Category Archives: Podcasts

The Rebel Beat 089: Alanis Obomsawin – Legendary Abenaki Musician and Filmmaker

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

On this month’s show, we bring you into the studio and into the mind of the legendary Abenaki Indigenous musician and filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin. Alanis is 85 years young, and has a prolific career with over 50 documentaries under her belt. But while many know her as an inspiring documentarian, fewer knew her as a musician. Until now.

Her album Bush Lady, originally recorded at CBC in the 80s, was just re-issued this year on Constellation Records, and we got a chance to have an intimate and emotional conversation about this brilliant work.

**If you like The Rebel Beat, support us on Patreon!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

Kanehsatake_1200x600

An iconic still from Obomsawin’s documentary “Kanehsatake: 270 of Resistance” from the NFB

 

We also catch up with Frank from Submedia to talk about their latest episode, and we’ve got an exciting announcement about Aaron’s new podcast, Changing On The Fly.

In our Turn It Up segment, we give a shout-out to Jeremy Dutcher, an Indigenous Wolastoq musician whose album “Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa” just won the Polaris Prize for best Canadian album of 2018! Mazel tov, Jeremy!

40228455_10161223047340001_4718740315958149120_n

Obomsawin in her office at the NFB, holding the sleeve of her album “Bush Lady”. Photo: Aaron Lakoff

 

**Playlist**
Marc Ribot & Tom Waits – Bella ciao
Alanis Obomsawin – Odana
Alanis Obomsawin – Bush lady pt. I
Alanis Obomsawin – Bush lady pt. II
Alanis Obomsawin – Theo pt. II
Jeremy Dutcher – Mehcinut

 

 

 

*For more on sports and radical politics, check out our episode with Dave Zirin:
rebelbeatradio.com/2017/03/15/the-…edge-of-sports/

 

The Rebel Beat 088: Kimmortal on Pipelines, Power, and Vancouver’s Finest FemmeC’s

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

On Episode 88 of The Rebel Beat, we have the pleasure of meeting Kimmortal. Kimmortal is a queer non-binary pilipinx artist based on unceded, unsurrendered Coast Salish Territories also known as Vancouver, BC (Canada). Her music is an inspiring mix of hip-hop, RnB, and guitar-driven pop, all with a radical, empowering message. Check Kimmortal out!

In our Turn It Up segment, we give props to Lee Reed, who just dropped his “Steal City EP” to support a tenant strike against gentrification in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario. Go check it out, and support the class war on the dancefloor!

**If you like the Rebel Beat, then support us!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

 

* Playlist *
Jasiri X – The whitest house
Tom Morello – Rabbit’s revenge (feat. Killer Mike, Big Boi, Bassnectar)
Kimmortal – I’m blue
Kimmortal – Doodle #1
Kimmortal – She
Kimmortal – Jungle (feat. Jillthy and Missy D)
Kimmortal – 88 and Beyond
Lee Reed – Too ambitious

The Rebel Beat 087: Sounding off with the anarchist music journalists

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

This month’s episode of The Rebel Beat podcast features an interview with two people who are huge inspirations for the work we do on this show – Ron Sakolsky and Sheila Knopper. They’re anarchists. They’re grassroots music journalists. They’re radio pirates. And among them, they’ve got a well of music knowledge deeper than the Pacific ocean.

Ron and Sheila live on Denman Island, also known by it’s Indigenous Comox name of “Sladaich”, in so-called British Columbia. On Denman, they helped start a long-running pirate radio project, Tree Frog radio. But even before then, they have a long legacy in community radio, music journalism, and the anarcho-surrealism movement.

In this interview, we’ll hear about some of their work over the decades to bridge music and radical politics. We’ll hear stories about smuggling poetry out of South African prisons, dub poetry in Toronto, and a mission with Pete Seeger.

