Here's an RPM audio interview with Anishinaabe musician Leonard Sumner, aka Lorenzo, and host Ostwelve.
Winnipeg's Leonard Sumner, aka Lorenzo, and his unique style of hip-hop and country music have gained a wide following and recognition in the last couple years.
In this candid interview Lorenzo speaks about his influences and inspirations, his future plans, and how to stay true to your music.
This track written and performed by Cree artist Niska is set to be the first single off the upcoming EP The Napoleon Collective. The EP will feature members of the uber-talented Naploean family Niska, Quanah Style and Art Napolean.
It was Art who produced this track in fact - an energized, upbeat indie-pop interpretation filled with passion and exuberance (check out an acoustic version here for a totally different vibe). The song shines in this production and keeps the best part at the foreground - Niska's striking vocals. She may be a young artist, but her voice has a quality, clarity, strength and richness that defies her age. Download Again, get out of that chair, and get ready to dance and sing along.
This brand new Joey Stylez video is directed by Big Soul Production's Laura Milliken and features Six-Nations blues-rocker Derek Miller.
As a part of APTN's First Tracks series, this hot video for Joey Stylez' Mr. Milkman puts Stylez behind the wheel and features Derek Miller at his side doing what Derek does best - slaying the guitar. This is the first of the 2011 First Tracks videos we've seen - there will be a handful of other slick videos coming soon from Big Soul Productions in Toronto and we're stoked to see them.
Meanwhile, sink your teeth into this one - a great start to 2012 with a collaboration by two of Turtle Island's busiest musicians!
As we start to get ramped up again in 2012, here is a juicy, little ukulele tune from from RPM's own Christa Couture.
Lyrics:
24 hours a day, a week when you times that by 7
Many ways to tally the time of 2011
When we clamoured, rambled and cried
We laughed, we lingered and sighed
We lived and died.
365 days in a year, in two sleeps that timer will clear
What a year, what a year
That we we clamoured, rambled and cried
We laughed, we lingered and sighed
We lived and we died
Here now we find ourselves on the verge of 2012
We might as well turn the page
The story goes on anyway
Let's clamour, ramble and cry
Laugh, linger and sigh
Live and die
Here now we find ourselves on the verge of 2012
We might as well turn the page the story goes on anyway.
The new CBC series 8th Fire, hosted by Wab Kinew and featuring Winnipeg's Most amongst many other talented Indians, challenges the relationships between "us" and "them".
Tonight debuts the first episode of 8th Fire, the new, four-part CBC series exploring relationship building between Indigenous and settler society in Canada. Geared towards a much larger, non-Indigenous audience, the first episode is meant to introduce a broad cross-section of Aboriginal peoples to Canada and features rappers Winnipeg's Most, Taiaiake Alfred, and Evan Adams amongst others.
Winnipeg's Most, from Winnipeg, is no stranger to living in diverse communities. The city is known for not only its substantial Native population but also a wide variety of other ethnicities. Over the phone Jon-C states "we are hip-hop artists that are doing something that appeals to everyone, to people in other cities going through similar things." The group cleaned up at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards last November leaving with 6 major recognitions, but they are a mixed group themselves with Jon-C and Brooklyn (both Aboriginal) and Charlie Fettah (Irish).
Jon-C says the group was excited to be approached by CBC to participate in the documentary but they didn't realize the depth of what the show was about culturally until they had completed shooting. "We do US, make music, do shows. So we were just answering with honesty." Winnipeg's Most is honoured to attend the premiere screening party at IMAX Portage Place in Winnipeg tonight, and be able to share their story and their lives. "We came from rapping about the street and somehow we ended up being role-models. It feels good to be looked at as achievers, after coming from a place where under-achievement was expected 100%."
The host of 8th Fire, Wab Kinew (Ojibway from Onigaming First Nation) is an accomplished musician in how own right and became interested in dispelling myths after working on a personal piece for CBC's The National chronicling his father's residential school experience, the impacts in his family and later resolving its effects. Wab states in an article on cbc.ca "The big lesson I had learned, and that I shared with the producers, is that Canadians WILL empathize with Aboriginal people if we let them walk a mile in our moccasins." After going through the process of filming 8TH Fire he reflects "my Aboriginal side and my non-aboriginal side are getting along better than ever."
Featuring a score by Cris Derkson and a wide range of other interesting characters, get the full deal at the comprehensive cbc.ca/doczone/8thfire.
The first episode airs Thursday January 12 at 9 pm on CBC-TV and Friday January 13 at 10 pm ET/PT on CBC News Network.
