VIDEO: The Johnnys - "Motorcycle Mama"

The Johnnys just put out a new single called Motorcycle Mama, a tribute for a dear friend of Veronica and Jay Bears' whose story is now captured in the lyrics of the song.

The Johnnys have been busy lately; offering free workshops during Pride weekend in Somba K'e, Denendeh last week as well as headlining Somba K'e's Pride celebrations at the Folk on the Rocks site. They also just released this new single about a friend of theirs who happened to have survived a motorcycle accident.

Watch: The Johnnys - "Motorcycle Mama"

This is the story of the song's origin, as told by Veronica Johnny

"In August 2010, I was visiting my friend, Nadine St. Louis, in Toronto. While I was waiting at Nadine's house with her son, Fred, he received a call telling him that his mother had been in an accident and she was in hospital. The driver of a car had t-boned her in an intersection while Nadine was riding her motorcycle home.

We rushed to the emergency room and when I was allowed to see her, she told me that she could not feel her legs. She was in a lot of pain and very afraid that she would be paralyzed.

I had my hand drum and traditional medicines with me. I told her that I had already laid down tobacco and prayed for her. The hospital staff would not let me light sage so I could smudge her (because of the oxygen), so we stuffed some in her bra.

I held her hand and I told her that she would get through this, that she would walk again, that I would write a song about how invincible she is, and that I would call it Motorcycle Mama.

It turned out that her body was in shock because of her injuries, and that was the reason she could not feel her legs. She recovered over the course of a year and had to walk with a cane for a while. She is fully recovered now and rides her Harley every chance she gets."

Nadine epitomizes the strength and resiliency of Aboriginal people and this story/song is a tribute to all our stories.

VIDEO: Aztlan Underground - "Our Nature"

Aztlan Underground released a new music video this week with a tailing mini-documentary about the making and meaning of the song Our Nature.

East Los Angeles' own Aztlan Underground brings us a new video for their track Our Nature. This is a great look into the creative process of the legendary band and a much awaited video project from the group.

Don't forget to check out our interview with Yaotl from Aztlan Underground as well as Zero from El Vuh in our latest podcast, RPM Podcast #014: “Mesoamerica”.

DOWNLOAD: The Johnnys - "Bedbug Banquet"

Fronted by the charismatic presence of six-foot, leather-clad Cree Veronica Johnny (vocals/rhythm guitar) and fueled by the frantic drumming of her husband Dave Johnny, The Johnnys' sound is an eclectic mix of punk, garage, '70s hard rock and '50s rock'n'roll. This track will make you smile and dance. It's also based on the true story of when Veronica and Dave moved into a Toronto apartment that turned out to be infested with bedbugs. They became a Bedbug Banquet. Hear more from The Johnnys in RPM Podcast #009: “Indigenous Rock”.

DOWNLOAD: The Johnnys - "Bedbug Banquet"

Lo Cash Ninjas Kick Ass on Home Turf

RPM Interviews young Navajo hardcore punks, Lo Cash Ninjas: Jordan Steele "Rude Boy Lice" (Navajo) vocals/guitar, Martin Johnson "Panda" (bass), Keanu Lee "Popeye" (vocals/guitar) and Andre Alva "Dre" (drums).

RPM: How/When did you guys start Lo Cash Ninjas? Jordan: It all started in the heat of 08' "most" of us were still in high school. Shiprock was a metal dominant music scene back then. We were the the outcast band that nobody liked, but we were different that is what drew attention. Dre: Well they (Lo Cash Ninjas) were already a band and their original drummer decided to bail so I picked up the slack and joined the band. Martin: I was just a guy with an amp that Jordan constantly borrowed, so I let him and when he needed someone to play bass I volunteered to help, didn't think i was gonna be part of the band. Made my senior year of high school a blast with all of us hanging out. Keanu: We started out with 2 acoustic guitars jamming in Jordan's storage room, this was about four years ago. I was self taught and whatever I learned I taught Jordan.

RPM: What drew you to punk and hardcore? Dre: When I was small I started listening to NOFX, Sublime, Crass, the Suicide Machines, Mustard Plug and all kinds of shit. One day I decided to pick up the drums, and from there I started to play guitar and really got into drumming. I always wanted to have a band and play drums and now I do. Martin: Curiosity to hear something different, there are many different genres I never hear of.. Keanu: Well, I liked the fact that the punk music has a raw sound to it. Also, the songs were quite easy to play.. but once we got into ska, it was a whole different sound. Jordan: We all came from different music backgrounds, that's what made the "ninja sound" your hearing today.

RPM: How was the show you played in Shiprock, NM at the Indie/Electronic show at Navajo Nation Fair? Keanu: We played two nights in Shiprock, both nights were good. It's been awhile since we played our hometown. Jordan: Overall I had fun, we rarely get to play Shiprock because half the band lives in the Phoenix area now... Martin: The one at the Indian Market tent was very good, sounded just like our old shows.

