Digging Roots

Digging Roots utilize traditional and contemporary artistic practices, themes, traditions, forms, and are committed to and influenced by the broad and diverse music community and creative culture that we live in. They pursue their art as a means of survival personally and culturally, as a way to know their own truth, as a way of connecting with community, as a means of resistance, as a tool of positive change, as an instrument of joy, as a way to keep tradition alive, and as a way to move forward. Founded around the creative husband-wife songwriting team of Raven and ShoShona, their music is process-driven and explorative, both aesthetically and thematically. They are influenced by their traditional Anishinabek and Onkwehonwe music, world music and a wealth of popular forms including roots, blues, jazz, folk, reggae, hip-hop and rock. Their music remains the focus of their artistic expression, growth and development, and is a means of exploring their identity as Indigenous creators and contemporary artists. They connect to a unique world view that is rooted culturally, socially and politically in their Indigenous communities. Utilizing the traditional North American Anishinabek compositional approach of music creation called ‘Song Lines,’ melodies and rhythms are created by tracing the rise and fall of horizons within a landscape; a musical way of reconnecting with the earth and the hidden melodies and rhythms that are contained on her. By utilizing and integrating traditional approaches, Digging Roots have combined western and eastern approaches, reflecting a contemporary Indigenous identity that is equally expressive of a global human experience as they connect with audiences on this musical and humanistic basis. The self-described ‘global blues’ six-piece band has won a JUNO and garnered two other JUNO nominations, is heard regularly on CBC, and continues to tour major festivals and venues across North America, Australia and Europe.