Listen to "Ghost Town", the Lead Single from Nick Sherman's New Album

Stream Nick Sherman's "Ghost Town" the first single from his upcoming album, Knives & Wildrice.

Anyone following the Knives & Wildrice podcast knows two things: first, that Anishinaabe musician Nick Sherman has had a hell of a time making this record; and, second, that the record in question is going to be amazing.

Last week, I&C Media dropped the first single from said album, which shares its title with the eponymous podcast in question, and we were, of course, instantly hooked.

Sherman has the unique talent of being able to take his smoky, raspy vocals and pairing them with mostly acoustic elements and thoughtful lyrics, while managing to avoid the pitfalls of the corny "Cafe Radio", satellite channel-styled associations most often made with "singer-songwriter" music.

"Ghost Town" rings out with the personal, intimate touch that Sherman is already known for, and builds the song into a heartfelt plea for solace and "mercy from the storm".

Check Nick out this summer as part of the Red Ride Tour starting May 23rd in his hometown of Thunder Bay, ON.

STREAM: Nick Sherman - "Home Town"

Knives & Wildrice drops worldwide on May 23, 2015. 

PREMIERE: Stream Raye Zaragoza's Debut EP "Heroine"

Stream Raye Zaragoza's debut EP, Heroine, a beautiful collection of hypnotic love songs.

Raye Zaragoza's music is an effortless mix of old world charm and contemporary sonic seduction. On her debut EP, the New York-based, Pima singer channels both chanteuse and lovestruck acoustic balladeer.

At the heart of the EP is its title track, "Heroine", which as we reported recently, is a lush and nostalgic honeyed love song evoking past and present simultaneously. Zaragoza has a knack for strong hooks and a commanding vocal presence that elevates her most pop-oriented track on the record, "Sleeplovers", to sublime heights as it glides into the captivating hook: "falling in love / would be as easy as falling asleep".

But wrapped around the melodic heart of this release, Zaragoza soars between the EP's slow-burning, hypnotic opener "Wintertime" and the simple acoustic guitar accompaniment of closing track, "Crazy Eyes".

Heroine is an assured debut that offers a glimpse into a rising talent in Indian Country—and the emergence of a compelling artist coming into her own. Highly recommended.

STREAM: Raye Zaragoza's Heroine

Pre-order Heroine on iTunes. The album will be available worldwide on May 11, 2015. 

PREMIERE: Stream Don Amero’s New Album “Refined”

The fifth studio album from Don Amero showcases the Manitoba songwriter at his best yet - truly, Refined.

When Don Amero dropped the first single and video, "Love Like That," last month, we dug that there was a taste of what we and audiences have grown to know and love (and occasionally swoon over) Amero for - i.e. sweet, smooth, acoustic-pop love songs.

But once we got a hold of the complete 10 track album, "Refined," we discovered a lot more.

From five seconds in with the piano-struck downbeat of the first and title track, Amero establishes he's standing on confident footing as a songwriter and performer. Over the course of the album his warm tenor voice maintains his familiar gentle warmth, but also showcases a newly developed strength, range, and flexibility, often supported masterfully by lush but not overwhelming harmonies. Musically Amero still nails his signature mix of acoustic, roots, and pop music, the stuff that earned him the description of "John Mayer meets Keith Urban", while also satisfyingly dipping into a bit of soul and rock.

While Amero does deliver solid feel-good and bittersweet love songs like the first single, and the duet with the one and only Crystal Shawanda "Broken Hearts," on this album he's exploring the outcome of life's bigger challenges and lyrically he weaves messages of struggle, survival, and adversity. At times it's heartbreaking, like in "Falling Shouldn't Feel That Way," but in the soulful organ and horn filled "On Down the Road," the driving "Let Them See You Smile," and the simple to triumphant arc of "Won't Give Up," Amero's message is fuelled with encouragement, positivity, and an eye on resilience, if not healing.

The album title and title track are a fine thesis statement - that living through hardship and change can result in a stronger self. Hitting new levels of writing, delivery, and production, Amero is clearly living what he sings about - chipping away, pushing through, and coming out the other side Refined.

