Songweavers Studio: Musical Medicine Week

The Songweavers Studio program, hosted by the Knowledgeable Aboriginal Youth Association’s (KAYA) in Vancouver, is a free youth recording studio with the goal to empower the voice of Aboriginal youth. This month, Songweavers is presenting Musical Medicine Week - five days of workshops, community and music.

By providing access to gear, support and know-how for youth ages 14-29 who are interested in creating music, Songweavers is a safe venue for creative expression. From the Songweavers press release, Local Indigenous musicians educating Indigenous youth interested in culture:

Songweavers Studio Musical Medicine Week will utilize the knowledge and wisdom of local Indigenous musicians to educate Indigenous youth interested in music culture. By sharing an introductory understanding of how the music industry works, as well as teachings from traditional Indigenous music culture, Musical Medicine Week aims to provide youth with the tools to create a sustainable career in the Indigenous music industry.

RPM is one of the supporters of Musical Medicine Week - we love nothing more than to see emerging artists and young voices creating work! - and RPM contributors Christa Couture and Ron Dean Harris, aka Ostwelve, are among the mentors presenting workshops.

If you're in Vancouver, check it out! All ages, and all are welcome.

Here's the skinny on the schedule:

Monday February 20th

Music Business — What does it take to become a sustainable artist within the music business? Learn the tools to become a successful independent artist using social media, grants, and inside information with Rex SmallBoy, Grant Writing with Christa Couture, Social Media with Ron Dean Harris (OS12). 4:00 pm Doors, 4:30 pm Opening Circle, 5:00 pm Workshops Start

Tuesday February 21st

Songwriting — Writers Block? Singer Songwriter? Hip Hop Artist? Join us for a night of creative writing, and self expression. Learn tips and tricks to enhance your writing ability. Hip-hop Songwriting with Theresa Point (Apt Exact), Singer/Acoustic Songwriting with Christa Couture. 4:00 pm Doors, 4:30 pm Opening Circle, 5:00 pm Workshops Start

Wednesday February 22nd

Traditional Music — Honouring where we came from and where we are going. Join us for a night of traditional hand drum songs and teachings from the Coast Salish to the Prairies. We will end the night by creating our own hand drum song. Bring your Drums! Coast Salish teaching and songs with Elder Wes Nahanee, Women Hand Drum Songs with Jerilynn Webster (JB the First Lady),Prairie Songs with Renae Morriseau (of M'Girl). 4:00 pm Doors, 4:30 pm Opening Circle, 5:00 pm Workshops Start

Thursday February 23rd

Electronic Music — Join us for a night of Djing, Remixing, and Production. Find out what it takes to become a successful DJ and producer. We will be remixing the hand drum song we created the night before with Bear Witness of A Tribe Called Red. 4:00 pm Doors, 4:30 pm Opening Circle, 5:00 pm Workshops Start

Friday February 24th

Indigenous Video Dance Party — ALL AGES Indigenous Dance Party and community feast! Showing all Indigenous music videos, and showcasing music videos our Songweavers youth created in the last year! Coast Salish Opener Dustin Rivers, DJ MukLuk, Emcee for the night Francis Pierre. 4:00 pm Doors, 4:15 pm Coast Salish Opening & blessing of the food, 4:30 pm Free Dinner, 5:00 pm Dance Party start!

All events take place at: W2 Media Cafe 111 West Hastings Street Vancouver, BC

For more information visit: kayavancouver.org.

Aboriginal Performance Series at PuSh Festival

Vancouver's PuSh Festival is celebrating its 9th year as one of the city's signature events. Every year The PuSh International Performing Arts Festival presents both contemporary performances from leading Canadian artists and develops new works for the stage.

It's a series I look forward to every year - it manages to be innovative and experimental while maintaining a high calibre of production and I'm always discovering new favourite artists and works. Veda Hille and Bill Richardson's Craigslist Cantata that premiered at PuSh remains one of my favourite live performance/theatre experiences ever.

