The Rezified Tour with Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers

Gary Farmer & the Troublemakers are on their Rezified Spring Tour promoting their new album Under the Water Tower.

I caught up with Gary Farmer while he was preparing to go on the Rezified Spring Tour with the rest of the Troublemakers.

Gary Farmer: I was born on the Six Nations rez along the Grand River. There are probably 22,000 people there now. It’s a big rez. I was born there but rushed off to Texas because my father was in the American army for a couple of years. That’s probably why I am in New Mexico now. I grew up in the United States, in Niagara Falls and Buffalo, New York. I broke free from the urban life of Buffalo where it was pretty gang style. It was a different economic time in the 50s and the 60s. There was the absolute insane values that arose during the industrial revolution. There was more seeming prosperity with jobs. It was kind of a hay day. As well it was probably the farthest our people have gone from who they are. Where as my generation has spent our time coming back.

I went to university for a few years to become a cop but then the Attica prison riots happened in '71. I was there so that changed my career path. I moved back to my rez after my third year in university. My parents came home the year before and we moved into a small general store right in the heart of Six Nations. I came home and pumped gas for my parents. That’s how I got to know my community. Of course I’ve got lots of family there. And when I’m away from home I try to get back for ceremony time.

Marika Swan: What did you want to achieve when you were studying to be a cop?

GF: I hate to say this but I was the oldest child in a relatively dysfunctional family and I wanted to help but I didn’t know how. When I was in the gang, I was the strongest and the biggest and probably had the most compassion, I suspect. I was not the only Native American amongst mostly the Italian, Irish, and Polish. Most of the people go from the illegitimate gang to the legitimate gang. I don’t know if that’s true in Canada but it is in the United States, especially in Buffalo, New York; the legitimate gang is the cops. When I saw that there was so much corruption within the system and that I would have to conform, I couldn’t change the system for the better. This was a big realization for me in 2^nd and 3^rd Year University. I had to find other means to survive or to express myself. By the time I turned 20, I knew I wanted to be an artist and I had already discovered photography during my last year of high school. In 1974 I moved to Toronto and went to Ryerson University while driving a cab and bouncing on the weekends at the Silver Dollar Hotel.  Toronto is where I met James Buller, through ANDPVA, who is the man who changed my life.

MS: When did music become a larger part of your life?

GF: We had bands within our gangs and I was the organizer. I was the one who put on the gig for the band to play. They used to get us this big church hall and we’d have these big parties where you could get in for 2 or 3 bucks and there were live dances and it was a hit. Everybody was there. That’s the environment I grew up in. It was very nurturing in a way but it was dark too. Even though we used to say that we were lovers not fighters, you had to fight for your life as a child and a teenager so music came from that in a way. I was always the actor but I was always the producer too. I made things happen.

I always played harmonica from when I left Buffalo, I took a harmonica with me to university. We all worked at the bar so we controlled the Beer Blasts at the bar.  I used to get up and harp to other people’s music. I used to force myself on stage to play Blues harp because I was self taught and I got better. It wasn’t until I formed my own band that I started singing.

MS: Tell us about the upcoming tour.

GF: First off, I have some great players. My all time bass player Johnny Ringo is with me. He’s probably been with me six years and my cousin Bruce Fraser is coming from Six Nations to drum for me for the first time. I am sure you know the music of Brock Stonefish and his abilities, if not you should check him out. Every time I go on the road like this, I like to take players that can carry their own, right? They are singer-songwriters; they can perform their own material. We got a brand new guitar player with us, Lonnie Arellano. He’s a very talented songwriter as well.

I just got a booking today in Lame Deer, Montana, which is one of my favorite places to bill because it’s the home of Pow Wow Highway in a way, that’s where those two guys were from and I lived there for a period while making the film. I got really into the Northern Cheyenne culture there because it was a big part of the movie. So going back there is so special for me. We are doing guitar workshops at the Chief Dull Knife College and that’s just perfect. That’s the kind of gig we want. That’s why we call it ‘Rezified’ because its mostly Indian communities we are going to, sometimes sponsored by the Indian social club or sometimes sponsored by independent artists in the city. It's just beautiful, we are playing a lot of Indian casinos. Some are being sponsored by rez radio stations or regular radio stations. We are playing a number of Blues clubs and a lot universities and tribal colleges so I do theatre workshops in the afternoon and we play at night. We are doing double-hitting in order to sustain the tour. It’s an Indian band going to Indian communities. It's working and people are having us back a 3^rd and a 4^th time. There are students that have grown up with us and that’s really interesting to have that relationship with Native students pursuing a post-secondary education.  It’s really special to keep writing music for them.

