Sonny Assu's Spring Playlist

We asked visual artist Sonny Assu what music he can't get enough of lately and he put together this killer playlist of his current faves. 

Regarded as a ‘Vanguard’ for his work in the Vancouver Art Gallery’s exhibit, How Soon Is Now?, Sonny Assu (Laich-kwil-tach (Kwakwaka'wakw) of the Weka'yi First Nation) merges Indigenous West Coast iconography with the aesthetics of popular culture to challenge social and historical values placed upon both. In an exploration of his mixed ancestry and his interests in Indigenous issues, branding and new technologies, Assu crosses many boundaries with his work and message. In doing so, he reveals a ravishing oeuvre that speaks to many.

His work has been accepted into the National Gallery of Canada and various other public and private collections across Canada and the United States. He graduated from the Emily Carr University in 2002 and frequently holds solo dance parties in his studio.

We're big fans.

Currently, you can see some of his work in the Beat Nation exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery (check out the RPM video installation while you're there!) and anytime at sonnyassu.com.

Without further ado, here's Sonny Assu's Spring Playlist. Enjoy!

Track listing:

1. Arabesque - Three's Company
2. Sage Francis - Civil Disobedience
3. Black Keys - Little Black Submarines
4. Porcupine Tree - Phase I
5. The Weekend - Life of the Party

Beat Nation Storms the VAG

Beat Nation: Art, Hip Hop and Aboriginal Culture opens at the Vancouver Art Gallery on Saturday February 25th featuring performances by Jackson 2Bears, A Tribe Called Red, Skeena Reece, Nicholas Galanin, and RPM's Ostwelve.

Every so often the Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) hosts FUSE Fridays with live music and performance. This Friday will not only host an epic roster of performers but will open the Beat Nation art exhibit featuring work by Sunny Assu, Shawn Hunt, Jordan Bennett, Dana Claxton, Nicholas Galanin, Kent Monkman and others. There will also be an RPM installation of Indigenous hip-hop music videos, intercut with commentary by Ostwelve.

Beat Nation - FUSE kickoff party Friday, February 24, 2012 8:30pm to 1am Performances by Jackson 2Bears, Skeena Reece, Nicholas Galanin, A Tribe Called Red, and Ostwelve.

Find out more about this event here.

The exhibit runs from February 25 – June 3, 2012.

Here are some shots from Beat Nation's last show at the PUSH festival.

DOWNLOAD: Indian Nick - "Electric Indians"

Sitka, Alaska born Nicholas Galanin is a remarkable Tlingit/Aleut artist from a long line of artists, starting with his great-grandfather, who sculpted in wood, down through his father, who works in both precious metal and stone. While Galanin is widely known as a visual artist  who has trained extensively in 'traditional' as well as 'contemporary' approaches to art, he also runs the grassroots record label Home Skillet Records and the accompanying Home Skillet Festival. AND he's a musician himself! How does he find the time? Amazing. Under the name Indian Nick he recently released the EP Digital Indigenous, with artwork by Sonny Assu. Galanin sent this experimental hip-hop track to RPM for us to check out and we dig it! Electric Indians is the first track on Digital Indigenous. Get the whole thing at indiannick.bandcamp.com.

Download:  Indian Nick - "Electric Indians"

RPM Podcast #001: "West Coast - Vol. I"

In our debut episode of the RPM podcast, we shine a light on Indigenous musicians from the Coast and Straight Salish territories where RPM is based.

Broadcasting from our office in Vancouver's Chinatown district, we explore what Indigenous music culture means to artists with a direct connection to their people, land, culture, and musical identity.

Host Ostwelve speaks with emerging Stó:lō R&B singer Inez, Sḵwxwú7mesh hip-hop artist Discreet Da Chosen 1, Haida singer-songwriter Kristi Lane Sinclair, and the multi-talented Kwakwaka’wakw, Cree, Nisga'a, and Coast Salish radio host/promoter/artist manager Suzette Amaya. Plus, we get some special inspiration and Indigenous reflections from the one and only Clarence Two Toes.

Download: The RPM Podcast EP#001: "West Coast - Volume 1"

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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing and multi-talented Paolo Pietropaolo.

We couldn't possibly showcase the full diversity of the West Coast Indigenous music scene in a single podcast, but check out our YouTube Playlist: West Coast – Volume 1 for video selections from other coastal artists.

Photo Credit: Big ups to Laich-kwil-tach (Kwakwaka’wakw) artist Sonny Assu for his amazing "Coke Salish" piece.