This year I'm thrilled to see that PuSh is presenting an Aboriginal Performance series which "aims to profile compelling and virtuosic projects that transform perceptions... to foster a broader understanding and interaction of contemporary Indigenous artists and their diverse cultures". Right up RPM's alley!

The series kicked off last night with Beat Nation Live - the cross-platform collective that includes Kinnie Starr, Jackson 2Bears, Cris Derksen, (RPM's own) Ostwelve, JB the First Lady, and the Tangible Interaction Digital Graffiti Wall by Corey Bulpitt and Gurl23. It was a high energy performance that had people on their feet and dancing by the end of it. The collective has honed their collaborative efforts - I saw them almost a year ago at the beginning stages of their work together and they've only gotten better.

During her introduction to the performance, senior curator Sherrie Johnson shared that she was inspired to create the Aboriginal performance series after spending time in New Zealand. She experienced many festivals there that featured work by contemporary Indigenous artists along with the programming of non-Indigenous artists and it made her wonder why that is not the case in Canada. Indeed, we have festivals focused only on Indigenous performers in this country, but there is an undeniable lack of inclusion of current Indigenous works in "non-Native" festival programming.

With that in mind she returned to Canada and to PuSh with the plan to seek out the most cutting edge and current Indigenous artists. The result is this diverse and exciting series.

Running from January 31-February 4th at The Cultch in East Vancouver is No. 2, a theatre piece from Toa Fraser of New Zealand centered around a cantankerous Fijian matriarch.

From February 1-4, at the Waterfront Theatre, is Almighty Voice and His Wife, the moving and funny play by First Nations playwright Daniel David Moses. It "tells the story of a Cree man arrested for killing a cow without a license, and the ensuing manhunt that gives rise to his status as a martyr and a legend."

At Performance Works on February 2nd, actor, choreographer, director and educator Micheal Greyeyes will deliver his "keynote manifesto address" Staging Ethnicity, exploring the complexities of "native" theatre and the impacts on those who create and experience it.

I'm really looking forward to the performance by Calgary's Ghostkeeper - the noisy pop band from Shane Ghostkeeper and Sarah Houle. They'll be rocking Performance Works on February 3rd. Check out the just-published Redwire interview with Ghostkeeper for more on them: http://www.redwiremag.com/site/redwire/features/push-festival-aboriginal-performance-series-ghoskeeper-interview/.

Vancouver - which shows will you be checking out? I hope to see you there!

Christa Couture, Editorial Manager

For more information on tickets, times and performances visit http://pushfestival.ca/festival-events/aboriginal-performance-series/.

VIDEO: Rapsure Risin - Short Doc on RedwireTV

Here's a new short documentary about Stó:lō hip-hop artists Rapsure Risin made by Damien Bouchard hosted online by our good friends at Redwiremag.com!

Rapsure Risin is a Stó:lō hip-hop group consisting of Carrielynn Victor aka Numinous and Theresa Point aka Apt Exact, that have been touring and recording their musical talent over the last decade. Both mothers and community workers, they live a full life of music and motherhood along side their work with the Stó:lō communities.

Damien Bouchard is an Anishinabe film making Native from North Western Ontario who was recently profiled by our friends at Redwire. This is one of his films that was featured on the Redwire TV youtube channel.

