Indigenous musicians find new ways to create, promote and thrive during pandemic

This episode originally aired on January 24, 2021.

Musicians are always finding ways to explore new sounds, new ideas or new spaces — but the ongoing pandemic has left many looking for new ways to thrive as artists.

This week on Unreserved, we visit with a few Indigenous artists to hear how they're keeping the music going in 2021.

Hawaiian band Nā Wai 'Ehā is made up of two sets of brothers — though they didn't know each other well growing up. But once they started playing together, they found their family connections went way back. 

A daring new interpretation of Handel's Messiah is really challenging what audiences expect from classical — and Indigenous — music. Against the Grain Theatre released Messiah/Complex late last year. Diyet, a musician from Kluane First Nation in Yukon, performs the song, O Thou Tellest Good Tidings to Zion, in the Southern Tutchone language. She'll explain how she considered her own interpretation of the song.

When Matthew Cardinal promotes his new solo record, Asterisms, he doesn't share a link to a streaming service. Instead, Cardinal directs fans to a website dedicated to helping smaller artists cut out the middleman, by making direct sales to their audience.

Activist, musician, residential school and Sixties Scoop survivor Curtis Shingoose Jonnie died from complications after contracting COVID-19 in January. He helped create the Indigenous music category at the JUNO Awards, and was inducted into the Manitoba Music Hall of Fame in 2012. His daughter, Nahanni Shingoose, shares what she will remember about her dad.

This week's playlist:

Kinnie Starr — Win or Lose

Nā Wai 'Ehā — No Kalani He Inoa

Diyet — O Thou Tellest Good Tidings to Zion

J-MILLA — 60K+

Matthew Cardinal — July 23rd

Shingoose — Silver River