2011 Red Bull Thre3 Style Winner DJ Creeasian

Cree turntablist DJ Creeasian wins the 2011 Red Bull Thre3 Style DJ competition in Edmonton. Watch the video of his winning set!

The 2011 Red Bull Thre3 Style Canadian Tour made its first stop in Edmonton at the Empire Ballroom for its first competition out of nine on its national tour of Canada. Cree turntablist, DJ Creeasian, took home the title for Edmonton's Best Party Rocker DJ. Out of seven other DJs, Matthew Wood aka DJ Creeasian, placed first and will move on to represent Edmonton at the National Finals in Toronto, November 12th, 2011.

RPM asked DJ Creeasian how it feels to be named Edmonton's Best Party Rock DJ? Especially considering how much of a huge competition the Red Bull Thre3 Style is. He answered:

"This is a HUGE accomplishment and it means a lot to me as an artist to be recognized.  There's nowhere but going up from here on. Forever a student, always learning."

RPM is proud to bring to you a video playlist of DJ Creeasian's winning DJ set at the 2011 Red Bull Thre3 Style DJ competition in Edmonton.

Congrats Creeasian!

Don't forget to check out DJ Creeasian on RPM Podcast #007: “Native Hip-Hop”

VIDEO: Robbie Robertson Talks Basement Tapes

Six Nations music legend Robbie Robertson shares stories about making The Basement Tapes with his group The Band and folk artist Bob Dylan.

In 1967, Robbie Robertson was performing with The Band, a rock group that made waves in the recording industry and even performed at the legendary Woodstock festival. The Band went on to record tracks with prolific folk artist, Bob Dylan, which became known as The Basement Tapes.

In this interview, Robbie Robertson speaks candidly about the creation of The Basement Tapes and how it became one of the most revered collection of songs in the world of rock music, even as a bootleg, before its official release in 1975.

Robbie also talks about the groundbreaking method of recording rock music in a basement studio at a time when music was only recorded in large scale studios owned by record labels. Pretty much anyone with a laptop and a microphone today owes a big thank-you to this movement of DIY basement recording that had forged a path for a new era of home studio music production.

Props go out to Mr. Robertson, Mr. Dylan and The Band for this important step in musical evolution!

VIDEO: Ngaratya Keep it Together

The Indigenous sister duo Ngaratya's name means "together" and the acoustic folk-punk pair from Australia feels strongly about sharing their message with youth - a message to stay in school, respect yourself and have fun.

Ngaratya was recently featured with an interview and performance on Living Black's music series.

This clip leads with a mention of Deadly Award winners - surely the best named awards ever. The "Deadlys" recognize and showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island excellence.

Check out Ngaratya at the 0:45 mark:

#FrybreadFriday: Tocabe Restaurant

Tocabe is an "American Indian Eatery" and the only one of its kind in Denver, CO. Here you'll find frybread every which way - from frybread nuggets, frybread tacos and stuffed frybread - on the menu.

Tocabe serves fresh frybread all day long from an Osage receipe - that of co-owner Ben Jacob's Grandma.

Ben explains the recipe here in the Tocabe kitchen:

RPM YouTube Playlist - Singer Songwriters

The rice to your salmon dish of RPM Podcasts, here's an accompanying playlist of Indigenous singer songwriters.

As per usual to our RPM Podcast series, we love to include an RPM YouTube Playlist as well. Here we've selected only a FEW of the amazing singer songwriters Turtle Island has to offer.

Vancougar - Distance Jason Burnstick - Home Tonight at the 2010 Aboriginal People's Choice Awards Kait Angus - The Color Scheme Kinnie Starr - Another's Gone Christa Couture- Scared, Too Buffy Sainte-Marie - Universal Soldier (LIVE)

#PowwowWednesday: Closing Ceremony

At the end of the day at the powwow, before or at sunset, the closing prayer is given and the final song is played. And with the slowing of powwow season in these autumn days, #PowwowWednesday will take a break until the trail gets busy again in the spring. Hoka!

Take off your hats gentlemen and hear the Saturday closing song of the 9th annual Muckleshoot powwow from Northern Cree:

VIDEO: RPM Talks With A Tribe Called Red

RPM got a chance to interview A Tribe Called Red during their visit to Vancouver for the New Forms Festival.