Watch RedwireTV - Rapsure Risin by Damien Bouchard:

For more info, check out Redwire Native Youth Media Society at: Redwiremag.com

DOWNLOAD: Miss Christie Lee - "Experience"

This killer track from hip-hop artist Miss Christie Lee is mostly in her Indigenous Musqueam language. The hook translates to "there are no words that can express how much you mean to me" and speaks to Christie's passion for empowering her people, in particular Aboriginal youth, to be proud of their roots. A member of Vancouver's all female hip-hop First Ladies Crew, Christie is a strong, positive voice in the Indigenous hip-hop scene and her music has taken her around the world, from performing at the Beijing Olympics to opening for K'Naan in Vancouver. She sent us this track to check out and we're stoked to share it with you. DOWNLOAD: Miss Christie Lee - "Experience"

DOWNLOAD: Sister Says - "The Only Way"

Haida brother and sister duo Robert and Gillian Thonmson, aka Sister Says, weave a delicious blend  of pop and soul, with Gillian's striking alto vocals at the forefront.This title track from their debut album, has a smooth, dance-able vibe and a hook that you'll find yourself singing after just one listen. Sister Says strikes that artful balance of sound and meaning - they'll grab your attention with fine tuned, well crafted production but keep you coming back for more with their intelligent, thoughtful lyrics and passionate delivery. DOWNLOAD: Sister Says - "The Only Way" 

RPM Artist Minute: Sister Says - "On Collaboration"

In our inaugural "Artist Minute" video feature, RPM captured Haida brother and sister duo Sister Says collaborating on a new track, Give Me My Love.

Director/Cinematography/Editing: Louvens Remy / Blacksunrise Pictures

VIDEO: Ostwelve - "Light Inside"

Coast Salish hip-hop artist, and RPM's own Ostwelve has released a new video for Light Inside.

Ostwelve was in Paris this past summer with the hip-hop/digital art collective Beat Nation. In between their performances, Os fit in a visit to the famous Père Lachaise Cemetery - resting place to the likes of Jim Morrison, Édith Piaf, Marcel Proust, Oscar Wilde and Gertrude Stein - and filmed his stroll among the sunlit graves, adding another solid video to his repertoire.

Directed and edited by Ostwelve, Light Inside:

Indigenous Live Music Picks October 20-23, 2011

As the cold autumn winds start sweeping across Turtle Island, it's a good time to gather inside and listen to RPM's Top 6 Indigenous live music picks for this weekend.

Derek Miller October  20 - iNative Fest presents Mohawk blues artist Derek Miller at the Tattoo Rock Parlour, Toronto, ON. More info: facebook.com

Raincity Rap: The History of Hip Hop in Vancouver October 21 - JB the First Lady and Discreet Da Chosen 1  are part of this forum bringing together key players in the development of Vancouver’s hip hop scene at Moberly Arts & Culture Centre, Vancouver, BC. More info: facebook.com

Pura Fé October 21 - founding member of Ulali performs her blend of blues and jazz at Walter Hall, University of Toronto, ON. More info: events.utoronto.ca

The Beat Featuring Buffy Sainte-Marie October 22 - imagineNATIVE presents a night of Indigenous musical talent featuring Buffy Sainte-Marie with guests Sean Conway and Lena Recollet. More info: imaginenative.org

The Snake Oil Salesmen October 21 - The lads are going to rock and groove at The Mercury Cafe, Regina, SK. facebook.com

Jason Burnstick and Ann Vriend October 21 - The double-bill features two performers that were well received at this year's Harrison Festival of the Arts, Jason Burnstick and Ann Vriend. More info: harrisonfestival.com/events

RPM: The Official Launch Party

After three months of beta phase, Revolutions Per Minute will officially launch on October 25, 2011. You'll see new features here, and if you're in Vancouver, BC, you'll see us partying at The Media Club.

Come and celebrate RPM and Indigenous music culture with a FREE concert!

Hosted by our very own Ostwelve, the night will feature performances by Haida duo Sister Says, Squamish Nation hip-hop artist Discreet Da Chosen 1 and all-female rockers Vancougar.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011 The Media Club 395 Cambie Street, Vancouver BC Coast Salish Territories Doors at 7pm. Show at 8pm. NO COVER.

RPM merch giveaways all night long!

RSVP and invite your friends on Facebook: RPM.fm - The Official Launch Party. We hope to see you there!

