MN Native News: Spotlight on War Bonnet’s Award-Nominated Music

Transcript

Marie: This is Minnesota Native News, I’m Marie Rock.

Headlines: Musical groups from around North America gathered in early November at the Seneca Niagara Events Center at Seneca Niagara Resort and Casino in Niagara Falls, NY for the 19th Annual Native American Music Awards ceremony.

Among artists nominated for an award… a relatively new musical group from Northern MN.

Here's Reporter Leah Lemm with the story.

STORY #1 - NORTHERN MN BAND WAR BONNET NOMINATED FOR NATIVE AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS

MUSIC INTRO

REPORTER: You’re listening to the song “Ikwe: by the band War Bonnet, a band recently nominated for two Native American Music awards One for New or Debut Duo/Group of the Year and another for Best Rock Recording for their latest album Ghost Dance.

Although the group didn’t win the awards in their categories, band founders Chaz Wagner and Tony Parson are excited to be recognized for their hard work and musicianship.

CHAZ WAGNER: (00:55) hello, my name is Chaz Wagner, [Anishinaabemowin] I'm from Nett Lake. I'm a Boise Fort band member and band member of War Bonnet. And I started this band with my buddy Tony and it's indigenous native theme band and music.

Speaker 4: (11:22) we get, we got nominated, uh, this year, 2019 for native music award. And it just, I think it really pushed us even further as a band pushed us further. The nomination itself really helped us in our, um, in our career now having that under our belt. And I'm excited to see where we can go from here. You know, we didn't win the award, but it's not going to stop us from doing what we do, you know?

Tony Parson: Speaker 3: (00:24) My name is Tony Parson. I'm co-songwriter and the keyboard player for warbonnet.

Speaker 3: (07:42)it was just an honor being nominated and that in itself, we were, you know, really stoked and just feeling really good about that, you know, like all that hard work, you know?

REPORTER: And their hard work in crafting their music has led to a large and unique sound.

Speaker 4: (01:26) it's Tony and I, we write all the songs, we record all the songs, but we, we have to play the songs live. So we have a live group, which consists of members that are involved with the native communities.

REPORTER: There are seven players in the live band: two guitars, a Bass, Keys, Drums, vocals, and a Euphonium. Which is kind of like a smaller version of a tuba.

CHAZ Wagner: Speaker 4: (05:04) our music is so complex that you can't put a title to it.- has its roots in the native music and that's where a lot of like our ideas come from.

Speaker 4: (06:01) we take that native sound and we're using it openly and freely, and our, our native thoughts is in the music.

REPORTER: Chaz remarks on a few on his influences that leads to the sound War Bonnet is creating.

Chaz Wagner: (13:09) I would say indigenous powwow music was always an inspiration. Some of my heroes are, some of the people that I, I don't, I wouldn't say they're heroes, but there are definitely people that I look up to. I was like musically would be like James Hetfield from Metallica. I like, I like love the sound of his guitar, you know, it's just so unique.

SONG: ARROWHEAD

Tony Parson: Speaker 3: (10:27) I don't think any artist is ever satisfied with, you know, where they're at, but they keep that, that dissatisfaction keeps pushing them, you know to keep trying to improve. And so, you know, the thing that's the key, you know, just to use that dissatisfaction to drive you and keep pushing yourself to do better

REPORTER: And as Tony puts it, War Bonnet is pushing forward and keeps on making music. They’re working on their next album titled “Ancestral Legacy” will be released in 2020.

Tony Parson: Speaker 3: (08:53) I don't think that either of us, you know, could do it on their own, but together, you know, we pull together our strengths- it takes a lot of work. It's a lot of practice and a lot of writing.

REPORTER: You can find out more about War Bonnet on Facebook or on the web at WAR BONNET OFFICIAL DOT COM.

For Minnesota Native News, I’m Leah Lemm.