Podcasts – RPM.fm: Recent Episodes
In the 14th episode of the RPM Podcast, host Ostwelve speaks with two musical architects of the Mexican Indigenous revival – Yaotl of Aztlan Underground and Zero from El Vuh. On the flags of Canada and U.S.A. there’s nothing that speaks of pre-colonial times – nothing to symbolize the long history of Indigenous peoples on these lands. But look at the flag of Mexico and see smack in the middle a golden eagle with a serpent in its claws. That is an Aztec symbol.
Scholars like to talk about the Aztec civilization as though it’s a thing of the past, but as the flag suggests Aztec culture is alive and kicking with a rhythmic revolution.
Yaotl shares how being Indigenous has shaped his experiences, identity and music, and how he seeks to “see tomorrow”. Zero describes the magic that happened when creating music joined his cultural knowledge and where to El Vuh has taken their work.
Check out their music and conversations with Ostwelve and share this post!
DOWNLOAD RPM Podcast #014: “Mesoamerica”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand with an images from Oaxaca by Mike Jo.
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In Episode 13, RPM looks at Indigenous motherhood and music.
Many nations around Turtle Island have references in their oral traditions and prophecies about the important role of the 7th Generation. This concept refers to the 7th Generation to be born after contact with European settlers and how we must live our lives in a sustainable way making sure the earth is sustainable for 7 generations to come. The people with the most direct connection to the next 7th generations are, of course, our mothers.
Episode #013 of the RPM Podcast hosted by Ostwelve explores three Indigenous mothers who happen to also be active musicians. Lakota Jones (Mohawk, Cherokee, Lakota) credits her children as her biggest supporters. Inez (Sto:lo) went on tour and was surprised to see that some communities were uncomfortable with her breastfeeding her son. Eekwol (Muskoday First Nation) shares stories about how music helped her heal from post-partum depression. All three women are learning how to juggle their careers with their new found commitment to raising the next generation.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #013: “Motherhood”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand with Achomawi Mother & Child by Edward S. Curtis.
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In Episode 12 of the podcast, RPM looks at the Indigenous language revitalization movement. Half of the world’s languages have disappeared in the past 500 years and today another language goes extinct almost every two weeks. Indigenous languages are the ones most at risk – which has inspired Indigenous musicians to take up the struggle to save them. Our host Ostwelve speaks with three artists who are working on revitalizing their ancestral languages.
Miss Christie Lee of the Musqueam Nation raps in Hun’qumi’num’ and shares what her culture means to her and how she sought guidance from her elders on creating music in her language.
Tall Paul, of Point of Contact, raps in Anishnaabemowin. Tall Paul describes discovering more of his culture through his college language course and using hip-hop to adapt Indigenous languages to new avenues.
Terri-Lynn Williams-Davidson, who sings in the language of Haida, hopes listeners can get to a different place, even if they don’t understand the words, and she shares how by singing in our Indigenous language we are connecting with our ancestors.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #012 – “Revitalization”
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For more on language revitalization, see:
- “Our Mother Tongues” celebrating indigenous languages: http://www.ourmothertongues.org
- The Young Ancestors: http://intercontinentalcry.org/the-young-ancestors/
- FirstVoices: http://firstvoices.ca
- Cree language television show on APTN “Tansi! Nehiyawetan” has a website: http://www.tansi.tv
- RPM content on Revitalization: http://rpm.fm/tag/language/
The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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In our 11th episode, we talk with one of the hardest working musicians on Turtle Island – Mohawk blues-rocker Derek Miller. On previous episodes of the RPM podcast, we’ve heard from a wide variety of musicians from all kinds of different genres from hip-hop to country, from blues to electronica to new traditional. They’re all proud creators of what we at RPM like to call Indigenous Music Culture.
A huge part of what inspired RPM in the first place was Derek Miller – namely his story as told in the documentary film Music is the Medicine. So it’s about time we get to know him a little better.
Our host Ostwelve talks with Derek about his musical journey, from listening to his mom’s records on Six Nations reserve, to recently winning the APCMAs for Best Male Entertainer and Best Songwriter of the Year, to what Derek calls the metaphysical nature of music.
