Digging Roots

Digging Roots
OriginToronto, Ontario, Canada
GenresFolk rock, First Nations music
Years active2004–present
LabelsIshkōdé Records, Universal
MembersRaven Kanatakta
ShoShona Kish
Websitediggingrootsmusic.com

Digging Roots is a Canadian musical group consisting of husband and wife duo Raven Kanatakta and ShoShona Kish, whose musical style blends folk-rock, pop, blues, and hip hop.[1][2] They won the Juno Award for Aboriginal Album of the Year in 2010 for their album We Are....[3]

Kanatakta is originally from Winneway, Quebec, while Kish is from the Batchewana First Nation in Northern Ontario.[4]

History

Formed in 2004, the duo released their first album Seeds in 2006. The album was a nominee for the Aboriginal Album of the Year Juno at the Juno Awards of 2007.[5] They followed with We Are... in 2009, which featured collaborations with Tanya Tagaq, DJ Bear Witness of A Tribe Called Red and Kinnie Starr, who also produced the album.[6] Their third album For the Light was released in 2014.[2]

They won the Canadian Aboriginal Music Award for Best Group in 2007.[7]

In 2016, the band performed at the Salmon Arm Roots & Blues Festival[8] and at the Ottawa Jazz Festival.[9] In 2017 they performed at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.[10]

In 2018, Shoshona was awarded the Womex 18 Professional Excellence Award while Raven was awarded the Cobalt Award at the 2016 Maple Blues Awards.[11]

After organizing three International Indigenous Music Summits together, Kish partnered with singer-songwriter Amanda Rheaume in 2021 to form Ishkōdé Records.[12] The label releases music by Rheaume, Digging Roots, and singer-songwriters Aysanabee and Morgan Toney.[13]

Discography

Studio albums

  • Seeds (2006)
  • We Are (2009)
  • For the Light (2014)
  • Zhawenim (2022)

[14]

Singles

  • Ak47 (2016)
  • The Healer (2021)
  • Cut My Hair (2021)
  • SKODEN (2022)

References

  1. ^ {Music: Digging Roots adding new twists on ancient traditions". Lenny Stoute . Dec 18, 2009
  2. ^ a b "A Tribe Called Red, Wab Kinew, Tanya Tagaq on the indigenous music renaissance". CBC Music, August 18, 2014.
  3. ^ "Indigenous music extends well beyond pop and rock". CBC News, March 25, 2011.
  4. ^ "Barrie's Digging Roots going for a Juno". Barrie Examiner, April 15, 2010.
  5. ^ "The 2007 Juno nominations". canada.com, February 7, 2007.
  6. ^ "Digging Roots: We Are". Toronto Star, October 13, 2009.
  7. ^ "Barrie band bags best Aboriginal album Juno". Barrie Examiner, April 20, 2010.
  8. ^ "Digging with ShoShona Kish". BC Musician Magazine • September 19, 2016
  9. ^ "Buffy Sainte-Marie cool despite glitches". Ottawa Sun, June 28, 2016
  10. ^ "Concert review: Anishinabekwe showcases impressive talent". APT 613, By Jared Davidson on July 25, 2017
  11. ^ Graaf, Maxine de. "Review - Digging Roots | Canadian Beats Media". Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  12. ^ "Ishkode Records partners with Universal Music Canada to 'amplify Indigenous voices'". The Globe and Mail. 2021-06-30. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  13. ^ David McPherson (June 1, 2022). "Canadian Labels: Ishkōdé Records Ignites the Spirit of the Eighth Fire". National Music Centre.
  14. ^ "Digging Roots Albums and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2022-06-23.