We've been keeping our antlers tuned to the moccasin telegraph to bring you this great list of holiday music from some of our favorite Indigenous musicians here on Turtle Island. Enjoy!
First on our list of holiday music is Star Nayea, a pop/blues/rock singer based out of Seattle, Washington. Here she brings us a classic tune first introduced by ElvisPresley called Blue Christmas:
Next, check out Swil Kanim, a Coast Salish violinist, and his version of Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas:
Métis singer-songwriter Don Amero has released a 7-track Christmas album this year entitled Christmastime. Stream the songs and buy the CD or download at donamero.com/christmastime.
Choctow artist Samantha Crainfrom Shawnee, Oklahoma, recorder her holiday song Breaking The Ice for Christmas compilation Fowler Volkswagen Presents: A Blackwatch Christmas. Preview her track here, and head to fowlervwchristmas.comto download the entire album for free.
Lastly, we've assembled a festive YouTube playlist of holiday season videos for your Christmas enjoyment!
Track listing:
War Child - Twelve Days of Indian Christmas (Round Dance)
Laura Burnouf - Little Drummer Boy (In Woodlands Cree)
Jana Mashonee - Silent Night (Sung in Arapaho)
Joey Stylez - Snow Angel
J Dizzay - You're My Present
Hot off the pan, this brand new trailer gives us a taste of what to expect in the upcoming mockumentary film More Than Frybread.
This trailer reveals the imagined competitive tension at the Arizona State Frybread Championships. The cast includes Arapaho twin r&b artists Dey & Nite!
Identical twins Shawndey Michael and Tawnya Monique Gomez, aka Dey & Nite, were raised in Gallup New Mexico with their Arapaho/Spanish/Mexican family. Their mix of r&b and pop is something they’ve sweetly dubbed “twin pop”, though their influences run the gamut from jazz to classic rock to Motown. Check out this track from their eponymous EP.
STREAM: Dey & Nite - "Rok Wit U"
Here's a look at some up & coming young Indigenous musicians on the RPM Radar.
Beaatz
Tobique First Nation, New Brunswick Canada
Shelby “Beaatz” Sappier is a 19-year-old rapper and hip-hop producer from the Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, Canada. When his music came across our desks, we were amazed to find such a stylish, bumping and professional style from such a young artist. Be on the look out for his new stuff and check out his music below:
Métis artist Sonia Eidse out of Winnipeg is a singer-songwriter emerging onto the scene with a smooth and calming sound that immediately draws you in. She recently appeared on the APTN program Rising Stars, which featured some of the newest Indigenous musicians in the scene. She is currently working on her first EP release and performing live shows around Winnipeg.
Lil’ Pappy is making a huge splash onto the scene with his driving pop sound. Mastering a number of instruments including piano, electric guitar, slide guitar, harmonica, ukulele, synthesizer, organ, xylophone and banjo by the young age of 16 and exploring multiple music genres has served his music well. He has opened for the likes of Robin Black and Marianas Trench and climbed the ranks of the top 50 on Canadian Idol. Lil’ Pappie is definitely someone to watch out for. For more info see the links below and here's a preview of his Weezy-influenced latest:
Out of Shawnee, Oklahoma, Choctaw singer Samantha Crain’s acoustic musical style has been taking her around the festival circuits and making a huge impression on the music scene. With some cowboy boots and a guitar, she has made her way into the collective roots musical conscience with her compelling songs, haunting melodies and great videos. Be on the lookout for Samantha Crain and her band Frontier Ruckus in Canada this summer. She will be performing in July for the Winnipeg Folk Festival and at the Vancouver Folk Festival.
Identical twins from New Mexico, Dey & Nite are a fast-rising pop/R&B duo touring across Turtle Island to share their style and talent with crowds across Canada and the U.S. The twins have sung back-up for Paula Deanda, shared the stage with acts like Soulja Boy and Baby Bash and most recently toured Australia Mexico and Brazil singing back-up for Hilary Duff. These two amazing singers are a pop act you should definitely watch out for. Check out their a cappella rendition of the Bill Withers classic "Ain't No Sunshine":
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.