We’ll also kick back and listen to some of that sweet medicine he makes with his guitar.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #011: “Music is the Medicine”
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Audio clip from the documentary film Music is the Medicine used with permission from MIM Productions Inc. For more information on the film, visit musicisthemedicine.ca.
The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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Indigenous Peoples across Turtle Island have been dancing and drumming for generations but, in the 21st century, that rhythmic spirit is finding new forms of creative expression. In our tenth episode, the powwow gets plugged in, mashed up and remixed. Our host Ostwelve asks three emerging Indigenous artists about their use and creation of electronic music.
A Tribe Called Red – the Ottawa-based DJ collective of NDN (Nipissing First Nation), Bear Witness (Cayuga) and Shub (Cayuga) – describe what they’re doing in the clubs as a cultural continuence from the powwow, and that the two are not that far apart after all.
Using small digital electronics, Cree electro-cellist Cris Derksen can make her cello sound like a bass, a drum, or even seagulls. Hear how she’s creating a new palette for the usually classical instrument and how being a musician is like being a jeweler.
Nicholas Galanin, aka Indian Nick, a Tlingit/Aleut visual artist and musician from Stika Alaska, likens contemporary Indigenous electronic music to our history as strong adaptive communities and cultures, and finds the mixing of electronic with other forms of music comes naturally.
Yes ladies and gentlemen, this revolution has been electrified.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #010: “Electric Pow Wow”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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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.
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In our eighth episode, the great oral tradition of our Indigenous cultures thrives in 21st century song. Here on the west coast, our traditional songs are like a cry, a prayer, or a declaration of intent. In our modern songs, storytelling also plays an important part in the expression of Indigenous people.
Ostwelve talks with three singer-songwriters about their personal journeys and what they share through song.
Cree artist Eden Fineday recalls when she learned it’s in her blood – that her desire to write music comes from a long line of storytellers in her clan. Creesinger-songwriter and sideman Jason Burnstick describes the surge of energy he feels when connecting through music, and Mohawk/Cree musician Kait Angus who, after growing up not seeing Indigenous role models in music, talks about becoming an artist that young girls in Native communities could look up to.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #008: “Singer-Songwriters”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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Hip-hop is one of the most popular musical genres in Indian Country. In our seventh episode, we explore why the art of hip-hop is such a strong force in Indigenous music culture. Our host Ostwelve talks with the one and only RedCloud from Huichol Nation about the shift from Indigenous artists being the “native version” of other artists to standing out as originals.
Forerunner in the growing movement of women in hip-hop, Cherokee/Mohawk MC Lakota Jonez weighs in on claiming her place in a male dominated scene.
And Cree artist DJ Creeasian draws parallels from b-boy/hip-hop culture to traditional dance, the drum, our elders and our storytelling culture.
You’ll also hear beats from Cree/Dene artist No-1.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #007: “Native Hip-Hop”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora. In our sixth episode we look at the music from the Six Nations. The Six Nations are a cultural and historical force. Part of that strength in the abundance of musicians who have come from this artistically concentrated area over the years.
RPM talked to blues artist Murray Porter about the Native influence on blues, multi-disciplinary artist and radio host Janet Rogers on her continuation of traditional oratory through spoken word (and feeling “lucky to be be born brown”), and newcomer guitarist/songwriter Joel Johnson who is continuing in the long line of fantastic Six Nations blues artists.
Also, Oneida comedy legend Charlie Hill offers a few wise words.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #006: “Six Nations”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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Country music is undeniably huge in Indian Country. In our fifth episode we talk to three Indigenous country artists about why that is. The delightful Crystal Shawanda, an Ojibwe artist from Wikwemikong now based in Nashville, who has shot to international stardom, shares her thoughts and her brand new single, Love Enough.
Up and coming artist Genevieve Fisher, an 18 year old Chippewa of the Thames First Nation, talks about travelling to Nashville – country music capital of the world – for the first time.
Métis artist Ron Loutit may be an unknown name to some, but he has been writing and performing old school country music for 30 years. Listen to his thoughts and lyrics and learn why the hard time tales of country music are not so far away from the experiences of Indigenous people after all.
DOWNLOAD: RPM Podcast #005 – “Indian Country”
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The RPM podcast is produced & engineered by the amazing Paolo Pietropaolo.
Photo illustration created by the talented Joi Arcand.
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