Biography
N8V (Native) is a Seattle-based rock band whose roots go back to Kodiak Island, Alaska, where childhood friends Chris Lukin (lead vocals/guitar) and Ray Wagner (bass) grew up in the small fishing village of Port Lions. Members of the Port
Lions Tribe, shareholder/descendants of Afgonak Native Cooperation and of Alutiiq decent, Chris and Ray were raised to appreciate and respect their
Native American heritage and history. This appreciation and awareness would come to shape the songs which would form the foundation of N8V.
After relocating to Seattle in 1999, Chris and Ray Ray began writing and recording several demos together. In 2004, one of these recordings, *Sure To Bleed*, began receiving radio play on 106.5FM in Aberdeen, WA. and was in the top five most requested for its first two weeks. Before long, the track was receiving play on several FM stations, as well as Internet and satellite stations, many of which featured Native American programming. These stations quickly picked up another of these demos, the introspective and autobiographical song *12 Steps Back*.
When Seattle friend Jake Carden (lead guitar /back up vocals) was brought in, the group began rehearsing for a tour which began in the spring or 2007. With drummer Brian Holland in tow, the quartet hit the road for a series of shows in
California and New Mexico, culminating in a performance at the Gathering of Nations powwow in Albuquerque - the largest powwow in North America. Upon returning to Seattle, the group began securing more shows on reservations and
casinos across the Northwest.
In the summer of 2007, N8V began pre-production for the Nations Rise EP. Two of the demo recordings from the upcoming release, title track "Nations Rise" and "Black Soul", began receiving instant radio exposure after being posted on the band's website. Shortly thereafter, in the fall
of 2007, N8V entered Toybox Studio in Seattle with drummer Ryan Wollen, and began tracking for the "Nations Rise" EP. N8V's music continues
to receive airplay across the U.S. and Canada.
After recently performing at the El Rey Theater in Albuquerque, NM, during the 2008 Gathering of Nations Powwow, N8V returned to the northwest and received the Best Alternative Rock Award at the 2008 West Coast American Indian Music
Awards. Held at the White River Amphitheater in Auburn, WA.
Instrumentation
Chris Lukin - Guitar/Vocals
Ray Wagner - Bass
Jake Carden - Lead Guitar
Ryan Wollen - Drums/Percusion
Discography
12 Steps Back - Single
Sure to Bleed - Single
Black Soul - Single
Nations Rise - Single
Nations Rise - EP
All singles and the new EP have streaming and radio play on Native American stations and programs as well as non Native FM stations all over the U.S. and Canada.
Links
| http://myspace.com/n8vz |