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Get Gary Farmer & The Troublemakers tour dates here: myspace.com/garyfarmerandthetroublema

Download their song Make a Change from the new album here: rpm.fm/music/download-gary-farmer-the-troublemakers-make-a-change/

And check them out jamming out in Portland at the 2010 Blues Fest:

VIDEO: Supaman - "Gorilla"

A member of the Apsaalooke Nation who makes his home on the Crow Agency reserve in Montana, Supaman released a new video last week for the first single off his upcoming album Digital Grease.

Supaman is quite an interesting artist. His early work fell into describing and subscribing to the struggle and more negative aspects of hip-hop culture. But while signed to a Seattle label and on tour, he had a breakdown and subsequent epiphany that lead him to leave the label and return to the reserve. There he began to write a new message into his work with a focus and dedication to providing his community, and youth in particular, with a positive message.

From NPR, Supaman: Rapping On The Reservation:

"Native Americans grasp that culture of hip-hop because of the struggle," he says. "Hip-hop was talking about the ghetto life, poverty, crime, drugs, alcohol, teen pregnancy; all that crazy stuff that happens in the ghetto is similar to the reservation life. We can relate to that"...

He says he and his friends took the stories they heard in rap songs and made them real life. "We would play the part, you know. We were wannabees, trying to be, like, these rappers on the rez. So we started doing the crime, robbing, went into houses and trade the merchandise and then get weed from the merchandise, and then started selling."

And then came the record deal and the pressures of life on the road:

"I was just down and out — rock bottom you could say — and I grabbed the Bible," says Supaman. Reading the Bible rekindled memories of going to church as a boy. And despite his own disbelief at first, Supaman found himself in a dialogue with God over the next few days. He says he saw a sign of his presence and fell into prayer... He walked away from a deal with the record label and returned to the reservation to weave a new message into his music...

"When they heard it they were like, 'Man, this is pretty good,' " says Supaman. "And then they would hear the lyrics and be like, 'Oh, you're rappin about Jesus.' Some would hate it: 'Oh man, I don't wanna hear that.' And some would say, 'I'm not into Jesus Christ, but, man, this is good music.' And others would be influenced by it."

Supaman says his conversion has allowed him to look at his life and the reservation with different eyes; to see beyond the bad things and focus on the beauty and humor that are there too.

And now he's back! With a new album, new single, and this slick performance video shot and edited by Ablazah Stump from B.L.A.Z.E. and Stan-X, and filmed in Rocky Boy, Montana.

Watch -  Supaman, "Gorilla":

Electric Powwow: Westcoast Potlatch Edition Weekend

The Electric Powwow hit the west coast with A Tribe Called Red on February 25th, 2012 as part of the Talking Stick Festival.

The ever-famous Electric Powwow headed by the DJ trio A Tribe Called Red made its debut in Vancouver  as a part of a very musical weekend. With the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in town, Beat Nation opening at the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Electric Powwow rolling through as part of the on-going Talking Stick Festival, the weekend of February 24th was an important time for Vancouver's Indigenous music and arts scene.

Friday the 24th marked the opening of the Beat Nation exhibit at the Vancouver Art Gallery with the Fuse event that brought over 2000 visitors to the gallery to check out the new exhibit as well as musical performances by Silver Jackson, Skeena Reece, Vancouver legendary B-boy and artist Nelson "Dedos" Garcia, Raymond Boisjoly, Jackson Two Bears, A Tribe Called Red, and myself Ostwelve.

After rocking the fourth floor venue with A Tribe Called Red, we made our way to the "Indigenous Afterdark" after party at W2 Media Cafe where an unofficial after party for the Fuse event and National Aboriginal Achievement Awards would be held.  Hosted by Ojibway comedian Ryan McMahon, the night consisted of performances by DJ Muk Luk, Lorenzo aka Leonard Sumner, JB The First Lady, Silver Jackson, myself Ostwelve, an ever-deadly performance by the Skookum Sound System and a surprise teaser set by A Tribe Called Red.

People danced the night away til the early hours in a packed venue with some of the most amazing natives around. (Yes...that was Gino Odjick ripping up the dancefloor!)

Saturday the 25th was another day of musical mayhem in Vancouver after some rest and preparation, we headed back to the W2 Media Cafe for Vancity's first taste of the Electric Powwow: Westcoast Potlatch Edition. This event was a part of the Talking Stick Festival and was geared to bring some of Turtle Island's best performers out.