Stream the exclusive first listen now, and check out Don Amero's Canadian CD release tour dates below.

Stream Don Amero’s New Album “Refined”

DON AMERO TOUR DATES - SPRING & SUMMER 2015

Tuesday April 28th - Halifax, NS at The Carleton Thursday April 30th - Wolfville, NS at The Al Whittle Theatre Saturday May 2nd - Halifax, NS - House Concert Tuesday May 5th - PEI - House Concert Tuesday May 19th - Peterborough, ON - The Garnet on Hunter Friday May 22nd - London, ON - The London Music Club Saturday May 24th - Guelph, ON - Lakeside Church Wednesday June 3rd - Rosebud, AB - The Gallery Thursday June 4th - Calgary, AB - The Ironwood Saturday June 6th - Calgary, AB - House Concert Friday June 12th - Winnipeg, MB - The West End Cultural Centre Saturday June 20th - Winnipeg, MB - Aboriginal Day Live Thursday June 25th - Atlin, BC - The Globe Theatre Friday June 26th - Whitehorse, YK - The Old Fire Hall Saturday June 27th - Prince George, BC - House Concert Wednesday July 1st - Vancouver, BC - Canada Day Event

DOWNLOAD: El Indio's World Hood Mixtape Vol. 5

DJ El Indio drops the latest instalment in the World Hood mixtape series: a booming blend of global bass, beats, dub, dancehall, and ragga sounds.   

World Hood, aka the dynamic duo of vocalist Estrella Hood and El Indio, having been making waves on the Indigenous music scene for the past few years and they continue to throw down dope live sets of original material, while finding time to curate infectious rhythmic selections from other artists.

For Volume 5 in their series of bass-heavy World Hood mixtapes, DJ/producer El Indio has assembled a trunk-rattling collection of beats to keep the party on blast in whatever continent you're listening from.

There's no published track list yet, so we'll leave it to you discerning rhythm scientists to identify the breaks and drops, but there are vibes and samples on this one blasting in from all over the place. So drop in, get familiar, and fire away.

DOWNLOAD: World Hood Mixtape Vol 5 by El Indio

Download Princess Nokia's New Single "Earth is My Playground"

Taíno electro-rap royalty, Princess Nokia, drops an upbeat Earth Day anthem, "Earth is My Playground".

Everyone's favourite Smart Girl Club rocka and eco-conscious, cyborg warrior returns with an Owwwls-produced, sugary synth-pop, dance party gem to get your #EarthDay groove on.

Nokia continues to mine her reworked 90s throwback aesthetic with an eco-optimistic, hypercolour four-on-the-floor jam that bounces us back into a neon raving daze. Time to break out the glow sticks and candy bracelets, kids. P.L.U.R. is back in full force.

Listen and download: Princess Nokia - "Earth is My Playground"        

The Red Ride Tour Returns

What started as a two-artist tour five years ago has grown into a near touring festival of 12 of the hottest names in Indigenous music.

When musicians Kristi Lane Sinclair and Cris Derksen first conceived of the Red Ride Tour, they didn’t think they'd be organizing their fifth one with a lineup of 12 Indigenous artists popping up at different dates across Canada and, for the first time this year, the US. Not only that, but Sinclair is pulling this off while finishing her new album, and filming a six-part TV series about her musical journey for APTN (Aboriginal Peoples Television Network)!

“It is dizzyingly awesome!”, exclaims Sinclair. “It feels so great to have so many projects coming together simultaneously”, she adds.

A wide range of genres is spanned by the artists joining the tour, including Tlingit/Aleut artist and musician Silver Jackson, rising folk singer Nick Sherman, Cree/Métis singer-songwriter Christa Couture, Sto:lo Territory hip-hop artist Ron Dean Harris (aka Ostwelve), Saskatchewan trio The Snake Oil Salesmen, Dene musician Jay Gilday, Curve Lake First Nation singer-songwriter Sean Conway,  Inuk singer Beatrice Dear, and young up-and-coming talents Binaeshee-Que Couchie-Nabigon and Sonia Eidse.

