APCMA 2012 Nominees - Aboriginal Female Entertainer Of The Year

An RPM YouTube Playlist of the APMCA 2012 nominees for Aboriginal Female Entertainer Of The Year. Hoka.

Here's another RPM YouTube Playlist focusing on the nominees for the 2012 Aboriginal People's Choice Awards category of Aboriginal Female Entertainer Of The Year. This list includes some of our most powerful female forces in today's Indigenous music culture. Enjoy.

Phyllis Sinclair - Washerwoman's Lament Shy-Anne Hovorka - The Glue Tagaq - (LIVE) Terri Clark - The One Tracy Bone - Women Of Red (LIVE)

APCMA 2012 Nominees - Best Music Video

We have an RPM YouTube playlist of the 2012 Aboriginal People's Choice Awards nominees for Best Music Video.

We've once again reached this chilly part of the year where we choose our favorites in the Aboriginal People's Choice Awards, and this year packs a great selection in all categories. Today we'll look at the nominees for Best Music Video in the 2012 APCMAs.

Beatrice Love - Dirty Game Donny Parenteau - Fiddle Back Cris Derksen - Pow.Wow.Wow Shy-Anne Hovorka - Too Young, Too Late Winnipeg's Most - Winnipeg Boy 

DOWNLOAD: Beaatz - "One Last Time"

We have a download from Beaatz featuring Speechless, Gearl and Ill Fundz for their new politically charged track One Last Time.

Back in the mix again is Tobique First Nation hip-hop artist Beaatz with his new track One Last Time featuring fifteen-year-old Tobique First Nations MC Speechless, Eskasoni MC Gearl and Ill Fundz also out of Tobique First Nation. One Last Time speaks on the injustices suffered by Indigenous cultures around Turtle Island through the eyes of these young hip-hoppers coming out of the east coast of Canada.

DOWNLOAD: Beaatz - "One Last Time"

Video Doubleheader By HannahC Productions

HannahC Productions hits us with a doubleheader of music videos from Kinnie Starr and Niska Napoleon.

Hannah Clifford aka HannahC is the brains behind HannahC Productions which has released a handful of music videos for artists like Kinnie Starr, Rellik and JB The First Lady. Originally from Prince George B.C., Hannah is a mixed Cree/Russian/Irish woman living now in Vancouver, Edmonton and Northern B.C.

This was a prolific week for Hannah releasing two videos into the Indigenous music culture-sphere. One is for Kinnie Starr's song Go Go See It and is a colourful expression of this fun song. The other is a promotional video for The Whiteflower Tour of Niska Napoleon. This post-tour wrap up takes us into some of the shows and backstage scenes of Niska's recent tour.

Both videos are laced with Hannahs artistic flavour and comedic styling.

If you want to checkout more of HannahCs video work, be sure to go to her YouTube channel: youtube.com/hannahCproductions

Or her Tumblr: hannahcproductions.tumblr.com

Watch Kinnie Starr - "Go Go See It"

Watch Niska Napoleon The White Flower

DOWNLOAD: Christa Couture - "You Were Here in Michigan"

We have a download of You Were Here in Michigan from RPM's own Christa Couture from her newly released album The Living Record.

RPM's own Christa Couture has endured her share of hard work and hardships to complete her latest project The Living Record. A survivor of cancer and the passing of her infant son, Christa has turned these dark moments into her own musical medicine. This week we have a download of her song You Were Here In Michigan which captures the moment this medicine inspired her on the road at an artists' retreat. We're very happy to have Christa on our team and even happier to be sharing this first single off her album with you.

Christa is also heading out on a cross country tour so be sure to check out her show dates here: http://www.facebook.com/events/291501224290697/ 

DOWNLOAD: Christa Couture - "You Were Here in Michigan"

To listen to and support the rest of The Living Record, head to christacouture.com

Aboriginal Music Week 2012 Lineup

The lineup for Aboriginal Music Week 2012 is out and includes a full serving of Indigenous musicians.

Every year Winnipeg hosts the largest gathering of Indigenous musicians at Aboriginal Music Week, held at numerous venues around the Pegcity, along side the Manito Ahbee Festival. This year is no different. Listing 12 concerts, 34 bands over 5 nights, AMW2012 will prove to be a historical event for the Indigenous music scene.

Aboriginal Music Week 2012 will take place October 30th thru to November 4th.

Here's a look at the full festival lineup:

Tanya Tagaq w/ Moe Clark on October 30 Wab Kinew w/ Savannah Rae Boyko on October 31 Samantha Crain w/ Cris Derksen on November 1 Don Amero on November 1 Feenix w/ Drezus, OBT, JB the First Lady, Tommy Da, LKMG, Primetime Empyre on November 1 A Tribe Called Red w/ Zuzuka Poderosa & Kush Arora on November 2 Murray Porter w/ Silver Jackson on November 2 Wayne Lavallee w/ BODM, Randy Sibbeston & Wild Meat, Saali, Gabriel Ayala on November 2 Tha Link w/ IsKwé on November 3 Stevie Salas w/ Joey Stylez, LightningCloud on November 3 Gary Farmer & The Troublemakers w/ Nathan Cunningham on November 3 Keith Secola w/ Leanne Goose & Snow Blind, Priscilla’s Revenge, Scatter Their Own on November 3

Stay tuned to RPM for updates of show venues and other information about AMW2012.