The night started with DJ Muk Luk warming up the dance floor. First on the stage was Sto:lo hip-hop duo Rapsure Risin' followed by East Van's own Starmakerz bringing their deadliest tracks out to rock. Soundvibe Records and Vancouver legend Emotionz brought his best to the stage followed by our dearest friend Kinnie Starr whom I had the pleasure of backing up for her set. The night closed with an amazing set by Jackson Two Bears bringing his powerful video enhanced DJ set to the staged followed by a thumping set that closed the night by A Tribe Called Red.

After much planning and promoting, it was awesome to see these events come together and creating space for people to dance as hard as they did was an awesome sight to see. A huge thanks goes out to all the artists that participated and also to the people who came out to support. As well as the Talking Stick Festival, Fuse at the Vancouver Art Gallery and of course our beloved people at W2 Media Cafe for helping to make it all possible!

My voice is finally back to normal and my dancing feet are ready to rock!

Got any photos or comments about these events? Send them to ron@rpm.fm or leave your comments below.

DOWNLOAD: King Hood - "So Bizzarre" Ft. Alley Way King

Chilcotin rap artist King Hood out of Toosey Reserve near Williams Lake, British Columbia, sent us some new music and we picked our favourite, So Bizzarre featuring Alley Way King, to share with you.

Kyle Houde, aka King Hood, is an underground rap artist who first got hooked on the genre when his Dad played him some Eminem and 2pac as a kid. Since then, he's been focused on getting his own voice heard and released his first mixtape last year, Rise of a Soldier.   Download the track and keep an eye on King Hood - there is more great things to come from this artist!

DOWNLOAD: King Hood - "So Bizzarre" Ft. Alley Way King

Introducing: Dialogues Youth Vancouver

Dialogues Youth Vancouver aims to promote sustained dialogue among First Nations, Urban Aboriginal and immigrant/non-Aboriginal youth. Three ways in which Dialogues Youth hopes to do this are by challenging and demystifying stereotypes, celebrating cultural differences, and exploring shared interests.

As a result of the Vancouver Dialogues Project, an initiative delivered by the City of Vancouver in partnership with 27 diverse community organizations comprising the project's steering group, Dialogues Youth Vancouver has been developed as a community-led engagement initiative - driven by youth for youth. Using new technologies and various social media tools, the project hopes to engage a large audience of youth between the ages of 17 and 25.

The project's developers intend to facilitate dialogue both online and offline. The purpose of using a web-based engagement campaign in concert with an offline strategy is so that feedback generated online might inform the topics, themes, speakers and outcomes of the offline engagements. The project is designing a series of dialogue sessions and a conference in June 2012 to address and challenge issues being faced by many youth today.

From the Dialogues Youth website:

"We value community, accessibility, self-determination, representation, and equity. We also value dialogue for challenging discrimination, systemic oppression, and colonialism--as well as sharing strengths and celebrating our cultures. Through dialogue, we believe that youth can influence history.

We hope to build alliances between Vancouver’s First Nations, Urban Aboriginal and immigrant/non-Aboriginal  youth. We want to learn your goals. What is your vision for an inclusive Vancouver? How do you define inclusiveness and accessibility? What does self-determination look like to you? How would you like to be represented by your leaders? When will you feel equity in your city?

Through a series of Dialogues Youth Sessions and a conference in June 2012, we hope to answer these questions. However, we need your help. Follow us and join the conversation."

Dialogues Youth depends on community engagement to inform the dynamics of the sessions and conference. Through the use of Twitter #hashtags and by signing up to stay in touch, audience members can identify key themes, discussion topics, and relevant issues for youth around the subject of First Nations, Urban Aboriginal and immigrant/non-Aboriginal relationships in Vancouver. Vancouver youth can influence who the project interviews for it's blog posts and who will be speaking to them during Dialogues events.

Remember to connect on Facebook! Stay in touch - Dialogues Youth Vancouver #vandialogues on Twitter.

Artist Call: "She's the One" Competition

The Ottawa Bluesfest is holding a Canada-wide competition for emerging female artists from all genres. Cash prizes and a slot at this year's festival could be yours! Applications are open now - at no fee to the artist - until March 31st. Here's the info.

The RBC Bluesfest is one of Canada's foremost music festivals and in partnership with Boom 99.7 has opened the She's the One competition to support emerging female artists.

Open to female artists of any age in any genre, applicants must either be the lead singer of your act/band or the leader performer in your instrumental act/band. All members of the band must be residents of Canada.

If you have a Sonicbids account, submissions are free (1 token) or you can submit via Surveygizmo (and kudos to the organizers for offering options! So many festivals are accessible through Sonicbids only these days and it's a shame... but I digress...).

