From a network of new emerging, electronic artists that includes Black Hands and Stone Mathers, this week's featured artist is Siren Call, of Wasauksing Nation.
Trevor Tabodandung, aka Siren Call, grew up taking in rap, rock and metal music, but it was an album by German elecro-house Digitalism that set him on path to exploring and creating his own house tracks. "I'm still learning lots about how to make music, but I like to make sounds I want to hear" says the young artist from Parry Sound, Ontario. Well Siren, we like the sounds too. Download this track to sweeten up your summer listening.
Lil'wat Nation composer Russell Wallace shares a new video for his track Indian Head which was composed in 1992 - the 500 year anniversary of Christopher Columbus.
Russell Wallace has been a composer and traditional performer on the west coast of Turtle Island for a couple of decades. He continues to release material from his early catalogue - which both was before its time and has stood the test of time. Recently he released a brand new video for his song entitled Indian Head.
I asked him what his inspirations for the music and video were, he replied:
"It was written around the time of the 500 year anniversary of Columbus' 'discovery'. At that time there was a lot of house and acid house music with the sound of the whistle so I thought of the eagle whistle and thought it would be cool to have a techno song with that in it as well as singers. I liked the idea of gated sounds and thought that our voices have been cut out of history many times. For the video, I thought about the images of 'Indians' and most of them are are men and they usually are just heads which says a lot about what American history thinks about us....a bounty on our heads.....Indian heads.....my head."
Sino General aka Chief Rock really brought the remix to this one.
Cayuga Nation electronic artist Chief Rock, a member of the Haudenosaunee of Six Nations, has been living and working in Vancouver for the last two years, during which time he's been able to finish tracks like the one below. It's a remix of the traditional Mohawk Smoke Dance; an upbeat and bass-driven remix of an already powerful powwow song.
Chief Rock grew up performing - shortly after high school he joined the Kanata Native Dance Theater and then later the internationally renowned Red Thunder dance group, while maintaining an interest in BBoying. Chief Rock has also danced in music videos, including Susan Aglukhark's One Hand Turns Another. It's been this blend of contemporary flair and traditional knowledge that's led Rock to create remixes like the one below. Cop it!
This week we have some killer electronic house from Oneida/Chippewa artist Stone Mathersto sink your teeth into and move your feet to.
Marshall Stonefish, aka Stone Mathers, has been driven to create his whole life. He cites Lego as his first medium of choice and has dabbled in all art forms but "music," he says, "of all things made me." In high school he discovered how to make beats, and his creative passion found a new outlet in electronic music, but his work today travels electronic, house, noise, pop and soundscapes.
"I know what i like to hear and but i don't know what i like to create. Creativity is a monster, it needs to be wrestled into the dirt. And I'm the Creator."
DJ emit_rapture, aka Anthony Dorion, is a deephouse and techhouse DJ and a member of Tataskweyak Cree Nation, Manitoba.
He started out as a promoter for Edmonton clubs in the late 90s, but soon became better known as a DJ, playing house music at local nights in Alberta. Now a resident of Calgary, Alberta, he says he has "a voracious appetite for music. I try to make a conscious effort to seek out new music because it kind of drives me nuts when I have to listen to a DJ that plays sets full of so called classics." DJ emit_rapture misses the days of vinyl but is perfectly happy with CDs or Traktor Scratch. His latest mix, I'll Be Your Stereo, will keep you bumping through your day with its driving bass and textured drum beats.
Navajo bornDJ Smog, aka Herman Johnson, spins a smooth blend of soulful house and has been rocking the turntables for the past nine years. After a stint in New Mexico, he currently resides in Lukachukai, Arizona, where he has built a solid fan base. His tracks are the perfect balance of soothing but danceable beats which you'll enjoy no matter what mood your in.
DOWNLOAD: DJ Smog's Mix - Spiritual Sense
RPM Records
Revolutions Per Minute is a global new music platform, record label, and boutique agency for Indigenous music culture. RPM’s mission is to build a visionary community of Indigenous artists and to introduce Indigenous music to new audiences across Turtle Island and around the world. Our main site, RPM.fm, has featured the work of more than 500 Indigenous artists and shared their music across our social networks of more than 275,000 followers.
RPM Records is the first of its kind: a label for contemporary, cross-genre Indigenous music, run by Indigenous people. Selected by The FADER as one of “5 New Canadian Record Labels The Entire World Should Know”, RPM Records artists include Ziibiwan, Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, Exquisite Ghost, and Mob Bounce.
