With my cheap guitar, harmonicas and hand-drum, I'm comfortable solo but i also have a cool duet with marty jones on some bass/cello contraption. i use my band when i can afford them.
we love vocal harmonies and i sing partly in cree because i need to do my part in preserving this beautiful language.
Influences
my modern influences are storytelling songwriters like lyle lovett, bob dylan, neil young, guy clark, john hiatt, greg brown, the beatles, bruce cockburn, los lobos, johnny cash, hank williams,van morrison, CCR etc. i like a lot of cross-cultural music, blues, cajun, R&B... anything with soul and character. i love soul-stirring chants & sacred music!
Sounds Like
what chief big bear and his drummers might have sounded like if they jammed with the cowboy troubadors of old. mostly, it depends on my mood. my traditional cree songs come from places i don't even know. i just try to stay in the groove and let the spirits sing & dance...
i like to create things in ways nobody has before including songs, stories, comedy sketches, films etc. i love to cook gourmet soul food, cree-style. a bit of a history buff, armchair philosopher and a decent papa. all my kids are my heroes! i love to sing and write about the beauty, pain and awe of the human experience but especially that of my people and culture. i'm here to learn, teach and contribute something to the world however small it may be...
Every time that we listen & write music... play an instrument... sing & dance... act in a play... or work in some audio/image/video engineering process... something is healing inside...
When we share it with friends... something is healing all over...
Love can drive... in a simple way... everything
We are connected
Vibejays & Friends
------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Estimada/o Art Napoleon,
cada vez que escuchamos o escribimos musica... tocamos un instrumento... cantamos y bailamos... o trabajamos en procesos de ingenieria de audio/imagen/video.... algo se sana por dentro...
Cuando lo compartimos con amigos... algo se sana en todas partes...
El Amor puede conducir... de manera simple... todo...
Check out the new FACEBOOK SONG and if your a Facebook member be sure and join the group "Fans of AJ Downing". Stay tuned on a new album due out by the end of the year!
lol Your status always makes me laugh, gotta love that humor of ours on turtle island:) Australia is amazing but there really is no place like home... I gave your cd to a bloke that I got that weekend I met you and your lovely ladies in Mill Bay. Now you are an international star ~ he loved it! Cheers Mate
Hello, it's me, Ruby Jane.To those who don't know me, I am a 14 year old fiddler, songwriter. I have some songs posted that are fresh out of the studio. Let me know if you like the new songs..be one of the first to hear, even before they are released!Thanks! new videos too! Ruby Jane
Hello from the amazing windy plains just outside Calgary , Alberta(weather subject to change on the 1/2 hour with out notification) Wonderful music in your space.Many discoveries made at your space, very nice indeed to be m8s.Cheers ! (mO:) moreno
In a act of Kindness endorphin levels are elevated in the Giver, the Receiver and the Observer, how nice is that.
"do not seek happiness .. but .. do rid your self of unhappiness = Zero Negative thoughts"
"Share knowledge ,it is a way to achieve immortality"
InNeR PeAcE ,LoVe and JoY ..mO
Electronica side of things at www.myspace.com/shaubyaella
Please visit our good friend at www.seasidepeddler.ca
hey Art i saw you on tv with a helli do...mowhawk i think it was.. your tunes sound awsome man, and clear as a bell... i finally got some new tunes posted. so check'em out... peace brock
