#aboriginal music

[shamandrummer]

Music as a Political Act

Cree singer Sandy Scofield sees her music as a pathway for raising awareness and celebrating culture.

Sandy Scofield is a multi-award winning composer, musician, musical director, singer, songwriter and performer. She has studied classical, jazz, African, Indonesian gamelan and electro-acoustic music. Leader of the all female Cree band of singers, Iskwew, Sandy started making music before she can even remember and has played and sung in many bands over the years. From Cajun to rock, classical and folk, the foundation she had before coming into Cree Aboriginal music incorporated a wide variety of sounds and instruments. She plays piano and guitar in addition to being a singer.

Scofield came to Aboriginal music later in life, embracing her heritage through song. She says, "I went to the Banff Centre for the Arts in 1995 and did a ten-week intensive with Sadie Buck from Six Nations in Canada -- she had this residency for urban women who grew up without oral tradition and she brought in women elders from all around Turtle Island (North America) to teach them their traditions, songs, and song traditions."

When asked whether she feels that what Iskwew does is political, Sandy said, "We have many educated people holding their PhDs and working as doctors and this and that who are changing how society views First Nations people, but largely people still think of them as the drunks down on Skid Road, and that's all part of… So, in answer to your question -- Yeah."

What we're doing is politically showing people the pride in our culture. The fact that we come out and wear regalia, just to show very basic cultural teachings, we're trying to present through the songs. I have a floating group of women based on who's available that comes with me, but some of the other women who've gigged with me are just as vocal as I am onstage. It isn't like I'm leading every song and I'm talking all the time. Some of the other women get in there and talk and talk about teachings and talk about what we're wearing and talk about our role as women in our culture and how we're esteemed.

So that's what we do, and when we get to go play international festivals it's really important because, you know, one of the girls that sings with me, she went to Italy and some guy said to her, 'Where are you from?' and she said, 'Well, I'm Cree Indian from Canada,' and he was just aghast, he was saying, 'No. They were all extinct. They don't exist,' and she's going 'You're crazy!' You know?

But there's crazy ideas out there, so especially if we're on the international stage, we're trying to show the very best of who we are. And in Canada, half of our work is in what we call Indian Country, which is all of the country except dominant society doesn't see us. So we perform for other native people or we perform for dominant society, and so when we perform for dominant society, it's the same thing again. We're trying to show the really fantastic things about our cultures, our collective culture which really concerns community, egalitarianism to a certain extent, just pride, culture, the interconnectedness of all life and that we’re interconnected with one another -- things like that."

[jack-a-lass]

Btw if you want to hear some sick as music, the Tiwi Strong Women's Group has some albums on Spotify.

[on-a-quest]

Breanna Lee Wilson singing Took the Children Away on Australia's Got Talent 🥺😭❤️ Truly beautiful and moving.

[artistbookings]

The Green Hands - Reggae Band

The heart and soul of The Green Hand Band beats with the indomitable spirit of Tim Gray, a Gumbaynggirr/kumbainggar and Wiradjiri Man. Hailing from Macksville on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales, Tim's early life was a rugged path filled with hardships, including homelessness and battles with addiction. However, through unwavering determination and relentless hard work, Tim transformed his destiny into that of a prosperous businessman and an enduring inspiration.

Tim's musical odyssey began at Tafe, where he honed his craft and his dream. The Green Hand Band, a dynamic 7-piece reggae ensemble, emerged as a beacon of cultural connection and positivity. With a mission to shatter barriers, embrace ancestral heritage, and enrich Aboriginal culture, the band is now celebrated for their original compositions and electrifying reggae-inspired covers.

Elevate your next major event with the soulful rhythms and uplifting melodies of The Green Hand Band. Their music transcends boundaries and ignites a sense of unity, making them the perfect choice for your next gig.

Ready to infuse your event with the spirit of reggae and cultural celebration? Contact us today and let The Greenhands bring the magic to your stage. Experience the power of music, unity, and inspiration with The Green Hand Band!

[sonic-vacation]

Live daily

[auroramercedes]

˚｡⋆mca of the beastie boys⋆｡˚

the reference i used was from the fight for your right video btw

[kohakuthefae]

Congratulations Djo!!

Djo recently became No.1 on Spotify Global with End of Beginning and was awarded the BritCertified Silver Award with EoB as well!! 🎊

A huge congratulations and celebration for Djo. Words cannot describe how much I love this song, but I’ll try. ✍🏽

End of Beginning released September 16th 2022, a time where I was really struggling, two months after I was losing my ability to walk, my FND was getting gradually worse and it was before official diagnosis in November 2022. Funnily enough, was the 16th. I drew the initial pencil sketch on the airplane while listening to the song, how cool is that?? Haha

I’ve had a lot of thought and while listening to the song, I released I don’t have a ‘Chicago’. Instead of a place, it’s people. Versions of me that I was when I have had these friendships, relationships and passings with folks. Certain songs and my art that hold so many memories, that I can look back on and see how much I’ve changed, improved and grown.

Djo, your song, your music as a whole has really helped me out during such an incredibly difficult time and saved me more times than I can count.

I’ve been enjoying your interviews and listening to you talk about EoB but also the DECIDE album as a whole. Plus learning new things and getting to know more about you and your music has been delightful.

