Skip to main content

Maverick Ad

Home

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Cover Stories
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Legacy Awards
  • Past Covers
  • Weekly Archive
3x JUNO-Nominees & 4x CFMA Winners Sultans of String Release New Single, “The Power of the Land” with Duke Redbird & Twin Flames

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • 3x JUNO-Nominees & 4x CFMA Winners Sultans of String Release New Single, “The Power of the Land” with Duke Redbird & Twin Flames
Sultans of String
Fri Apr 15, 2022
Cashbox Canada

Featuring Ojibway Elder Dr. Duke Rebird and Indigenous artists Twin Flames, NY Times and BILLBOARD charting band Sultans of String have released their collaborative new single, “The Power of the Land” – check it out on YouTube here:

The orchestral version of the song is the latest to land from the multi-award-winning and JUNO-nominated group’s most recent album, 2021’s Sanctuary — an 11-track offering featuring a broad range of incredible talents from the USA/Canada, many of whom arrived as recent immigrants and refugees, and essential Indigenous voices.

The potent and poetic single soars with interwoven vocals of Indigenous spoken-word artist Duke Redbird and married Ottawa folk duo Twin Flames. The poem is by Duke, who is an Ojibwe Elder from the Saugeen First Nation in Southwestern Ontario, and is performed by Sultans of String with Duke and Twin Flames — comprised of Chelsey June, Métis (Algonquin Cree heritage) from Ottawa, and Jaaji, Inuk and Mohawk from Nunavik and Kahnawake.

"I heard Duke recite that poem years ago," Sultans of String frontman Chris McKhool says. "I was so moved that I introduced myself to him after the performance and said, 'Have you ever thought about putting this to music?'”

Fast-forward three years — to the day — when McKhool realized he had finally written the right backdrop for Redbird's stirring words. "It was just one of those beautiful moments where I realized those lyrics might work perfectly." 

Redbird explains the genesis of the original poem: “It's essential that we understand that nature is our survival and survival is nature. Money and power have interrupted the power of the land and, until we understand that nature is the real economy and the economy is nature, and that's the only way we're going to survive, is if we take care of our mother, the earth. And money and power, it doesn't really have a place in the healing associated with what needs to be done as the climate changes and the earth retrieves her sacredness and plants it in our minds and our bodies.”

Like most of the collaborations on Sanctuary, “The Power of the Land” came to life in the studio with Sultans of String and their guests composing and creating together. But no matter how they began, they all ended the same: with all the artists recording together at Jukasa, a world-class recording facility on the Six Nations reserve between Toronto and Buffalo.

"We knew we had to do it this way," McKhool stresses. "We couldn't make an album of deep collaborations and do it long-distance. Having everyone in the room at the same time made it extremely challenging, both from a logistical and technical standpoint, but the results certainly made it worthwhile."

This single is co-produced by the multiple award-winning team of bandleader Chris McKhool and 2021/2022 JUNO nominated engineer John “Beetle” Bailey. The beds were recorded on First Nations land at the Indigenous-owned Jukasa Studios. Founded by Ohsweken's Kenneth Hill & Jerry Montour, Jukasa Studios is a multi-million dollar studio created for world-class and developing artists to make music in surroundings rich in spirit and tradition. The legendary 8072 G Series Vintage Analog Console which spent 12 years of its life in studio 3 at Abbey Road Studios in London England, was purchased and moved to Jukasa Studios in 2009.  Overdubs and mixing were done at The Drive Shed with John “Beetle” Bailey and mastering by Harry Hess at HBomb Mastering.

Sultans of String are 3x JUNO Award nominees and 4x Canadian Folk Music Award winners. They recently celebrated their 10th anniversary as a band, crisscrossing North America and UK, and performing at many taste-making forums such as JUNOFest, Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Birdland in NYC, and California’s hip music scene — including the San Jose Jazz Festival.

They have sold out Koerner Hall three times (Toronto’s Carnegie Hall) and performed with Toronto, Vancouver, Edmonton Symphony Orchestras. Sultans of String were recently recorded live on BBC TV, Irish National Radio, and internationally syndicated shows including SiriusXM in Washington DC.

