The fact that there were so many musicians to consider for the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award for best new artist speaks to the vitality of the Aboriginal music scene. Unfortunately, when the award is given out on Nov. 2, there can only be one winner.
Here are the five nominees:
JB the First Lady
JB, also known as Jerilynn Snuxyaltwa Webster, is a Vancouver-based hip-hop artist, beatboxer and youth educator. Her flow, not to mention her style, is definitely unmistakable.
This is the smooth sound of "Get Ready, Get Steady."
Kristi Lane Sinclair
She’s opened for Buffy Sainte-Marie and toured across Canada, and now this acoustic folk singer is back after being nominated in 2010 for her outstanding album, I Love You.
This is Sinclair's song "Last Song."
Lena Recollet
Recollet has a gift for mixing the visual with the lyrical, which she does whether she’s singing, reciting poetry or working in the performing arts. When Buffy Sainte-Marie taps you as her opening act, you know you must be doing something right.
Recollet hits the mark with “Historical Landmark.”
Bruthers of Different Muthers
When they released their award-winning Speakers of Tomorrow album last year, listeners took note of BODM’s inspired lyricism, which crossed tradition pop tropes with Aboriginal chants.
Here's their song "Bows & Arrows."
Indian City
When you form a supergroup, as Vince Fontaine well knows, it’s always good to include people who know the importance of a well crafted lyric. For Indian City, with its seven nominations this year, it seems to be paying off.
This is the anthemic “Stand.”
Related:
APCMAs 2012: songwriter of the year nominees at a glance
APCMAs 2012: a look at the best pop CD nominees
Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards announce lineup of performers