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Native America Calling runs down some of the standout Indigenous tracks from the past year. We get expert recommendations from The Mainstream‘s Brett Maybee (Seneca), Indigenous in Music’s Larry K (Ho-Chunk), and Sounds of Survivance’s Tory J (Quinault) from KEXP. They give us a wide range of selections that include rock, folk, jazz-fusion, soul, and more, in addition to the insightful stories behind the music. We wrap up the 2024 Native Playlist with music you don’t want to miss.

Break 1 Music: Aster and daffodils (song) THRONE (artist) Singing Bear Speaks (album)

Break 1 Music: Ridin’ Out the Storm (song) Samantha Crain (artist)

Top five artists and songs of 2024 picked by guests and staff:

Larry K’s 2024 top artists and songs:

1. “Ocean Child I Am” by Khu.éex’
2. “Strawberries and Champagne” by Indian City
3. “Ista Nts Ali” by Nuxalk Radio
4. “Bay City Blues” by The Bloodshots
5. “Movimento” by Jalmy

Tory J’s 2024 top artists and their songs:

1. “In My Way” by Liv Rion
2. “Purity” by Indian Giver
3. “Seeing Two” by Deerlady
4. “Glass in The Sage” by Under Exile”
5. Carefree” by Wyatt C. Louis

Brett Maybee’s 2024 top artists and songs:

1. “Reservation Road” by Nadjiwan
2. “Bounce, Boogie & Bump” by C.W. Ayon
3. “Ridin’ Out the Storm” by Samantha Crain
4. “Sugarcane” by Mali Obomsawin
5. “FEE FI FO FUM” by Mato Wayuhi (feat. Black Belt Eagle Scout)

Honorable Mention: “Ocean Child I Am” by Khu.éex’

Shawn Spruce’s 2024 top artists and songs:

1. “Who’s Your Favorite Indian” by The Jir Project
2. “Thunder Medicine” by Geneviève Gros-Louis
3. “Growing Pains” by Sage Nizhoni
4. “Last Call” by Melody McArthur
5. [Posthumously] “Doctor My Eyes” by Jackson Browne (featuring Jesse Ed Davis)

Andi Murphy (producer) 2024 top artists and songs:

1. “COME TO LIFE” by Toni Heartless
2. “Everyday” by Celeigh Cardinal
3. “We Up” by Barkaa
4. “KALEIDOSCOPE” by Snotty Nose Rez Kids feat. Travis Thompson
5. “Warriors” by Black Braid

Sol Traverso (producer) 2024 top artists and songs:

1. “Dirt Roads” by Tia Wood
2. “Brown Fool Eyes” – Hataallii
3. “Alpha and Omega” by The Zonies
4. “Slash and Gash” by Red-209
5. “RESIDENT EVIL” by Toni Heartless

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In his newest album, “Waiting for a Sign,” Hitaałiinez Wheeler (Diné), better known as ‘Hitaałii,’ takes listeners through Navajo country with his signature hazy and dreamy aesthetic. Sierra Kihega (Otoe-Missouria and Keetoowah Cherokee), who goes by Sierra Spirit, released new singles from her forthcoming collection of indie pop songs, “cointoss,” about personal growth. We’ll talk with these Indigenous artists about their new tunes to add to your Native Playlist.

Break 1 Music: Ghost [Stripped] (song) Sierra Spirit (artist)

Break 2 Music: Mr. Businessman’s Blues (song) DM Lafortune (artist) Beauty and Hard Times (album)

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Violinist, composer, and producer Geneviève Gros-Louis has a busy schedule of solo and group performances and discussions leading up to the release of her new album that celebrates Wendat culture and talent. She captivated the audience at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival with a piece composed specifically for the premiere of the film, Killers of the Flower Moon. She also composed the score to a season of National Geographic’s series, Life Below Zero: First Alaskans. Gros-Louis returns to the Native America Calling studio with live performances of her work.

Plus, we’ll catch up with organizers of the Pathways Indigenous Arts Festival in Santa Fe, New Mexico this weekend. We’ll talk about the Native art, music and film being featured this weekend.

