Indigenous Musician Showcase
Growing up in Canada, I’d argue that it’s quite difficult to concretely define a Canadian “identity” amidst a music industry that has become a melting pot of different artistic personas. There’s really no definite distinction between the mainstreams of Canadian and American-ized “pop” (i.e. Justin Bieber vs. Harry Styles vs. Taylor Swift). Though, after discovering a crowd of Indigenous musicians who I think are distinctly Canadian in their manifestations as artists, I’d like to propose the redefinition of Canadian music to be simply: Indigenous music.
I was never too invested in Canadian artists besides what was being played on Much Music each afternoon after school. Rather, I was engrossed by the bigger mainstream American pop singers. Later, when my grandmother finally introduced me to her Indigenous CDs; they only had traditional pow wow songs, (which I love) but I wondered if there were any other genres that Indigenous musicians produced. Of course, the answer is yes, but I had genuinely never heard or seen any Indigenous artists doing something different. Being so absorbed with my own world of artists (with no intention of expanding my knowledge of artists), I never really had the interest of diving into lesser-known musicians. Now that I have finally taken the time to sit and let the newfound songs sink in, I regret waiting so long. Indigenous musicians don’t only make pow wow songs, there are musicians with tracks in the lo-fi, hip-hop, pop, and folk genres amongst many. Here is a showcase of a few musicians I personally enjoy and think contribute to the idea of Canadian music being its own entity with their unique incorporation of Indigenous culture into their artistry.
Jeremy Parkin
Jeremy Parkin is an artist and producer from Whitehorse and is a part of the Kwanlin Dün First Nation. He not only makes his own songs but is also a part of the hip-hop duo Local Boy with friend Kelvin Smoler. Jeremy produces, while Kelvin writes the songs. Jeremy was the first artist I came across when I started looking for new Indigenous music. As I was browsing Spotify playlists, some of his album art caught my eye. A few of them had a very nostalgic and home-y feeling that always seems to reign in my attention; I love visuals and music that have a cosy vibe. His latest single “nobody is watering the plants” is an instrumental piece that evokes that exact feeling, but with a twist. Starting off relaxed, the track builds into an intense electronic beat that would fit into any raver's playlist.
Anachnid
Anachnid, an Oji-Cree and Mi’kwaq artist from Montreal caught my attention immediately because of her name, which sounds a lot like arachnid. I knew I had to investigate her some more. In an interview with Radio Canada International, Anachnid said her stage name was a mixture of her Indigenous name and her spirit animal, a spider. I really enjoy how seamlessly she blends her love for her culture into every aspect of her artistry and how she uses her lyrics to discuss pressing issues concerning Indigenous peoples within Canada. While she mainly sings in English, she also sprinkles in some lyrics in Algonquin on her more spiritual songs. One of my favourites, Animism, talks about how we need to respect Mother Earth. It's quite refreshing to read what Anachnid has to say about the story behind some of her heaviest tracks that feature themes of Indigenous stereotypes, decolonization, and capitalism, all overlaid atop sharp electronic beats. Her latest singles, Love Alone and Live Alone are low-key tracks that also have an eerie feeling as Anachnid’s voice echoes in the background and she repeats lyrics like a mantra.
Laura Niquay
Laura Niquay // Moteskano (vidéoclip officiel)
Transitioning now into a more indie folk sound, Laura Niquay sings in Atikamekw, the Indigenous language of the region of Quebec from which she hails. Her raw voice merges seamlessly with the guitars at the forefront of many of her songs. Also featuring many heavy topics in her songs, Laura’s 2021 album Waska Matisiwin speaks on suicide, addiction and other distressing themes she’s seen on reserves; it all ties back to her life story, one that she hopes to recount through song. My favourite song off the album, Moteskano, speaks about walking along the path of our ancestors and incorporates pow wow drumming and singing into the otherwise very folk-rock leaning song that I know Of Monsters and Men fans would really enjoy.
Status/Non-Status
Status/Non-Status - Blown Tire
Status/Non-Status, previously known as Whoop-Szo, is an Anishinaabe alternative rock band from Guelph, Ontario that has a catalogue of music that somehow feels familiar and brand new at the same time. Frontman Adam Sturgeon has the voice of a pop-punk singer, but the instrumentals of an indie rock group, a combination that pairs very well together. I don’t understand how they aren’t featured on everyone's token road trip playlist yet! The band name, Status/Non-Status draws attention to the ongoing struggles within Indigenous communities and the lateral violence the Indian Act perpetuates regarding Indigenous identities. Internalised colonialism makes many of us question if we are Indigenous enough; will gaining status make us feel more in tune with our culture? Is it worth it to fight through the weeds of rules and semantics to get the card that officially assigns us to a band that was designed to eventually assimilate us into Canadian culture? All these ideas are discussed within Adam’s lyrics, but to an upbeat tune and emotionally charged singing. All in all, the music leaves you thinking about the issues it touches upon, long after the song ends.
Kinnie Starr
Long time musician Kinnie Starr has had her hand in every genre since the start of her career, incorporating folk, hip-hop, spoken word, and electronic songs into her discography. Creating albums that flow from one song to the next so seamlessly amidst a sea of different genres is a feat that has not been successfully accomplished by many. Being of Mohawk and European descent, Kinnie uses the hip-hop genre as an outlet for discussing blood quantum politics within Canada and the recurring theme highlighted by many Indigenous artists of “how Indigenous is Indigenous enough?” Having been in the music scene since the mid-nineties, Kinnie has curated a massive catalogue of work including work on a few films and eight studio albums, with her ninth scheduled to be released in 2023.
Indigenous artists work so hard to incorporate their culture into all aspects of their work and clearly, it pays off. Their work is reflective of the diversity within Indigenous culture, their geographical background, their Band’s culture and the way in which music ties it all together. The artists in this playlist are a perfect example of the diversity within their sounds and concepts.