Indigenous Music Artist: DJ SHUB
Indigenous Music Artist: DJ SHUB
by Ambika Singh
DJ Shub has pioneered a growing genre of electronic music - PowWowStep - since his initial start with internationally-acclaimed group called “A Tribe Called Red.” DJ Shub’s real name is Dan General.
PowWowStep is a genre combining electronic music with traditional tribal music. While Shub was growing up, music was a major part of his family. His Mom was into disco and his Dad was into classic rock. The biggest influence was made by his older brother, who introduced him to the world of hip-hop and the DJ culture.
He is a Mohawk, Turtle Clan of the Six Nations of the Grand River located in Ontario, Canada.
He has been more aware of the Indigenous way of life through his music and through PowWowStep, merging his heritage with his music skills. As a solo artist, DJ Shub released his first EP “PowWowStep” in 2016 and has since played some of the biggest music festivals in North America. He’s also been featured in a number of national media platforms. His song “Indomitable” was notably handpicked by Sacha Baron Cohen as the theme music to his hit Showtime series, “Who Is America?”
An example of his work called "Come On Over ft. Northern Cree Singers" by DJ Shub:
In the Mohawk tradition, gatherings called "socials" give family and friends an opportunity to check in with everyone and see how each person is doing and assess the well-being of the community. "It's to see where everyone’s at, if anyone needs help in their lives and to take care of each other," says DJ Shub. Dan General has attended these gatherings since childhood and incorporated some of the traditional music of these events on his track, "The Social."
"You need to take care of yourself and the people around you and figure out how they’re doing," General says of the song's meaning, "if everyone did that, the world would be a better place."
"Music is my war club," General says, "I use my music as a weapon."
DJ Shub has made 2 albums so far in his musical career.
To know more about his songs from his first album, the PowPowStep:
His new release in 2020, War Club consists of songs which are important to the Indigenous heritage, specifically "The Social.” In the midst of the social unrest following the murder of George Floyd and the prevalence of the Black Lives Matter movement, General felt "The Social" was a more fitting song for this cultural moment. General notes, "Indigenous people in Canada are like the Black Lives Matter movement in the States, it’s pretty bad here, especially when it comes to shootings by police. The statistics are crazy, so I think we [as First Nations people] can relate to what’s happening. That’s why Phoenix [the lyrics writer of the song “The Social”, who is Black] gets it so deeply, we’ve both experienced the same struggle in Canada."
A major challenge for General has been deciding how to wipe out the "Indigenous artist" label and get recognition simply as an artist. "We specifically did not want to submit our work in that category," General says, "because we wanted to be looked at as artists, not just 'Indigenous artists'." He believes categories and labels such as these makes "music by Indigenous people not get out that far. It reaches a threshold and doesn’t break through. So many Indigenous artists are trying hard to get their music out there."
“I’m very proud of the road I took to get where I am now,” said Shub, a nominee in the Indigenous Music category at the 2018 Juno Awards for his EP PowWowStep. In 2017, his music video for ‘Indomitable’ (featuring Northern Cree Singers) was also nominated for a Much Music Video Award.
DJ Shub says, "I want Canadians to see that pow wow culture is beautiful in both imagery and spirit. I also want young Native kids to know that they can find support and happiness in their lives, even if they can't see it right in front of them."
“This style of music – there is so much culture in it, and that’s what makes it so original,” said Shub.
Shub also competed in DJ competitions like the prestigious DMC World DJ Championships, by winning back-to-back Canadian titles and representing Canada at the world finals in 2007 and 2008.
In 2012, Shub came out of battle retirement and competed in the Red Bull Thre3style DJ Competition where he won the Canadian title, and once again represented his home country by placing fifth at the world finals.
As we can all see he has so much potential to do everything and he also has a lot of experience with it as well.
A major part of his success and why he draws such large audiences is his live show, a non-stop body-moving experience enhanced by traditional Indigenous dancers who perform in full traditional regalia.
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