This kind of laid back blues always makes me think of summer, which makes it the perfect pick for the first RPM download of June. From Oneida Nation on the Thames, Robbie Antone's Blues Machine sent us this sweet track to check out and we highly recommend you do too.
With lead singer and harmonica ace Robbie Antone at the helm, he and his Blues Machine have been racking up recognition in the industry and their community, from winning Best Blues at the Jack Richardson Music Awards to the Memphis International Blues Challenge. It's no wonder - their smooth and soulful style will whisk you away like a warm summer breeze.
The Medics have released their much anticipated debut LP Foundations. In the two years since the release of their first EP they have gained a reputation for passionate and energetic live performances and it seems they've managed to bottle that vibe nicely here. With a "frenetic mix of distorted guitar and wall of dominant percussion" (indieshuffle.com) it's a brilliant album from one of Australia's brightest new bands. Order the CD or Get it on iTunes.
Listen to the opening track Beggars:
Also greeting eager ears is the new album The Black List from Burnt Project 1. It's been six years since their sophomore release and founder David Boulanger told CBC Music we can expect to hear "love, pain, truth, fear, happiness, honesty, time, hope, knowledge, courage, humility, respect, forgiveness, healing, understanding" in the new tracks. I like it already. Burnt Project 1 released the album at The Pyramid in Winnipeg this week, stay tuned for links to get it online!
Singer-songwriter Holly McNarlandhas, after years of working with major labels, launched her first independent release this month, Run Body Run. Culled from five years of songs, McNarland picked her favourites to record and spent a year in and out of the studio to get it made. The time and labour paid off. Get Run Body Run on iTunes and listen to Alone's Just Fine now:
And from renowned violinist and flutist Arvel Bird, Titanic Centennial: Commemorative Special Edition. The hour-long musical voyage of new and original music is dedicated to "the passengers, musicians and crew of the RMS Titatic". Get it at arvelbird.com.
New across our desk is this radio documentary by journalist Dustin McGladrey on Indigenous musicians in rock and blues.
A young, new journalist, Dustin McGladrey, recently shared a radio documentary which features insights from several Indigenous artists like Murray Porter, Derek Miller, and John Kim Bell.
In this documentary, Dustin talks to numerous Indigenous artists about the state of Indigenous music now and what might come in the future, with a majority of the interviews having taken place during the weekend of the 2012 National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Vancouver, B.C.
Great interviews with some of Turtle Island's greatest artists make this a great addition to the journalism section of Indigenous music culture. Props out to Dustin for stepping up and sharing this piece with us.
Full interview credits include:
Derek MillerMurray Porter Sean Riquelme Elaine Bomberry Evan Adams Sarah Yankoo Ray Thunderchild Michelle Thrush Adrian Duke Chief Shane Godfriedson Robert Simpson John Kimbell Chris Louis Dustin McGladrey
Here's a download of a powerful track Ghost Dance by Gitanmaax Nation musicians NWK & Gameboy of the Mob Bounce collective.
NWK & Gameboy are new musicians hitting the scene out of Vancouver B.C. with an electronic style of music mixed with a colour of traditional sounds and revolutionary words.
Here they share their track Ghost Dance which is a call out to colonial forces here on Turtle Island.
Sweet, smooth vocals always get my attention and I'm a sucker for a well played vocal scat - thus my ears perked up when I first heard Julia Keefe of the Nez Perce Tribe. Her voice is of another era and stands out in this one as one of the only jazz songbirds in Indian Country. But she's not the first.
Born in 1989 in Seattle, Keefe is currently a senior studying jazz performance at the University of Miami's Frost School of Music, though it's been since grade seven that Keefe has been singing jazz. She has performed on the East and West coasts and if you've seen her live, you've noticed that she typically dedicates a song to the legendary Mildred Baileyat every performance.
Bailey was a groundbreaking and influential blues and jazz performer in the 30s and 40s, and a Coeur d’Alene tribal member. Early in her studies Keefe was drawn to Mildred's life and work and in 2009 performed her musical tribute Thoroughly Modern: Mildred Bailey Songs at the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian in 2009. But her passion for Bailey didn't stop there.
In Indian Country Today's Jazz Vocalist Julia Keefe 'Just Likes to Sing'Keefe describes to Jack McNeel her experience visiting the Jazz Hall of Fame for the first time at New York's Lincoln Center:
“It was beautiful and I loved it,” she said, “But I noticed there were only four women in the Jazz Hall of Fame and Mildred Bailey wasn’t one of them.” Those four are Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holliday, Bessie Smith and Mary Lou Williams.