VIDEO: JB The First Lady - "If You Want It You Got It"

New video from Nuxalk/Cayuga femcee JB The First Lady produced by Hannah C Productions for her track If You Want It You Got It.

JB The First Lady is back at it again with another video, this time for her track If You Want It You Got It. Produced by Hannah C Productions, this video features Nuxalk Nation adoptees Dani and Lizzy. Another great video from JB The First Lady and Hannah C Productions, who also produced videos for Kinnie Starr.

VIDEO: RPM Talks With A Tribe Called Red

RPM got a chance to interview A Tribe Called Red during their visit to Vancouver for the New Forms Festival.

Vancouver was also the kick-off for the A Tribe Called Two Toes Tour with Clarence Two Toes aka Ryan McMahon in September, 2011.

RPM was lucky enough to get a video interview with Deejay NDN, DJ Shub and DJ Bear Witness, aka A Tribe Called Red, before they left for Alberta on the next leg of their tour.

ATCR talks about being at the forefront of an electronic music movement as well offers some advice for young artists trying to break into the world of Indigenous music culture.

RPM.fm, VIMAF & W2 Media Cafe Present: Ryan McMahon & A Tribe Called Red In Vancouver

This past weekend RPM.fm had the honour to present a performance by Ryan McMahon with special guests A Tribe Called Red at the W2 Media Cafe as a fundraiser for the Vancouver Indigenous Media Arts Festival.

Earlier this month we were approached to help find a venue to host a show with Ryan McMahon out here in Vancouver. It just so happened that Ottawa super group, A Tribe Called Red, were also slated to be in town. Naturally an amazing community space came to mind, the W2 Media Cafe, which is always a great place for these kinds of events. The venue is run by promoter and community activist, Irwin Oostindie.

The opportunity to have these greats acts here was something I couldn’t resist. Vancouver has a wide variety of music shows coming in and out of town regularly, but it is not as frequent a case for Indigenous music and comedy acts to showcase their artistry in an accessible venue. With no budget and MUCH help from the staff at W2, we were able to present an intimate show to the community.

Ryan McMahon, the Ojibwe comedian taking the internet by storm, started his journey on Friday with his drive out to Vancouver from Winnipeg - no easy task for one person. A Tribe Called Red brought their unique styling of Electric Powwow music to the masses at the New Forms Festival held at the Waldorf in Vancouver on September 10th to a packed house and rave reviews.

The crew at W2 were working hard all weekend with their media coverage of the New Forms Festival and tying up the last details to get put this show together. Using their new facilities upstairs from the Media Cafe at W2, a cafe/lounge and a great sound system were set up, and all things were go for 8pm.

Hosted by Ostwelve, the show began with an opening comedy act, Sliammon First Nation comedian Cliff Paul, who displayed a great set of jokes to warm up the crowd.  Ryan McMahon’s set followed and  opened with a recording session of his new podcast show, Red Man Laughing, for which he interviewed A Tribe Called Red before they gave the crowd a small dose of their music.

Ryan McMahon didn’t fail to deliver as he told us a story about how he saw an exploding elk on the highway en route to Vancouver, which he described as both “very sad and totally awesome”. After a 45 minute set, Ryan stepped off stage for a bit while the crowd got an intermission from the late summer heat before coming back out as his alter ego Clarence Two Toes, garnering the laughs that Clarence always does.

Closing the evening was a very special performance by A Tribe Called Red. As the legends have stated, they bring to the stage an amazingly high-energy show, lacing their sounds of Powwow-step music with Moombahton rhythms that had everyone out of their seats and moving their moccasins.

RPM.fm is honoured to bring this show to the community and very thankful to the people at W2 Media Cafe, Vancouver Indigenous Media Arts Festival, A Tribe Called Red, Ryan McMahon and everyone who came out to support this event.

Be on the lookout for our announcement of RPM.fm’s Official Launch Party in Vancouver coming soon!