From ottawabluesfest.ca:

There will be two categories:  1] Solo (i.e. Singer-songwriter)  2] Band

Initial submissions will be judged on the quality of performance, based on submtted YouTube/myspace Clips, etc. RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest will review these submissions, and three finalists will be selected from each category.  These six finalists will have a 20 minute slot to perform LIVE at the RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest for a professional jury, on Saturday July 7th, 2012 with one winner chosen from each category.

What’s up for grabs?

Winners of each category will receive a cash prize: Solo Category winner will receive $2,000; Band Category winner will receive $5,000!

...Please note, if you are selected as a finalist, you MUST be available to travel to Ottawa to perform at the finals on July 7, 2012.

Please note, judging will be based upon a developed criteria including: performance, stage presence/showmanship, originality, musicality, audience reaction and 'It' factor. Above all, we are looking for a moving live performance both in online submissions and final competition judging.

For more information and to apply, visit ottawabluesfest.ca/shestheoneinfo. We look forward to seeing some of our Indigenous sisters up there!

Canyon Records Celebrates 60 Years

Arizona-based Canyon Records has been distributing, producing and spreading Indigenous music for 60 years. They are one of the oldest independent record labels in the industry and remain one of the largest dedicated to music of Native Americans.

Currently their roster includes over 250 artists and they've released over 600 titles, many of which retain a traditional influence though also includes world, new age, classical, church music and even a few rock albums.

From Navajo Times' Canyon Records celebrates 60 years:

"The reason we've lasted goes back to the founders of this company and that is, we've always listened to the Native community and what they want instead of dictating what they should do," said Robert Doyle, Canyon Records president.

"It's putting the artist first, the community first and that keeps us from losing touch with the vitality of the culture," he said. "Our job is to help people in expressing their artistry, traditions and keeping ourselves invisible as collaborators in the process."

Canyon Records was founded in 1951 by Ray and Mary Boley, music engineers who operated a local recording and film production studio.

The couple was introduced to Native American music at the request of the Phoenix Little Theater, which asked them to record Navajo singer Ed Lee Natay, a drummer and singer who was working on a musical soundtrack for the theater company.

Attracted by Natay's voice and singing style, the Boleys decided to record a collection of his singing. That recording became "Natay, Navajo Singer," which today remains one of Canyon Record's bestselling albums.

The label has been celebrating their anniversary since October of last year with a series of concerts, festivals, and artist meet-and-greets.

From Arizona Republic, Canyon Records marks 60 years of preserving, promoting Native heritage:

"This is about saying thanks to the Native community for working with us and trusting us with their music," says Robert Doyle, who worked with Canyon's founders in 1980 before buying the label in 1992.

"These are artists who reflect the Canyon values and philosophies of music, people who respect their traditions but are also willing to explore new personal and cultural visions."

...Jack Miller, who has recorded sessions for the label since the 1960s, says Canyon -- the largest Native American label -- has a tight relationship with its acts.

"Canyon goes after special people, people who are involved in their (Native) community and then grow into a community that appreciates their culture from another side," says Miller, now semi-retired in Sun City.

Hopi singer and carver Clark Tenakhongva says, "Canyon has been there for all artists, regardless of which Native tribe they belong to. They are helping to keep our languages, our songs alive."

Congratulations Canyon Records on your 60 years not only in the business, but in the beauty of sharing Indigenous music with the world!

DOWNLOAD: Strummin' Dog - "Locked Into Something"

Despite being born and raised in the Alaskan town of Sitka, Strummin' Dog (aka Dave Galanin, father of Nicholas Galanin) plays the blues like he's from down the bayou. His newest album, Signify, is a mix of original tunes and his own spin on works by the greats like Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson and Charley Patton. Locked Into Something is a Strummin' Dog original and it has me feeling my East Van desk chair is leaned back in a smokey blues bar, or maybe rocking on a Southern porch... either way it's just what you want from the blues - hazy, hot and hitting the low notes of your soul with a steel guitar and a rich deep voice.

You can get Signify at CDBaby, Bandcamp and iTunes.

 DOWNLOAD: Strummin' Dog - "Locked Into Something"

New Indigenous Music Releases - Jan/Feb 2012

So far in 2012 the new releases in Indian Country span the genres of folk, americana, flamenco, traditional and pop/rock... something for everyone! Here are the new Indigenous music releases of January and February, 2012.

