STREAM: David Morin's Soulful Debut Album 'Every Colour' is Beautiful Music for the People

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David Morin is being called "the next big thing in music". Listen to Every Colour and you'll see why.

If you grew up in the era of the Soulquarians, Dilla, D'Angelo, Badu and the whole neo-soul movement—well, damn, whenever you were born—you know how those deep, souled out, hip-hop vibes make you feel.

Those jonz in your bones, everybody loves the sunshine, brown sugar, guess I'll see you next lifetime vibes. You know, those soulful feels. The everything is right in the world and despite all the pain and struggle and endless things to worry about you know you need to just kick back and vibe out kind of feels.

That goodness. That realness. Vibes.

That's what Métis artist David Morin's Every Colour has. It's music that moves you with both the rawness of its streetcorner cypher origins and the polish of its professionalism—soulful gems crafted in some hidden Vancouver version of Electric Ladyland, magic made in the quiet hours of long, languid west coast nights.

Morin's take on soul music is studied without sounding derivative. Over the album's 12 tracks, Every Colour effortlessly flows out your speakers with its expertly crafted, on point vocal performances, and produced-to-perfection sheen. But don't get it twisted: the high gloss acoustics are just a bit of honey added to the mix that soak into the depth of Morin's deft musicality and subtle lyrical jabs at systems that aren't working for the people.

Who else is crooning, as Morin does on "You and Me"—"so sadistic / on a mission /  to control the way you think / in a system / where all they do is take/ it's just a classic case / of a fascist state / lying to your face"—over a rolling bassline, Isaac Hayes'd strings, and a breezy, George Benson-esque guitar lick?

Morin makes systemic critique sound like sweet seduction.

Deeply indebted to Voodoo-era aesthetics, Every Colour overflows with D'Angelo-inspired, winding grooves, horns, strings, tasteful guitar stabs, and head-knocking hip-hop beats, that expand and contract in constant interplay with Morin's melodic, layered vocals.

Enlisting acclaimed producer Joby Baker on the boards and with Bombay Records at his back, Morin is already getting love from established hip-hop media outlets: a recent feature in The Source dubbed him "The Next Big Thing in Music" and, just this week, Okayplayer showed him love with a video premiere of his latest single, "Come Home".

Known both for his legendary street performances and live performance skills, Morin is more than just a singer—his multi-instrumental talents as a beatboxer, loop pedalist, beatmaker, and varied vocalist have set him on a rising trajectory to infiltrate mass musical consciousness. We challenge you not to get down.

David Morin is the truth. And his gospel is soulful goodness.

Every Colour is available everywhere on iTunes. Stream the album in full below, and catch him on tour or at a street corner near you.

STREAM: David Morin's Every Colour

WATCH: David Morin's "Come Home"

DOWNLOAD: Destiny's 'Honeysuckle', A Feminist Disco Soul Album for the Ages

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Destiny drops, Honeysuckle, a hypnotic follow up to her acclaimed debut, Metallic Butterfly.

Blooming with an easy confidence, positivity, and Smart Girl Club feminist swagger, Destiny's Honeysuckle is a taste of all things good in this world.

After catching a couple of sun-soaked previews in the form of the 80s-tinged "Orange Blossom" and the disco-funk of "Soul Train", Honeysuckle finds Taino artist Destiny Fraqueri, aka the former Princess Nokia, luxuriating in her uniquely soulful blend of throwback optimism and hip-hop eclecticism.

Over the album's 12 tracks, Destiny alternately sings, croons, raps, and spins out stories of love and songs of uplift in a time of beautiful struggle.

But it's in the album's latter half that Destiny really comes into her element.

From the downtempo, trip-hop grooves of "Mermaid Girl" and "Cherry Cola", to the acoustic folk of "Wide Brim Hat" and the bluesy pairing of "God Inside of Me" with the righteous, poetic liberation of spoken word album closer, "Brown Girl Blues", Destiny is proof positive that remaining positive in the face of oppression is not just a political necessity—it's a revolutionary act of celebration.

"We can't succumb to the darkness", she says. Time to lean into the light.

STREAM: Destiny's Honeysuckle or download it below.