RPM: What was the best thing about playing the fair at home? Keanu: Got to go home to a home cooked meal right after we played. Haha. Martin: Its the fair. its where we grew up and its home to us. Jordan: Got to see a lot of familiar faces. Dre: (Andre's from Arizona) The shows were awesome I'm glad I made it out to play with my homies. It's always sounds good when we're all back together.

RPM: Why is it cool to play an all Native showcase? Martin: All Native? Wouldn't matter to me if aliens were playing too. Just jamming out and having fun with your friends is cool enough. Keanu: Because we get to hear various types of music native bands have to offer. Dre: It was cool to play a Native showcase because we like other people to hear our music and what we're about and not only that but keeping it Native. Jordan: Native or not, we still try to make the best of every show.

RPM: Anything else you want to tell me about you guys? L$N: Shout out to all my ninjas for all the support over the years!!!!

Check out the youtube link below for the song We All Die.

RPM Podcast #009: "Indigenous Rock"

In episode nine, RPM turns up the volume on Indigenous rock music, from metal to punk.

Our host Ostwelve talks with Cree/Dene vocalist and guitarist Veronica Johnny from the rock and roll couple The Johnnys about it never being too late to live your dream, and just what can be accomplished when you focus on your career; Ojibwe Wayne Restoule - who rocks guitars, keyboards and vocals in progressive rock band Weaselhead - describes how the stories from the band's family and community came through to create their concept album A Residential School Story, and vocalist and bass player Loren Anthony from the Navajo metal band Bloodline links the warrior in his bloodline to the music he makes today.

DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #009: "Indigenous Rock"

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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.

Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.

The Discotays: DIY on the Rez

RPM talks to queer-post-punk-electronic musicians and promoters Brad Charles and Hansen Ashley about throwing a hundred year party for Navajos, and how to rock it Discotays style.

The Discotays are a duo from New Mexico and Utah now located on the Navajo reservation. Often described as “fun dance music” or “electro punk”, they create music using a drum machine, guitars, keyboards and laptops.  Brad Charles (Navajo) and Hansen Ashley (Navajo/Zuni) like to make lo-fi, no-wave/post punk music and just put on the first Indie/Electronic music showcase for the Navajo Nation Fair.

RPM: What was cool about this past weekend's Indie/electronic showcase The Discotays put on for the Navajo Nation's 100 year fair?

DT: It's the first of its kind ever. Well, there is usually festivals that are aimed towards metal or country (music) on the rez -  never electronic/indie music. And the fact that it was sponsored by the Northern Navajo Fair Board was quite impressive. We heard later in the night that the Navajo Nation fair wants to have the same festival at their fair next year with all the same performers and more.

RPM: How long have you been together? How did you meet?

DT: We have been together as a band for almost three years now, but known each other for over five years.We met years ago in Tucson when Hansen was still a youngster. I (Brad) was living in Tucson at the time, moved back to the reservation and went to a mutual friends and got reaquainted with Hansen.

RPM: How and why did you start The Discotays?

DT: We started using just one keyboard, and (both) felt like there was a lack of visibility of queer artists on the reservation. We wanted to make music that we loved, enjoyed, responded well to. A lot of D.I.Y. influence also.

RPM: What do each of you contribute?

DT: Hansen is a great artist - he paints. Also we both make bags out of vintage fabrics, recycled fabrics, vintage buttons, and quilts as well. Hansen does all the art for covers and also silk-screens t-shirts. I usually help with sewing CD covers and the inserts. Hansen does all the programming and making beats. We both write lyrics together and come up with melodies. Right now we are sharing vocal duties, but Hansen does the other stuff, playing the keyboards, guitar, it varies though from show to show... sometimes we do songs where I play some guitar or some keyboard.

RPM: What would be The Discotays' dream project?

BC: Supporting and working with other artists, working with other musicians we really enjoy. Art projects on the reservation, like art installations, etc. Open up an infoshop on the reservation targeting the queer youth. Plus start a label of some sort to get the music that we love on the reservation out into the world.

RPM: We love that song with the heavy lyrics but still a really catchy dance beat.

BC: Yeah its called Death. It is about all these stars that are gay, or died of AIDS. Sylvester, Rock Hudson, Perkins, Robert Reed, Freddie Mercury, Steve Rubell. It's just off of a demo. Not on any album yet. That is what is nice. That it is so dance-able. I get chills at times when we perform that song.

STREAM: Discotays - "Death" Discotays - Death (live) by RPMfm 

Get The Discotay's music on teenagesewage.bandcamp.com and catch up with the band on discotays.tumblr.com.

VIDEO: Ngaratya Keep it Together

The Indigenous sister duo Ngaratya's name means "together" and the acoustic folk-punk pair from Australia feels strongly about sharing their message with youth - a message to stay in school, respect yourself and have fun.

Ngaratya was recently featured with an interview and performance on Living Black's music series.

This clip leads with a mention of Deadly Award winners - surely the best named awards ever. The "Deadlys" recognize and showcase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island excellence.