GUESTS

Geneviève Gros-Louis (Huron-Wendat), composer, violinist, and music producer

Lonnie Bernally (Diné), development director of the Poeh Cultural Center

Jacob Shije (Santa Clara Pueblo), musician and marketing manager of the Poeh Cultural Center

 

Break 1 Music: Thunder Medicine (song) Geneviève Gros-Louis (artist)

Break 2 Music: Our Mother the Earth [Feat. Dr. Duke Redbird] (song) Sultans of String (artist)

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A good playlist makes the summer heat bearable and sets the mood on an invigorating road trip. In his new album titled STANKFACE STANDING SOLDIER, composer and hip-hop artist Mato Wayuhi brings listeners along on his journey with beats that range from relaxing to energetic and melodic stories that keep you thinking. Toni Heartless mixes hip-hop, punk, and goth genres in a danceable and edgy new album called DARK DAYS. And Juno-award winning artist Celeigh Cardinal summons personal strength in a couple of new singles just ahead of the June 21 release of her newest album, Boundless Possibilities. We’ll talk with Mato, Toni, and Celeigh about new music that you can add to your summer road trip playlist.

GUESTS

Mato Wayuhi (Oglala Lakota), composer, musician, and rapper

Toni Heartless (Diné, Choctaw, Filipino) artist

Celeigh Cardinal (Cree Métis), artist

Break 1 Music: Feels Like (song) Nataanii Means (artist)

Break 2 Music: Bigfoot (song) Bobby Bullet (Artist) Bigfoot (album)

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On a typical day, Scott George is making sure elders and others at the Citizen Potawatomi Nation have safe and secure housing. Now, he’s headed to the Academy Awards for the song, “Wahzhazhe,” he and other Osage traditional singers perform that appears on the film “Killers of the Flower Moon”. And after releasing her first solo album, Odanak First Nation musician Mali Obomsawin is back in a collaboration, Deerlady’s “Greatest Hits,” that explores “relationships under colonialism.”

Break 1 Music: Bounty (song) Deerlady, Mali Obomsawin, Magdalena Abrego, (artist) Greatest Hits (album)

Break 2 Music:  Muskwa Dance (feat. Quinton Tootoosis & Dawn Desmarais) (song) Dallas Arcand (artist) Modern Day Warrior (album)

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Hopi musician and community leader Clark Tenakhongva pays tribute to Bears Ears Monument on his newly released album, “Hon Muru (Bear’s Ears).” The album features flutes, gentle percussion, and vocals in Hopi that make for a contemplative listen. Thursday on Native America Calling in an encore presentation of our regular feature “Native Playlist”, Shawn Spruce talks with Tenakhongva about creating the album and catches up on his recent work on environmental conservation.

Break 1 Music: Swirling Rain (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Hon Muru [Bear’s Ears] (album)

Break 2 Music: Turtle Island Reggae (song) Quese IMC & Cempoalli 20 (artist) Osahwuh (album)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 55:39 — 38.2MB) | Embed

Hopi musician and community leader Clark Tenakhongva pays tribute to Bears Ears Monument on his newly released album, “Hon Muru (Bear’s Ears).” The album features flutes, gentle percussion, and vocals in Hopi that make for a contemplative listen. Wednesday on Native America Calling in our regular feature “Native Playlist”, Shawn Spruce talks with Tenakhongva about creating the album and catches up on his recent work on environmental conservation.

Break 1 Music: Swirling Rain (song) Clark Tenakhongva (artist) Hon Muru [Bear’s Ears] (album)

Break 2 Music: Crossroad Blues (song) Lakota John (artist) Lakota John and Kin (album)

 

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Marc Meriläinen (Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation) helps bring Nadjiwan’s new album The Great Sea to life through his First Nation lens; Saltwater Hank (Ts’msyen)’s vocals in his Native language soar over a brooding country mix on Gal’uunx wil lu Holtga Liimi; and Brock Stonefish (Lenape/Delaware) puts a roots/blues beat behind stories of MMIP, boarding school trauma, and even a jungle dress song on Turtle Island. We’ll hear from all three musicians this Friday with host Shawn Spruce.

Break 1 music: Ndo’o Yaan (song) Saltwater Hank (artist) G̱al’üünx Wil Lu Holtga Liimi (album)

Break 2 music: Atomic (song) Sunburnt Stone (artist) El Navaho (album)