 

DOWNLOAD: Destiny's Honeysuckle

Destiny Fall Tour Dates 2015:

09.20 - MoMA PS1 - New York City 09.26 - VIA Music Fest - Pittsburgh, PA 10.11 - Webster Music Hall - New York City 10.30 - Wesleyan University - Connecticut 10.31 - The Barbery - Philadelphia, PA 11.12 - Cooper Union Hall - New York City 11.13 - Chop Suey - Seattle, WA

Decolonize Your Playlist: Stream the New Mixtape from Sovereign Trax

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Sovereign Trax is back with their June playlist of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.

Our cross-continental collab continues with the crew from Sovereign Trax, bringing you the dopest sounds of "nue & old trax...from contemporary and experimental" artists from the lands of occupied 'Australia'.

Last month, SovTrax launched the second issue of their new zine, Sovereign Apocalypse, blending artful contributions into future imaginings of Indigenous sovereignty. Their latest issue, appropriately rocking on an Indigenous Futurism vibe, is themed around "Galactic Imaginings"—and features an interstellar mix of interviews, art, poetry, fashion photography, lyrics, recipes, and more. Equal parts Indigenous intervention and aesthetic subversion, SOVAPOC is bringing new forms to decolonizing self-representations and Aboriginal reimaginings of our collective present and future freedom.

Shout out to co-creators Hannah Donnelly and Gabi Briggs for pushing the #IndigenousMusic and media movement forward. Check this recent review via The Lifted Brow:

The zine was launched last month in Melbourne with an all-star line-up of live performances by Seeka, Birdz, GekkZ, Tahu Dubs and Marze, as the SOVAPOC collective continues to update your essential listening list with the best of contemporary and experimental music by black artists. Blackfulla musicians, artists and writers en masse whether in performance, playlists or publications can evoke a great sense of solidarity and excited strength among blackfullas, but also offer something thrilling and new to a general public. This is what this eye-catching, tactile zine is doing in Melbourne, I think, and perhaps its applicability is because it feels as if it has come from Wiradjuri country, country pre-colonisation (only 230 years ago, I’ll keep saying it, it’s such a short time), and country now urbanised, slick and gritty and flashy – the mix of both these truths finding popularity in the hand-selling and online selling of this publication.

On the musical tip, the latest selections of Sovereign Trax celebrate indigeneity and resistance in multiple forms, featuring new songs from the likes of R.3.BJPoint, Robbie Miller, and Lady Lash. The talent runs deep and the sounds are an effortless mix of hip-hop, electronica, R&B, reggae, and bluesy-acoustic...all representing Indigenous pride and power.

Enjoy.

STREAM: SOVEREIGN TRAX - JUNE MIX 

Sovereign Trax: June Playlist - Track List

  1. E.T.P - Habit’s Die Hard
  2. Nathan Morrison x Robbie Miller - Oceans
  3. Golden Features x Thelma Plum - No One
  4. Coedie Ochre Warrah - GRIIIND
  5. Marze x Seeka - Lady Lady
  6. Lady Lash - World Gone Silly ft. Pyne
  7. Philly - Dreamchaser
  8. JPoint - Get Wrecked
  9. Zaacharia Fielding - She is the Light
  10. Scott Campbell - Tipsy
  11. Bow and Arrow - Midnight
  12. Paul Gorrie - Pay the Rent
  13. Karate Surfing - Shadows
  14. Eastern Reggae - Grog’s No Good
  15. Marlene Cummins - Pemulwuy

DOWNLOAD: D Ojibwe 1's "Summer Mix 2015"

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D Ojibwe 1 drops a fresh summer mix just in time for pow wow and backyard BBQ season. 

Y'all ready for summer yet?

Rama First Nation DJ and occasional producer D Ojibwe 1 (aka Drew Douglas) is helping you get set for a long hot season of gettin' out, kickin' back, and vibing with your peoples—where you are.

Featuring a fresh mix of old school classics, remixes, mash ups, and re-edits, D Ojibwe 1 drops an airtight collection of hip-hop, soul, funk, dance, trap, and EDM that will set the mood for whatever your summer party plans might be.

