumentalist John Williams. Stream the mp3 here.

To get you started, check out this track Native Say:

VIDEO: Samian feat. Shauit - "So Much"

Algonquin French rap and Innu Montagnais singing reggae...IN CUBA?!

Yes indeed—straight of Pikogan, in the Québec region of Abitibi-Témiscamingue, Algonquin MC Samian brings his Indigenous or Autochtonous sound, a fresh edge and high-quality video production to his hip-hop style.

Partnered with Shauit, an Innu reggae singer from the native reserve Maliotenam, a few miles from Sept-Îles on the North Shore of Quebec, Samian brings you another captivating video—this one filmed on location in beautiful Cuba.

The song "So Much" is the latest single from Samian's album Face à la Musique, mends Samian's razor sharp hip-hop stylings with Shauit's reggae chops in a colourful and much needed change in scenery for Indigenous Hiphop.

Released in early June, this video should warm you up to the new summer heat now radiating out of the Northeast Coast.

Samian can be found on his label's website 7ième Ciel Records as well as the label's YouTube Channel.