nipiy
Studio album by
nêhiyawak
ReleasedOctober 24, 2019 (2019-10-24)
RecordedHive Studios, Vancouver Island
LabelArts & Crafts Records
ProducerColin Stewart

nipiy is the debut album by Edmonton-based band nêhiyawak,[1] released on October 24, 2019, on Arts & Crafts Productions.[2] It was nominated for Indigenous Music Album of the Year at the 2020 Juno Awards,[3] and shortlisted for the 2020 Polaris Music Prize.[4]

Background and themes

The album was produced by Colin Stewart,[1] who also produced their 2018 EP starlight.[5] It was recorded at Stewart's Hive Studios,[6] located on Vancouver Island.[7]

nipiy is a Cree word for water. Many tracks contain references to issues affecting Indigenous Canadians; the album was largely inspired by the Idle No More movement.[7] The track disappear references the disappearance of Indigenous people in Canada and Honduras, and was inspired by a 2013 lecture by Bertha Oliva,[2] while Perch was written about addiction.[2] open window is about the Residential School System and the Sixties Scoop,[8] and features Cree-language spoken-word poetry from band member Kris Harper's parents.[7] The Cree language can also be seen in song titles: the opening and closing tracks are named after kisiskâciwanisîpiy, the Cree word for the North Saskatchewan River,[9] while the track ôtênaw, which discusses urbanization,[8] is named after the Cree word for city.[9] The album also features elements of Indigenous music, including the use of traditional instrumentation. Marek Tyler plays an elk-hide frame drum, a carved cedar log drum, and a pow-wow drum,[10] gifted to him by Carey Newman, a Kwakwakaʼwakw and Coast Salish artist.[7]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Exclaim!8/10[8]
The Manitoban4/5[11]

The album received positive reviews from critics. Andrea Warner called nipiy "one of the best rock albums of the year" in a CBC piece highlighting nêhiyawak as one of 7 Canadian artists who broke out in 2019.[12] Jake Cardinal, writing for Edmonton Scene, said that nêhiyawak "created an album without any bad songs, which is a feat nowadays, but they have also managed to find a style that is fully their own."[13]

nipiy was listed by BeatRoute as one of the 10 Best Alberta Releases of 2019.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 Usinger, Mike (2019-12-04). "Following no one's rules, nêhiyawak proudly looks to both the past and the future with nipiy". The Georgia Straight. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  2. 1 2 3 Slingerland, Calum (2019-10-02). "nêhiyawak Share New Song "disappear"". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  3. ↑ Lau, Melody (2020-01-28). "Alessia Cara and Tory Lanez lead the 2020 Juno nominations". CBC Music. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  4. ↑ Gregory, Allie (2020-07-15). "Here's the Polaris Music Prize 2020 Short List". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  5. ↑ Stanley, Laura (2018-12-06). "nêhiyawak Tackle the Past and Sound Like the Future on 'starlight'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  6. ↑ Oscroft, Samara (2019-11-20). "nêhiyawak navigate the intersection between traditional and contemporary". Nexus Newspaper. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Pagnani, Renato (2020-11-02). "Water Power". Edify. Odvod Publishing. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  8. 1 2 3 Weinberg, Josh (2019-10-22). "nêhiyawak nipiy". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  9. 1 2 Slingerland, Calum (2019-09-26). "nêhiyawak Announce Debut Album 'nipiy'". Exclaim!. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  10. ↑ "nêhiyawak – Experimental Rock Trio Releases Debut Album". SAY Magazine. 2019-12-30. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  11. ↑ Bell, Kaelen (2019-11-12). "Nêhiyawak — 'nipiy,' 4/5". The Manitoban. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  12. ↑ "7 exciting Canadian artists who broke out in 2019". CBC Music. 2019-12-06. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  13. ↑ Cardinal, Jake (2019-12-13). "Nêhiyawak's Nipiy album review". Edmonton Scene. Retrieved 2021-02-25.
  14. ↑ "The 10 Best Alberta Releases of 2019". BeatRoute. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-25.


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