Interspersed with Indigenous vocals, samples, and native producers, this is a mix fit for a true NDN Summer.

Did we really just hear Joy Division transition into Ol Dirty Bastard? You know we did. Full track list after the jump.

DOWNLOAD: D Ojibwe 1's - Summer Mix 2015

TRACK LIST

Mobb Deep - Shook ones part II (Goodfellas Hybrid Party Break) Mobb Deep - Shook Ones part II (Tron rmx) ? - Miigwech Will Smith vs Lovin Spponful - Summer time (Wick-it Mashup) Summertime (Rankenstein rmx) Mustang Sally (JR.Dynamite re-edit) Bobby Byrd - I Know You Got Soul (Boby Cooper re-edit) Daft Punk - Get Lucky Daft Punk - One More Time DJ Woody - Dirty Scruff Nightcrawlers - Push the Feeling On (DJ Sign Private rmx) Real 2 Reel - I Like to Move It (M&S 2015 rmx) Red Hot Chili Peppers - Otherside (Deepdink bootleg) Phunk Junkies - Big Spender rmx Krafty Kuts - Hustle Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (Phunk Junkies rmx) Rolling Stones - Gimme Shelter (DJ Tripp rmx) Mark Ronson f Bruno Mars - Uptown Funk Party Break (DJ Sam) The Beatles - Ob La Di (Goodfellas drum edit) Skee Lo - I Wish (Tron rmx) Harry Belafonte - Jump in the Line (Codes Moobah rmx) Top of the World (Deejay Theory rmx) Sublime - Doin Time (Zeds Dead rmx) Boogey the Beat - Bear Song ? - The Jump Off 2014 Otis Redding - Dock of the Bay (Scratch Bastid edit) Crooklyn Clan - Be Faithful (reggae chop) BlackSheep - The Choice 2012 re-edit I Feel Love vs Rollin in the Deep CArly Rae Jepsen - I really Like You (Broiler rmx) Scream and Shout (Kassanova Fat Man Scoop rmx) Hideaway (Deejay Theory edit) Hideaway (EMG rmx) New Order - Blue Monday (Antonis Kanakis edit) Bob Marley - Jammin (CMC and Silenta rmx) Martin Garrix - Forbidden Voices (Blvk Sheep rmx) Calvin Harris - Summer (Thrizzo Trap rmx) Jay Z - Big Pimpin (CEDEK x Niko Javan rmx) DJ Kool - Let Me Clear my Throat (Deep Trvpped rmx) Headphone Activist - Ocean Floors Joy Division - Love will Tear us Apart ODB - Shimmy Shimmy Ya (Tron rmx) Bone Man - Summer Breeze Ahas - Take on Me (Take Her Back rmx) Jack Ace-Get Free - Cinema VIP

PREMIERE: Stream Sister Says’ New Album “Heart Placement”

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Sister Says’ much anticipated second album, Heart Placement, is a soulful, electric mix that sets a new bar for the genre-bending pop duo.

In a departure from the Haida-Tsimshian sibling's jazz-infused first album, Gillian and Robert Thomson, aka Sister Says, along with producer Daivd Meszaros, have crafted twelve fantastic songs. Drawing on soul and an early 70s production sound, they weave electric guitar, keys, organ, and well placed harmonies with an occasional folky acoustic guitar and even a bit of banjo picking. Sonically pared down compared to their last release, the production is tasteful and compelling, bringing the strengths of the melodies and Gillian's voice to the forefront.

For the album, they assembled a crack band of Vancouver musicians including guitarist Lonny Eagleton, drummer Geoff Hicks, pianist Andrew Rasmussen, and, on three of the tracks, pianist Jillian Lebeck.

Recorded over a two year span, Sister Says clearly took the time to create exactly the best album they could, and the result was worth the wait. Lyrically they explore enjoying the present in the positivity-infused title track, they dig into darker depths of loss and hurt in Abel's Underneath and Lost My Soul, and they reflect on change and growth in the closing track Swimming Sharks, which is the sole track to delightfully feature Robert on lead vocals (Gillian's sultry, clear voice delivers all other songs.)