“This is our fifth year in a row taking indigenous acts on the road across Canada, and each year it grows,” says Sinclair. “It started out as just Cris and I, in my little Chevy Optra hatchback, driving across Canada, playing live music venues,” she explains. “And now this year, we have acts... huge acts... and a massive North American Tour!".

“We’re trying to get so many artists to so many places. It’s more like a touring festival than a normal tour,” said Sinclair.

“The outcome is going to be amazing and you’re not going to want to miss it.”

We agree. Hit play on the Red Ride Tour playlist and check out the full dates below.

Tour dates:

May 13 - Fairview Pub, Vancouver, BC (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Ostwelve) May 15 – Wine-Ohs, Calgary, AB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 16 - Empress Pub, Edmonton, AB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Jay Gilday) May 19 - Indian Metis Friendship Centre, Prince Albert, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 20 - Vangelis Tavern, Saskatoon, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 21 – The Artful Dodger, Regina, SK (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, The Snake Oil Salesmen) May 22 - Pyramid Cabaret, Winnipeg, MB (Derek Miller, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Cris Derksen, Sonia Eidse) May 23 – The Apollo, Thunder Bay, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Nick Sherman) May 24 – Saul Ste. Marie, ON (venue TBA) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Nick Sherman) May 25 - Debajehmujig Creation Centre, Manitowaning, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 27 – Capitol Centre Theatre, North Bay, ON (Dream Big Conference) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Derek Miller, Binaeshee-Quae) May 28 – Monarch Tavern, Toronto, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Derek Miller, Christa Couture) May 29 - Six Nations, ON (venue TBA) (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) May 30 - The Garnet, Peterborough ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Sean Conway) June 3 - Club Saw, Ottawa, ON (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair) June 4 - Ashukan Cultural Space, Montreal, QC (Cris Derksen, Kristi Lane Sinclair, Beatrice Dear)

Listen to Kait Angus' "Drive", the Perfect Soundtrack for a Lovers' Escape

San-Francisco-based, Cree/Mohawk singer Kait Angus drops her latest single, "Drive"—a road trip ready, acoustic anthem of love and longing.

Kait Angus has a unique talent for sculpting sound into subtle shapes of desire. Often mixed with a touch of sadness, her melancholy love ballads crackle and fade like dusty old photographs, the receding view of a horizon caught at sunset in the reflected light of the rearview.

"Drive" is a lovers' soundtrack for a road trip into the unknown: an all-night drive, the yearning for perpetual movement to that "somewhere in the in-between". So fill the tank, kick back, and let go. That's just the sound of the rain coming in through the windows.

DOWNLOAD: Kait Angus - "Drive"

Listen to a New Sovereign Trax Mixtape of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Music

Our cross-hemisphere comrade Hannah Donnelly of Sovereign Trax just dropped a dope new mixtape for Australian art and culture magazine The Lifted Brow.

Sovereign Trax continues to compile the best in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander music and in addition to the monthly mixes we've featured in the past few months on RPM, she's put together an exclusive new mix for The Lifted Brow.

Featuring a slick blend of hypnotic beats and hip-hop from the likes of Ancestress, Inonymous, Elijah the Profit, Deekay, Provocalz, Djarmbi Supreme, and The Medics, SovTrax's latest mixtape keeps the fires of Indigenous resistance and revolt from throughout occupied "Australia" burning bright.

Read more about the mix over at The Lifted Brow and get down with the get down. Full tracklist below.

STREAM: Sovereign Trax Mixtape for The Lifted Brow

Sovereign Trax – A Mix for The Lifted Brow by The Lifted Brow on Mixcloud

SOV TRAX - LIFTED BROW MIXTAPE TRACKLIST

1. Paul Gorrie – Pay the Rent 2. Ancestress x Yilinhi – Speak the Truth 3. Inonymous – Sometimes ft. Leelow 4. Elijah the Profit – The Fallen Kingdom ft. BSK 5. Birdz – All We Know 6. Iron Link – Kin and Kings 7. Seeka – Late Ambience ft. Gekkz x Mad Madam x Marze 8. MC Bunz – War of the Words 9. Lady Lash – Blind Love 10. Dubbzone – Extraordinary But I’m Black 11. Deekay – Time for Sum Akshun 12. Provocalz – Cop Shot 13. Dizzy Doolan – Strictly Women’s Biz 14. Gekkz – What Does It Take 15. Coedie Ochre Warrah – High^Notes 16. Djarmbi Supreme – Go to Hell 17. The Medics – Wake Up

Exquisite Ghost Drops New Instrumental, "814"

Check the latest beat-based excursion, "814", from electronic producer Exquisite Ghost.

