JEREMY DUTCHER, 2018 POLARIS MUSIC PRIZE WINNER, ENLISTS CASEY MQ TO REMIX “POMOK NAKA POKTOINSKWES” FROM HIS ALBUM WOLASTOQIYIK LINTUWAKONAWA
LISTEN AND SHARE “POMOK NAKA POKTOINSKWES” (CASEY MQ REMIX) HERE
STREAM / BUY “POMOK NAKA POKTOINSKWES” (CASEY MQ REMIX) HERE
TOUR DATES CONTINUE OCTOBER 6
WATCH JEREMY DUTCHER’S CBC MUSIC FIRST PLAY LIVE
STREAM / BUY WOLASTOQIYIK LINTUWAKONAWA HERE
“Pomok Naka Poktoinskwes” Casey MQ Single Artwork // Credit : Aura
A few weeks ago, Toronto-based performer, composer, and member of the Tobique First Nation Jeremy Dutcher was awarded the prestigious Polaris Music Prize for his album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa. After winning, Dutcher gave a statement in English and also in his ancestor's language saying, "Psiw-te npomawsuwinuwok, kiluwaw yut. All my people, this is for you."
He also tweeted, "You are in the midst of an indigenous renaissance. Are you ready to hear the truth that needs to be told? Are you ready to see the things that need to be seen?"
Those words, and the words of his people on Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa, have echoed around the world, receiving further praise and attention from The Guardian, The Globe and Mail, CBC, Noisey, and many more.
In an interview with Bilboard, Dutcher was asked if he grew up with these songs, to which he responded, "This is why I'm so passionate about doing this - because I didn't." When asked if he expects people to learn his language, he said, "Yes. I do, 100%. Why not? We learned yours. For me, it's less about asking people to learn a new language and more about disrupting the bilingual Anglo-centric Canadian music narrative. Up until this point, why have there been no popular records in my language?" and even teaches readers a few phrases, which can be found in the interview here.
Today, he shares Casey MQ's remix of "Pomok naka Poktoinskwes" from the award-winning LP. The Fader says of the remix, "In the new artist's hands, [the song] is transformed from a devastating, piano-driven march into an electronic number more knotty and dancefloor ready but no less urgent." Casey MQ’s latest EP, Nudes, was released on September 28. Listeners can stream the EP here.
LISTEN AND SHARE “POMOK NAKA POKTOINSKWES” (CASEY MQ REMIX) HERE
STREAM / BUY “POMOK NAKA POKTOINSKWES” (CASEY MQ REMIX) HERE
Dutcher says he is “honoured to collaborate with Casey MQ, who reimagines a sonic world surrounding this anthem to our water rights! Listen to this track and Imagine a universe where our melodies and languages dominate dance floors of this land. Wake up to the beautiful indigenous realities all around. There are 48 entries in the Wolastoqey dictionary for the word Dance. This is my favourite: Mawekak [they come together dancing].”
“Pomok naka Poktoinskwes” (bah-mog na-ga buck-tah-in-skwes) is the song of the Fisher and the Water Spirit. “This was the only archival recording that I recognized from my childhood,” says Dutcher. “It was recovered in the 80s by song carrier Maggie Paul and has been sung in Maliseet communities ever since. I envision Teiya’s high soprano to be that spirit who is troubled by her treatment.”
Later this week, Dutcher will continue on the support Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa with tour dates across Canada. Full tour listings can be found below.
WATCH JEREMY DUTCHER’S CBC MUSIC FIRST PLAY LIVE
STREAM / BUY WOLASTOQIYIK LINTUWAKONAWA HERE
TOUR DATES
10/06: New Westminster, BC - Massey Theatre
10/17: Halifax, NS - The Marquee Ballroom
10/24–28: Las Palmas, Spain - Womex
11/03: Quebec City, QC - Palais Montcalm
11/15: Montreal, QC – Mundial Montreal
12/12: London, ON - The Aeolian
12/15: Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
01/25: Fredericton, NB - Wilmot United Church
PHOTO CREDIT : Matt Barnes // DOWNLOAD HIGH-RES