Photo: Cover art from “Indigenous” by Sinematic
As the days grow shorter and we prepare for the winter ahead, MUSKRAT has new Indigenous music to add to your playlist. Here are seven vibrant Indigenous songs to lift your spirits and keep you cozy and warm.
INDIGENOUS (MÉTIS & CREE) – SINEMATIC
Quebec-based hard alt-rock band Sinematic is comprised of Cree sound-designer/programmer Zachary Ithahokow, Metis guitar maestro Everett Mayhew, and backing vocals provided by Janessa Von Koppen. Here is their latest hit from their sophomore album The Dark Circus.
MESSENGER – DAVID STRICKLAND, ERICK SERMON, OUTLAW BY NATURE AND SAUKRATES
Strickland teams up with long-time collaborators American rapper Erick Sermon, supergroup Outlaw by Nature, and Toronto-based hip-hop artist Saukrates. “It’s about me using my music as a way of sending messages throughout my career without speaking but speaking through music,” said Strickland about Messenger.
ANIRNIQ – SILLA AND RISE
Silla and Rise really shine with their most fun outings to date with Aniriq. The group now comprises DJ Rise Ashen and Inuit throat singing trio Cynthia Pitsiulak, Charlotte Qamaniq and newcomer Charlotte Carleton. This is from their most recent album Silarjuaq which came out on October 29 from Balanced Records.
WHEN THE MAGIC HITS – ADRIAN SUTHERLAND
Hailing from Attawapiskat First Nation, Adrian Sutherland debuts his first rock roots album When the Magic Hits. During the pandemic, he built a recording studio in a sea can to complete the album. “The songs are emotional, and powerful for me to listen to now. They move me in ways like nothing else I have written,” he says about the album.
MAMA’S HANDS – KE ALOHA
KeAloha carries the legacies of her Polynesian ancestors, Lheidli trappers and medicine people from the BC-based First Nation amongst many other nationalities. She describes her sound as IndigiPop. “Mama’s Hands celebrates my mom, Nani…. this song celebrates our triumphs as a low-income, brown, femme gang hailing from the North-West of Turtle Island,” says KeAloha of her newest single.
THERE AIN’T NO WAY (BETTER DAYS VERSION) – CELEIGH CARDINAL
This song was originally released in 2017 and revamped for 2021. The music video accompanying it is all about self-love and is very vibrant, using the four colours of the medicine wheel. “Each colour represents a different part of ourselves, and the medicine wheel teaching is one that I have been applying to my life during the past 16 months to help me bring balance to my life.”
GOODBYE SORROW – THE RECKLESS FAMOUS
The alt-rock group, The Reckless Famous comprises of members from Treaty #6 Territories: Adam Jack -Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, Kyle Wuttunee – Onion Lake Cree Nation, Jesse Fehr – Onion Lake Cree Nation, Harlan Blayne Kytwayhat – Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation, and Ray Pambrun – Onion Lake Cree Nation. Here they are with their latest single The Goodbye Sorrow.
