PREMIERE: Stream Raye Zaragoza's Debut EP "Heroine"

Stream Raye Zaragoza's debut EP, Heroine, a beautiful collection of hypnotic love songs.

Raye Zaragoza's music is an effortless mix of old world charm and contemporary sonic seduction. On her debut EP, the New York-based, Pima singer channels both chanteuse and lovestruck acoustic balladeer.

At the heart of the EP is its title track, "Heroine", which as we reported recently, is a lush and nostalgic honeyed love song evoking past and present simultaneously. Zaragoza has a knack for strong hooks and a commanding vocal presence that elevates her most pop-oriented track on the record, "Sleeplovers", to sublime heights as it glides into the captivating hook: "falling in love / would be as easy as falling asleep".

But wrapped around the melodic heart of this release, Zaragoza soars between the EP's slow-burning, hypnotic opener "Wintertime" and the simple acoustic guitar accompaniment of closing track, "Crazy Eyes".

Heroine is an assured debut that offers a glimpse into a rising talent in Indian Country—and the emergence of a compelling artist coming into her own. Highly recommended.

STREAM: Raye Zaragoza's Heroine

Pre-order Heroine on iTunes. The album will be available worldwide on May 11, 2015. 

Princess Nokia Announces 'Final' Tour, Talks New Project

Princess Nokia surprised all of us this morning with an announcement on Instagram and Twitter that her upcoming tour will be her last.

Although she hinted at the release of a new project to be announced in July, we're surprised to hear that after her banner year following the success of her retro-futurist album, Metallic Butterfly, she's already charting her exit from the project...though it sounds like some new things are in the works.

UPDATE: Turns out Nokia isn't doing anything as drastic as quitting music, she's just preparing to cocoon and birth her latest incarnation.

THE NEXT PROJECT IS REALLY GREAT I MUST SAY- IF YOU THOUGHT METALLIC BUTTERFLY WAS BRILLIANT, WELL THEN JUST WAIT :)

— Princess Nokia (@princess_nokia) May 6, 2015

Whatever comes next, we'll definitely be watching. Here's the full text of her announcement and the final Princess Nokia tour dates through May and June. See her while you can.

Hello my beautiful children: I have come to the end of my rainbow. After a wonderful year gained from the success of, "METALLIC BUTTERFLY", and truly bringing magic into the world, this will be my last Princess Nokia Tour. It was a great year of life changing experiences and Artistic growth. Now I am on the the next chapter --> Here are Details for my next 7 shows in N.Y, D.C, Chicago, Toronto, New Jersey, and Baja California. I will be releasing a New project In July, and will disclose information soon. I'm very excited to share wats in store 🌵🍊🍋 Thank you to the brilliant Christopher Lare @owlzybaby For producing the record and being an amazing friend Thank You to Milah Libin @milahlibin and the Smart Girl Club for directing my visuals and being exceptional woman And thank you to my fans & friends, who supported me and the album all the way, who sang along at every show, who dance and cried with me, who believed in magic and beauty and pushing the boundaries for Afro futurist sound.

PRINCESS NOKIA: FINAL TOUR pic.twitter.com/DM3G4x7jLB

— Princess Nokia (@princess_nokia) May 6, 2015

PRINCESS NOKIA - 'FINAL' TOUR DATES

May 7 - NYU, New York May 23 - Calico Collective, DC May 29 - Total Therapy, Chicago May 30 - Toronto, ON June 6 - Seed Gallery, N.J. June 20  - AMF Music Fest, CA June 27 - Oshun & Princess Nokia, NYC

Watch Princess Nokia's video for "Young Girls"

PREMIERE: Stream Don Amero’s New Album “Refined”

The fifth studio album from Don Amero showcases the Manitoba songwriter at his best yet - truly, Refined.

When Don Amero dropped the first single and video, "Love Like That," last month, we dug that there was a taste of what we and audiences have grown to know and love (and occasionally swoon over) Amero for - i.e. sweet, smooth, acoustic-pop love songs.

But once we got a hold of the complete 10 track album, "Refined," we discovered a lot more.

From five seconds in with the piano-struck downbeat of the first and title track, Amero establishes he's standing on confident footing as a songwriter and performer. Over the course of the album his warm tenor voice maintains his familiar gentle warmth, but also showcases a newly developed strength, range, and flexibility, often supported masterfully by lush but not overwhelming harmonies. Musically Amero still nails his signature mix of acoustic, roots, and pop music, the stuff that earned him the description of "John Mayer meets Keith Urban", while also satisfyingly dipping into a bit of soul and rock.

While Amero does deliver solid feel-good and bittersweet love songs like the first single, and the duet with the one and only Crystal Shawanda "Broken Hearts," on this album he's exploring the outcome of life's bigger challenges and lyrically he weaves messages of struggle, survival, and adversity. At times it's heartbreaking, like in "Falling Shouldn't Feel That Way," but in the soulful organ and horn filled "On Down the Road," the driving "Let Them See You Smile," and the simple to triumphant arc of "Won't Give Up," Amero's message is fuelled with encouragement, positivity, and an eye on resilience, if not healing.

The album title and title track are a fine thesis statement - that living through hardship and change can result in a stronger self. Hitting new levels of writing, delivery, and production, Amero is clearly living what he sings about - chipping away, pushing through, and coming out the other side Refined.

Stream the exclusive first listen now, and check out Don Amero's Canadian CD release tour dates below.

Stream Don Amero’s New Album “Refined”

DON AMERO TOUR DATES - SPRING & SUMMER 2015

Tuesday April 28th - Halifax, NS at The Carleton Thursday April 30th - Wolfville, NS at The Al Whittle Theatre Saturday May 2nd - Halifax, NS - House Concert Tuesday May 5th - PEI - House Concert Tuesday May 19th - Peterborough, ON - The Garnet on Hunter Friday May 22nd - London, ON - The London Music Club Saturday May 24th - Guelph, ON - Lakeside Church Wednesday June 3rd - Rosebud, AB - The Gallery Thursday June 4th - Calgary, AB - The Ironwood Saturday June 6th - Calgary, AB - House Concert Friday June 12th - Winnipeg, MB - The West End Cultural Centre Saturday June 20th - Winnipeg, MB - Aboriginal Day Live Thursday June 25th - Atlin, BC - The Globe Theatre Friday June 26th - Whitehorse, YK - The Old Fire Hall Saturday June 27th - Prince George, BC - House Concert Wednesday July 1st - Vancouver, BC - Canada Day Event

DOWNLOAD: El Indio's World Hood Mixtape Vol. 5

DJ El Indio drops the latest instalment in the World Hood mixtape series: a booming blend of global bass, beats, dub, dancehall, and ragga sounds.   

World Hood, aka the dynamic duo of vocalist Estrella Hood and El Indio, having been making waves on the Indigenous music scene for the past few years and they continue to throw down dope live sets of original material, while finding time to curate infectious rhythmic selections from other artists.

For Volume 5 in their series of bass-heavy World Hood mixtapes, DJ/producer El Indio has assembled a trunk-rattling collection of beats to keep the party on blast in whatever continent you're listening from.

There's no published track list yet, so we'll leave it to you discerning rhythm scientists to identify the breaks and drops, but there are vibes and samples on this one blasting in from all over the place. So drop in, get familiar, and fire away.

DOWNLOAD: World Hood Mixtape Vol 5 by El Indio

Download Princess Nokia's New Single "Earth is My Playground"

Taíno electro-rap royalty, Princess Nokia, drops an upbeat Earth Day anthem, "Earth is My Playground".

Everyone's favourite Smart Girl Club rocka and eco-conscious, cyborg warrior returns with an Owwwls-produced, sugary synth-pop, dance party gem to get your #EarthDay groove on.

Nokia continues to mine her reworked 90s throwback aesthetic with an eco-optimistic, hypercolour four-on-the-floor jam that bounces us back into a neon raving daze. Time to break out the glow sticks and candy bracelets, kids. P.L.U.R. is back in full force.

Listen and download: Princess Nokia - "Earth is My Playground"        

The Red Ride Tour Returns

What started as a two-artist tour five years ago has grown into a near touring festival of 12 of the hottest names in Indigenous music.

When musicians Kristi Lane Sinclair and Cris Derksen first conceived of the Red Ride Tour, they didn’t think they'd be organizing their fifth one with a lineup of 12 Indigenous artists popping up at different dates across Canada and, for the first time this year, the US. Not only that, but Sinclair is pulling this off while finishing her new album, and filming a six-part TV series about her musical journey for APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)!

“It is dizzyingly awesome!”, exclaims Sinclair. “It feels so great to have so many projects coming together simultaneously”, she adds.

A wide range of genres is spanned by the artists joining the tour, including Tlingit/Aleut artist and musician Silver Jackson, rising folk singer Nick Sherman, Cree/Métis singer-songwriter Christa Couture, Sto:lo Territory hip-hop artist Ron Dean Harris (aka Ostwelve), Saskatchewan trio The Snake Oil Salesmen, Dene musician Jay Gilday, Curve Lake First Nation singer-songwriter Sean Conway,  Inuk singer Beatrice Dear, and young up-and-coming talents Binaeshee-Que Couchie-Nabigon and Sonia Eidse.

“This is our fifth year in a row taking indigenous acts on the road across Canada, and each year it grows,” says Sinclair. “It started out as just Cris and I, in my little Chevy Optra hatchback, driving across Canada, playing live music venues,” she explains. “And now this year, we have acts... huge acts... and a massive North American Tour!".

“We’re trying to get so many artists to so many places. It’s more like a touring festival than a normal tour,” said Sinclair.

“The outcome is going to be amazing and you’re not going to want to miss it.”

We agree. Hit play on the Red Ride Tour playlist and check out the full dates below.

Tour dates:

May 13 - Fairview Pub, Vancouver, BC (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Ostwelve) May 15 – Wine-Ohs, Calgary, AB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 16 - Empress Pub, Edmonton, AB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Jay Gilday) May 19 - Indian Metis Friendship Centre, Prince Albert, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 20 - Vangelis Tavern, Saskatoon, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 21 – The Artful Dodger, Regina, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, The Snake Oil Salesmen) May 22 - Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Cris Derksen, Sonia Eidse) May 23 – The Apollo, Thunder Bay, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Nick Sherman) May 24 – Saul Ste. Marie, ON (venue TBA) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Nick Sherman) May 25 - Debajehmujig Creation Centre, Manitowaning, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 27 – Capitol Centre Theatre, North Bay, ON (Dream Big Conference) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Derek Miller, Binaeshee-Quae) May 28 – Monarch Tavern, Toronto, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Derek Miller, Christa Couture) May 29 - Six Nations, ON (venue TBA) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 30 - The Garnet, Peterborough ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Sean Conway) June 3 - Club Saw, Ottawa, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) June 4 - Ashukan Cultural Space, Montreal, QC (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Beatrice Dear)

Artists Join Forces Against the Forced Closure of Aboriginal Communities in "Australia"

Indigenous artists are fighting back against colonialism genocide and the forced closure of remote communities by the Australian government.

Leave it to the artists to #SoundtrackTheStruggle: eight First Nations artists from occupied "Australia" have joined forces to contest colonial occupation of their homelands and resist the Australian government's attempt to force the closure of Indigenous communities.

Over a rugged hip-hop rhythm, Provocalz, Lady Lash, Djarmbi Supreme, Task, GekkZ, Mad Madam, Mr. Krow, and Felon spit fire—calling out colonial forces, racist ideologies,  histories, and speaking urgent truth to power.

Solidarity in resistance to our brothers and sisters in the southern hemisphere.

Listen to "STAND PROUD" and download it below:

DOWNLOAD: "STAND PROUD"

Listen to Kait Angus' "Drive", the Perfect Soundtrack for a Lovers' Escape

San-Francisco-based, Cree/Mohawk singer Kait Angus drops her latest single, "Drive"—a road trip ready, acoustic anthem of love and longing.

Kait Angus has a unique talent for sculpting sound into subtle shapes of desire. Often mixed with a touch of sadness, her melancholy love ballads crackle and fade like dusty old photographs, the receding view of a horizon caught at sunset in the reflected light of the rearview.

"Drive" is a lovers' soundtrack for a road trip into the unknown: an all-night drive, the yearning for perpetual movement to that "somewhere in the in-between". So fill the tank, kick back, and let go. That's just the sound of the rain coming in through the windows.

