The goal of getting people to dance has led three First Nations DJs far beyond the dance floor.
A Tribe Called Red stopped to wow their audience at the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival Saturday between a show at the Robson Valley Music Festival and an appearance at the Aboriginal People’s Choice Music Awards in Winnipeg.
There they were honoured with four awards: Best Producer, Best Group, Best Pop CD and Best Album Cover Design.
“Any expectation has been surpassed a long time ago,” remarked Bear Witness Saturday of his group’s popularity and success.
He was speaking in an interview squeezed in Saturday before the group’s manager hustled the popular musicians off to their next commitment.
Bear Witness is one-third of the trio of DJs that make up A Tribe Called Red, along with DJ Shub and DJ NDN.
The young men explain that their ‘pow wow step,’ a unique style of electronic music injected with recordings of traditional powwow drumming and singing, was something they put together for a party for aboriginal people in Ottawa six or seven years ago.
It ended up having great appeal to the indigenous youth it was intended for – and to older aboriginal people - and then more.
“With growing up in a colonized nation as indigenous people you don’t have things within popular culture that reflect you,” explained Bear Witness.
“This music is made for indigenous people – and is moving out to the general populous.”
The response to their set at the Barn Stage Saturday night was wildly enthusiastic, with people dripping with sweat as they danced shoulder-to-shoulder from the first beat right through to the encore.
A Tribe Called Red has been on an international tour since April, and will be continuing in Europe and Mexico shortly.
They say their favourite spots so far have been New Orleans, Dawson City and St. John’s, Newfoundland, because of the very different cultures.
Despite all the fame, the three DJs are modest and unassuming. They laugh when asked if their families are proud.
“Extremely. Oh yeah, I think all of our moms should start a fan club,” says Shub, smiling. “They do nothing but brag about us.”
Bear Witness jokes about his mother’s comments: “Now you can stop asking me for 20 bucks all the time.”