Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 5 30 30 But the music Supaman creates is not gangster rap, nor does its message echo that of most hip-hop. It is, as he says "hip-hop soul music from a Native American per- spective," mixed with his own views on spirituality and individuality. In many of his songs, vocalists can be heard under the propulsive beats and thought-provoking, hard-hitting lyrics about the challenges of life for American Indians. His heritage, he says, is "who I am as a human being on this earth. It's important for others to hear because it is almost like our voice goes unheard." But with a growing number of young fans, American Indian and otherwise, and an accompanying accumu- lation of awards and accolades, Supaman is certain to continue blending the old and the new, the ancient and the modern, in surprising new ways. Missoula-born Lakota-Sioux and Pottawami musician Anthony Wakeman performs heartbreakingly beauti- ful compositions for cedar fl ute, often accompanied by a minimalist guitar. And like the other artists profi led, his music defi es easy categorization. What then does he play? "Contemporary Native American fl ute music," he avers before going on. "Human nature forces us to categorize, so I've been called contemporary." More important than the genre is the attitude: "I play from the heart. I feel that is when my soul sings its best." Though he now lives in Phoenix, his memories of Montana still serve as inspiration for his music, as does his daughter. When she was small, her playful dances reminded him of a certain animal. "My daughter's Lakota name is Kimimila. It means butterfl y in Lakota. When she was a little one about three years old she would just be all over the place. If I turned my head for a minute she was gone. She always remind- ed me of a butterfl y, how they fl utter about, the breeze carrying them here and there. From fl ower to fl ower. That is how I came up with the name for my fi rst album called Butterfl y Dreams." For listeners new to his work, Wakeman recommends "Handprints of Our People," featuring guitar work by his friend and collaborator Aaron White, about whom Wakeman is effusive: "His guitar work is always such a refreshing source of inspiration. He is always writing, an amazing artist in his own realm for sure." This sense of collaboration reinforces the message of the Blackfoot story. Music, whether it is created with fl ute, the human voice, guitar, piano or some as-yet unforeseen future instrument, is as it has ever been: an opportunity to come together and share something vital, something which is always both old as the land and new as the song of a spring songbird. But especially for the musicians profi led here (and for the many talented musicians we sadly do not have space to mention), music is a way of preserving the great tradi- tions of their people and to present them in new and innovative contexts, whether mixing the Cheyenne fl ute with blues and jazz, infusing hip-hop with the spiritual values and language of the Crow Nation, or creating gor- geous sonic landscapes out of cedar fl ute and guitar. Like the Buffalo stone, music is a gift as it was once given to a very poor woman a long time ago. American Indian musicians have excelled at every genre and instrument in popular American music culture, from acoustic to zydeco. Sampled below are just a few more Native American musicians you would be remiss in not giving a listen: EVAN LEE is a Crow/Sioux/Assiniboine rapper whose work bridges the gap between rap and gospel. He was also nominated for two Nammy awards, one for Best New Male Artist and the other for Best Christian Recording. Northern Cheyenne metal guitarist PAUL UNDERWOOD is a one-man tour de force in his band EXITWOUND, recording, engi- neering and producing lavish rock songs that speak to his spiritual heritage. MASON E. RUNS THROUGH, JR. is an Assiniboine artist that uses rock and country music to tell the story of his people He performs under the evocative name of BUCK NATIVE. And for those who are further interested in the fi eld, I recommend that you peruse the catalog of Canyon Records, a music label that features some of the fi nest American Indian acts currently working. Anthony Wakeman (right) and his collaborator Aaron White PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBERT DOYLE/CANYON RECORDS "I play from the heart. I feel that is when my soul sings its best." Anthony wakeman

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