See you there!

VIDEO: Plex - "I Can't Breathe"

We've got a new video by hip-hop artist Plex featuring Lisa Charleyboy for his song I Can't Breathe.

Plex has been pushing his new album Demons for the last couple months, and now released a new video from that album for his song I Can't Breathe. Featuring Lisa Charleyboy (@UrbanNativeGirl), this production is a clean professional music video that was also edited by Plex. (Boom!)

Watch: Plex - "I Can't Breathe"

Don't forget to checkout some free Plex music here:  DOWNLOAD: Plex – “Chasin’”.

Thelma Plum Feels Change For The Better

Thelma Plum has been making some major noise in Australia after winning the triple j Unearthed competition, and now shares some answers to some questions.

The triple j Unearthed competition for the National Indigenous Music Awards in Australia took place last month, and a surprising winner surfaced from its ranks. Seventeen-year-old Thelma Plum took the judges and audience by storm and took the honors of winning the competition and the opportunity to perform at the National Indigenous Music Awards on August 11th in Darwin.

We got a chance to ask some questions of Thelma and she was kind enough to answer.

RPM: What is your name, location and occupation?

Thelma Plum: My name is Thelma Plum, I am from Brisbane and I am a musician.

RPM: How do you do today?

TP: Very well thank you, recovering from a gig last night!

RPM: After winning the triple j Unearthed competition, congratulations by the way, how have things changed for you?

TP: Thanks so much! Things have changed so much - for the better though! I think this was a great thing for my music as it has now opened lots of doors.

RPM: When you started music, did you ever expect such a great reception?

TP: I started when I was very young, so not really!

RPM: Who were your major influences growing up, musical or not?

TP: As cliche as this sounds, my parents. They have always influenced me for the better and inspired me lots with my music! Paul Kelly has also been a huge musical influence to me my whole life.

RPM: Are there any new artists out there that are on your radar?

TP: So many! Brisbane is thriving with musicians at the moment, Steve Grady and Andrew Lowden are two Brisbane artists who are amazing!

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

TP: Paul Kelly! No questions asked!

RPM: What, if any, challenges have you faced as a young Indigenous woman in the music industry?

TP: I don't think I have really faced too many challenges to do with that so much. Though being so young definitely makes it harder to play gigs sometimes as I'm not old enough to get into the venue!

RPM: Do you have any advice for the youth out there looking to enter the world of music?

TP: Just go for it! You are so young, you have nothing to lose!

RPM: Thanks for your time Thelma!

Watch: Thelma Plum - singing her new untitled song

VIDEO: She King - "This Is Me"

We've got a new video from Six Nations rocker Shawnee Talbot of She King for her acoustic expression This Is  Me.

She King, based out of Toronto, is mostly known for their hard-hitting, glam-rock style of music and performance along side the ever-classic rock ballad format. This time we get up close and personal with Shawnee Talbot, the bands lead singer, in this intimate and acoustic performance of her song This Is Me.

She King will be touring with Glass Tiger and Roxette this summer and you can check out the tour schedule at sheking.ca.

VIDEO: Aztlan Underground - Sacred Arrow Sun

The summer solstice is welcomed in the highest Indigenous regards by Aztlan Underground in this video for the instrumental track Sacred Arrow Sun.

We just passed the summer solstice recently, which has always been a special event for Indigenous cultures all over Turtle Island since time immemorial.

Legendary Indigenous music collective Aztlan Underground helps us to welcome the solstice and honor its gift of energy and sustenance with this instrumental composition and powerful artistic video production for their song Sacred Arrow Sun.

The video is described on their YouTube page as:

The tribal instrumentation of Sacred Arrow Sun serves to welcome the summer solstice in the Native way. Aztlan Underground marks the sacred event with rattles, huehuetl drum, pow wow drum, raspers, wooden and clay flutes.

This also gives a sneak peek into their upcoming album project Unearthed which is due to be released upon the next winter solstice in 2012.

Don't forget to check out our interview with Yaotl Mazahua from Aztlan Underground in: RPM Podcast #014: “Mesoamerica”

DOWNLOAD: Rex Smallboy - "Children Of God"

Here is new music from hip-hop veteran Rex Smallboy, his track Children Of God. Keeping along the lines of his pure hip-hop style, this track hits the ears and heart with real energy and focus.

