Indigenous (Native)

Snotty Nose Rez Kids bring their provocative hip hop to the Opera House

The Indigenous rap group are touring to promote their most recent album, Red Future. by Nick Krewen Special to the Star For Snotty Nose Rez Kids, all roads have led to the rap duo’s latest and most powerful album, Red Future. The project — their first for a major label, Sony Canada — finds Darren “Young D” Metz and Quinton “Yung Trybez” Nyce, of Kitamaat Village in British Columbia, issuing an angry 16-track…

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Indigenous music is more visible in Canada — Digging Roots is part of the groundswell

The duo of ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache are sharing their experiences and stirring things up through their music. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Canadian contemporary Indigenous music is enjoying an all-time high in visibility and much of that has to do with the band Digging Roots. Formed in 2004 and led by the “life partner” duo of ShoShona Kish and Raven Kanatakta Polson-Lahache, the group is…


Why the Juno Awards matter to artists: Just ask William Prince, Caity Gyorgy or Loud Luxury

Being nominated, winning or just being on the televised awards show can have tangible benefits, but even off-camera moments can have an impact. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star Have you ever wondered about the impact of being nominated for – or winning – a Juno Award has on an artist’s career? Well, wonder no more: it turns out it can be quite substantial. For example, when Caity Gyorgy…


The Halluci Nation opens Toronto’s music venue, the TD Music Hall

“There’s not enough 500-seater rooms around. To see a new one opening is important for the music scene in general,” says Bear Witness. By Nick Krewen Special to the Star On Friday, downtown Toronto will welcome a brand new venue with a concert headlined by The Halluci Nation: TD Music Hall. Located on the fourth floor of the Allied Music Centre building and complex that connects to the revitalized Massey…


Nagamo Publishing looks to give a voice to performers, composers, artists of the Indigenous hubs of Canada

Nick Krewen Special to the Star After two years of building its production library, Toronto-based Nagamo Publishing is ready to take on the world. As the first exclusively Indigenous-created music production library and composer agency on the planet to serve media needs, Nigel Irwin, Nagamo Co-Creative Director and Composer says the shingle offers a lot of variety.  “Our bread and butter is contemporary music fused with traditional sounds, as well…