Alaska born and raised band Portugal. The Man has released their new single, “Dummy,” streaming now on the RIVR. Look out for their upcoming tour this summer, as the Grammy Award-winning band also announced tour dates for their upcoming tour alongside their upcoming ninth studio album Chris Black Changed My Life out June 23. Dummy is now streaming on all platforms via Atlantic records accompanied by the official music video below.
Cree-Métis singer-songwriter, producer, and rapper Joey Stylez has dropped his new album titled “Horsethieves & Bootleggers.” The album tackles various issues facing Indigenous communities in North America. Stylez was born and raised in Saskatchewan and is married to Haida singer-songwriter, Carsen Grey. Check out the newly dropped video for Stylez’ latest single “Finally,” featuring Lancelot Knight.
K̲aachgóon Rochelle Smallwood (@Tlingit.Witch) recently reflected with Rising Indigenous Voices Radio on the recent 2022 holiday season, the importance of shopping Indigenous-owned brands year round.
How important are the holidays to you?
When I was gifted my second Lingít name, K̲aachgóon, I took on her personality. She was my great-great-grandmother who was alive when I was born and gave me my first Lingít name, Yeeskanaalx Tláa. K̲aachgóon wasn’t raised to be a holiday person and ever since I was given her name I have not been too into the holidays myself, with the exception of Halloween!
What are your typical holiday traditions?
We used to celebrate Russian Christmas when I was younger on January 7th just for fun and my mom would make Russian tea cakes and bring them over to my grandma’s house. I still prefer to celebrate on that day when there is not all of the rush and chaos that happens on December 25th. I like spending time with just a few loved ones and giving either thrifted or handmade gifts.
Which Indigenous owned brands should people shop at this holiday season?
There are so many of my friends who are Indigenous artists and I don’t even know where to begin to list them all! I want everyone to support them all. I’m afraid to even make a list because I know I’ll forget some and later it’ll haunt me. I’d say do your research and find which artists call to you!
Good gift to get for your favorite Native relative?
Something that you put thought and love into! It doesn’t have to be fancy or expensive. You can share your time, gifts, and humor with one another. All of that is felt and appreciated.
How important is it to shop Indigenous brands year long and beyond just the holidays?
It is important to support Indigenous artists however you can whether that means buying or sharing their work. Just uplifting them however you can and knowing their worth. Also, Indigenous artists go beyond beaded earrings. Although, don’t get me wrong, beaded earrings are my weakness and you can never have too many pairs. I just encourage you to think outside of the box of what it means to be and support Indigenous artists. You can hire Native musicians, photographers, designers, videographers, and storytellers. The possibilities are endless. Who we are, we can’t be contained in a box or limited to a romanticized version of who we are and what we can be.
What was your favorite gift from Christmas that you received this holiday season?
This year for Christmas all I asked for was for some family photos. I love taking photos and capturing the time we are in now. My grandma was comfy in her pajamas but offered to take photos of my kiddo and me and our two cats. It’s just the little things and moments that mean the most.
K̲aachgóon Rochelle Smallwood is a Lingít Visual Storyteller based in her ancestral homeland in Áak’w Ḵwáan Aaní, Juneau-Douglas, Alaska. She’s previously studied Art and Alaska Native Languages and Studies at the University of Alaska Southeast in Juneau, and Fashion Design at Central Saint Martins in London, she is currently studying Cinematic Arts online at the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe.
Aysanabee, the Toronto-based artist from Sandy Lake First Nation, releases his debut album WATIN today. WATIN, named for his grandfather who is featured in audio Interludes throughout the collection, is a strong statement from an artist who is one of the most exciting and active new artists in the country.
From signing to Ishkōdé Records in 2021, Aysanabee has hit #1 on CBC Music’s Top 20, recorded songs from WATIN for Apple Music’s Home Session and CBC’s The Intro, opened for The National, Half Moon Run and July Talk, and was selected for the 2022-2023 JUNO Master Class Artist Development Program.
In celebration of the upcoming Halloween holiday, PIQSIQ duo members Inuksuk Mackay and Tiffany Ayalik have just released their latest new single, “Ikitaa,” which means “light it” in Inuinnaqtun. PIQSIQ released the single “in a time of sublime darkness, we offer a few flickers of light, not to extinguish the dark, but as a companion to it to help illuminate the unexplored corners of parts unknown.” Check out the live performance below and also stream on Rising Indigenous Voices Radio.
Known for incorporating both Spanish and English interchangeably into his music, Xiuhtezcatl just released “San.” Xiuhtezcatl has performed and collaborated with artists such as Raury, WILLOW, Jaden and Shailene Woodley.
Ego Death, the third single from Aysanabee’s debut album, Watin, arrives ahead in advance of the album’s full release date on November 4, 2022. Ego Death is about the complete loss of self-identity and the realization that one might not be the things they have identified with. Check out the new single now streaming exclusively on Rising Indigenous Voices Radio.
Following the release “I’M GOOD,” the Snotty Nose Rez Kids are back with their latest single, “TRENDSETTER.” The new single sees the Anishinaabe duo Trybez and D drawing attention to all the ways they embody the Boujee Native aesthetic: confidence, style, and talent. Check out the new single below and stream now exclusively on Rising Indigenous Voices Radio.
Yup’ik Artist Byron Nicholai has just released his latest single “Quyatuunga (Thankful)”. Nicholai has previously won the 2014 Alaska Federation of Natives President’s Award and the 2015 Alaskan Spirit of Youth award.
Carson Gray has just released her latest EP Notes to Self, marking the Haida songwriter’s second EP of 2022 and the follow-up to Each Moment. The new EP is described as a “back to basics” affair. Gray is also released her new video for “Alive.” Enjoy the newly released video below and to stream the full length album now on our web stream!