Kelly Derrickson , a First Nation artist from Westbank, British Columbia recently released I AM (Mother Nature) , and was recognized as Best Female Artist at the Native American Music Awards. I AM (Mother Nature) is highly emotionally and politically charged, with songs that deal with rape and murder (Ain’t Nobody’s Business But the Moon) to broken treaties and environmental degradation (I AM Mother Nature) . Additionally, All I See is Red, reflects unseen and seldom-expressed anger and despair that Indigenous children feel when dealing with common racism.
She studied music and earned her degree at the prestigious Berklee College of Music for Music Business and Performing Arts. She won the 2015 Coachella Valley Music Award for Best Country Artist and won Best New Artist at the 2015 and 2016 Indigenous Music Awards.
Her single 40,000 Ft Over You from her Multi Award winning album Warriors Of Love is considered the Best of 2016 in North America on the National Aboriginal Music Countdown . Her new single I AM reached #6 on the charts. She was recently nominated for Best Country Artist for the second time by The Coachella Valley Music Awards.
Kelly is on in rotation on Sirius XM Radio on channel 165 and her music is played on over 1200 radio stations in North America. She is daughter of Grand Chief Ronald Derrickson . What her father has worked to accomplish through leadership and politics, Kelly has worked to accomplish through music. They have both spent their lives working to advance the interests and improve conditions for Canada’s indigenous people. An example of Kelly and her father’s leadership and concern for indigenous young people can be found in Suicide Song, co-written by both of them. I Am (Mother Nature) celebrates nature, but is a warning that it cannot be endlessly violated. Idle No More is pure activism, a musical rally against the pollution of Canada’s native lands.
Over time, she has developed a style called Country Tribal Rock, unique to her and never done before. She is versatile, even releasing a version of Amazing Grace, one of the best known Christian Gospel classics.
Kelly’s second album I AM was released in April 2017. It was recorded, co-written and produced by Kelly herself among top country artists in Nashville. She is the voice of her Nation.
She lives in Palm Desert and produces music and videos in Los Angeles.
References:
Kelly Derrickson on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.
Additional resources below:
Ain’t Nobody’s Business But the Moon:
Nobody’s Business But The Moon
There’s a willow By the lake shore
Where a soft breeze always blows
There’s no marker There’s no gravestone
Just a secret nobody knows
He didn’t care I wasn’t willing
He just threw me to the ground and had his way
When I came to I swore to heaven
I wouldn’t rest until I made him pay
(Chorus)
I may stand in judgment when I die
But there’s some things the law just can’t put right
There Ain’t no absolution, but there damn sure ain’t no clues
And it ain’t nobody’s business but the moon.
I held it inside bided my time
but the water was rising on the wall
that august evening I came to see him
the moon’s the only one that saw it all
Chorus
I held the shotgun Threw him a shovel
And watched him dig his grave
I let him pray some And beg forgiveness
Forgiveness I never gave
Yeah I may stand in judgment when I die
But there’s some things the law just can’t put right
They’ll never find a body
‘cause there damn sure ain’t no clues ‘
Cause it ain’t nobody’s business but the moon
There’s a willow by the lake shore
And a secret nobody knows
All I See is Red:
All I See Is Red (10 Little Indians)
I heard it in a nursery rhyme
This fairytale would blow your mind
not so pretty when you think about it
Distort their minds when they’re still young
Paint your perfect little world
Did you think about it?
Cowboys Indians on the screen
learn to hate by abc’s
ALL I SEE IS RED
(Chorus)
1 Little, 2 Little, 3 Little Indians
4 Little, 5 Little, 6 Little Indians
7 Little, 8 Little, 9 Little Indians
Ten Little Indian Sons
10 Little, 9Little, 8 Little Indians
7 Little, 6 Little, 5 Little Indians
4 Little, 3Little, 2 Little Indians
Gone until there’s none!
The hero slays the savage beast
Celebrates their victory
Conquer the Indians
Keep whitewashing history
In the land of the so called free
In name of God
Wash the blood stain off our hands
Raise the flag and strike the band!
ALL I SEE IS RED
Chorus
You can keep Thanksgiving Day
your fake mythology and big Parades
I’ll just stay here on the ground, down to earth.
Chorus
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