Manitoba Music
Indigenous Music Celebrates National Indigenous Peoples Day with Mentor Meetings and Virtual Artist Showcase
Accelerator Project to Connect Emerging Indigenous Artists with Industry Mentors, June 21-22
Indigenous Music is connecting emerging Indigenous artists with music industry mentors for the National Indigenous Peoples Day Music Meetings & Artist Showcase.
Running June 21-22, the accelerator project will offer emerging artists an opportunity to meet with and learn from pros working in music festivals, booking, and independent labels. The two-day session will include one-on-one meetings and roundtable discussions, and a showcase of performances from three stellar artists on June 21 at 6PM via Facebook.
The four participants are all actively building their careers on a regional and national level. Up-and-coming hip hop/R&B artist Caid Jones, musician and songwriter Ethan Lyric, and award winning country singer/songwriter Jade Turner will all take part in the mentor sessions and share their music in the artist showcase, while hand drum artist Lisa Muswagon will participate in the meetings.
Mentors include Matt Maw of Red Music Rising, Gilad Caroll of First Date Touring and Real Love Summer Fest, Michelle Szeto of Paquin Entertainment Group, and more.
The event was made possible by the support of FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters.
The National Indigenous Peoples Days Music Meetings & Artist Showcase are part of a busy season of IMDP programming, including a grant writing incubator and the recent launch of Madwewetoon, meaning “make some noise” in Anishinaabemowin, a new monthly playlist on Spotify featuring guest curators and music from artists from across the country.
The IMDP was launched at Manitoba Music in 2004 to support First Nation, Métis, and Inuit artists and music companies in developing sustainable careers in the music industry. The program delivers projects and services that respond to the needs of the industry as identified by a steering committee. The IMDP is funded by the Province of Manitoba and Manitoba Film & Music, and FACTOR through the financial support of the Government of Canada and Canada's private radio broadcasters.
ABOUT THE PARTICIPANTS
Caid Jones
Born in Treaty 1 Winnipeg Manitoba, The 21 year old First Nations/Irish artist Caid Jones is a Recording Artist & the Co-founder of PayAttention Records. He currently specializes in Hip-Hop/R & B, but has shown his vision of becoming a fully immersed musician. Caid Jones is focussed heavily on community outreach, advocacy for indigenous voices in business and is passionate about environmental + social justice. He centers his music around his story in hopes to bring value and relation to those who listen. Speaking storytelling and raising awareness towards world issues in hopes to raise attention and vibration through art.
Ethan Lyric
Ethan Lyric is an 18-year-old Indigenous musician and songwriter out of Winnipeg, MB. He is an up-and-coming artist who has begun to grow a following of young and old music lovers alike. Growing up he was surrounded by music such as country and jazz. These early influences would come together to build his smooth blend of folk, indie, and pop. These influences can be heard displayed on his first EP "Four Divided by Three and Whatever is Left to See". Though still young, his endearing yet simple melodies will be sure to have you humming along in no time.
Jade Turner
Jade Turner is an award winning songwriter, performer, and rising star in Manitoba’s country scene. Winner of 2017’s IMA Best Country Album and 2018’s MCMA Emerging Artist of the Year award, with many more nominations to boot, Jade Turner is well on her way to making her mark on the Canadian music scene, and Turner feels the best is yet to come.
Following the release of her last Single “Hangover Blues”, which has well over 100k streams on Spotify, comes Jades brand new song ‘Somehow Someone”! This song is a beautiful and fun take on having faith that Creator (Manito in Nehiyawewin) is always there for you and somehow finds his way to you through music.
“Music is healing and this song definitely opens your heart to feel like someone’s got your back. I know how much music has helped me so I wanted to try to write a song that can also help someone else. Those are the best kind of songs.” - Jade.
Lisa Muswagon
Tansi, My name is Lisa Muswagon and I am a Nakoda Cree Member of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation also known as Cross Lake. I’m a hand drum singer who performs contemporary music from our culture who received the hand drum at a young age from my father and performed with it since. My upbringing in culture and traditions inspired the art of storytelling and songwriting. My most recent works are collaborations with my husband Hellnback in the hip hop genre, I’ve learned how to merge acapella with hip hop beats to contribute new sounds to music. Music is important to our family because it helps us express the journey we are on and to share the message of healing and hope. We are reclaiming our traditions and language because our children are watching.