** If you dig the Rebel Beat, support us!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

On our Turn It Up segment, we big up Moses Sumney, who recently pulled out of his gig at the Montreal Jazz Festival to protest against a racist play. Read all about it here

Check out Rebel Diaz and Ana Tijoux’s new video here

Check out some of Ron Sakolsky and Sheila Knopper’s writing here:
www.akpress.org/soundingoff.html
islandsofresistance.ca/

**Playlist**

Crashprez – Fascists don’t cry
Rebel Diaz feat. Ana Tijoux – Y va caer
Rage Against the Machine – Guerilla radio
Benjamin Zephaniah – Belly of de beast
Mzwakhe Mbuli – Behind the bars
Pete Seeger – Abiyoyo
Fela Kuti – Opposite people
Moses Sumney – Worth it

 

The Rebel Beat 086: Saltwater Hank’s Stories From the North West

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

Welcome back to the latest edition of The Rebel Beat!

Our special guest on the podcast this month is Jeremy Pahl, aka. Saltwater Hank. Jeremy is an Indigenous Gitga’at bluegrass artist from northern so-called BC in Canada. His music comes out of an unexpected place, coming from a heavy-metal background himself. But we talked about his (surprisingly easy) transition from metal to bluegrass, Indigenous environmental politics out west, and some of the stories that have inspired his creative ballads. You can stream or purchase the new Saltwater Hank album “Stories From the North West” here!

In our Turn It Up Segment, we pay respect to Jalal Mansur Nuriddin of The Last Poets. Sadly, Nuriddin passed away at the beginning of June. Sometimes known as the “Grandfather of Hip-Hop”, Nuriddin and The Last Poets helped to pioneer a sound in the late 1960s that fused jazz, soul, and poetry reflective of the Black Power movement.

**If you enjoy The Rebel Beat, please support us!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

 

* Playlist *
Dead Prez – Behind enemy lines
Propagandhi – Fuck the border or Adventures in zoochosis
Saltwater Hank – Moose hunter blues
Gyibaaw – Winter emissary
Steve ‘n Seagulls – Thunderstruck
Black Spruce Bog – Dirty oil
Black Spruce Bog – Indian agent
Saltwater Hank – Old Hazelton
Saltwater Hank – Fish Cannery
Fiver – Hair of the dead
The Last Poets – Blessed are those who struggle

The Rebel Beat 085: Dio Ganhdih

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

Welcome back to the latest episode of The Rebel Beat podcast!

Our special guest on the show this month is Dio Ganhdih! Dio Ganhdih is a queer Indigenous MC, with roots in Awkwesasne Mohawk territory, and now based in NYC. She’s part of the epic Revolutions Per Minute family, and spits absolute fire on the mic. Check her out!

In our Turn It Up segment, we look at artists who are standing alongside Palestinians, both in Palestine and in the diaspora. Check out the initiative of Montreal-based artists in solidarity with Palestinian refugee Omar Ben-Ali.
www.tadamon.ca/omar

And finally, Kareem Samara from Firebrand Records is taking over the Firebrand social medias this week to talk everything Palestine & BDS related. Follow along as you rock to the brand new EXCLUSIVE premiere of the single “Nil’in” by Kareem, Ryan Harvey, and Shireen Lillith.

If you like The Rebel Beat, support the podcast! Throw us any amount you can through our Patreon:
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

**If you sign up to support us for only $2/month during the month of May, we’ll send you a beautiful Rebel Beat metal pin in the mail!

**Playlist**

13315459_1704279619821703_8244926851947900796_n

Dio Ganhdih (Photo:  Elena Kulikova)

Seun Keuti & Egypt 80 – Struggle sounds
Benjamin Zephaniah feat. Logic – I am a revolutionary
Dio Ganhdih – Native New Yorker
Snotty Nose Rez Kids – KKKanada
Dio Ganhdih – Indigenous lyricist
Dio Ganhdih – Pussy vortex
Alas feat. Savage Fam – Go away
Dio Ganhdih – Do it ourselves
Kareem Samara – Take away the right
Ryan Harvey, Kareem Samara, Shireen Lillith – Nil’in

 

The Rebel Beat 084: May Day Special!