Rex Smallboy is no newcomer to the art of hip-hop here in Turtle Island country. From the pioneering rap group War Party, Rex has been influencing and trailblazing Indigenous hip-hoppers here in Canada and beyond for years, and now shares with us a new track entitled Children Of God, which takes us on a real journey through the eyes of an observer of life and love.

DOWNLOAD: Rex Smallboy - "Children Of God"

Indigenous Summer Music Festival Guide 2012

It's summer 2012 and RPM has another guide to Indigenous musicians representing at music festivals this year.

It's the first week of summer and festival season has already kicked off in some places, but there are still many to check out all over Turtle Island. We've mined through the festival line-ups and compiled a list of festivals including Indigenous musicians.

Adäka Cultural Festival, Whitehorse, YT, June 22-28 - Murray Porter, Wayne Lavallee, Reddnation

Alianait Arts Festival, Iqaluit, NU, June 29 - July 2nd - Artcirq, William Tagoona, the Métis Fiddler Quartet and more.

Boonstock Music & Arts Festival, Gibsons, AB, June 28 - July 1 - Gutta Musik

Little Lake Music Festival, Peterborough, ON, June 30 - August 25 - Tom Jackson

Ottawa Blues Fest, Ottawa, ON, July 4-15 - A Tribe Called Red

Winnipeg Folk Festival, Winnipeg, MB, July 4-8 - Asani, Ozomatli, Sonia Eidse

Harrison Festival of the Arts, Harrison, BC, July 6-15 - Murray Porter, Inez, Jason Burnstick, Pura Fe, Kalan Wi

Atlin Arts and Music Festival, Atlin, BC, July 6-8 - Don Amero

All Folked up in Montmartre, Montmartre, SK, July 6-8 - Christa Couture, Carol Morin

Mariposa Folk Fest, Orillia, ON, July 6-8 - Florent Vollant, Shane Koyczan and the Short Story Long

Vancouver Island Music Festival, Comox Valley, BC, July 6-8 - Buffy Sainte-Marie, Wab Kinew, Lorenzo

Woody Guthrie Folk Festival, Okemah, OK, July 11-15 - Samantha Crain

Craven Country Jamboree, Qu'Appelle Valley, SK, July 12-15 - Terri Clarke

Homeskillet Festival, Sitka, AK, July 13-14 - Silver Jackson, Strummin' Dog, D-Script

Montana Folk Festival, Butte, MT, July 13-15 - Little Southern Cree, Dallas Chief Eagle

Vancouver Folk Festival, Vancouver, BC, July 13-15 - Leela Gilday, Los Gaiteros de San Jacinto, Alejandra Robles

Folk On The Rocks, Yellowknife, NWT, July 19-22 - Pura Fe, William Greenland, Wesley Hardisty, The Jerry Cans, Timangia Petaulassie & Qauna Mikkigaq, Yellowknives Dene Drummers

Brandon Folk Festival, Brandon, MB, July 19-22 - Kinnie Starr

Dawson City Music Festival, Dawson, YK, July 20-22 - Cris Derksen, Dakhká Khwáan Dancers

Starbelly Jam, Crawford Bay, BC, July 20-22 - Glen Henry Michel Family w/ Sara Cadeau

Discovery Coast Music Festival, Bella Coola, BC, July 20-22 - The Caley Watts Band, Digawolf

LA Skins Fest, LA, CA, July 21 - Beck Black, Cockamammie Jamie, Arigon Starr, Shawn Michael Perry & Only The Brave

Lowell Folk Festival, Lowell, MA, July 27-29 - Jones Benally Family Dancers

MetisFest - Killarny, MB, July 27-29 - Darren Lavallee, Donny Parenteau, JJ Lavallee and Ryan Keplin.

ArtsWells, Wells, BC, August 3-6 - Benny Walker, Christa Couture

Electric Eclectics Festival, Meaford, ON, August 3-5 - Melody McKiver

Edmonton Folk Music Fest, Edmonton, AB, August 9-12 - Joanne Shenandoah, Treme, George Kahumoku Jr.

Lunenburg Folk Harbour Fest, Lunenburg, NS, August 9-12 - Iskwew, Leela Gilday

Edge Of The World Festival, Haida Gwaii, BC, August 10-12 - Road Engine Dreams

TroutFest, Ear Falls, Ontario, August 10-12 - Christa Couture, Shy-Anne Hovorka

Boots and Hearts Music Festival, Bowmanville, ON, August 10-12 - Terri Clarke, Shane Yellowbird, Derek Miller, Crystal Shawanda

Voices Of The Valley Music and Art Festival, Spence's  Bridge, BC August 11 - Skookum Sound System, Blackout Artists, Gitwaalk Jeremy, Niska

Robson Valley Music Festival, Dunster, BC, August 17-19 - Niska

Desert Daze, Spences Bridge, BC, August 17-19 - Christa Couture

Hopscotch Music Festival, Raleigh, NC, September 6-8 - Samantha Crain

If there's any dates we've missed or to be updated let us know and we'll add them to the list.  Happy Festival Season!