Tag Archive Silla and Rise

ByGD

Music I Like – Throat Singing

It’s funny. I don’t really think of throat singing as something I like. But whenever I stumble on a musician who does it, I find myself intrigued, and often it turns out to be music I like.

Genghis Blues

I suspect that my interest in throat singing started when I saw the movie Genghis Blues at the Seattle International Film Festival. In that movie San Francisco bluesman and composer Paul Peña makes a musical pilgrimage to Tuva. For a long time after that, I thought Tuva was the only place where the technique was used. I’m sure there’s a soundtrack out there somewhere.

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Tanya Tagaq

My next experience with throat singing was when music writer Kim Kelly started to champion the music of Canadian First Nations artist Tanya Tagaq. (Actually, I had heard her earlier on Bjork’s album Medúlla, but didn’t know what I was hearing.) Her latest album is the brilliantly named Toothsayer.

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Silla + Rise

I wrote about them recently in a post on indigenous artists.

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Nytt Land

I wrote about these guys before. Inspired by the traditional music of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, Old Icelandic epics, and the atmosphere of classic Norwegian black metal, Nytt Land is multiple flavors of my catnip. They make their own traditional instruments and you guessed, they also include throat singing. Check out their latest full album, Odal.

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Alvin Curran

Canti Illuminati by Alvin Curran is a modern classical work that incorporates throat singing. It lacks the immediacy of more traditional presentations but it’s interesting as a recontextualization of ancient techniques.

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Nine Treasures

Nine Treasures is so good. To be honest, I don’t really hear the throat singing on Wisdom Eyes. But it’s tagged “mongolian throat singing” and I’ll take any excuse to talk about this band. Blues, heavy metal, Mongolian folk melodies and instrumentation. You can’t go wrong with this.

ByGD

Music I Liked – Indigenous Artists

Technically speaking, I have indigenous ancestors. But several generations of whiteness separates me and any Native cultural heritage. So I am always curious when I hear about artists who do have that background. And when I find them, they almost always make music I like.

Silla + Rise

Tanya Tagaq is the most famous Canadian throat singing crossover, but she is quick to clarify that she had to develop her own style because she was isolated from other singers when she was in college. The trio in Silla + Rise maybe are a bit more traditional in that they pair off. But throat singers Cynthia Pitsiulak (Kimmirut, NU) and Charlotte Qamaniq (Iglulik, NU), and DJ, producer, and dancer Rise Ashen are still innovating. Their Debut pairs traditional throat singing with dance beats.

Jeremy Dutcher

Another First Nations artist, Jeremy Dutcher is also a trained operatic tenor. In Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa he gives an operatic interpretation of his tribe’s water-themed songs that were recorded on wax cylinders and had been sitting in a museum collection for over 100 years.

Digawolf

I wrote about Digawolf before. Still cool.

Khu.eex’

I have also written about Khu.eex’ before. I remain intrigued and perplexed by their hybrid style.

Black Belt Eagle Scout

Indigenous and indie are natural companions, as Black Belt Eagle Scout demonstrates beautifully. I’ve already shared my love of this local-to-me artist who scratches the same itch as Thao Nguyen.

Snotty Nose Rez Kids

Growing up in Arizona, heavy metal and hip-hop were natural enemies, and I saw lots of Indians at heavy metal concerts. But that was a false dichotomy, and now I know hip hop resonates on the rez, too. I first heard the connection in the Snoop-like vocals of Khu.eex’. Now there’s Snotty Nose Rez Kids, a Haisla duo whose album Trapline references the ongoing land rights struggle in British Columbia.

At first I thought there was a little too much Macklemore in their in flows. But I also heard Childish Gambino and lots of other tasty ingredients there. Then I heard

Shifting perception and raising a fist

Don’t forget you was raised with your face in a tit

“Son of a Matriarch” featuring The Sorority

and now Snotty Nose Rez Kids can do no wrong in my book. Plus now I have to check out The Sorority.