Right out of the gate, Samantha Crain released her new 7" single A Simple Jungle on January 10. Produced by John Vanderslice the two new tracks on the single are exactly what you love about Samantha already - her from-another-time vocals and indie-spun american vibe. Get A Simple Jungle here: samanthacrain.com/store.

On January 20, Gabriel Ayala of the Yaqui tribe released his ninth album, Shades of Blue. Ayala's virtuosic guitar playing is at its flamenco-flavoured best on this album and you can find it on CDBaby here: cdbaby.com/cd/gabrielayala3.

On the same day, newcomer Nick Sherman, from Sioux Lookout, Ontario, released his debut album Drag Your Words Through. Rooted in folk/rock, the songs are earnest yet thoughtful and Sherman's rich, textured vocals will rip your heart out. In a good way. Listen to his track Winterdark here and get the whole album on iTunes at itunes.apple.com.

Comprised of composer and multi-instrumentalist Colin Farish and Native American flutist John-Carlos Perea, Coyote Jump "sculpts a musical tribute to Native America with the sound of the cedar flute at its core." We've known for awhile that this debut album, Waking From the Rocks, was on the horizon and are glad to announce it's now available from Canyon Records. Find it at store.canyonrecords.com.

Last but not least, this month Vince Fontaine's supergroup Indian City released their first album, Supernation - contemporary pop and rock with a hint of traditional layers. Envisioned by Fontaine, the collaborative Indian City includes Don Amero, Pamela Davis, William Prince,  Ray "Coco" Stevenson and others. Killer! Get Supernation on CDBaby here: cdbaby.com/cd/vincefontainesindiancity.

Listen to the first single from Indian City, Stand:

VIDEO: J Dizzay - "Outta My Mind"

This new video from J Dizzay out of North Battleford, Outta My Mind, was directed and produced by Young Native Productions.

J Dizzay has been getting it done in a prolific fashion in the short time he has been in the music scene. Releasing a couple tracks every few weeks, this guy keeps us busy with stuff to listen to.

Now he has stepped into the video world with this piece produced by Young Native Productions for this song called Outta My Mind.  Like his music, this video is colourful and energetic, and gives us a look at this North Battleford, Saskatchewan, rapper in action.

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Artist Call: Unsigned Only

RPM has partnered with the unique music competition Unsigned Only which seeks to find an undiscovered gem - a band or solo artist, a newcomer or veteran - to develop through one-on-one mentoring. The open call ends in two weeks, so read on and apply!

Brought to you by the team who presents the International Songwriting Competition (ISC), you can enter Unsigned Only by mail, online  - through Sonicbids or Reverbnation or even via Myspace - in one of nine genre categories. Choose a genre, upload a song (you can also enter more than one) and be sure to tell them we sent you. The competition is open to artists around the globe, just as long as they are not signed to a major label or any of its affiliates, and we'd love to see some of Turtle Island's best Indigenous talents get in there.

The Grand Prize Winner will be awarded $5,000 in cash (plus additional prizes) and one-on-one mentoring by an elite group of record company executives. First Place and Second Place winners will also be selected in each category.

The list of judges is astounding and includes Robert Smith (The Cure), Steve Lillywhite (Producer), Cyndi Lauper, St. Vincent, 3 Doors Down, Kelly Clarkson, Josh Jackson of Paste Magazine (Co-Founder/Editor-In-Chief), Scott Lapatine (Founder/Editor-in-Chief, Stereogum) and a lot more amazing artists and industry bigwigs.

From unsignedonly.com:

Yes, it offers great prizes, recognition, exposure, and the chance to be heard by a group of judges consisting of high-profile recording artists and industry professionals. But, Unsigned Only also takes it a step further and puts the Grand Prize winner in direct, personal contact with the influential record label executives who are the ultimate decision-makers. For the first time ever, a music competition offers the Grand Prize winner the unprecedented opportunity to be mentored by a group of record company presidents, A&R reps, and more.

For more info and to submit your work, visit unsignedonly.com.

Good luck!

RPM Artist Minute: Kinnie Starr - "Women + Sex + Music"

In our second RPM Artist Minute, hip-hop chanteuse Kinnie Starr talks candidly about women and sexuality in the music business.

Kinnie is widely known for blazing trails for women in hip-hop through the strength, authenticity and openness in both the music she creates, and the messages she conveys in conversation.

She has challenged the industry's commodification of beauty, but has also used the tools to her advantage. How does she strike a balance? Director Louvens Remy sat down with Kinnie to find out.

Watch: RPM Artist Minute: Kinnie Starr - "Women + Sex + Music"

Director/Cinematography/Editing: Louvens Remy / Blacksunrise Pictures.