Check out Ngaratya at the 0:45 mark:

DOWNLOAD: Antithesis - "I See You"

Conscious Indigenous hip-hop group Antithesis collaborates with Blackfire's Klee Benally for this track entitled "I See You".

Antithesis has been putting in work towards the conscious hip-hop movement for the last decade. The group consists of three Mc's and a DJ: Freetruth from the Pomo and Dine Nations, Prophecy from the Prairie Band Potawatomi People, C-Los of the Isanti Dakotah and DJ Jonra of The Laguna and Acoma Pueblos. Here's a track from their latest release The Power Of Purpose which features Klee Benally from the Navajo punk band Blackfire entitled "I See You".

DOWNLOAD: Antithesis - "I See You"

VIDEO: RPM interviews the Miracle Dolls

The Miracle Dolls are an indie, punk and alternative band from Los Angeles, CA, fronted by Hidatsa/Kiowa twin sisters Dezy and Dani De La Rosa.

The Miracle Dolls have been playing music together since the age of 13. The sisters, now in their twenties, have already had two bands, one being a former punk band called Blister, before forming the Miracle Dolls around five years ago. RPM interviewed them on skype about their passion for music, their love for community and rock and roll heroes.

For more information on the guitar donation program please visit the miracledolls.com.

Shawnee From She King Never Misses A Thing

RPM asked the lead singer from Toronto band She King a few questions and found out that Shawnee definitely doesn't miss a thing.

She King, a musical collective based out of Toronto, is fronted by Shawnee, a Six Nations vocalist who is redefining the look and sound of contemporary rock music with her style and outlook on what it means to be a female on the stage. RPM is happy to share this interview with you.

RPM: What’s your name?

Shawnee: Shawnee - meaning fighter and warrior  and my family calls me radar cause I never miss a thing.

RPM: What’s your Nation?

Shawnee: My mother's side is from Six Nations.

RPM: How does your Indigenous culture inspire your music creation?

Shawnee: My culture inspires my music everyday. I am proud to be apart of my family and proud to know that my family fights to keep our culture alive. My music career at times is a fight for my place and right as myself and being true to who i am was a gift learned and passed down from my mother.

RPM: Growing up, what were your major musical influences?

Shawnee: My major music influence is Melissa Etheridge. I can remember listening to her music all the way from the age of 4. Her spirit and her words she puts into her creations is admirable.

RPM: What thoughts do you have about the labelling of Aboriginal music in Canada and in the global scene?

Shawnee: Labeling unfortunately seems to be what we do best. I can tell you that I walk my life carefully not to box and label anyone or anything. And I find myself making conscious decisions to never fit in one place, to never be able to sit in one spot for too long. The good news is I feel a change coming.

RPM: When did She King start as a band?

Shawnee: She King started about 2 years back. She King has been transforming and morphing since. There are a lot of changes in the works that I cant wait to share.

RPM: What else do you do other than music?

Shawnee: Other then concentrating on my own music I co-write with other artists, I co-produce with other producers and any extra time I spend either in the gym, cooking for friends or spending with my family.

RPM: If you could work with any artist past or present, who would that be and why?

Shawnee: Elvis, hands down if i could work with any artist it would be the man that single handily made the biggest success in music by simply entertaining with seemingly his heart not his head.

RPM: Future plans for "She King"?

Shawnee: She King's future is transforming - you are certainly going to see a lot of changes and new and exciting things in the works.

RPM: If you had advice to give you young artists getting into the music industry...what would it be?

Shawnee: My advice to any artist especially young is to find yourself in what ever way you can without being lead or transformed into what people around you might want you to be - hold on to who you are and never let go.

RPM: Anything else you want to promote or shout out?

Shawnee: The album will be out early next year. We are working hard behind the scenes and I have lots of stories to tell when it's finished.

You can check out Shawnee and She King on Facebook, Myspace, and their YouTube Channel.

VIDEO: RPM Interview with ShitOuttaLuck

RPM caught up with Navajo punkabilly bad boys ShitOuttaLuck (SxOxLx) at the Skateploitation III show for Indian Market thrown by Apache Skateboards.

In this video interview with the four brothers from Houcke, Arizona - Tuco (upright bass), Rattlesnake (washboard), The Fly (vox and lead guitar) and The Lazer (drums) - they tell us why they play hard and rock even harder.

Coming Tomorrow: Interview with ShitOuttaLuck at Skateploitation III

ShitOuttaLuck, aka SxOxLx, hails from Houck, Arizona. This is a family punk and rockabilly band (Navajo) that knows how to live hard and rock even harder. 

RPM caught up with the rowdy punkabilly brothers at Apache Skateboards event Skateploitation III at Indian Market, which featured music, artists and skateboarding from Apache Skateboard crew.

The video interview with the four brothers Tuco (upright bass), Rattlesnake (washboard), The Human Fly (vox and lead guitar) and The Lazer (drums) will be up on RPM tomorrow!

Meanwhile, enjoy their song It Don't Hurt to Sleep:

Shitouttaluck - "It Don't Hurt to Sleep" by RPMfm