Aboriginal nominees for 2014 JUNO Awards
- EFN Staff | February 06, 2014
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts has announced its 2014 JUNO Awards nominees.
The Aboriginal Album of the Year Award category acknowledges all traditional Aboriginal music, including fusions of all genres of contemporary music. The 2014 nominee's music genres represent roots, pop, country and a mix of other influences.
Métis artist Amanda Rheaume is influenced by roots-pop-Americana. Her second full-length album, Keep a Fire, is a collection of story-songs resonating her family history. Her great great grandfather A. G. B. Bannatyne is a founding father of Manitoba. In 2013, Amanda was shortlisted for the Council for the Arts in Ottawas RBC Emerging Artist Award category.
Desiree Dorion is mixed Cree/Ojibway and a young country crooner, raised in Dauphin, Manitoba and a member of the Opaskwayak Cree Nation. Small Town Stories, her third album, honours her daughter Grace. Desiree keeps her day job as a full-time lawyer and has been acknowledged with multiple Aboriginal music industry awards and nominations.
Respected singer-songwriter and guitarist George Leach is from Sta'atl'imx Nation, the interior of British Columbia. His debut album, Just Where Im At, garnered him two Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards. His latest album is Surrender, and hes on the radar with international recognition. In 2013, Surrender was acknowledged with three Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards.
Inez Jasper is an award-winning performer of Sto:lo, Ojibway and Métis descent. She fuses traditional Aboriginal music with mainstream pop and is a high energy stage performer. Burn Me Down is her second album. Inez is known for her genuine personality and is a recognized role model for Aboriginal youth in Canada.
A descendant of the Woodland Cree, Métis country singer Nathan Cunningham is from the Sucker Creek First Nation in Alberta. He is influenced by country classics, rock, soul and hip hop. His distinctive sound is a mainstay on the Aboriginal radio waves, and Road Renditions is his latest album.
A Tribe Called Red is also up for two awards: it is nominated for Breakthrough Group of the Year and Electronic Album of the Year. From Ottawa, this producer/DJ crew has created a signature style called Pow Wow Step, mixing traditional Pow Wow vocals and drumming with cutting-edge electronic beats. Their latest album is Nation II Nation.