Sister Says has been working and growing steadily since their 2010 debut The Only Way, proving here that they have more ways than one to keep us listening, and loving it. Turn it on and turn it up - the premiere of Heart Placement.

STREAM: Sister Says - "Heart Placement"

Heart Placement is now available for pre-order at sistersays.bandcamp.com.

DOWNLOAD: IsKwé - "Another Love Song"

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It's #RPMDownload Tuesday, and this week we're sharing an eloquently tenebrous, downtempo track from Winnipeg-born symbol of resplendence IsKwé.

"Smooth. Sultry. Salacious." The self-described Hip-hop and R&B vocalist proves to be just those things with her latest release. IsKwé's smooth voice and sultry lyrics drift over a deep, dark, and salacious dubstep beat like mists drifting off of rivers during hot summer nights.

Another Love Song begins as a whisper and gradually becomes a slow, rocking composition. Nothing but honey and smoke can describe this song's pace, flavor and feeling. The author can't help but think that Another Love Song ends too quickly; it's the kind of song that you want to go on for tens of minutes. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Download: IsKwé - "Another Love Song"

Three Young Artists to Watch: Nathalie Restoule, Bee Pastion and Crystal J

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This week not one, not two, but three videos from three remarkable young women artists came across the ol' RPM desk. Our young sisters are moving, inspiring and oh so talented! Check out Nathalie Restoule, Bee Pastion and Crystal J.

Here 16 year-old Nathalie Restoule,  from the Dokis First Nation in Ontario, is singing Joss Stone's Landlord with soul, spirit and style:

Amazing, right?

Bee Pastion, from Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation in Alberta, has a voice both strong, soft and stirring. Watch her cover Priscilla Ahn's Dream:

 

It gave me goosebumps.

And third, Crystal Schooner (Nuxalk Bella Coola), rocks an acapella version of Alica Keys' Fallin, giving a taste of what's to come on her upcoming album:

Woot!

This is just the beginning for these artists - we look forward to seeing what comes next!

SPOTLIGHT: Beatrice Love

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Cree R&B singer Beatrice Love out of Sturgeon Lake, Alberta, is stepping into the music scene with a soulful voice and just as powerful determination.

Here at RPM we get a lot of hip-hop, rock, folk and even country artists in our midst, but not a lot of R&B artists. So when we find one, we are naturally very excited to share their music with you, and this is definitely the case with our newest find Beatrice Love.

Beatrice Love out of Sturgeon Lake in Alberta is a proud mother of three and also an emerging artist taking the scene by storm with her strong soulful voice and character. Now hitting the Top 40 charts around the country, Beatrice is aiming to break into the mainstream whilst breaking boundaries as an Indigenous woman in the music industry.

Getting her big break in 2010, Beatrice entered The Bounce Showdown, a contest held by 91.7FM The Bounce in Edmonton, and won the grand prize! That took her to Vancouver to record with Hipjoint Productions' Mike James and Troy Samson and from there they recorded Beatrice's first single I'm Not Your Typical Girl which hit the charts on The Bounce.

Growing up listening and singing to the likes of Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey and Celine Dion, Beatrice's voice reflects these influences with its soulful edge and powerful foundation that will definitely be a fixture in Turtle Island's music scene in the future.

Now balancing her life as a mother and a musician, Beatrice is working on an EP and releasing new singles as she goes along. Keep on the lookout for more music from this Cree-girl, because in her own words:

I want to break some boundaries as a native woman with hitting mainstream radio. I want to represent for Aboriginals cause I am!!!

Keep up with Beatrice Love on Facebook and YouTube and listen to her singles at hipjointproductions.net.

Here's her the single I'm Not Your Typical Girl:

DOWNLOAD: Raphael Deas - "Complicated"

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Apache R&B artist Raphael Deas hooks us up with this amazing track called Complicated.

We get a great number of tracks submitted to us here at RPM and with our small team, it sometimes takes a while for us to listen to them all. While going through our submissions I found this awesome track by Raphael Deas, a honed veteran in the game who has shared the stage with acts such as Michael Jackson, Will Smith and New Kids On The Block to name a few.

