Seven Aboriginal musicians or bands will have new music videos produced for, and played on, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN). The artists are the successful applicants of First Tracks (formerly Open Call), APTN’s music video initiative launched in July 2008 to support and promote Aboriginal talent.
“There is an outstanding range of new music being generated by Aboriginal musicians,” says Jean LaRose, APTN Chief Executive Officer. “As Canada’s only Aboriginal broadcaster, APTN is proud to support these musicians through First Tracks. The range of musical styles and the calibre of the submissions reflect the exceptional quality of Aboriginal talent in Canada today.
The jury had a very difficult task in selecting the successful applicants. There were many great submissions and bringing it down to these seven individuals was a huge challenge for them.”
The successful applicants for APTN First Tracks are:
?? GEORGE LEACH was raised in the Sta'atl'imx Nation in the mountains of Lillooet, BC.
He has performed with artists including Robbie Robertson, Bo Didley and Susan
Aglukark. Leach’s debut, self-produced album Just Where I’m At earned him the Best
Male Artist and Best Rock Album and a nomination for the Best Song Writer at the 2000
Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards.
?? MELISA PASH has a unique musical sound that stems from her Cree roots. She’s
played on stage with former Kashtin member Florent Vollant and acclaimed guitarist Bob
Cohen and won the Canadian Music Industry award at the Canadian Aboriginal Music
Awards in 2007.
?? RY MORAN is a Métis singer, songwriter and entrepreneur living in Victoria, BC. His
debut album Groundwater was called “just plain excellent” by the on-line music store
AmieStreet.com. It reached number three on the National Aboriginal Top 30 Radio
Countdown and was nominated for a 2007 Canadian Folk Music Award.
?? JANET PANIC is a Métis artist who has been recording music for more than ten years.
The Vancouver Sun called her “a cross between Lou Reed and Leonard Cohen.” Her
new album Land of Wind and Ghosts features Juno winner Derek Miller and will be
released by Arbor records later this year.
?? LUCIE IDLOUT has performed all across Canada since the release of her debut album
E5-770, My Mother’s Name, including opening for The White Stripes in Iqaluit in 2007.
The Globe and Mail called the Nunavut-born rocker “a one-woman revolution in
Canadian music.” Her new album Swagger, is due out in February 2009
?? DIGGING ROOTS blend traditional indigenous influences, hip-hop, folk, reggae and
blues to create their own unique sound that is getting noticed all across Canada. Their
debut album seeds earned nominations at the Juno awards, the Aboriginal Peoples
Choice Music awards, the Canadian Folk Music Awards, the Maple Blues Awards and
the CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award.
?? TRISH NORTH is an eighteen year-old who grew up in Brandon, Winnipeg and Oxford House, Manitoba and is currently living in Winnipeg. She has been performing and recording music for four years and is part of the award-winning group The Lil Disciples. The group’s first album The Future is Now was nominated for Best Gospel Album at the 2008 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
The music videos produced for First Tracks will be broadcast on APTN at a later date.
About APTN:
September 1, 2008 marked the nine-year anniversary of the launch of the first national
Aboriginal television network in the world with programming by, for and about Aboriginal
Peoples to share with all Canadians and viewers around the world. APTN is available in
approximately 10 million Canadian households and commercial establishments with cable,
direct-to-home satellite (DTH), telco-delivered and fixed wireless television service providers.
APTN does not receive government funding for operations but generates revenue through
subscriber fees, advertising sales and strategic partnerships. APTN broadcasts programming
with 56% offered in English, 16% in French and 28% in Aboriginal languages