Winnipeg-based electronic artist and sonic experimenter Exquisite Ghost, aka Jordan Thomas, has been quietly evolving and developing a unique style of beat-based music over on his SoundCloud.

His latest drop is a moody and melodic track, "814", which sits somewhere between a soundtrack to a dark side, lunar landing and a sci-fi, film noir escape into a shadowy, hidden world.

Hypnotic and highly recommended.

STREAM: Exquisite Ghost - "814"

Stream Raye Zaragoza's New Single, "Heroine"

Listen to the lead single from up-and-coming singer-songwriter Raye Zaragoza's debut EP, "Heroine."

Drifting into view like a sun-soaked, summer sunset lullaby, Raye Zaragoza's beautiful lead single "Heroine" from her forthcoming debut EP, immediately caught our attention.

"Heroine" is a lush, soulful blend of Zaragoza's gentle vocals and lovelorn nostalgia, with its honeyed accompaniment of lilting guitar, piano, bass, and brushed percussion.

Zaragoza, a Pima artist based in New York, is a rising star on the Manhattan music scene and is currently getting set to perform at the 2015 Gathering of Nations before heading out on tour in support of her EP, which drops May 11th.

Raye is one to watch. Keep an eye for more...and in the meantime, enjoy a taste of what's to come.

STREAM: Raye Zaragoza - "Heroine"

STREAM: Angel Haze - "GXMES"

Tsalagi/Cherokee artist Angel Haze releases her second new single, "GXMES", from her upcoming 3-track EP, In the Winter of Wet Years.

Opting for a hypnotic sung vocal line on this blazing new banger, Angel Haze sets the internet afire once again with her latest Troy NoKa-produced collaboration.

But don't let the 'baby I know' hook fool you. After a few rounds of melodic teasing, Haze drops into her trademark impassioned lyricism part way into the track—and proceeds to call out her competition and gleefully boast about how well rested she is after taking a year off, and how she's "best in the game / they best put me in Guinness".

Following her "CANDLXS" drop earlier this month, Angel Haze is definitely back—and stronger than ever. Watch out, haters. No telling what, or who's, next.

STREAM: ANGEL HAZE - "GXMES" here. Or you can try to grab it from SoundCloud, but it wasn't working for us.

#Gxmes just got this, crazy track @angxlhxze

A photo posted by Abdul Qudus Muhammed (@king_sizz) on Feb 11, 2015 at 5:20pm PST

Stream Laura Ortman's Soundtrack for 'Gringo Trails', New Doc Film on Global Tourism

Acclaimed violinist and composer Laura Ortman provides the haunting and beautiful soundtrack for Gringo Trails, a new documentary exploring the impact of global tourism.

Brooklyn-based, White Mountain Apache musician and composer Laura Ortman explores new sonic terrain in her latest project: composing the original soundtrack music for Gringo Trails, a new documentary by Pegi Vail.

Vail, an anthropologist and Associate Director of the Center for Media, Culture, and History at NYU, made the film to examine the powerful globalizing force of increasing tourism worldwide.

Spanning South America, Africa and Asia, the tourist pathway known as the “gringo trail” has facilitated both life-altering adventures and the despoiling of many once virgin environments. The film follows stories along the trail to reveal the complex relationships between colliding cultures: host countries hungry for financial security and the tourists who provide it in their quest for authentic experiences.

Ortman's soundtrack beautifully combines violin, electric guitar, piano, vocals and casio, with additional drums and percussion by Jim Pugliese and Christine Bard, creating a haunting and evocative score to accompany what looks to be a riveting documentary.

Stream: Laura Ortman's - "Waves Awake"

Stream and download the full soundtrack on Bandcamp.

Watch the trailer for Gringo Trails

Gringo Trails Official Trailer from Pegi Vail on Vimeo.