Complicated is written and produced by Raphael himself and his music partner Gerald Richardson. This is the first finished solo track of Raphael's after working with the group Homework (which was produced by legendary Maurice Starr). We don't see many R&B/funk/soul artists out of Indian Country, so we'll definitely be on the look out for more from Raphael Deas in the near future!

DOWNLOAD: Raphael Deas - "Complicated"

The Local Onlyz Release "Kings Among Clowns"

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The Local Onlyz out of Regina have a new release out entitled "Kings Among Clowns", switching up the game with their upbeat, live instrumented hip-hop music.

The 4-piece live Hiphop collective the Local Onlyz have been keeping it innovative in the Queencity for the past half a decade. Made up of InfoRed from the Little Black Bear First Nation of Saskatchewan, DJ Merky Waters, Thomas Roussin on guitar and Nathaniel Bowen on drums, this collective brings a deliberate deliverance of Hiphop style and musical skills.

InfoRed and DJ Merky Waters have been bringing out underground-styled Hiphop tunes for the last decade, and now with the Local Onlyz, they transcend the barriers of the genre with a raw style of rap, soul, rock and funk that is accented by InfoRed's technical lyricism, Merky Waters' clean turntablism and the musical stylings of Thomas Roussin and Nathaniel Brown.

In perfect timing for the fall season, The Local Onlyz say they have 'fine-tuned' this release to where they are truly comfortable with it.

You can listen to the new Local Onlyz album Kings Among Clowns on Soundcloud.

Track listing:

  1. Next To You
  2. Sincerely
  3. Like It's Your Birthday
  4. Love Dope
  5. Old Wood Bridge
  6. Going Local
  7. Left Or Right (featuring The Cottage Party)
  8. The West, A Nest And You
  9. Ground Control
  10. That's Rap
  11. Tar Sands Casino

DOWNLOAD: DJ Smog's Mix - "Spiritual Sense"

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Navajo born DJ Smog, aka Herman Johnson, spins a smooth blend of soulful house and has been rocking the turntables for the past nine years. After a stint in New Mexico, he currently resides in Lukachukai, Arizona, where he has built a solid fan base. His tracks are the perfect balance of soothing but danceable beats which you'll enjoy no matter what mood your in. DOWNLOAD: DJ Smog's Mix - Spiritual Sense

Ras K'dee's New Album "Cloudwriter"

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Pomo/Keynan musician Ras K'dee has a new release called Cloudwriter available on iTunes for a great cause.

Ras K’dee has been putting it down for conscious Indigenous hip-hop for the last decade, bringing lessons of reality to his listeners on a solo tip and also with the collective, Audio Pharmacy.

In addition, he’s a founding member of SNAG Magazine, a progressive rag coming out of the Bay Area, Ras’ music is laced with awareness culture and Indigenous styles known so well from the California sun. Touching on issues of Indigenous struggles, Ras manages to turn it into medicine with his progressive style of music.

This new album, Cloudwriter, is laced with some banging rap beats, slower ballad type songs, reggae-funk and live instrumentation giving it a roots kind of feel. Perfect for summer weather.

The deepest part of this album release is the context in which Ras K’dee is making it available. The proceeds of album purchases will go towards a solar project on the Ha-bida Pomo Reservation in Northern California.  This is a class act by a great musician with an awesome product.

For more about Ras K’dee and Cloudwriter, check out audiopharmacy.com and purchase the album on iTunes or Amazon.com

  1. Platform
  2. Thalimit
  3. Peace Prize Feat. Sunru Skywalka
  4. Seethaway Feat. Rick Wayne
  5. Harder Feat. Nikila Badua
  6. Thepath
  7. Sweetsounds Feat. Aisha Fukushima
  8. Step Correct Feat. Mano Negro & Sole Rebel
  9. Weallneed
  10. Hold On
  11. Diffrint Feat. Songbird
  12. Buscando Feat. Deuce Eclipse & Raw G
  13. Fallacy Feat. Somos One, Madlines & Ms. Tayfah
  14. Thaharvest Feat. Pasha & Zygoat

Also check out Snag Magazine's website.