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LAKOTA ARTISTS AMONG NAMA NOMINEES


 

 

NEW YORK – Nominations in 33 categories for the 19th Annual Native American Music Awards (NAMA) have been announced. These nominations reflect the highest quality of recordings by music makers released in the past year throughout North America and were selected by the combined votes of the 150 Advisory Board member committee of the Native American Music Association.

The 19th Annual Native American Music Awards will be held on Saturday November 2, 2019 at the Seneca Niagara Casino & Resort in Niagara Falls, New York. Tickets are on sale now at all Ticketmaster outlets. Actor Wes Studi (Cherokee) and Pro-Wrestler Mickie James (Powhatan) will host the event.

Both new and established artists share the list of total nominations throughout a diverse array of 33 varied music categories. This year’s new music trends arrived at full strength evidenced by several new artists dominating the nominations list, particularly from the Navajo Nation and Lakota Country. Hip Hop R&B Singer, Shon Denay (Oglala Lakota) made an impressive debut with, “On The Rocks” earning her a full five nominations including; Debut Artist, Best Female Artist, Best Pop Music Recording.

Flutist Calvin J. Standing Bear (Sicangu, Oglala) who released three full-length recordings received a total of five nominations as did Connor Chee (Navajo) who acquired multiple nods between his video “Gila River”, new project Wildcat Peak and his prior work with The Cody Blackbird Band ( Dakota/ Cherokee). Quechua instrumentalist Alexandro Querevalu’ earned three nominations for his new New Age soundscape, “Clouds of Sunset”, as did folk-based artist and language teacher, Alex Fire Thunder (Oglala) for Makhoche Kin Thehila (Love For The Land).

Rap Hip Hop artists dominated more than before than ever with Night Shield (Rosebud Sioux) leading with three nominations, and Artson (Tarahumara), Blue Flamez (Warm Springs/Nez Perce), Def-i (Navajo), G Precious (Ohkay Owingeh), David Lopezz (Comanche/ Tarahumara), Nick Lone (Seneca), Crimespree (Rosebud), Bigg B (Warm Springs/Paiute), Just Jamez (Colville) and Carradine Billie (Seminole) all with at least one nod each.

Numerous music videos spawned the continuing tradition of adding new categories to honor performance and narrative videos as well as the original conceptual category plus a new Best Rap Hip Hop Music Video. Current event messages are also featured among the nominated music initiatives with a song about the sacred Mauna Kea in Hawaii by native Hawaiian singer/songwriter/ protector Hawane Rios’ with “Directions” featuring Nahko (Apache) who also earned his own nomination for Best Male Artist. The missing and murdered indigenous women crisis (MMIW) is covered in Joanne Shenandoah’s ‘Missing You’ music video as well as from the pow wow drum group, Young Spirit’s (Frog Lake Cree First Nation) album entitled, “Red Dress Special”.

General Public voting is now open. To vote, visit www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/vote-now Final public voting results will determine the winner of each category. Music tracks from all nominees are also featured on the Awards’ website at www.NAMALIVE.com

Winners will be announced live at the 19th Annual Native American Music Awards which will be held on Saturday November 2nd, 2019 at the Seneca Niagara Resort & Casino in Niagara Falls, New York.

The Native American Music Awards & Association proudly extends its sincerest congratulations to this year’s NAMA Nominees, view the list and vote at www.nativeamericanmusicawards.com/vote-now

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