Aboriginal rock

Aboriginal rock refers to a style of music which mixes rock music with the instrumentation and singing styles of Aboriginal people. Two countries with prominent Aboriginal rock scenes are Australia and Canada.

Australia

In Australia, Aboriginal rock mixes rock styles and instruments (e.g. electric (guitar, bass and drums) with Indigenous Australian instruments such as the Didgeridoo and clapsticks. Aboriginal rock is mostly performed by Indigenous bands, although some bands include non-Aboriginal members.

Bands include Yothu Yindi, Us Mob and No Fixed Address. Yothu Yindi, with vocalist Mandawuy Yunupingu has politicised lyrics, such as 1991's "Treaty." Other songs relate more generally to Aboriginal culture. Another major band is the Warumpi Band, which toured with Midnight Oil. The Warumpi Band focus more on the Aboriginal aspects of the music, rather than the rock sound of Yothu Yindi. In the 2000s, Aboriginal bands such as NoKTuRNL have adopted a rap metal or nu metal sound.

Famous songs include Treaty, My Island Home, and Blackfella/Whitefella.

Canada

Canada's aboriginal people include First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Some examples of Canadian Aboriginal rock bands or artists include:

• Leanne Goose is a rock/soul singer-songwriter from Inuvik, NWT, in Canada's Western Arctic. Her music fuses rock, country, blues and northern styles. She is both Inuvialuit and Sahtu Dene and holds 2 nominations for Best Rock and Album Cover Designs at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards, as well as a nominations for Best Rock Album at the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, 2009 Native American Music Awards - Best Pop Recording, 2009 Indian Summer Music Awards - Best Classic Rock Album.

• Wayne Lavallee is a Cree/Métis singer and songwriter whose music fuses a contemporary pop/rock style with traditional Cree chanting.
• George Leach is an Aboriginal Canadian musician from the Sta'atl'imx Nation, in the mountain terrain of Lillooet, British Columbia. His soulful rock-driven music derived from a cherished tradition of Aboriginal and mainstream music.

• White Fire Reed is a Canadian Alternative,Experimental,Hard Rock band that is originally from Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada and now reside in Sarnia,Ontario,Canada. Most press from several Aboriginal newspapers, has described White Fire Reed to the Irish Super Group-U2. White Fire Reed's music within their lyrics and music consists with a blend of sonic reverb's, enriched digital delays, to their ambient guitars and vocals. As of July 2010, White Fire Reed has recorded their debut album at Sugar Tone Productions with 12 new tracks. The Album is called "Positive Change" and will be Released in the early Fall of 2010. You can find White Fire Reed's music online at their websites.

Noted bands include Breach of Trust, Kashtin and Burnt Project 1.

• "Pro-Diggy", an "Aboriginal Metal" band from "Cross Lake , Manitoba" and still many other bands have been on the rise due to the interest of "Metal" on Reserves.

Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards

The Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards acknowledge and honour the keepers, teachers, promoters, creators and performers of Aboriginal music. As well, the awards develop and promote the diversity of all Aboriginal music, celebrate the excellence of Aboriginal music, and recognise the unique vision and musical styles of Aboriginal Canadian musicians, which include traditional chanting and drumming.

Awards are offered in a number of categories, such as blues, folk, and rock. In 2004, the band Eagle & Hawk received three awards for their blend of modern rock and traditional Aboriginal vocals and rhythms on their CD “Mother Earth.” Wayne Lavallee won the Best Album of the Year Award 2004 for his CD “Green Dress,” which fuses a folk-rock acoustic style with traditional Cree chanting. The Best Rap or Hip Hop Album Award went to Team Rezofficial for their CD “TheFoundation.” With members from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, the group was founded by beatmakers Big Stomp and J Mak from Hobbema, Alberta. In 2003, Burnt received two Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards; Best Rock Album and Best Album Design for the CD “Project 1 The Avenue.”

Aboriginal labels and recording studios

• Sweet Grass Records is owned and operated by Ted and Darlene Whitecalf in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. They represent and distribute Aboriginal musicians such as Buffy Sainte-Marie, Red Bull, White Ridge, Stoney Park, Edmund Bull, Mervin Dreaver, Whitefish Jrs. and High Noon.
• The Big Lake Recording Company Inc is an Aboriginal recording label and studio in Northern Alberta. They produce Aboriginal rock, round dance, Pow Wow, country, folk, and World Music.
• Turtle Island Music Inc. is a Native Music Recording Studio company located in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Canada.
• Wilurarra Creative, based in Warburton Ranges, Western Australia develops produces and records Contemporary Indigenous Australian music. Wilurarra Creative Music are specialists in Desert Reggae but also produce country, rock, reggae and gospel.

See also

• Category:Australian Aboriginal art
• List of Indigenous Australian musicians

Further reading

Australia

• Peter Dunbar-Hall, (1997), Music and Meaning: The Aboriginal Rock Album, Australian Aboriginal Studies, 1997/1, pp. 38–47