She doesn’t question that those four belonged — but says she “sort of realized there was a great injustice being done. I feel without Mildred Bailey and what she did, we wouldn’t have Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday. She was the one who kicked open the door and made way for those amazing vocalists to get the stature they got.”
This past winter, Julia was home in Spokane on break and was asked to do a gig at the Coeur d’Alene Casino. “It was a private event for the Idaho State Legislature and some of the tribal council,” she explained. “I brought some of my Mildred Bailey stuff and said a few words about her, the things she had done for women in jazz and Native Americans in jazz.”
“The Idaho Legislature was just completely engrossed,” Keefe says. “They were talking like they loved it. They came up afterwards and said they’d like to help any way they could. I told them I was hoping to get Mildred Bailey into the Jazz Hall of Fame.” This March, both the Idaho House and Idaho Senate passed resolutions to honor Mildred and to support and encourage induction into the Hall of Fame.
Julia Keefe put her idea into action. Her open letter to the Jazz Hall of Fame selection committee can be read at whereismildred.com and while you're there, be sure to sign the petition!
Check out Mildred Bailey's swinging rendition of Georgia on My Mind:
And here, listen to (and download!) Julia Keefe's sweet take on the classic song:
Mildred Bailey died at the young age of 44 - her story and her songs are truly worth digging into, if you haven't already. As for Julia Keefe, she reports on ICTMN:
“My plan for the future is just to perform as much as possible. I love it. I love singing. I love entertaining people so that’s where my life blood is, where my joy comes from. My plan is just to go out there and do it whatever way I can.”
Métis Ron Loutitisn't as widely known as his country music chops, knowing voice and clever and charming lyrics should have him, but that almost makes his old school songs even better, because we're the lucky ones to hear them.
His bio says his songs "based on love, drinking and heartbreak." This chipper ditty, replete with a plucky banjo part, delivers on all three. You might find yourself toe-tapping and singing along before you realize you're chiming in on the bittersweet "sitting here along again, drinking with the moon again." And that's a good thing. I like a song that isn't what you might think it is, first time around.
From his APCMA nominated album Where I Come From, download and enjoy Why Don't You Call.
While Will Belcourt's latest album Epoch garnered "Best Rock Album" nominations at both the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards and the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, his music reaches beyond that genre into blues, jazz and country, all with a base of electronic beats.
From Marlboro, Alberta, Belcourt bills himself as a singer/songwriter/guitar player/performer/recording artist/music producer/writer/director/producer - ie, a one man show and reconnaissance kind of guy. His deep, rough around the edges voice calls to us to "forget about tomorrow" and "scream along" and it's hard to resist - download this track to get out of your seat and raise the roof.
The Igloolik, Nunavut, collective Artcirq is a collaborative, community-based circus and multimedia company that has been creating work, engaging youth and performing around the globe since 1998. And that's not all! The arctic circus also makes music and has released two albums recently on iTunes.
Co-founded by Isuma Productions and Guillaume Saladin, Artcirq blends techniques of modern circus like juggling and acrobatics with aspects of Inuit culture including drum dancing and throat singing.
At first, the group formed in reponse to local tragedy. From articirq.org:
Summer 1998, Igloolik, Nunavut. Two teenagers commit suicide, once again shattering this small island community of 1500 residents. Every time a suicide occurs, feelings of despair and powerlessness resurface in this world where two cultures collide. In the Arctic, loss of sense and sorrow are real facts of life. Based on government statistics at the time, 4 to 6 young adults commit suicide every year in Igloolik, which represents a rate seven times higher than in Montreal.
Following the recurrence of such tragedies in Igloolik, some concrete actions are taken to give children and teenagers a medium to express themselves. The initiative of Isuma Productions (movie Atanarjuat, the Fast Runner) forms a group of eight young people, intended to prevent suicide in this small community. The organism Inuusiq, which means “Life” in Inuktitut, is created, and its first mission is to realize and produce, with the help of ISUMA production, a television series about the youth’s life in the Canadian Arctic of today. Guillaume Saladin was a member of this organism, “Inuusiq youth drama group”, and a co-writer and actor of the series. Furthermore, studying at the National Circus School of Montreal at that time, he implements the circus project Artcirq with six others students of the circus school, including Karine Delzors.
The group and work evolved from there. Members of Artcirq have performed in Timbuktu, Mali, Mexico, Greece and France. Six members were part of the Canadian Arctic performers representing Nunvut at the 2010 Olumpic Winter Games and this month, the group will travel to Windsor, England, to represent "The Americas" in the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Pageant.