I’m so thankful and grateful I am able to listen to it and be alive to this day to see you grow as a music artist; to witness you do creative and passionate things. The things you love.

Take care, stay safe, stay gold.

💜🪻

[micewithknives]

top 5 archeological finds and also top 5 pop albums

Someone else asked me archaeology finds personally so we're going to role with generally for this one:

Australia ones specifically, because I think theyre kinda underrated in the general scheme of global archaeology

The Lake Mungo burials (New South Wales). Definitely not underrated, the area is now world heritage listed. But they made SUCH an important impact on repatriation legislation, and the way Aboriginal people are allowed to interact with the archaeology of their own ancestors. I literally recommend the Message From Mungo documentary to everyone.

Murujuga underwater archaeology in Western Australia - a 7000 year old underwater site, which many hope will a) impact the way Australia's underwater heritage legislation interacts with Indigenous heritage (its currently very lacking) and b) gives more hope and research avenues for more Indigenous underwater archaeology projects in future

The extent of the (now world heritage listed) Budj Bim cultural landscape (Victoria), and specifically their eel trapping and storage areas

The various Yolŋu ship rock arts in Arnhem Land (Northern Territory) (they include some VERY detailed Indonesian ships, and as more research is being done on them, it appears to be increasing the amount of time Makassan people have been in contact with northern Australia).

Mabuyang Island (Torres Strait) excavations. Excavations from the early 2000s in the Torres Strait islands have found not only extensive trade with Papua New Guinea, including ceramics. But ALSO evidence of local pottery making on some islands. This is the only area in Australia known to have participated in ceramic technology so far.

Top 5 pop albums: (Sadie I literally had GOOGLE whether a bunch of albums were pop music, so i am taking this question... loosely). (Apparently i listen to a lot of pop-adjacent genres, but pretty much no pop music generally, however i will admit it makes for the MOST Superior Cleaning Playlists).

Stories for Monday - The Summer Set TECHNICALLY pop-rock according to google but i dont care, bc it will always be one of my favourite albums ever. (I struggle with whole albums sometimes but i will always listen to this one the whole way through).

Misfits - The Valla. Idk what genre this counts as. but i like it.

The Good Witch - Maisie Peters

Treaty - Yothu Yindi Not an album. Also not technically pop. BUT it was on the top hits radio playing at the shops the other day and it was stuck in my head all week. So it counts. I said so.

Healing Hurts - BLÜ EYES

[ancientorigins]

Cherished by Australian Aboriginal peoples for over 1,500 years, this ancient and mesmerizing wind instrument echoes with peace and healing. Essential in our troubled world.

[hasellia]

Eyy, so @raptorbricks tagged me for this like a week ago and I'm finally got around to it! Like what Raptorbricks did I added links to the youtube sources of the soungs, plus I added some links to translations for some of the songs.

“Rules: shuffle your ‘on repeat’ playlist and post the first ten tracks, then tag ten people.”

10 songs from my “on repeat” mix on shuffle:

The Bug Collector - Haley Henderickx

Musicawi silt | Getatchew Mekuria & The Ex (You don't need lyrics, just listen to the guitar and saxophone).

The Wisp Sings - Winter Aid

ingerlaliinnaleqaagut - Nanook (Translated Lyrics)

つきをみた (tsukiwomita) - Sohta (想太) | (YT link to an ENG fansub) | (Niconico link here)

Weather - Luck Luster

Kereshmeh; Reng-e Shalakhu (Persia: Ancient era) - Kazem Davoudian and Geoff Knorr | (WARNING PARADOX GAMES OST) (Link to the original Karamesh) (Link to original Reng-‌e Shalakhu)

ᐃᒥᖅᑕᖅ (Imiqtaq) - Riit | (Translated lyrics)

Dhaliwuy Bay - Yirrmal

Moon is Sharp - Grouper

... I swear I listen to more than just non-english songs and milennial Tiktok music, the algorithm just wanted to expose me.

I might reblog this later to give a quick summery of the context of each song and some of my reccomended videos for getting into non-western music.

Now for the Ten I choose to expose their music taste are...

@grapeagata @broccoli-bitching @crocadilly @enchanteddaydreams @ofals @sock-puppet-dinosaur @tootheyes @justgoji @theolminitiative and @ratbonesart.

No actual obligation to join if you don't want to. However, anyone is free to join in if they want, just make sure to tag me!

[kari-berry]

Can’t wait till next year’s Emotion! 🥰

[richo1915]

I have only just seen this. Banger of an add. Ol’Johhny will do alright out of it. Good to see a bit of nostalgia every now and then. It’s a pity it had to be made. Australian’s can be their own worst enemy sometimes.

[artistbookings]

Breanna

Breanna Lee is the teenage sensation from Melbourne's inner north who wows audiences with her inspiring vocal performances. With a natural gift for the performing arts, she has already played at festivals and community events.

[kkcard85]

The fuck happened? Not sure what I’m doing but seriously; somebody show me what I’m doing wrong 😑 not sure why ya’ll couldn’t hear me > give me a moment to figure this out and hopefully 🙏 we fix this mess ~

[kohakuthefae]

Muse. 💜🪻

This interview look really made me want to draw him. So I did. 🥰🫶🏽