Ahead of the release of their debut LP ‘nipiy’, amiskwaciy (Edmonton) based indie rock outfit nêhiyawak dropped by CKUA’s Studio A to perform songs from the album live. The group features Kris Harper on guitar, Matthew Cardinal on synths and bass, and Marek Tyler on percussion.
“I think that there is a voice that has been quieted or blunted that is now at its full volume saying ‘we’re here right here, right now, we’re proud of us right here, right now'” says Tyler, when asked by Grant Stovel about the recent Indigenous renaissance. “We’ve got leaders in our community who are speaking with powerful voices – academic leaders, artistic leaders. It feels great to wear this shirt, this feeling of pride of being absolutely empowered by my family’s teachings, and the musicians I get to play with.”
The band perform Friday, October 4 at The Aviary in Edmonton, and Saturday, October 5 at the King Eddy in Calgary. Their album ‘nipiy’ is out October 24, 2019 on Arts and Crafts.
You can watch “disappear” (above), “somnambulist” (below), and listen to the full session and interview on CKUA’s soundcloud page.