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

May 1st is May Day. It is your day. It is our day. It is a day to take back time from the bosses, landlords, and rulers of this Earth, and a day to celebrate resistance.

Let this be your soundtrack.

The Rebel Beat is back with our annual May Day special podcast episode, and like last year, we recorded this one live at CKUT community radio in Montreal during a rousing session of World Skip The Beat.

You’ll hear a special May Day shout-out from Tom Morello of Rage Against The Machine & Prophets of Rage, an interview with CLAC – The anti-capitalist convergence of Montreal, Mostafa Henaway of the Immigrant Workers Centre, May Day greetings from some Rebel Beat listeners, and of course, 2 hours of resistance music from around the world.

** If you enjoy the Rebel Beat, support us!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

Our May Day special on Patreon is back by popular demand! Sign up on Patreon to support The Rebel Beat for only $2 per month, and we’ll mail you one of our beautiful Rebel Beat enamel pins! They are truly the perfect high-fashion for a riot against the ruling classes.

* Playlist *

Abdullah Ibrahim – Mannenberg is where it’s happening
Miriam Makeba & The Skylarks – Ekoneni
Mbongeni Ngema – Lizobuya
Seun Keuti & Egypt 80 – Corporate public control department
Didier Awadi -Ma révolution
Denis Brown – Revolution
Screechy Dan – Raise your glass (fi di working class)
King Zumbi feat. Delhi Sultanate – Riot police
Romain Virgo – Minimum wage
Oku Onuora – How long
Lillian Allen – I fight back
Ana Tijoux – Antipatriarca
Las Cafeteras – La bamba rebelde
Atis Indepandan – Papa-m monte oun bato
M.I.A. – Borders
Narcy – False flags
Il Nuovo Canzoniere Italiano – Bella Ciao
New Yiddish Chorale – Barrikadn (barricades)
Yiddish Glory – Mayn pulemyot (my machine gun)
Unknown Artist (Kurdistan) – Internationale

 

 

CBC Radio Doc on Migrant Solidarity

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

 

Hey Rebel Beat people!

So as you can tell, this is not part of the Rebel Beat’s regular programming. Unfortunately I won’t be putting out an episode of the podcast in April. I’m traveling through western Canada, and don’t have much time to do any interviews or editing.

But I’m pretty excited to share this radio documentary with you that I just finished working on with my friend David from the Treyf podcast . The doc aired on CBC’s The Doc Project, and looks at the stories of refugees fleeing Donald Trump’s America, and the people who want to help them get into Canada. Hope you enjoy, and go here for more info:

http://www.cbc.ca/radio/docproject/the-border-next-door-1.4595074/as-asylum-seekers-show-up-on-their-doorstep-two-quebec-women-struggle-with-how-to-help-1.4595233

The Rebel Beat will be back FULL FORCE in May with not one but two episodes! We’ll be doing our annual Mayday special, and then another episode later in the month to make up for the silence in April.

** If you like The Rebel Beat, please support us! http://www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

Hope you enjoy this doc!

-Aaron

 

 

The Rebel Beat 083: LAL – From the Underground to the Frontlines

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

What does it sound like if you take two dedicated activists with incredible rhythmic and vocal sensibilities, throw them into a loft studio, and keep them staunchly in the underground music scene for over 20 years? Well that is what LAL is all about. This electronic music duo of Rosina Kazi and Nicholas Murray, aka LAL, have been holding it down in Toronto for more than two decades, providing frontline support to groups like Black Lives Matter and No One Is Illegal, and pumping out inspiring music all along the way. They are our guests today on the show. 

On our Turn It Up segment, we discuss venues that are shutting down because of gentrification, but also Talib Kweli’s righteous stance to cancel a show in Kansas City because they booked a swastika-sporting Norwegian metal band.

 

If you like the Rebel Beat, support us! Sign up today on our Patreon page to support us for as little as $1/month: http://www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

 

LAL-1-Ashela-Wessel

Rosina and Nicholas of LAL (Photo: exclaim.ca)

Enjoy!

