On this episode of Songs of Our Lives, it’s Joe Rainey! His new project, Bizhiki, with Dylan Bizhikiins Jennings and Sean Carey, have made one of 2024’s best albums, “Unbound.” The combination of traditional and ceremonial rhythms and singing melded with contemporary production and instrumentation results in a moving, powerful album unlike anything else. We talked a lot about Rainey’s history with pow wows and pow wow singing while growing up on the south side of Minneapolis before digging into songs that have stuck with him. We get into the all-time greatness of Buddy Red Bow, formative connections with 90s R&B luminaries like SWV, Donny Hathaway’s romantic notions, sadness in Willie Nelson’s voice, wake singing, Nevad Brave, and so much more.

Listen to all of Joe’s picks HERE

Bizhiki “Unbound”

Joe Rainey “Niineta”

Songs of Our Lives is a podcast series hosted by Brad Rose of Foxy Digitalis that explores the music that's made us and left a certain mark. Whether it's a song we associate with our most important moments, something that makes us cry, the things we love that nobody else does, or our favorite lyrics, we all have our own personal soundtrack. Join Foxy Digitalis on Patreon for extra questions and conversation in each episode (+ a whole lot more!)

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