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

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

The Most Slept-On Indigenous Album of 2014: Ana Tijoux, Vengo

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There was one Indigenous album of 2014 that stood apart from all the rest—Ana Tijoux's Vengo.

Somehow, indescribably, when we compiled our Best Indigenous Music of 2014, we didn't include one of the most stellar albums of the year.

Ana Tijoux's Vengo was hailed as a nearly perfect record almost from the moment it was released in March 2014. But despite generating huge waves in her Chilean homeland and receiving critical accolades from some North American critics and SXSW attendees, Vengo didn't make the full impact that we thought it should have. Which is why we're putting the album into a category unto itself.

Tijoux is already a legend among her South American fanbase, where she has been called "a Latin American Lauryn Hill" and "Chile's hip-hop heroine". Now she's making serious inroads into the rest of the world's musical consciousness. Having recently won several Latin Grammys, and with endorsements from the likes of Radiohead's Thom Yorke, and a song from her previous solo album, 1977, featured on the hit TV show Breaking Bad, Tijoux is generating much deserved attention for her passionate, provocative and political music.

She first made her mark as part of best-selling Chilean hip-hop group Makiza in the late 90s, but Tijoux is now firmly established as a superstar solo artist, whose latest effort ranks with the greats in any language or genre.

"Vengo is virtually flawless"

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Vengo, Tijoux's fourth solo album, offers a relentlessly uncompromising vision and infectious mix of musical influences, intricate lyricism and anticolonial politics.

Inspired by the writings of Eduardo Galeano and  Naomi KleinVengo rings out with the sounds of Indigenous and Andean influences, connecting her Aymara roots with a wondrous mix of hip-hop, jazz, funk and beautiful live instrumentation arrangements. Tijoux's lyrical dreams of the Empire's fall, the end of patriarchy, the pursuit of global justice, and the love of family inform the album's thematic core. From the pride-filled bounce of title track "Vengo" and the fire of "Somos Sur" (We Are the South), her bombastic collaboration with Palestinian hip-hop artist Shadia Monsour, to acoustic pieces like "Rumbo al Sol" and the almost whispered urgency of "Río Abajo", the album draws strength and force from its hybrid vision of freedom found in "joyful musical rebellion".

For Tijoux, music is a weapon and a way of visioning the world: "a tool to have reflection, conversation and dialogue"—but also a way to "decolonize ourselves in our own music".

Righteous, beautiful, proudly feminist and revolutionary, in the best sense of the word, Vengo is both the most slept-on and the most compelling Indigenous album of 2014.

If you don't know, now you know.

Stream: Ana Tijoux - "Vengo"

Watch Ana Tijoux performance and interview on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic

Watch Ana Tijoux interview on Democracy Now

Listen to Ana Tijoux on Music and Motherhood

STREAM VENGO ON SPOTIFY

Watch Ana Tijoux - "Somos Sur (ft. Shadia Monsour)"

8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings Complete Lineup

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The third annual 8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings festival features a long list of Aboriginal performers taking to various stages next month in Winnipeg. Check out the lineup and enter their contest to win tickets!

The 8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings festival is a series of music nights in Winnipeg boasting a long list of Aboriginal performers from all over Turtle Island.  Kicking off on Friday, May 4th, this festival will cover 8 days in the month of May and showcase 34 artists in several venues across the city.

Métis music man Dustin Harder (of The Dusty Roads Band), who created and programs the festival said about the various genres in the festival:

"We’ll be mixing it up every night with everything from blues and roots to rock to instrumental to folk and country to heavy metal and hip-hop. So there will definitely be something for everyone."

This year's edition of 8 Days In May. Eh! will feature artists such as: BODM (Bruthers of Different Muthers)Burnt Project 1Don AmeroDrezusDustin Harder and The Dusty Roads Band, Leanne Goose, LorenzoWab KinewCris DerksenGabriel AyalaJason Burnstick, and Kristi Lane Sinclair just to name a handful!

If you happen to be in the Winnipeg area for the month of May, it is highly suggested you head out to one or all of the many events and get a dose of Indigenous music in your ears via the 8 Days In May. Eh! Urban Gatherings.

You can also enter to win tickets! Head to 8daysinmayeh.polldaddy.com and to find answers to the contest questions, check out 8daysinmayeh.com.

Official festival line up:

Friday, May 4th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 220 Nothing But The Blues Ross Neilsen Band from New Brunswick Neufeld and Kidder from Manitoba Dusty Harder and the Dusty Roads Band from Manitoba

Saturday, May 5th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 220 Singer/Songwriter Night Katie Murphy Band Sonia Eidse Jessee Havey with Damon Mitchell Segweh Don Amero Marcel Desilets (Tweener)

Friday, May 11th -  The Marlborough Hotel (Regal Beagle) - capacity 280 Roots, Hip-hop, Country and Folk Pop Tweener (Nick Sherman(ON) Lorenzo JJ Lavallee Band Little Hawk John J. Cook(SK) Mariachi Ghost – members from S. America

Saturday, May 12th - Le Garage - capacity 100 Fresh, Light, Americana Mid Century Modernaires JD Edwards Band Dustin Harder and The Dusty Roads Band Nick Sherman (ON)

Friday, May 18th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 300 Country and Alt-Country Tweener David St Germain Holly Vee Leanne Goose – Inuvik Alaska Cameron

Saturday, May 19th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 300 Heavy Rock/Metal All Aboriginal Artsists. Brothers Of Different Mothers – Juno Nominee 2012 King Sleeze Split Crooked Fargo, Arizona

Sunday, May 20th - Windsor Hotel - capacity 300 Experimental classical Gypsy Jazz and Hip Hop Gabriel Ayala – US. Tim Butler(Acoustic) Chet Breau Drezus

Friday, May 25th - Pyramid Cabaret - capacity 300 Final Gathering: A taste of 8 Days in May.Eh! Lorenzo, Little Hawk – 8pm Drezus - 8:30pm Segweh - 8:45 Sonia Eidse - 9:30pm Katie Murphy 9:55pm Big Dave McLean Acoustic Duo - 10:15pm Burnt Project 1 C.D Release - 11pm Dustin Harder and Dusty Roads Band With Sherry St. Germain - 12:30am Mariachi Ghost - 1:15

Saturday, May 26th - Venue to be announced Special 9th Day of May.Eh! Host (Ray St. Germain and Wab Kinew) Performances by: Sierra Noble Jason Burnstick David St Germain Dustin Harder and The Dusty Roads Band Wab Kinew, Little Hawk, Lorenzo (Perform "Good Boy") Ray St Germain Tentative (C.R.Avery with Guests)

For more information check out 8daysinmayeh.com.

For tickets, inquiries & info please email 8daysinmayeh@gmail.com

You can subscribe to the events by iCal here by clicking this link: http://www.manitobamusic.com/8daysinmay.ics

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"

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