Vancouver was also the kick-off for the A Tribe Called Two Toes Tour with Clarence Two Toes aka Ryan McMahon in September, 2011.

RPM was lucky enough to get a video interview with Deejay NDN, DJ Shub and DJ Bear Witness, aka A Tribe Called Red, before they left for Alberta on the next leg of their tour.

ATCR talks about being at the forefront of an electronic music movement as well offers some advice for young artists trying to break into the world of Indigenous music culture.

APCMA 2011 Nominees - Single Of The Year

This year's Aboriginal People's Choice Awards brought out the best Turtle Island has to offer for the category of Single of the Year. RPM presents this week's YouTube playlist for APCMA 2011 Single of the Year nominees.

Ali Fontaine - Say It To Me Derek Miller - Stoned For Days Samian - Tshinanu featuring Florent Vollant Terri-Lynn – Call To The Ancestors Winnipeg's Most featuring Rupness Monsta - Don't Stop

VIDEO: RPM interviews the Miracle Dolls

The Miracle Dolls are an indie, punk and alternative band from Los Angeles, CA, fronted by Hidatsa/Kiowa twin sisters Dezy and Dani De La Rosa.

The Miracle Dolls have been playing music together since the age of 13. The sisters, now in their twenties, have already had two bands, one being a former punk band called Blister, before forming the Miracle Dolls around five years ago. RPM interviewed them on skype about their passion for music, their love for community and rock and roll heroes.

For more information on the guitar donation program please visit the miracledolls.com.

VIDEO: Shy-Anne Hovorka - "What About Me?"

Here's a new music video from Shy-Anne Hovorka featuring some of her vocal students and dedicated to the children and youth of the world.

Shy-Anne Hovorka, originally from the Matachewan First Nation, took inspiration from her elder, Dave Courchene, in carrying on the teaching that change will come from youth by relating the needs of the world through music.

Working with some talented young musicians from northwestern Ontario and a group of her vocal students from Coran's Music Store, Shy-Anne has put together this inspirational project called What About Me?.

Armed with a small budget and a strong vision, Shy-Anne wrote and co-produced the track with Rob Benvegnu. The song was recorded at Dining Room Studios and the video was produced by Spun Photography.

The singers in order of appearance are:

Cassidy Reznik, Starr A, Kaitlyn Hienz, Madison Elliott, Brooke Rajala, Shy-Anne Hovorka, Taylor Facca, Chrstine Arnold, Morningstar Desrosier, Larissa Desrosier, Jada Bailey, Lauren Kaus, Jasmine Klassen, Jessica Elliott, Katie Maki, Genelyn Garcia, Olivia Boake, Allison Shortreed, Faith Russel, Jesse, Nathan Ogden and Allyssa Ireno.

Manifesto Festival 2011 Indigenous Showcase

This year marked the first Indigenous hip-hop Showcase at Toronto's Manifesto Festival 2011. Here are some great videos from the event.

Manifesto Festival 2011 brought Toronto, Ontario, eleven days of hip-hop events that stretched across the great metropolis. This year also inaugurated a special showcase involving some of Canada's elite Indigenous hip-hop artists in an event entitled, Origins: The Firekeepers.

Artists included Plex, Kinnie Star, Q-Rock, 2oolman & Sese, J-R.E.Z., and Red Slam Collective with DJ Ariel, all hitting the stage at The Great Hall in Toronto.

Here are a couple of excellent live videos from the event:

#PowwowWednesday: Northern Cree

Their 37 albums in almost 30 years have garnered them multiple Grammy, Juno, Nammy and CAMA nominations and wins, but it's at the powwow where Northern Cree are a legendary force.

Founded in 1982 by brothers Steve, Randy and Earl Wood, the group originates from the Saddle Lake Cree Nation, but these days includes members from Frog Lake, Onion Lake, Samson, Louis Bull and the Poundmaker Cree Nations.

Strong role models, the group live by Steve's words "“If you believe in yourself, who you are, where you come from, your culture and more importantly your language, it will take you to places you have never even dreamed of.” It's brought them great respect and success over the years and it's imposible to imagine the powwow trail without them travelling it.

So we're celebrating this #powwowwednesday with a Nothern Cree playlist! Enjoy: