Drezus Confronts the Legacy of Indian Residential Schools on "The Sequel"

Get your daily dose of truth to power: download Drezus' "The Sequel".  

Following the release of his acclaimed album Indian Summer last year, Plains Cree hip-hop artist Drezus has been dropping singles on SoundCloud that provide deeper context on the album's inspiration.

Recently, he posted "The Sequel", a heartfelt and personal account of his parents' experiences with residential schools—and his own attempts to reckon with the intergenerational legacy of colonialism. Drezus explains:

I decided to put this up for download after I reunited with my Dad recently and we spoke about his experiences with Residential School. His parents were forced to go as well, creating problems for all generations ahead, including mine. I didn't know my Dad growing up but recently made peace with the man and felt this tells an important story of just one of many families affected by the system.

The Rezofficial alumnus uses his time on the mic wisely, not just to account for the loss of his father's presence, but to call out the collective confusion of "the new world order" and call on his people "to take back all that we own".

Impassioned and honest, without being corny, "The Sequel" reminds us that we're all still trying to recuperate, and that "instead of killing our own / we should focus on our fam and protecting our home".

Tapwe, brother. Keep bringing that fire.

DOWNLOAD: Drezus - "The Sequel"

Download Drezus' Indian Summer on iTunes and Bandcamp.

STREAM: Nick Sherman's "Knives & Wildrice"

Nick Sherman's much-anticipated new album, Knives & Wildrice, is finally here.

Since last year, Indian and Cowboy have been chronicling the lead up to the album's release through their Knives & Wildrice podcast and now the album is ready for the world.

It's beautiful. You need it in your life. Listen below.

Stream Knives & Wildrice on Spotify and download it now on iTunes.

https://open.spotify.com/album/0cx2nSqLHYT7RAXIYmoOxF

DOWNLOAD: Thomas X's, "Have a Good Day" EP

Stream and download Red Lake rapper Thomas X's new EP, Have a Good Day. 

Thanks to a #SwayintheMorning mega cypher featuring Minnesota-based MCs Tall Paul and Knox, we just got put on to Thomas X.

Part of the 100 Souls crew and Rez Rap Records, the Red Lake Anishinaabe MC is making moves and today he dropped his new EP, Have a Good Day.

Stream and download it for free on his bandcamp and support underground emcees putting in love and much work to support true hip-hop culture and Indigenous pride.

Have a Good Day is on some throwback to the boom bap era vibes, without dwelling in nostalgia. Thomas X kicks his laid back cadence with confidence and persona, weaving personal stories of struggle and survival over solid production from Mike the Martyr.

In the absence of institutional support and a larger urban scene, the Rez Rap crew has had to do it for themselves—building their production and audience brick by brick, listener by listener.

Thomas X holds it down on that front, filling the EP with bold declarations of love for his people, family, and homeland, while standing up to represent his nation and community.

Salute to all the Indigenous lyrical warriors on the come up. Now give Thomas X a listen.

FREE DOWNLOAD: Thomas X - Have a Good Day EP

Check Out This Guide to 2015 Pow Wow Season Events Happening Across Indian Country

It's pow wow season once again—here's your guide to 2015 Pow Wows happening across Turtle Island.

It's almost summertime and you know what that means: it's time to hit the pow wow trail and enjoy visiting, dancing, drumming, and celebrating your way across Indian Country.

Our friends over at Windspeaker have put together a poster-sized calendar of upcoming pow wows for you to choose from. And, of course, PowWows.com continues to hold it down with their real-time, and recently updated calendar of events. RezX Magazine is also getting in on the action, with their own digital 2015 Pow Wow Guide.

The largest pow wow on Turtle Island, Gathering of Nations, may have already happened—but the rest of Indian Country is just getting warmed up.

No matter where you live, there's sure to be a pow wow nearby, so get that regalia ready, throw some gas in the truck, and we'll see you out there. Hoka!

Check the calendar below for an event near you.

2015 POW WOW CALENDAR OF EVENTS (click the image below to enlarge)

Watch the 2015 Gathering of Nations Pow Wow Grand Entry

Watch Once a Tree's Debut "Howling" Video

Toronto-based duo Once a Tree premiere the video for their latest single, "Howling".

Saulteaux singer Jayli Wolf and husband/musical partner/producer Hayden John Wolf are onto something.

As the enigmatic duo Once a Tree, their lush EDM-inspired, bedroom-R&B/electronic pop compositions were catching fire on SoundCloud going back to early 2014, but now their page features just one song.

That single, however, is "Howling"—a massive dubstep-inflected dose of downtempo pop that has already amassed two hundred thousand plays.

This week, said single gets a similarly chic visual treatment, in the group's haunting, Jonathan Riera-directed debut video, which premiered over on Billboard.com. Not a bad for a duo with only one 'official' song to their credit.

Although their sounds have been appearing and disappearing from the internet for a while now, "Howling" marks their proper arrival. Once a Tree is here to stay.

Watch: Once a Tree - "Howling"

Stream: Once a Tree, "Howling"

Download "Howling" on iTunes and stream it on Spotify.

Samantha Crain Premieres New Video for "Outside the Pale"

Watch an acoustic performance of Samantha Crain's new single, "Outside the Pale".

Although Choctaw singer Samantha Crain's new album, Under Branch & Thorn & Tree, isn't coming out until July, the anticipation is already building.

After premiering the lead single, "Outside the Pale", earlier this month (grab the audio here)—this week Crain premiered a new video of an acoustic performance of the song over at Diffuser.fm.

Crain's incredible voice easily carries the tune, accompanied only by her acoustic guitar work, alongside bandmate John Calvin Abney. Minimal, hypnotic, and moving, "Outside the Pale" is a very good sign that Under Branch & Thorn & Tree will be another stellar release from one of our favourite Indigenous artists.

WATCH: Samantha Crain - "Outside the Pale"

Samantha Crain's Under Branch & Thorn & Tree will be released July 17, 2015. Preorder the album here.

Download the Powerful New Single from Cree R&B Singer Mariame, "As Long As You Are Here"

Download "As Long As You Are Here", the lead single from rising R&B singer Mariame's new EP.

Already being hailed as the 'Cree Rihanna', Mariame is an emerging Indigenous artist who is exceeding all comparisons.

Her debut single, "As Long As You Are Here" is a potent slice of pop music perfection that arrives polished, powerful, and fully formed. The production is tight, her vocals come correct, and the songwriting is instantly memorable. Exactly what good pop music should be.

But the 24-year-old Cree and Algerian singer doesn't need RiRi references to stand her ground artistically and aesthetically.

If "As Long As You Are Here" is any indication, Mariame's debut EP Bloom is going to bring the fire with many more radio-ready pop and R&B gems.

Mariame is the first artist signed to Montreal hip-hop artist/producer David Hodges' new label, N'we Jinan. The label builds on the success Hodges and his team have had working with Cree communities throughout Quebec on music outreach and education—an inspiring, collaborative creative effort that recently yielded the release of their first compilation, N'we Jinan Eeyou Istchee - Volume 1. 

With deep roots in the community, and their sights set on the world, Mariame and N'we Jinan are leading a rising generation of Indigenous artists making power moves: not just to be heard, but to take over.   

DOWNLOAD: Mariame - "As Long As You Are Here"

Mariame's debut EP, Bloom, will be released worldwide on May 26, 2015. 

Listen to the Final Episode of Nick Sherman's 'Knives & Wildrice' Podcast

Here it is: the final episode of Nick Sherman's Knives & Wildrice podcast—celebrating the successful completion of his new album. 

Appropriately titled "I Can't Believe We Did It", the episode brings together all previous 12 parts in Anishinaabe singer Nick Sherman's journey to bring the album to fruition, while offering some insider insight into his creative process and project.

Oh yeah—and, of course, the episode features some samples of new music from the album (check out the lead single "Ghost Town" here, if you haven't).

Indian and Cowboy break it down:

In this conversation Nick and Ryan break down the making of Nick's new album, Knives & Wildrice, the process of documenting the journey of making the album through a podcast and what it was like to crowdfund & create this album with very little resources and the good graces of his friends and family.

Sherman's new album, Knives & Wildrice, drops May 23rd, 2015. He will be out on tour with the Greenbank Trio all summer and all over Canada. Tour dates and album release info below.

Listen to Knives & Wildrice EP#13 - "I Can't Believe We Did It"

NICK SHERMAN - SUMMER 2015 TOUR DATES

May 23 - Thunder Bay, ON - Red Ride Tour May 29 - Sudbury, ON - NOMFA Showcase June 05 - Winnipeg, MB - Maw's Beer Hall June 06 - Regina, SK - McNally's Tavern June 10 - Golden, BC - Rockwater June 12 - Kamloops, BC - Chances Casino June 13 - Vancouver, BC - Heartwood Cafe June 16 - Kelowna, BC - Minstrel Cafe June 17 - Golden, BC - Rockwater June 19 - Fernie, BC - Brickhouse June 20 - Calgary, AB - Wine Oh's June 21 - Edmonton, AB - TBA June 24 - Red Deer, AB - Ross St. Patio June 25 - Red Deer, AB - Velvet Olive June 26 - Lancaster, AB - Lancaster Taphouse June 27 - Kenora, ON - Lake of the Woods Brewery July 06 - Peterborough, ON - Red Garnet July 08 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion July 10 - Ottawa Bluesfest July 11 - Montreal, QC - Brutopia July 14 - Windsor, ON - Pan Am Games July 17 - Toronto, ON - Pan Am Games July 18 - Harmony of Nations Festival July 24 - Sioux Lookout - Centennial Centre August 05 - Lac Seul FN Youth Conference August 06 - Lac Seul FN Youth Conference August 07 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 08 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 09 - Red Rock, ON - Live from the Rock August 13 - Toronto, ON - Celebration Zone August 15 - Subbury, ON - UP Fest

Aboriginal Pavilion to Host Epic 10-Day Indigenous Music and Arts Festival in Toronto

The 2015 Pan Am/Parapan Am Games in Toronto will get a huge dose of Indigenous culture this summer, during the Aboriginal Pavilion's inaugural arts and music festival.

We heard word about the Aboriginal Pavilion's plans a while ago, but we didn't realize the extent of what they were planning.

The festival is going to be huge.

Coinciding with the 2015 Pan Am & Parapan Games in Toronto, the Aboriginal Pavilion will bring together some of the most dynamic Indigenous artists and musicians from across Turtle Island to perform over the course of ten music-filled days—from July 17-26, 2015.

In addition to the music, the organizers are also planning to feature comedy, visual arts, traditional crafts workshops, artist talks, film screenings and a curated exhibition.

Keep an eye on the Aboriginal Pavilion site for the release of the full schedule, but for now, check out the festival concert listings. All events are free and open to the public. Performances will take place at the Fort York Historic Site's Garrison Common grounds (250 Fort York Blvd, Toronto).

And just look at who's performing. It's going to get hot in Toronto this summer. Be there or be colonized.

ABORIGINAL PAVILION FESTIVAL LINEUP:

• 1491s
• A Tribe Called Red
• Susan Agluklark
• Gabriel Ayala
• Mob Bounce
• Tomson Highway & Patricia Cano
• Cris Derksen
• Brendt Thomas Diabo
• Bitterly Divine
• Ruben Esguerra
• Leela Gilday
• Quetzal Guerrero
• Dustin Hollings
• Nigel Irwin
• Iskwé
• Iskwew Singers
• Elisapie Isaac
• Reyes Poetry & Sacramento Knoxx
• George Leach
• LightningCloud
• Cheri Maracle
• Jace Martin
• Melody McKiver
• Plex & Rellik
• Ryan McMahon
• Nadjiwan
• Sierra Noble
• Candy Palmater
• Lido Pimienta
• Amanda Rheaume
• Classic Roots
• Digging Roots
• Don Ross
• Crystal Shawanda
• Nick Sherman
• Logan Staats
• Ulali

The Aboriginal Pavilion Indigenous arts and music festival runs July 17-26, 2015. For more information visit www.alppavilion.ca.

Listen to A Tribe Called Red's "Suplex" EP and Watch Their New Wrestling-Themed Video

Off the top rope! A Tribe Called Red returns with a new EP and a wrestling-inspired video for "Suplex".

ATCR continues their consistent creative output with the release of their latest EP, Suplex. Premiering over at The Fader this morning, the Tribe dropped the hype new video for the EP's title track, which features an homage to 8-bit video games (c/o of Indigenous artist Steven Paul Judd), WWE wrestling (s/o to Tomas Marin), and an ATCR championship belt that's going to be the envy of every aspiring wrestler on the rez.

"Suplex" features A Tribe Called Red's signature sound: dancefloor-rocking beats expertly blended with the adept sampling of pow wow group Northern Voice.

The EP also features guest appearances from the likes of Hellnback and Smalltown DJs—expanding and deepening the group's sound to include not only rapid-fire MC accompaniment on "The People's Champ", but also outright four-on-the-floor trap madness on "Bodyslam".

So mask up and get ready to throw down. The Tribe is back with an unbroken kayfabe vengeance.

Stream the EP and check the full tracklist below.

Watch A Tribe Called Red - "Suplex"

STREAM: A Tribe Called Red - Suplex, EP

1. Suplex (feat. Northern Voice) 2. The People's Champ (feat. Hellnback) 3. Bodyslam 4. Bodyslam (Smalltown DJs Remix)

A TRIBE CALLED RED - SUMMER 2015 TOUR DATES

06/19 | Indian Beach | Fort McMurray, BC (FREE)

06/20 | Malkin Bowl | Vancouver, BC (Tickets)

06/23 | Neumos | Seattle, WA (Tickets)

06/24 | Doug Fir Lounge | Portland, OR (Tickets)

06/27 | Muscogee Creek Festival | Okmulgee, OK (FREE)

07/12 | PanAM Park – Echo Beach | Toronto, ON (FREE)

07/17 | GrassRoots Festival | Trumansburg, NY (Tickets)

07/18 | Aboriginal Pavilion – Fort York | Toronto, ON (FREE)

07/24 | Brandon Folk, Music & Arts Festival | Brandon, MB (Tickets)

07/31 - 08/02 | Osheaga Music & Arts Festival | Montreal, QC (Tickets)

08/07 | Indian Summer Showcase – Smithsonian Museum | Washington, DC (FREE)

08/12 | Parapan American Games – Nation Phillips Square | Toronto, ON (FREE)

08/15 | Up Fest | Sudbury, ON (Tickets)

Suplex is now available on iTunes and Spotify.

Stream Mob Bounce's Hypnotic New Single, "Animal Spirit"

Mob Bounce drops "Animal Spirit", the second single from their upcoming release, Mob Medicine.

Hot off the melancholic longing of "Welcome to the Struggle", Heebz the Earthchild and the Northwest Kid are back with round two, "Animal Spirit", a haunting dose of Indigenous hip-hop medicine.

Over a hypnotic backing beat filled with echoing chimes, bells, and distorted animal sounds, the track channels the carefully-crafted lyrics of the two MCs, in traded sing-rapped verses brimming with flow and fire.

"Animal Spirit" takes struggle music and blends it with the force of ancestral presence and resurgent return. Mob Bounce critiques the failings of western rapacious capitalism and colonialism, while calling out to west coast secret societies, protected knowledge, and prayers of thanks to the Creator.

Mob Bounce sees through the smoke and mirrors of colonized being with eagle-eyed clarity. Get lifted on the music and listen with your spirit.

STREAM: Mob Bounce - "Animal Spirit"

Listen to "Ghost Town", the Lead Single from Nick Sherman's New Album

Stream Nick Sherman's "Ghost Town" the first single from his upcoming album, Knives & Wildrice.

Anyone following the Knives & Wildrice podcast knows two things: first, that Anishinaabe musician Nick Sherman has had a hell of a time making this record; and, second, that the record in question is going to be amazing.

Last week, I&C Media dropped the first single from said album, which shares its title with the eponymous podcast in question, and we were, of course, instantly hooked.

Sherman has the unique talent of being able to take his smoky, raspy vocals and pairing them with mostly acoustic elements and thoughtful lyrics, while managing to avoid the pitfalls of the corny "Cafe Radio", satellite channel-styled associations most often made with "singer-songwriter" music.

"Ghost Town" rings out with the personal, intimate touch that Sherman is already known for, and builds the song into a heartfelt plea for solace and "mercy from the storm".

Check Nick out this summer as part of the Red Ride Tour starting May 23rd in his hometown of Thunder Bay, ON.

STREAM: Nick Sherman - "Home Town"

Knives & Wildrice drops worldwide on May 23, 2015.