Categories: Electronica

Indigenous culture meets electronica…

Today (9 August) is the UN ‘International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples’, and while indigenous culture and electronic music aren’t always considered in the same breath, a bunch of enterprising musicians have sought to change all that.

A Tribe Called Red has been around for ten years, and is comprised of three indigenous artists – producing what they describe as ‘powwow-step’, a cross between ritualistic chanting, electronica, reggae and hip-hop (hence the ‘Tribe Called Quest’ nod).

A PRI.org interview with the trio last year saw band member Tim ‘2oolman’ Hill, describe the Canada-based group’s modus operandi as thus: “We’re making a music for indigenous people. We’ve been misappropriated in film, in media — all of that stuff, forever. We’ve never appropriated ourselves.” Given the ongoing saga over the Dakota Access Pipeline in the US, it’s also somewhat timely…

The band has been fairly prolific, posting most of its best material on YouTube – this one is our favourite though, both for the hypnotic chanting and squelchy synth lines, as well as the trippy video.

Also worth an honourable mention… Check out the band’s latest album here.

Editor

Recent Posts

Orbital’s Paul Hartnoll on the legacy of the ‘Green’ and ‘Brown’ albums

What’s 30-odd years between friends? Pioneering dance act Orbital recently re-released their seminal Green album,…

2 days ago

Leeroy Thornhill set to release new book, ‘Wildfire: My Ten Years Getting High in the Prodigy’

DJ and producer Leeroy Thornhill is perhaps best known for his time as a member…

2 days ago

Roman Flügel releases EP on Erol Alkan’s label, Phantasy Sound

Electronic artist Roman Flügel has made his debut on Erol Alkan's label, Phantasy Sound, with…

3 days ago

New live venue, Outset, set to open in Chicago in June

Chicago's newest live music venue, Outset, located on the outskirts of Lincoln Yards, is set…

4 days ago

Get on the floor… it’s the Long Live House Radio Show

Get your weekend off to the right start with another solid set of quality house music from…

6 days ago

#MyRecordBag – Yet More’s must-have Arabic classics

French/Lebanese producer Yet More has long sought to mix things up – drawing on elements of…

1 week ago