Both of Artcirq's musical albums - Artcirq Jam and Made in Igloolik - are credited to be by "various artists" and accordingly it's difficult to describe the diversity on both albums which showcases various permutations of the groups contributing members. In style, language and instrumentation, they are both delightfully varied and interesting collections of songs. It's also difficult to pick a favourite, but for a taste, check out this track Anuri from Made in Igloolik:
STREAM: Artcirq - "Anuri"
Both Artcirq albums are available on CDBaby and iTunes.
Music is just a part of what the group creates. This short doc is a great introduction to the breadth of the work of Artcirq. I love co-founder Guillaume Saladin's definition of circus in it. He says "circus is a pretext - a pretext to create a circle of trust, a space where people can communicate with each other, an area where you can work on yourself, trust the other, and dream."
Indeed it seems that in its 14 years so far, the group has maintained this practice of creative, communicative, and collaborative process. From the heartbreak of a community's loss, to the empowerment of movement, music and exploration, their work continues to inspire, represent, delight and move anyone it engages. Keep an eye out for more from Artcirq, and for additional video and music check out their Isuma channel at isuma.tv/hi/en/artcirq.
In family band Duster, father Jim Agecoutay plays guitar, and sons Trent and Bryce play bass and drums. Part Ronnie Milsap, Gram Parsons, Waylon Jennings and CCR, Duster loves to drive the party and fill the dance floor.
Within this track's country-rock jam, there's a darker tale. The inspiration for You've Got to Be Number One came to the band via the last boom in their home province Alberta. Says Trent Agecoutay " ...with all the money that was around we literally saw musician friends disapear from cocaine abuse."
The track is from their debut album The Foundation of Who I Am - download it now and spread the word of Duster!
We've got a copy of The Foundation of Who I Am to give away - leave a comment be 5pm PST Friday May 18th to be entered in the draw!
Deathsceneis the trio of Keithan (Navajo), Book (Navajo) and Erica from Tucson, Arizona. Together they write and record mellow, downbeat, trip-hoppy music and have been keeping it mostly to themselves. But, they shared this track with RPM, we really dig it, and we want to share it with you.
The subject of their work spans what Keithan describes as "the human condition", ie "the illusion of external reality, the conundrum of time & space, humble heartache, resistance to falling in love, romantic seclusion, and the relationship between noisey humans and insomnia." Deathscene paints these pictures with bright pianos, playful keys, minor acoustic chords, shoegaze electric guitars, drum and instrument programming, lo-fi recording and voice samples.
Get into this thoughtful and melancholic jam and share this post!
April blossomed with a bouquet of releases in the world of Indigenous music - here are eight to check out.
ForeverC-Weed Band
The legendary C-Weed Band released their 17th album this month and the lead single, Can This be Love, is already climbing the charts on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown. Get it on iTunes.
The Philosophers Stoned MixtapeIll CitizensWinnipeg's Ill Citizens have released their third mixtape - the first of two they'll put out this year - which features all original material with beats produced by Walter "DJ Wawa" Lounsbury and Sebastation Gaskin. Download it from hotnewhiphop.com.
I am Woman. Kwe
Lena RecolletAnishnaabe poet, actress, vocalist and visual artist Lena Recollet has released her first full-length album featuring her mix of spoken word, soul-jazz, traditional native music and folk. Get it on iTunes.
Garfield Street (The Mixtape: Vol. 2)
Young JibweThe ever prolific producer, rapper and activist Young Jibwe of Dog Creek First Nation keeps it coming with his latest release. Get the free download here.
Beauty and Hard TimesMama DWith a sound that draws from blues, folk, rock, gospel, country, Eastern European, and classical styles Mama D delves into hard times lyrically, but delivers it all in musical beauty.Get it on iTunes.
Red Makaveli
Joey StyelzThe first full-length rap/hip-hop release from Joey Stylez of Moosomin First Nation can be yours for free! Download it from datpiff.com.
YK the MayorYoung Kidd
Winnipeg-based emcee Young Kidd actually released this mixtape at the end of March, but we didn't get a chance to tell you about it then! The album includes 16 tracks with guest appearances from Keisha Booker, Shai, Quick Cash, Lotto, Terell Safadi, Fresh IE, and Critical. Download it from datpiff.com.
Upright & Locked Position
Don RossThe 14th solo recording from finger-style guitar heavyweight Don Ross is a melodic collection of new original songa and new recordings of some of his early compositions. He's an incredible player, be sure to take the time to listen and get the album from candyrat.com.
Watch the title track from Don Ross, The Upright & Locked Positon:
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!
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.