Playlist

 

Tune Yards – Colonizer

Xenia Rubinos – Mexican chef

LAL – Rules were meant to be broken

LAL – Brown Eyed Warrior

LAL – Find Safety

LAL – Where we belong

LAL – Your body could start a war (feat. Leah)

Son of Nun – Born again

 

The Rebel Beat 082: Burn Down Babylon with Maddie Ruthless and The Far East

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

We’re back with another monthly edition of The Rebel Beat, a Firebrand Records podcast, and your purveyors of class war on the dance floor, each and every moon cycle.

Our special guest on the podcast this time around is Maddie Ruthless, the front woman of the band The Far East. The Far East hail from Brooklyn, NY, and play a blend of unapologetic reggae that is as sultry as it is hard-edged.

We spoke with Maddie about the radical, anti-imperialist and anti-racist message of reggae, being a woman in the music scene, anti-fascist music in the age of Trump, AND touring with 2-tone ska legends The Specials.

Do you enjoy The Rebel Beat? Then support us! Consider throwing us even as little as $1/month. It helps a lot!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

 

static1.squarespace

photo by Miki Marcinkiewicz

 

In our Turn It Up segment, we big up the Black activists, scholars, and musicians such as Talib Kweli, Tom Morello, and Vic Mensa who signed an open letter from the Dream Defenders calling for the freedom of Palestinian youth activist Ahed Tamimi. Here is their letter.

*Playlist*

Hortense Ellis – People make the world go round
Mos Dub – Johnny too beef
Maddie Ruthless and the Forthrights – They didn’t build this world for you
The Far East – Youthman
Lady Ann – Doctor doctor
The Far East – Can we make it up
The Specials – Racist friend
The Far East – Betrayer
Vic Mensa – We could be free

 

The Rebel Beat 081: A People’s History Through Song

by in Podcasts and tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

 

Welcome back to The Rebel Beat’s monthly podcast for January, 2018. And happy new year!

We have an amazing show to get to today, we’re gonna bring you a people’s history of music à la Howard Zinn with Dror. Dror is a grassroots music journalist, a blogger, and a community organizer with the BDS movement in solidarity with Palestine. Check out his blog, Entre Les Oreilles (“Between the Ears”) here.

Like the Rebel Beat podcast? Wanna keep us going strong? Support us!
www.patreon.com/rebelbeatradio

Also on the show, we reflect on the one-year anniversary of the mosque shooting in Quebec City, when a white supremacist killed six Muslim men as they were praying. It was just one week after Trump was inaugurated as President of the USA. If you’re on Facebook, check out this beautiful collection of tributes here.

We also reflect on a year of inspiring resistance against the white supremacist, sexist, ecocidal, and transphobic policies of the Trump regime. There are many frontlines of the struggle, but one in particular you can support are the J20 Defendants.

Finally, in our Turn it Up segment, we honour not one, but TWO groundbreaking musicians:

* Jackie Shane, a pioneering transgendered soul singer. Check out her recently re-released album here.

16JACKIE-SHANE1-articleLarge

Jackie Shane

 

* Hugh Masekela, the god-father of South African jazz, and anti-apartheid icon, who died this month at the age of 78. Rest in Power!

** Playlist **

The Narcicyst feat. Shadia Mansour – Hamdulillah
Oshun – Not my President
Entrance – Not gonna say your name
James Brown – Say it Loud (I’m Black and I’m proud)
Rachid Taha – Ya rayah
Rim Banna – Fares Odeh
Prince – Baltimore
Victor Jara – Venceremos
Miriam Makeba – Beware Verwoerd
Fela Kuti – Colonial mentality
N.W.A. – Fuck tha police
Zone d’Expression Populaire – Nique la France
Pussy Riot – Mother of god, drive Putin away
Roger Waters – Is this the life we really want?
Jackie Shane – Sticks and stones
Hugh Masekela – Stimela

The Rebel Beat is a proud member of the Channel Zero Network of anarchist podcasts.