Watch the 8th Fire preview and below that, check out the 12 minute story CBC's The National aired last night on Winnipeg's Most:
The Thunder in the Desert Powwow began in the year 2000, with a 12-year plan to celebrate and welcome the 21st century. Last week marked the last gathering in Tucson, Arizona.
In acknowledgement of the power of four, Thunder in the Desert was planned to take place four times, every four years, in 2000, 2004, 2008 and this year's finale.
“Native Americans felt it important to commemorate this special time in history to celebrate our continued existence and to recommit to carry on our tradition of beauty and culture,” [organizer Fred] Synder said.
This pow wow was both special and traditional in that it provided time to renew thoughts of old ways while joining in dancing, singing, visiting, rekindling current friendships, and making new ones.... “Literally, this event is an all volunteer organization that dedicates three years into planning these ten days of presentations,” said Synder.
...the fun began with an Electric Pow Wow and a traditional Social Pow Wow featuring flute players and aboriginal dancers representing Aztec, Ecuadorian, and Tlingit cultures along with Zuni Buffalo and Eagle dancers and hoop dance performances — all of which lead up to late afternoon gourd dancing and an official Grand Entry begun as the sun began to sink in the West to end Day One...
As a closing comment, coordinator Carole Garcia thanked participants by noting: “It is an honor you have chosen to be with us at Thunder in the Desert and thank you for keeping our children dancing."
Here is a great short video that captured Coloradas Mangas, lead dancer:
And here are just a few of the many gorgeous photographs taken by Lightning Horse during all 10 days of this event. Head on over to the Thunder in the Desert on Facebook to feast your eyes on rest of the images. Maybe even feel a bit of that Tucson sun!
This killer new track is from Savage Generationand features K9. Savage Generation is the collaborative project of KASP (from the award winning hip-hop group 7th Generation), the conscious hip-hop collective of Savage Familyand HGS (Higher Grounds of Struggle). They are currently creating an album together that touches on the issues faced by Indigenous people.
This track N8tive Up, their second single, features an MC from Chicago named K9 who brings a new style of hip-hop to the collective and continues the growth of this movement.
Intro
Kashtin - Tshinanu (Our People)Radmilla Cody - A Beautiful DawnTerri-Lynn Williams-Davidson - A Call to the AncestorsRobbie Robertson featuring Ulali - Mahk Jchi (Heart Beat Drum Song)
Wab Kinew - Anishinabemowin Word of the Day - NinagamWab Kinew - Anishinabemowin Word of the Day - KetenagamonanWab Kinew - Anishinabemowin Word of the Day - Nagamok!Wab Kinew - Anishinabemowin Word of the Day - Diwe'igan
Outro
The title says it all - Listen to Your Art, from hip-hop artist Kool Krys, is a collection of songs crafted from Krys' experiences, encouraging us all to follow our creative sparks.
Listen to Your Art is a polished mix of Kool Krys' raps with solid beats and, at times, a big-band sound, a back alley saxophone, sampled 50s blues, a wandering jazz piano and other varied musical colours that total a collection of 8 fantastic tracks. It's a welcome dose of creativity from a strong female voice in Indigenous hip-hop.
Kool Krys is selling a limited run of 200 CDs via koolkrys.bandcamp.com where you can also buy a download of the album.
Jazz musician Robin Ranger, from Fort William First Nation in Northwestern Ontario, will soon be releasing a new album, The View From the Seventh Sky. As a sneak peak, Robin posted this video just last week.
This Endless Night will be one of the track on the upcoming The View From the Seventh Sky, an album of songs written during a year Robin spent in Russia. The album features his rich, smokey vocals backed by a jazz quartet. We're looking forward to hearing more!
It's been a delight to bring you #FrybreadFriday every week since RPM launched in June, and here on the last Friday of the year, I'm looking back on all the frybread ground we've covered - in music, film, dance and of course the kitchen.
But above all, and winner of my one-time only Most Fried Bread award, is Helen Roy making Zaasakokwaan. Her laugh, her singing in the kitchen, her making the dough by feel, all embody the heart and warmth of frybread Friday at its best.
This week #FrybreadFriday turns its attention to its very close cousin - baked bannock. In this film by Darryl Nepinak, Darryl documents his mother making her version, step by step.
Darryl's mom makes her recipe in the best possible way - by feel. The process is replete with a curious cat, how to let the dough breathe, toe tapping and even toe kneading...!
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.