At the core of the band’s sound is Chris McKhool’s (Jesse Cook, Pavlo) bold and fiery fiddle, melded seamlessly with founding guitarist Kevin Laliberté’s (Jesse Cook) rumba rhythm- together their musical synergy created Sultans of String’s signature sound – the intimate and playful relationship between violin and guitar. Added to this rich foundation are bass master Drew Birston (Chantal Kreviazuk), and Cuban percussion master Rosendo Chendy Leon (Alex Cuba).

Following their award-winning 2020 album, Refuge arrives Sanctuary — a release that highlights the extraordinary contributions of those that have arrived here from around the globe, as well as global talents who’ve long been ambassadors for peace, the band shares.

“The true inspiration behind this album is the incredible artists we get to collaborate with,” McKhool says. “We learn so much from these diverse voices, and each one of them is so personally inspiring. As Ahmed Moneka, an artist and refugee from Iraq says, ‘Love is the main reason for a great future,’ and we are so privileged to be able to collaborate with so many incredible voices on this project.

“Each one of us has a remarkable story to tell, and we are excited to share the beauty of these collaborations with you — featuring special guests from First Nations, Turkey, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Greece, Syria, Mexico, Portugal, Cuba, and Sudan.”

For more info visit:
sultansofstring.com/
instagram.com/sultansofstring/
twitter.com/sultansofstring
open.spotify.com/track/55A7uaemsDXVJ4G9PCTkHt?si=3ad4c7befd764ece&nd=1
dukeredbird.ca/
twinflamesmusic.com/

Features
Music
Sultans Of String
Dr. Duke Rebird
Twin Flames
Month: Jun 2022
Melbourne, Australia Songwriter & Producer John Tomaino Captures the “Freeze… Jun 03
Ronnie Hawkins The Hawk Is On The Wing Jun 03
Month: May 2022
Tonia Evans Cianciulli Doubles Up on Motherly Love with Double-Single, “… May 27
When Are The Industry People Getting Paid? May 27
Author & Composer Patrick Kimmell Presents a Very Novel Way to Enjoy His… May 27
Country-Rocker Marshall Potts Imparts a Heart-Over-Brain Message In New… May 27
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band Pay A Royal Tribute With New Album Dirt Does Dylan May 27
Neill Dixon Celebrates 40 Years of Canadian Music Week May 20
Sultans of String Unleash New Single “Hurricane” into the Soundscape May 20
Network While You Can May 20
Singer/Songwriter & Mental Health Advocate Michelle Titian to Showcase… May 20
Chris Birkett Puts Two Years of COVID, Climate Change & Crass Excess… May 20
Rush – Moving Pictures 40th Anniversary Album May 13
Lunar Bloom Release Briliant New Single “Call Me a Woman” May 13
Susan Aglukark Reveals a Lesson in Belonging and Beyond with “The Crossing” May 13
SING! The International Vocal Arts Festival Marks 11th Edition Slated for… May 13
You Can’t Paint Over Bad Music May 13
Barrie’s Troubadour Festival is Back Featuring Dwayne Gretzky, Natalie… May 06
A Change Of Local Heroes Is A Must For The Future Music Industry! May 06
The 19th Edition of c/o pop Festival in Cologne, Germany Huge Success May 06

Pagination

  • First page « First
  • Previous page ‹ Previous
  • …
  • Page 20
  • Page 21
  • Page 22
  • Page 23
  • Current page 24
  • Page 25
  • Page 26
  • Page 27
  • Page 28
  • …
  • Next page Next ›
  • Last page Last »

CEO/PUBLISHER/EDITOR IN CHIEF
SANDY GRAHAM

email:sandygrahamemg@gmail.com 

Canadian Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Don Graham
email: dongrahamwriter@gmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada and Global
Lisa Hartt
email: lisahartt87@hotmail.com

Contributing Journalist - Canada 
Michael Williams
email: greydread@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

International Journalists:

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Malin Osth
email: malin@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - Sweden
Jonas Tancred
email: jonas@musicdays.se

Contributing Journalist - USA
Rob Durkee 
email: rockster2746@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Web Developer/Technical Support
Chris Wardman

email: info@chriswardman.com
website: chriswardman.com

Cashbox Cover Design and Graphic Artist
Jain McMillan

email: jainmcmillan@gmail.com

Contributing Photographer 
Tracey Savein - South Paw Productions
southpawproductions@rogers.com

 

 

 

Footer menu

  • Home
  • Features
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Cashbox Archive
  • Issue Archive
  • Past Covers