DOWNLOAD: Kait Angus - "Drive"

Watch the Dustin Haffner Video for "Merda", Featuring Sacramento Knoxx

Producer Dustin Haffner collabs with Sacramento Knoxx on "Merda", a new track focusing on community responses to the current wave of police and state violence.

Detroit-based MC and RaizUp Collective member Sacramento Knoxx spits some serious bars over this Haffner production, detailing the rising rates of police-inflicted violence against Black and Indigenous communities across Turtle Island — "a story of resistance and revolt, with reflections from the dehumanizing effects of colonialism".

True to form, Knoxx's latest is a conscious, head-knocking political response to an increasingly dangerous reality.

Sadly, that violent reality is one that has been with us since the first slave ships crossed the Middle Passage, since the first waves of colonial invasion reached Indigenous shores.

Watch, listen and get down with the struggle.

Dustin Haffner - "Merda (ft. Sacramento Knoxx)"

"Merda" is taken from Dustin Haffner's latest album Excursions, which is out now.

Listen to a New Sovereign Trax Mixtape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music

Our cross-hemisphere comrade Hannah Donnelly of Sovereign Trax just dropped a dope new mixtape for Australian art and culture magazine The Lifted Brow.

Sovereign Trax continues to compile the best in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and in addition to the monthly mixes we've featured in the past few months on RPM, she's put together an exclusive new mix for The Lifted Brow.

Featuring a slick blend of hypnotic beats and hip-hop from the likes of Ancestress, Inonymous, Elijah the Profit, Deekay, Provocalz, Djarmbi Supreme, and The Medics, SovTrax's latest mixtape keeps the fires of Indigenous resistance and revolt from throughout occupied "Australia" burning bright.

Read more about the mix over at The Lifted Brow and get down with the get down. Full tracklist below.

STREAM: Sovereign Trax Mixtape for The Lifted Brow

Sovereign Trax – A Mix for The Lifted Brow by The Lifted Brow on Mixcloud

SOV TRAX - LIFTED BROW MIXTAPE TRACKLIST

1. Paul Gorrie – Pay the Rent 2. Ancestress x Yilinhi – Speak the Truth 3. Inonymous – Sometimes ft. Leelow 4. Elijah the Profit – The Fallen Kingdom ft. BSK 5. Birdz – All We Know 6. Iron Link – Kin and Kings 7. Seeka – Late Ambience ft. Gekkz x Mad Madam x Marze 8. MC Bunz – War of the Words 9. Lady Lash – Blind Love 10. Dubbzone – Extraordinary But I’m Black 11. Deekay – Time for Sum Akshun 12. Provocalz – Cop Shot 13. Dizzy Doolan – Strictly Women’s Biz 14. Gekkz – What Does It Take 15. Coedie Ochre Warrah – High^Notes 16. Djarmbi Supreme – Go to Hell 17. The Medics – Wake Up

Exquisite Ghost Drops New Instrumental, "814"

Check the latest beat-based excursion, "814", from electronic producer Exquisite Ghost.

Winnipeg-based electronic artist and sonic experimenter Exquisite Ghost, aka Jordan Thomas, has been quietly evolving and developing a unique style of beat-based music over on his SoundCloud.

His latest drop is a moody and melodic track, "814", which sits somewhere between a soundtrack to a dark side, lunar landing and a sci-fi, film noir escape into a shadowy, hidden world.

Hypnotic and highly recommended.

STREAM: Exquisite Ghost - "814"

Stream Raye Zaragoza's New Single, "Heroine"

Listen to the lead single from up-and-coming singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza's debut EP, "Heroine."

Drifting into view like a sun-soaked, summer sunset lullaby, Raye Zaragoza's beautiful lead single "Heroine" from her forthcoming debut EP, immediately caught our attention.

"Heroine" is a lush, soulful blend of Zaragoza's gentle vocals and lovelorn nostalgia, with its honeyed accompaniment of lilting guitar, piano, bass, and brushed percussion.

Zaragoza, a Pima artist based in New York, is a rising star on the Manhattan music scene and is currently getting set to perform at the 2015 Gathering of Nations before heading out on tour in support of her EP, which drops May 11th.

Raye is one to watch. Keep an eye for more...and in the meantime, enjoy a taste of what's to come.

STREAM: Raye Zaragoza - "Heroine"