- Playing
- RPM Podcast #010: “Electric Pow Wow”
- From
- Lynn Booth
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.
Also in the The RPM Podcast series
RPM Podcast #014: “Mesoamerica”
(21:33)
From: Lynn Booth
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.
RPM Podcast #013: “Motherhood”
(21:33)
From: Lynn Booth
In Episode 13, RPM looks at Indigenous motherhood and music.
RPM Podcast #012: “Revitalization”
(22:56)
From: Lynn Booth
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 ...
RPM Podcast #011: “Music is the Medicine”
(21:40)
From: Lynn Booth
In our 11th episode, we talk with one of the hardest working musicians on Turtle Island – Mohawk blues-rocker Derek Miller.
RPM Podcast #009: “Indigenous Rock”
(20:32)
From: Lynn Booth
In episode nine, RPM turns up the volume on Indigenous rock music, from metal to punk.
RPM Podcast #008: “Singer-Songwriters”
(21:37)
From: Lynn Booth
In our eighth episode, the great oral tradition of our Indigenous cultures thrives in 21st century song.
RPM Podcast #007: “Native Hip-Hop”
(18:48)
From: Lynn Booth
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.
RPM Podcast #006: “Six Nations”
(21:33)
From: Lynn Booth
Mohawk, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Seneca and Tuscarora. In our sixth episode we look at the music from the Six Nations.
RPM Podcast #005: “Indian Country”
(21:38)
From: Lynn Booth
Country music is undeniably huge in Indian Country. In our fifth episode we talk to three Indigenous country artists about why that is.
RPM Podcast #004: “New Traditional”
(21:25)
From: Lynn Booth
In our fourth episode, RPM looks at New Traditional, beginning with the question: What is it? And how can something be new and traditional at the same time?
Related Pieces
Piece Description
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.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RPM Theme Music | Paolo Pietropaolon/a | n/a. | n/a | 2011 | 00:24 |
| Longhouse | Young Jibwe | n/a. | n/a | 2011 | 00:39 |
| Pow Wow Step | A Tribe Called Red | n/a. | Independent | 2011 | 00:32 |
| Beat 2 | Young Jibwe | n/a. | n/a | 2011 | 00:32 |
| Here We Come | No-1 | Kreuzberg EP. | we make with | 2007 | 00:14 |
| Red Skin Girl (ATCR Remix) | A Tribe Called Red / Northern Cree | n/a. | Independent | 2011 | 02:39 |
| Native Puppy Love | A Tribe Called Red | n/a. | Independent | 2011 | 01:53 |
| Pow Wow Step | A Tribe Called Red | n/a. | Independent | 2011 | 01:58 |
| Electric Pow Wow Drum | A Tribe Called Red | n/a. | Independent | 2011 | 02:44 |
| Snakes and Ladders | Cris Derksen | The Cusp. | Independent | 2010 | 02:04 |
| What Did You Do Boy? | Cris Derksen | The Cusp. | Independent | 2010 | 03:07 |
| Electric Indians | Indian Nick | Digital Indigenous. | Independent | 2011 | 01:43 |
| History Repeats (Astronamar Remix) | Indian Nick | Digital Indigenous. | Independent | 2011 | 01:36 |
| Electric Pow Wow Drum | A Tribe Called Red | n/a. | Independent | 2011 | 01:39 |
Additional Credits
Ostwelve - Host
Jarrett Martineau - Creative Producer
Christa Couture - Production Manager
Related Website
