NATIONAL MUSIC CENTRE NAMES PARTICIPANTS OF OHSOTO'KINO MUSIC INCUBATOR FOR INDIGENOUS ARTISTS

SHOWCASE FEATURING SELECTED ARTISTS TO HAPPEN AT STUDIO BELL ON JULY 29

(Calgary, AB — June 24, 2022) The National Music Centre (NMC) is pleased to announce the Indigenous musicians selected to participate in the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator program, which will run this summer and culminate in a live showcase on July 29 at Studio Bell and online at amplify.nmc.ca.

"June is National Indigenous History Month, a time for all Canadians to celebrate the contributions and achievements of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples,” said David McLeod (member of the Pine Creek First Nation in Treaty 1), NMC Board Member and Chair of NMC's National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee. “We are very happy to share the names of these recipients and celebrate the future of Indigenous music and the next wave of artists. The five selected participants are all exceptional talents, unique in the ways they express their culture through music.”

The participating artists include Ojibway experimental jazz musician Chuck Copenace (member of the Animakee Wa Zhing #37 First Nation in Treaty 3 and now based in Winnipeg); Electric Religious, the project of Métis singer-songwriter and guitarist Brandon Baker (hailing from Treaty 6); Cree pop-R&B singer-songwriter Melody McArthur (originally from Treaty 8 and now living in Edmonton); Nehiyaw-Dene and Métis spoken word/rap artist Zoey Pricelys Roy (member of Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Treaty 6); and Cree country artist Jade Turner (member of the Misipawistik Cree Nation in Treaty 5).

The five selected artists will converge at Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre in Mohkinstsis (Calgary), for five days to learn new skills, connect with music industry experts from across the country, and hone their craft and professional chops. Artists for the music incubator were selected by NMC’s National Indigenous Programming Advisory Committee, which includes First Nation, Métis and Inuit representation, and acts as a guiding voice for NMC Indigenous programs and content.

Launched in early 2022, OHSOTO’KINO is a new Indigenous programming initiative sponsored by TD that focuses on three elements: creation of new music in NMC’s recording studios, artist development through a music incubator program, and storytelling through NMC exhibitions via the annually updated Speak Up! gallery and through content on NMC’s Amplify platform. OHSOTO’KINO is a Blackfoot phrase, which means ‘to recognize a voice of.’ This title acknowledges both the Blackfoot people and the territory on which National Music Centre resides.

As previously announced in the spring, traditional powwow and round dance artist Joel Wood and multi-award-winning, chart-topping Indigenous indie-folk/pop duo Twin Flames were each awarded an OHSOTO’KINO Recording Bursary to record a commercial album at Studio Bell. The updated Speak Up! exhibition will launch in the fall, so stay tuned for more details on the latest Indigenous trailblazers to be added.

Tickets for the OHSOTO’KINO Music Incubator Showcase on July 29 are $25 for general admission and $15 for NMC Members. Get your tickets at studiobell.ca/whats-on. To become a member, please visit studiobell.ca/become-a-member. The showcase will also be live streamed for free on NMC Amplify at amplify.nmc.ca.

About National Music Centre | Centre National de Musique
The National Music Centre (NMC) has a mission to amplify the love, sharing, and understanding of music and is preserving and celebrating Canada’s music story inside its home at Studio Bell in the heart of the East Village in Mohkinstsis (Calgary) on Treaty 7 territory. NMC is the home to four Canadian music halls of fame, including the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Country Music Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and Quebec’s ADISQ Hall of Fame. Featuring musical instruments, artifacts, recording equipment, and memorabilia, the NMC Collection spans over 450 years of music history and innovation. A registered charity with programs that include exhibitions, artist development, performance, and education, NMC is inspiring a new generation of music lovers. For more information about NMC’s onsite activities, please visit studiobell.ca. To check out the NMC experience online, including video-on-demand performances, made-in-Canada stories, and highly entertaining educational content, visit amplify.nmc.ca.

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Media Contact:
Julijana Capone, Senior Publicist
National Music Centre
T. 403.543.5123 | C. 403.710.4758
julijana.capone@nmc.ca | @nmc_canada