STREAM: W.T. Goodspirit - "Native Woman"

Throughout Indian Country, there is a lot of great Country music. Cree artist W.T. Goodspirit from Goodfish Lake Cree Nation in Alberta first emerged on the scene when he won the Aboriginal Icon talent search in 2005. Since then, he has released two albums, Give Me a Sign and Colours of My Life, the latter being dedicated to the memory of missing and murdered Aboriginal Women in Canada. Goodspirit further honours and celebrates our Sisters here in Native Woman. STREAM: W.T. Goodspirit - "Native Woman"

DOWNLOAD: DJ Kwe ft. Nino Korta - "Who Speaks for Wolf"

Cree/Métis artist Crystal Favel, aka DJ Kwe, infuses Aboriginal sounds with electronic music. She spins beats, scores films, writes prose and shares her story through musical, multi-media montage – a practice that earned her the moniker “The Digital Storyteller”. Her Wax Warriors movement encourages and represents youth who also turn to turntables for musical expression – her own path in music trail-blazing the way for others to follow. Indeed, the Indigenous electronic music scene has been steadily growing over the past few years, with DJ Kwe at the forefront. She sent us a few tracks from her album The Electronic Drum  to check out and this track - a collaboration between Kwe and Nino Korta - is our favourite so far. Dig it! DOWNLOAD: DJ Kwe - "Who Speaks for Wolf"

RPM Podcast #003: "North Coast"

In our third episode, we look up, way up, to the North Coast of Turtle Island.

Ostwelve talks with Dene/Inuvialuit country artist Leanne Goose, Dene singer-songwriter Leela Gilday, Inuk hip-hop artist M.O. and Tlicho writer Richard Van Camp.

We find out what makes the north coast - and its influence on these artists - unique. We also learn how to pass the hours when the sun never rises and more behind the saying "when an elder dies a library closes".

You'll also hear Inuit throatsinging by Karen Panigoniak and Maria Illungiayok from Arviat, Nunavut.

This is just a slice - a super tasty, action-packed slice - of the diverse music and culture of the North Coast. Also check out RPM's North Coast YouTube Playlist for more.

Download: RPM Podcast #003 - "North Coast" 

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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.

Photo Illustration: Thanks to the talented Joi Arcand for the depiction of the dancing northern lights.

DOWNLOAD: Bloodline - "Sacrifice"

Hailing from the Navajo Nation, Bloodline is based out of Gallup, New Mexico. They sent us this track from their upcoming album Pure in Pain and we're stoked to learn about this hard working band that has been making music independently since 1998. Bloodline has been building a dedicated fan base in the south west through consistent touring over the years - and now Metal lovers across the Nation are also taking note as the band recently completed their first national tour. It’s great to see hard work pay off in this industry and the band is on the path for continued success – they've signed an artist development deal with DJQ Management and the upcoming album, their first full-length release, was produced by heavy hitting producers Ben Schigel and Tony Gammalo. Keep it up boys. DOWNLOAD: Bloodline - "Sacrifice"

DOWNLOAD: Jason Chamakese - "Irresistible"

Jason Chamakese, from Pelican Lake First Nation, was drawn to the traditional flute over a decade ago by his devotion to preserving his traditional language (he speaks fluent Plains Cree), culture, stories and songs.  His music is tranquil, haunting and celebrated by the CAMAs, APCMAs and listeners world-wide. This track, composed by and featuring vocalist/drummer Robert Gladue, is surely one of the best contemporary round-dance songs made to date. Get more Chamakese from CDBaby and watch for Chamakese & Gladue's collaborative album in Winter 2011.

DOWNLOAD:  Jason Chamakese - "Irresistible"

DOWNLOAD: Janet Panic - "You Look Good Naked"

Métis artist Janet Panic was dubbed "a cross between Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen" by the Vancouver Sun. Those are big names to live up to, but the praise is well earned - Janet has been building her reputation as one of Canada's best for the past ten years. She's a sharp shootin', smart and sexy songwriter and a captivating performer who moves fluidly between haunting ballads and up-tempo toe-tappers. Janet sent us this country twinged track from her "adventure in label relations/who knows if it will be properly released" album Out on a Limb and we're inclined to take the song title personally. You should too.  Download: Janet Panic - "You Look Good Naked"

DOWNLOAD: Gary Farmer & The Troublemakers - "Make a Change"

When I first think of Gary Farmer, I think of (and love) his roles as Arnold Joseph (Victor's Dad) in Smoke Signals and Nobody in Dead Man. But his acting career started twenty years before those 90s films and continues to this day.  We're big fans here at RPM and were thrilled to learn that Gary is also a fantastic songwriter and musician! Gary sent us this sneak peak from his upcoming blues/rock album Under the Water Tower and we're honoured to spread the good sounds. The album drops this fall - we'll keep you posted - but in the meantime, get your groove on with Make a Change. Download:  Gary Famer & The Troublemakers – “Make a Change”

DOWNLOAD: Ghostkeeper - "Don't Come Knocking"

While Chartattack wondered if their music could be called "back porch freak roots?", the Globe & Mail delightfully hit the nail on the head in describing Ghostkeeper's unique sound as "what might have happened if Captain Beefheart had spent a year or two in the further reaches of northern Alberta."  The group's original duo of Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle did grow up in that northern Albertan landscape, in High Level and Paddle Prairie Métis Settlement, though the band is now Calgary-based. Their work is raw, eclectic, noisy-pop where just when you think you've got the song figured, it will surprise you with a sudden turn keeping you both on your toes and tapping them. Download: Ghostkeeper -  "Don't Come Knocking"

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"

STREAM: Shoot the Image - "Reykjavik"

The weekly top 40 of music from Indian Country - National Aboriginal Music Countdown - can be a place to discover great new artists. 

You won't be surprised to find Derek Miller, Crystal Shawanda or Shane Yellowbird on the NAMC list, but sometimes, a band pops up that you haven't heard of before. Finding new artists is a great thing about the countdown and this week, we were particularly happy to hear this indie-rock track from Toronto's Shoot The Image for the first time! Enjoy.

STREAM: Shoot the Image - "Reykjavik"

Reykjavik by shoottheimage

Beaatz, MC/Producer from Tobique First Nation

RPM.fm exclusive audio interview with 19-yr-old Mi'kmaq MC/Producer Beaatz from Tobique First Nation out New Brunswick, Canada.

In this interview, Beaatz talks about being a Hiphop MC and producer of Mi'kmaq and Maliseet descent and coming up out of New Brunswick, a place that so far has been unknown in the Hiphop music scene. Alongside sharing some of this future music plans, Beaatz shares some of his up and coming artist picks with us making Hiphop music from the New Brunswick area of Turtle Island. We caught up with Beaatz via Skype and got some great words and sounds from him. Be sure to check out his music out on YouTube and Myspace.

Interview: Beaatz

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Got a question for Beaatz? Or maybe you know an Indigenous music artist you think we should interview?

If so, hit us up and Suggest An Artist on our Get Involved page.

STREAM: Gabriel Ayala - "Inhiapsi"

A member of the Yaqui people of southern Arizona, Gabriel Ayala is an incredibly skilled and critically acclaimed classical guitarist, his work being nominated for Indian Summer Music Awards, Native American Music Awards, Aboriginal People Choice Awards, and the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.  With a Master’s in Music Performance from the University of Arizona, Ayala continually tours across Turtle Island and has released an impressive eight albums. This track is from Remembrance – a record that displays his expressive powers in the genres of Flamenco, traditional Spanish and Jazz, as well as his own original compositions. Amazing. Stream: Gabriel Ayala - "Inhiapsi"