Artist Spotlight: Star Nayea (with Music Video)

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Star Nayea’s emotional and moving music is not baseless, nor is it produced by a disconnected music technician. She takes pride in her abilities as much as her audience enjoys the blues/pop/rock sound that is unmistakably Star Nayea. Her rough beginnings were undoubtedly challenging and potentially damaging, but Star rose above them. She poured her negative experiences into a positive outlet that has won her a Grammy and a NAMA (Native American Music Award).

When Star Nayea was only two months old, she was taken from her Native American family because of the 1950s-70s baby sweep perpetrated by the United States and Canada. Despite the good intentions of the Lutheran Social Services of Detroit, Michigan, she landed an extremely abusive adoptive family that did not share her heritage. After several years of pain and struggle, she escaped her adoptive family and began to reach for her dreams of musical freedom.

While the experience and circumstances that brought Star Nayea to Detroit were unfortunate, to say the least, the surrounding Motor City Rock and Roll scene and the raved-about MO-Town sound influenced and shaped her tastes as she grew into the young woman with the unique, soulful style. Star began her musical career in her hometown of Detroit, but it was not long before she was selling out shows in New York City, Los Angeles, and more.

Although Star Nayea is a solo artist, her long list of musical collaborations is very impressive. She has worked with many noteworthy Native American Artists such as Indigenous, Joanne Shenandoah, and Buffy St. Marie. One of Star’s most memorable experiences was singing along side Chuck Billy, the front man of the heavy metal band “Testament,” who shares her Native American culture. Star Nayea has also had the honor of opening for the infamous Willie Nelson and the 80’s rock band, Styx.

Star Nayea’s performance abilities are not limited to her blues/pop/rock sound. In 1997, she acted as a lead vocalist on the all Native American Broadway style production of “Tribe.” That same year, Star was discovered by Canadian playwright, Thomas Highway, who cast her in the Broadway style rendition of “Rose.” Star Nayea has also been invited to perform back up vocals for Robbie Robertson and held a few jam sessions with Tom Wolf.

Star Nayea’s emotion and strong will brought her out of such a despairing situation with her head held high and her dreams a reality. While she is thankful for her success and those that helped her on this journey, she still searches for her Native American birth family and prays that they will one day be reunited. Star remains active in the Native American community. She performs on Indian reservations and developed the “Healing Power of Music” program where she reaches out to underprivileged Indian youth that are in the positions she was in many years back.

If you're in the Pembroke, North Carolina area at the end of April, you can see Star Nayea LIVE at the River People Music and Culture Fest!

Artist Spotlight: Dark Water Rising (with MUSIC VIDEO)

Being a semi-finalist on Idol is a huge accomplishment, but where does an artist go from there? For many, post-Idol fame hasn't been much of a reality. So how does an artist bounce back after all the fame and attention? For some, like the gifted Charly Lowry, you must continue to have faith in your abilities, be willing to start from scratch, and grind your way back to the top. Being a successful artist/band in this business is no easy task—not only do you need to be talented musically, but you also need the motivation and mindset.

Today, Charly Lowry is the lead singer in the band, Dark Water Rising—a band she helped form back in 2008. The band has certainly come a long way from their humble beginnings. "Humble" in this sense isn't an understatement. The other members in the band basically picked up and learned how to play their chosen instruments as soon as the idea of forming a band became a reality. And just a few short years later, they all now play multiple instruments and have become even more confident in their abilities as musicians. There is always more room to improve as a band. It's what motivates you to become better as an artist.

The band's name, Dark Water Rising  originates from the home of its members, tapping into their Lumbee identity. The dark waters of the swamps are teeming with sounds of nature and original, beautiful music—music deftly captured in the sounds of this award-winning, Native American group hailing from Robeson County, in Southeastern North Carolina. The group—comprised of Charly Lowry (lead singer/rhythm guitar), Aaron Locklear (keys/guitar/bass), Corey Locklear (lead guitar), Shay Jones (drums), and Tony Murnahan (bass)—continues to grow and amaze audiences each time they perform. They are constantly developing their sound, song writing, and instrumentation. This is a band that possesses the talent, motivation, and mindsets to be major players in an industry over-saturated with wanna-be performers.

Lyrically, Dark Water Rising explores all themes of life, whether it is love, heartbreak, sacrifice, celebration, despair, or pain; all the while expressing their sentiment on issues affecting Native American communities. Dark Water Rising coined the genre of their music as "Rocky Soul,” which is about as original as the songs that they masterfully create.

DWR's most recent album, Grace & Grit: Chapter I, is just as engaging and intimate as watching one of their live performances. Dark Water Rising has garnered considerable radio airplay on college radio and stations throughout Indian country, appeared on both NPR's "The Story with Dick Gordon" and "The State of Things," and has earned a Native American Music Award for "Debut Duo or Group of the Year" in 2010. In 2011 they gained two nominations in the Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award,  Single of the Year for their song, Hooked, and Best Folk/Acoustic CD for their eponymously-titled debut album, Dark Water Rising.

They are currently nominated for an Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Award, once again.  Grace & Grit: Chapter I is one of five up for the Award for Best Rock CD.  Don't forget to vote for them before July 26th—it takes less than a minute, and you can do so by visiting http://aboriginalpeopleschoice.com/sign-up/.

In the meantime, enjoy an awesome video of My Fun, one of the tracks featured on Grace & Grit: Chapter I.

VOTE NOW—Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards

For us at Native Pulse, it's Music and Entertainment—and what better way to showcase Native Talent than an Award Show.  The Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, which will air on Sunday, August 18th on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, showcases top Aboriginal Artists from both Canada and the United States.

Similar to the Grammys, Artists are nominated for awards in several categories ranging from contemporary to traditional, rock to gospel, and everything in between.  Voting is currently still open, and they've just extended the poll-closing date to July 26th!

To make your voting easier, below you'll find a list of the Artists, separated into the categories for which they are nominated...